Lenghty Logs and Massive Mosquitoes

Decided to go for a Hike today with the old arthritic dog. Bad Idea. Here the thing. My dog loves going on hikes/walks/rides- whatever really, and she feels she can do it, but sometimes she misjudges.
So anyway, I decide to go on a hike since its such a nice day, I read in the paper that Doris lake was a good one to go on, It was located near Elk Lake off of the Cascade Lakes Highway. So I drive all the way out there, get started hiking with Becky (the old dog) and we keep on coming upon these downed trees that we have to hop over or go around. For the average person, that is not a problem, but for my dog who cant use her back legs like that anymore, its very sad to watch and try to convince here that she can do it. So we did not even get to Doris Lake because of my dog not wanting to go any further.
(To be honest, the paper article that I read about Doris Lake trail did mention the downed timber, but I didnt really think it would be that much of a problem for my sad old dog.)
Anyways, that to say, I did not get to the lake that I wanted to, I got to a lake, but not the better one with the longer hike. Another big part of this loser of a trip for me was the Mosquitoes. I was warned about these too, in the newspaper article, so i brought plenty of bugspray, bit my bugspray must have been defective because they were still all around me, and it was very annoying. Anyways, that is my sad story about my bad hike to Blow Lake.
Here are some nice photos I got though:

It's on its Way- 19 day

It's coming up fast! I am so excited. I am wondering what kinds of things I will learn?; what kinds of things I will do?; How I will relate to these people?; Where I will go?
Im talking of Latvia. My Mission Trip to Latvia is coming up soon and I will be so happy once we are on the plane on the way there. There has been so much leading up to this event, trying to learn the language, weekly meetings, testimony creation, fundraising individually, fundraising events as a group, Packing Classes- hehe.
But in 19 days I will be getting up early and get dropped off at the Redmond Airport, fly to Portland, From Ptown we will be flying to Frankfurt Germany, have a long layover in Frankfurt to check out the town. My friend got us free lodging in Frankfurt for the night, which is AMAZING. Then the next day we will be heading from Frankfurt on a plane to Riga Latvia. We will spend a few days in Riga, sightseeing and visiting old connections from FBC, go to Church in Riga, then on our way to Eagles Wings Christian Camp to work with the kids and adults.
I really don't know what to expect from this trip. I am the type of person who likes a big overview plan for trips, and also the intrikate daily plans that tell me what I will be doing that day and where I will be. On this trip, I will not have that. So please pray for me, that I would be easy going and not get upset that there is not detailed plans.

Strength Will Rise as I Wait Upon the Lord

It's interesting. I just got ready to write this Blog, so I got my iTunes started, turned on Seventh Day Slumber's Take Everything album and checked my mail and followed Blogs then I get ready for the big Blogwrite and right when I get to the clean slate,... BOOM on Comes Everlasting God:

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles


It is just amazing to me because I was just about to write in my Blog about my Waiting on the Lord. You see, I have been working on applying to a Masters Program through Western Oregon University in Masters of Science of Education: Information Technology and it has gone nowhere recently. I applied to find out that I had to take a test to get in because my Cumulative GPA was not high enough to get in on my own, so naturally I find out about the test, I take a few free practice items online and it seems easy for me so I schedule an appointment to take the test at UofO. The bummer part is that this test (the Miller Analogies Test, MAT) is only offered over in the valley so that means that I take a whole day to drive the 2 1/2 hours over there, take the one hour test, and then back home. The first time, I did not get a high enough score to get into the program, so this next time I buy a practice book with lots of tests in it and gives explainations about why the answers are chosen. I study this book, take many of the tests, and schedule my next test date. I go all the way over there AGAIN and take the test again, just to find out that I was one stinkin point off of the number I needed to get into the Ed Program. By this point my hopes had dwindled. I felt like this just was not going to work. I decided to wait on God and see what he had planned. I was not going to spend another $100 on a third time. I was just going to see what other options I had. I had felt that God was telling me that now was not the time. All the doors were shutting and so I just wanted to Wait on the Lord, Wait on the Lord, Wait on the Lord. So I did.
I did not pursue the Masters Program any more.
Then just a few days ago, I get an email from the Graduate Studies Admissions lady saying that my second test score was an improvement enough to get okayed to be in the program. So, as of a few days ago, I am admitted to Western Oregon University as a Graduate Student.

Isn't it amazing what God can do when we let him work? I always get amazed. I felt at one point as if I were trying to get into this program and God was not in it, (hence the reason I let it go) and then when I do that and give it up to God, HE is the one who works and tells me that NOW that I totally give it to HIM, that is when He lifts my Spirits and opens the right doors.

God is Good, All the Time.

Amazing Adventures in God's Great Wonderful Wilderness

Who in Central Oregon doesn't like camping in the summer (except Mark and Kari Sue). I have always enjoyed outdoor things in Central Oregon and because there are some many things to do in the outdoors of CO, it's perfect. My family is always split on these decisions- when we were younger, we would go on a few hikes, a few camping trips in the Camper, and various other things but the girls didn't like it as much as us boys, so we kinda got out of the tradition (especially when we let the camper go). But, when I was old enough, I started going up camping with groups and friends and junk like that. It rekindled my love of being out in nature.
Last summer, I took a few days, took my dog, my car, my tent, and a chair, and set off on a coast trip. This was just right for me. I got to be by myself on a long car trip.
I started in Central Oregon and headed north to Portland, then on the way to the top tip of the Oregon Coast, Astoria/Warrenton and then started heading down the Coast on Highway 101. Whenever I felt the need, I stopped to take pictures on my Digi Camera, and I camped in various spots along highway 101. It was AWESOME. I drove on Highway 101 from the end of Washington, through Oregon Coast all the way into northern California.

I have just started gearing up for this summer's season of Hiking and Camping. I can't wait. Two years ago was when I started collecting things for camping; I purchased a very nice tent (it has a remote control, so it's gotta be nice, right?) and since then have found a few camping chairs and items such as that, but now I am starting to get more items, larger and smaller. I just this week got some small survival things for my camping Rubbermaid Bin. I am looking for a grill/stove now. I am kindof a snob in some things, and kindof a cheapskate in others. Its interesting when the snob comes out rather than the cheapskate. The snob comes out in camping for some reason. Im not an REI kind of snob, but a namebrand snob. I don't get things for camping that arent the major brands, such as Coleman or Columbia. My tent is a Columbia and I have had no problems with it yet, and I know the reputation of Coleman products, so I try to get those kinds of brands for my camping equipment.
Anyways, This weekend is the first use of the summer for camping. I am getting ready to go camping at East Lake with our college group and I am excited for this trip.
Another aspect of being outside in the summer is hiking. I have always been one to ask my father for suggestions for hiking spots, but I think he is getting kinda tired of me asking him, so I am going to try to find my own places this summer. We have this nice book with lots of good places so I am am thinking I'd like to start and just go from one to another. I think Id like to get the Northwest Forrest Service Pass again so I can get to some of those great places easy.

Well, heres to the Summer Season of reflecting on God's Greatness and Beauty in the wilderness He created, and heres hoping that I get to get out in that Wonderful Wilderness more than last year.