Last Saturday, my husband and I decided to head out to a local wooded area to look for morel mushrooms. We started out at a little after 6:30 that morning and got to see the glorious sunrise together. Although we didn’t find what we were looking for, we had a wonderful time. In fact, about 10 minutes into our walk, I had forgotten the reason we were there. Besides the beautiful sunrise, we experienced animals waking up, as we were. We listened for different birds. We let the beauty of the woods and nature all around us just soak in. We climbed hills. (I might call them “steep cliffs”, but Jeff would tell you that I am being a little dramatic.) In fact, at one point, I mentioned how this early morning exercise made my heart beat strong and energized me. Jeff’s response, in his boisterous way, was- “Welcome to Jeff’s Wilderness Walk, a great adventure for all!” Have I mentioned how much this man makes me laugh? 
Anyway…a few really special things happened that morning. If we would have been looking down at the ground, searching for mushrooms, it’s likely we would have missed what we were really suppose to witness that day. Jeff showed me a huge rock and told me the story I have heard many times (but never enough) of he and Trevor climbing to the top of the rock several years ago. I looked all around that rock and couldn’t imagine how they climbed it. When we got around to the side so that Jeff could show me exactly where they went up, the sunshine fell perfectly among the trees, providing a radiant beam of light that warmed our hearts and soothed our souls. Oh, how we miss our son! We are so blessed with little reminders and signs of his life all around us. 
The only part of Saturday’s early morning walk in the woods that I might’ve forgotten (had I not found the beauty in it) was the fight against what we believe to be multi-flora rose bushes. Sharp thorns scratched my arms and legs. Avoiding them was next to impossible in some areas of the woods. Just when I felt like my little Dana-drama-whine might start taking over, I realized that without those little daggers, roses wouldn’t flourish. 
Isn’t that what our lives are like? Thorns may stun us for a certain amount of time, but we push through the sticks and scratches and keep moving through to find the beauty that lies ahead. And oh, there is so much beauty to behold if you take the time to notice it. Looks like rain this weekend, so we may not get an early morning walk, but I’m sure God will find another way to show us something magnificent.
A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9
danacox31 
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