Here's a photo of the kids with my parents when we went to visit them in Twentynine Palms about six weeks ago. Does anyone else besides me feel a little weird about visiting the old home town? Of course, I grew up in a smaller town than most. The town is growing up though...even though part of me expects to run into the same people at the same places, it's a whole new city in many ways, and all the new stores feel a little out of place. It feels even more foreign to me now since my parents haven't lived in the house I grew up in for several years.
I love seeing the kids explore the little city. This trip, I took them into the Joshua Tree National Park (which will always be the National Monument in some part of my mind) and we explored rock climbing in Indian Cove campground area. We looked at plants and bushes, chased a few iguanas, watched lizards and birds evade us, and tried to catch sight of some other creatures. We discovered the "magic spot" that I had to stand in to receive a Verizon signal. We stood nearby as braver souls than us climbed up sheer rock facings with grace and enthusiasm. I remembered coming up to this campground as a youth for family and church gatherings, for occasional camping, and lots of rock climbing.
We decided to head back there in the fall and set up camp, soaking up what will be by then a little welcome warmth, and lay back under the tremendous stars overhead and count our blessings. I remember my first feelings of closeness to God coming under those magnificent desert stars. It was then that I learned to taste of humility and dependence upon God, though it's taken me all this time and I still haven't got the lesson down perfectly yet. I'm a slow learner I guess.
Love and hugs to all!
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