Step One, You Say, "We Need To Talk."

The blog post titles are song lyrics that pertain to the posts. This post will be in steps, and it has to do with talking. . . but that will become clear later.

Step 1: Yosemite

Last weekend my casa and I went to Yosemite.  It was absolutely perfect!!  I had never slept in a tent before or gone on a hike.  We got to our campsite on Friday night, set up, and made a bonfire.  By midnight we were asleep. We all awoke relatively early on Saturday, went to Yosemite Valley, hiked up the John Muir Trail to Vernon Falls, and then took the Mist Trail down.  (It was about 9 miles round trip, about 4,000 ft elevation difference. . . thereabouts.)

The Mist Trail was terrifying! It was a very soaked set of rock stairs about 2 feet in width, with people coming up and down! (Fun fact: More people have died on the Mist Trail than any other trail. . .) Honestly, it wasn't that bad. I just concentrated on my feet and getting to solid ground more than I took in the views. Good thing for cameras and caring casa-mates!

After this hike we went to Mirror Lake (about a two mile hike) and just rested. Then we went back to our camp, had dinner (hot dogs and chili!) and s'mores! ("First you put the 'mallow" was repeated several times.)

On Sunday we cleaned up our site, and went to hike in Tuolumne Grove, a forest of Giant Sequoias! Alice led us in a tree meditation, which was a perfect end to a great vacation!

Oh, and we saw a bear. Thankfully, we were in a car and the bear would have eaten all the people taking pictures before us.

Step 2: The Work Week

The park was closed on Tuesday (and will remain closed until next Tuesday) for summer maintenance.  I painted all week!!  Though I get frustrated often during painting, it was really relaxing in general. (The shorter hours didn't hurt either!)  It was really tough on the guests, but the park got a much needed spruce!

After work I went to go see The Raven with Krystal, Travis, and Avery. It was great to see a movie. . . even a bad one. . . Another night Travis and I drove to UC Davis to hear Ron Paul speak.  Although it wasn't very audible (the people behind us were quite vocal) it was very interesting to be a part of.

Step 3: The Weekend

Tonight I will be going to "A Concert in the Park" with Cait, some casa-mates, and other Sacramento friends.  Saturday will be a cleaning day (my room is a pigsty!) and probably something fun that night, but no plans of yet.

Sunday morning I will go to church and then . . .

Step 4: Silence

Sunday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon, I will be on Silent Retreat in Northern CA.  That's at least 72 hours of no talking. (We get to talk for an hour a day to our Spiritual Director on Monday and Tuesday, but that's it.)  I have a few books I plan on bringing (including a Bible and a journal) but who knows what I'll do.  (Probably sleep, walk, read, and think.) 

Please pray for me to keep an open heart.