Freedom Hike - Mtn. Creek

Hike: 30-Jun-2007 07:00-09:00 CDT
Conditions: Sunny, very warm, quite muggy.
Distance: 4 miles
Rating: 5
Difficulty: Easy
Thoughts: Had the park to myself. Saw everyone going Kayaking off this morning at church (I'm on call and can't go.). Went straight to park to hike. Best hiking time during this season of year. Many songbirds out! Crows very vocal today. Lots of tracks (dog, bobcat?, coyote, fox). Smelled skunk strongly in Pine Upland - didn't see him though (thankfully!) Park received some desperately needed rain the last few days. Some oaks showing signs of drought stress.
Thank YOU for this time with YOU in YOUR creation. This is so good for my spirit! It is so very good to get "away" from the busy-ness and demands placed on me daily. These hikes, LORD, are even better for my spirit than for my body. Thank YOU for the Freedom that YOU alone give.
Message tomorrow from Isa. 58:6-9.

Christian Stress Relief

I can’t take credit for these… a friend forwarded them to me. The originator is unknown but the ideas are solid!

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your schedule, or that will
compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too
many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over
time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find
out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary
purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key
buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent
an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality
of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems
in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often
a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they
can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the
universe.

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that
you've never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

Alabama Nature Center

Hike: Alabama Nature Center, Millbrook, AL 6/16/2007 08:15-11:15
Distance: 6 miles
Rating: 5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Sunny, hot, humid. Trails very well maintained and marked, wide with chipped wood or gravel surface. Numerous boardwalks and viewing platforms. Nature center divided into three trail and habitat areas: Hardwood Upland, Transition mixed forest, and Riparian forest. Very nice pavilion anchors the center area.
Thoughts/Observations: One boardwalk into tree canopy in Hardwood upland area. Saw grey squirrel, numerous songbirds, and heard turkey. Enjoyed the great stand of white oaks in Hilltop Trail area. Dad called me on cell px during this time - GrandDad Teal made baskets (feed baskets, cotton baskets, etc.) out of White Oaks when Dad was a kid. I never knew that. Wish I had some of the baskets he had made. Good crowd of people at the pavilion for the snake demonstration at 11:00. This is a "world class" area. Privileged to have such a place as this so close. LORD, help us to be good stewards of the creation YOU have entrusted us with.

June 9 Hikes

Hike: Mountain Creek 6/9/2007, 08:15-09:45
Distance: 3 miles
Rating: 5
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Conditions: Sunny; very warm; muggy; very light breeze
Thoughts: Scared up small doe in brush pile as I entered the trails area. Many song birds out today - woods filled with their songs. Looks like park got a little rain the other day. We certainly needed it. We are desperate for rain, LORD. Summer is upon us; hot and humid. Mimosa are in full bloom. As delicate as they look, they handle the drought very well.

Hike: Kymulga Historic Grist Mill Park, Childersburg, AL 6/9/2007, 15:00-17:00
Distance: 1 mile Left Nature Trail
Rating: 4 {Stately riparian Hardwood forest. Tall Beech and Yellow Poplar Trees dominate. Champion Sugarberry stand}
Difficulty: Easy. Trails all level, wide, and well maintained. Surface is dirt and grass. Not well marked.
Conditions: Sunny, hot, humid (of course, it's Alabama in June)
Thoughts: Hiked Left Nature Trail with Kathy. Saw "family" of three armadillos up close. Kathy had never seen a live armadillo before! Trail all level and well maintained. Not marked. Champion Sugarberry trees not located (at least not signed). Small park, but nice riparian area. Would be a good place for a picnic during cooler weather.

Mountain Creek 6/2/07 Hike

Date: 06/02/2007, 11:30-13:00 (late start due to being called in by Paper Machine)
Distance: 3 miles
Rating: 5
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Conditions: Mostly cloudy, warm, very light breeze
Thoughts: Thank YOU, LORD, for giving me this time and this place. Please speak to my heart. I keep getting all kinds of ideas for Crestview Outdoor Ministry Expeditions. YOU are stirring my heart. What should I do? I would love to reach out and touch people with YOUR love and truth through natural expeditions and fellowships. Open doors, LORD. Help me to clearly see and hear and then act on YOUR urging. (Micah 6:8 "What's Required?")

Mountain Creek

Hike: Mon (Memorial Day) 5/28/2007 0930-1100
Conditions: Hazy; mild to warming quickly; light breeze
Distance: 2 miles
Rating: 5
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Thoughts: This place is so peaceful. YOU refresh my spirit here, dear LORD. Saw pair of yellow-greenish birds (about size of large sparrow). They just kept staying around me on one portion of the hike. They didn't make noise. Just moved from one branch to another around me (sometimes just a little over arm's reach). Seemed to be studying me! I named them Emily & Jonny!

Ft. Toulouse Hike

Time: 5/25/2007 9:30-11:00.
Conditions: Sunny, hot, haze from wildfires in GA.
Distance: 3 miles
Rating: 4
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Thoughts: Enjoyable hike. Lots of people in campgrounds but not any on trails. River levels low from drought. Found new trail cut near Tallapoosa River. Thank YOU, LORD for this place and especially for YOUR fellowship. I am thankful for the peace YOU bring into my life. It is wonderful to experience and enjoy YOUR creation.