The Mountains

"Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains…" ~Psalm 36:6

"I look up to the mountains - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth."  ~Psalm 121:1-2

I love being in the mountains.  It is soothing to my soul to be surrounded by God's majestic creation.  After being in the mountains I feel so refreshed and rejuvenated.

We spent the weekend in the mountains.  While driving out to Banff yesterday, it was raining quite heavily and we couldn't even see the mountains as we drove.  I wasn't sure that the day would be what we hoped as we drove.  However, as we got into the park, the rain stopped.  The clouds still hung around and the day started off cool but as the day went on, the clouds lifted and the sun began to shine as it warmed up.

We spent some time walking around Banff townsite and checking out some of the shops and from there walked the path to Bow Falls.  We spent some time down at the falls, throwing rocks into the river as the kids (and Terry) always like to do.  There was still quite a bit of snow and ice on the river so we could walk out quite far.  There were lots of people out enjoying the day.  After walking back into Banff, we went for a late lunch/early supper, stopped for chocolate (because you can't go to Banff and not get chocolate from The Fudgery) and then drove up to Mount Norquay where we tubed for a couple of hours.  It was so much fun!  I was worried that Kirra would be scared as you really get going quite fast on the tube ride, but she loved it.  It was fun laughing and yelling as we flew down the hill.  We went joined together in twosomes and as a family.  And Kirra even went by herself.  Jaret loved going by himself because the woman working at the top would spin him and he would spin all the way down the hill.  It was a full day.

Unfortunately, we didn't get out skiing as much as we had hoped this winter.  So today was the day to get out and enjoy more of the mountains and some skiing.  The drive out was much different than yesterday with sunshine and a clear view of the mountains.  It was the first time I had skied in over ten years and I got to try out my new skies.  Kirra had a tough start and so it was soon decided that we needed to put her in a ski lesson; also allowing the rest of us time to ski.  I am so grateful that we decided on a lesson as she had improved quite a bit in the hour and a half.  And since she learned to do "pizza," Terry decided after the day of skiing that we would have Boston Pizza for supper.  Jaret did well with skiing and we skied quite comfortably together for the afternoon.  In fact, there were times I was trying to keep up to him as he likes to be speedy.  But he has also done well at getting his turns down and being in control.  I look forward to Kirra's skill improving so we can all ski together.