My fellow foodies, which of you could not heartily agree with me that one of the best ways to spend at least part of a Memorial Day is with family in the glorious outdoors?

That’s what we did today.  I touched my computer, last at around 1, and I didn’t touch it till about 30 minutes ago.  🙂  I’d like to just share my day and share some really thankful thoughts I have at the end.

We left the house around 1 pm and arrived at Red Rocks at approximately 2:30.  In my (almost) 22 years of living in Colorado, I had never been to Red Rocks, and I am so glad we went.  We actually went because we were celebrating my sister’s 20th birthday.  We four sisters, hiked the whole circle, and I was in AWE at the amazing natural structures.  Incredible.

Look at all those layers!

I had to show social media I was there or how bad I am at taking selfies.  😀

‘Jiggety Jig.  Down the path we go…’  (Not to grandmother’s house this time.)

 

The stairs are incredible.  I started a race with my 2 younger sisters up the stairs.  My 14 year old sister and my 20 year old sister bested me, by … um… a lot.  ;-D  I admit to having ‘old knees’ which need lots of ‘babying.’

This view of the sky = AWESOME.

See the tough girl in the green tank top?  That’s my sis.

I got to wear the ‘Barefoot Mile’ t-shirt from Saturday’s walk.  My brother’s friend designed it!!!

So grateful for sisters that you can talk about anything with and who have shown the forgiveness and love of Christ to you for 21+ years.  I always wonder how they do it.

We climbed on trees.

And we also went to Baskin Robbins in a tiny little mountain town.  Going to icecream or just going out to eat… period used to really get me worried, especially if I didn’t know the calorie count.  I would be anxious all the way home from a restaurant and exercise it off as quickly as I stepped foot on the doorstep.

I didn’t need to do that anymore today.  I didn’t feel starved (like I should eat all the icecream in front of me), but I wasn’t anxious over any icecream I did eat.  I don’t say any of these things at all to boast, but I share them to encourage other girls who are struggling.  It was a long struggle for me, and it’s not quite over yet, but God has brought me a long way.  He has helped me to slow down and savor the icecream instead of eating it like it’s my last meal.  He has reigned me in to smell the roses, look at the red rocks, and talk to my loved ones, because those are the things that matter.

I’m grateful for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so we might have freedom, freedom to hike, eat icecream, read the Bible, and share beautiful places like Red Rocks with so many other people from Colorado and around the world.

What are you grateful for today?

How did you spend your Memorial Day?