Mount Rainier

Ok, now that we're all tracking, time for a real post.

No picture I've seen has done Mount Rainier justice. Ok, granted my camera is kind of sucky with long distance shots, but even the pictures that Heather takes with her awesome camera just don't match up to the natural beauty I've seen on the clear days we've had lately. So while this picture is mostly of the landscape surrounding the army hospital, in the distant faded background is the majestic Mount Rainier.

Its such a shock whenever I see it because most of the days here feature pretty cloudy skies, so it takes me by surprise when I walk out of a building, casually glance up and see this huge Everest-looking mountain where before there was only haze. It makes me do a double take. The mountain gives off an even more impressive air than other famous mountains, I think, because there are seriously close to zero mountain ranges surrounding it. When you look in its direction, everything is flat around it and leading up to it, and then all of the sudden, WHOOM! Huge landmass.

Also, in real life, you can see so much more of the detail of the mountain than the pictures let you see. You see ridges and steep cliffs and snow build-up and even the glaciers that climb up the entire side of the mountain. After the initial shock-and-awe, I usually get a slightly wistful urge to buy climbing gear and crampons and go climb the mountain and make like an Everest expedition. Although usually if I get the urge to go that far then I go all the way and dream about actually climbing Everest.

I read a book last winter that my sister couldn't stop talking about, called The Kid Who Climbed Everest, by Bear Grylls, who was 23 when he summitted the monster. The book totally gave me wanderlust. Or mountain climbing-lust. So whenever I see Mount Rainier, my mind wanders to images I have seen or read about men climbing through ice falls or inching over crevasses. I wonder if Heaven will have exciting adventures like this? I wonder why God gave us such a longing for adventure and exploration....how exactly are we supposed to use it for His glory?

Georgie had a little visit to the doctor today so that what's left of her umbilical cord could be checked out. Its looking ok, giving us a little trouble because its not drying out quite like or as quickly as it should, but the doctor wasn't too concerned. Other than that, all's well and happy!

Guys, I just looked at the above photo again and am totally ashamed that this is the photo I present to you. Trust me, the mountain is worthy of the grandeur of my words about it!! Google it or something.