In His Steps

Every time we tried to schedule a camping trip this summer, it fell through and Spousal Unit was beginning to chaff at the confines of society, so we decided to do a little day trip, just us, to a forest up the mountains so he can do some exploring and relaxing. It clearly worked, since he looks so very very content here. I really did enjoy the woods around us, but I also discovered I feel pretty darn vulnerable there, whereas woods are SU's place of peace the way the beach is mine. He went off exploring and I guarded our campchairs, but the clearing we found was really pretty with fun wood and fallen tree formations.

On the last day of July, Spousal Unit and I had had enough. Enough of work, outside obligations, all of that stuff. So we ran away for a day. We went to Lake Payson and stayed there doing... nothing. Wandering the lakeside, knitting, looking at birds and chipmunks, watching people paddle around and fish. It was so peaceful, so beautiful. Spousal Unit's stress melted away like a candle in the hot sun (though it was blessedly cool by the lakeside). We'll definitely be going back. I mean, come on. Look at that smile.

For the first time, I was able to attend Spousal Unit's family Christmas Eve dinner, which was held due to most of the local members being in town this year. Spousal Unit had a really bad strep infection he got during our Maryland trip that he's still battling, but he's much, much better after antibiotics and rest. It seems the tradition is an early supper followed by an evening devotional. Spousal Unit's parents put together a program with Biblical passages and hymns and other Christmas music for the family to sing together. It was an amazing evening.

This is the last post I have for our New Hampshire trip back in October. The ocean has always been a special place to me, so I really wanted to see the Atlantic for the first time. The Saturday before we left, I got my wish. The beautiful Anki. One of my dearest friends. I love this shot of the Spousal Unit and his oversized coat. Selfie! And yes, I put my feet in the water, but it was... cold. It was October, people!

I wasn't sure what to write until I read an article today entitled " I'm Christian, unless you're gay. " It got me thinking back on my life, and reflecting. Most of the time, I don't recall being outwardly hostile or hateful to those different than me. Cautious and uncomfortable, yes. Now, I could be wrong. When I look back on my life, particularly in the first twenty two years, I wonder how anyone was able to stomach my presence at all, much less still be friends with me today. I was whiny, selfish, and exploding my emotional fallout on everyone around me. Emotional fallout that I don't know that I deserved to have, much less inflict on others, frankly. But mostly, I was reminded of a dear friend of mine. He was one of my first guy friends, and my only one in high school for most of the time. I developed a code for us to write notes in (loosely based on Elder Futhark runes) and one day he handed me a two word note. The hilarious part is I misread it thr...