Three Inspirational Quotes on Friendship to End 2014

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life

"Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend."
― Sarah Dessen, Someone Like You 

"We'll be Friends Forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet.
Even longer,' Pooh answered."
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh  

Quote of the Day - 12/30/2014

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

~ C. S. Lewis 

New Year -- New Things

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
-- 2 Cor 5:17 (NKJV)

Quote of the Day - Christmas Eve 2014

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things – not the great occasions – give off the greatest glow of happiness.” ~ Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian.

Hike Lakeshore Trail Swayback TOLA

Hike: Lakeshore Trail, Swayback TOLA, Saturday, 12/20/2014, 08:50-12:15CST
Distance: 6.7 miles  Rating: 4.5/5  Difficulty: Easy 
Conditions: Mostly cloudy.  Comfortable (upper 40s to low 50s). Calm.  Trails wet from recent rains.  Some standing water but conditions not too muddy.
Thoughts/Observations:

Lots of thoughts and prayer time about Liberty Church.  Serving there as Interim Pastor again.  Praying for GOD's design and direction.

Mostly tranquil hike.  A few gray squirrels scampering about but no whitetail deer observed.  Passerines were largely quiet. 

Hiked the complete Lakeshore Trail (in reverse).  One of my favorites.

Ramblr link for the hike

Quote of the Day -- 12/19/2014

"Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value." 

--Albert Einstein

Quote of the Day - 12/18/2014

"Maybe I can't stop the downpour, but I will always, always join you for a walk in the rain." 

- Unknown

Yellow Trail Swayback TOLA -- Hiking in the Rain

 

Hike: Yellow Trail Swayback Trail of Legends, Saturday, December 6, 2014, 10:06-12:10CST

Distance: 4.7 miles  Rating: 4.5/5.0  Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Cloudy with Sporadic rain showers.  Upper 60s to low 70s.  Calm.  Trails in good shape - some standing water after the rain.

Thoughts/Observations:  

I might be a little weird (okay maybe more than a little) but I enjoy hiking in the rain.  The sense of solitude is palatable during a forest downpour.  This time of year, the rain drops fall almost unimpeded to the leaf-covered floor raising a beautiful cadence.  Something about that sound is so soothing to my spirit.

A few birds were braving the rain to sing and at least one squirrel was scampering about after the rain slacked off.  Otherwise I had the trails to my self.

I couldn't help but appreciate the lyrics to Neil Sadaka's "Laughter in the Rain" playing on Sirus/XM as I left the trialhead.

Thank YOU, LORD, for the joy of YOUR creation; the new beginnings; and the refreshing of YOUR rain.

Ramblr Link for this hike.

Quote of the Day -- 12/4/2014

But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort — the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person — having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

 ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

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