How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God,

When I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy Hand hath made,

I see the stars,

I hear the mighty thunder,

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed; 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul,

My Savior God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art! 

 

Stuart K. Hine, 1899-1989 

 

Yesterday, I took the time to experience fall in the Wasatch Mountains.  Part of me longs to live elsewhere, just for the experiences such a change would bring.  But, as I climbed higher and higher and looked out over the magnificent mountains, I repeatedly thought I cannot believe I live in this beautiful place!

 

I hiked by myself on purpose.  This was the first time since the leaves began to change this year that I have made it to the mountains. I wanted to see them up close.  I wanted to meander through them, looking closely, picking out the ones I loved most.  I wanted to be above them and look down.  And I wanted to do this uninterrupted.

I've had many emotions running through me the last two months with so many changes happening in my life.  I have felt much peace through it all, even though I still feel like I'm adjusting and getting settled and organized.  Hiking Grandeur Peak yesterday took me to a place for which I've been longing.  So much peace comes from being alone in the midst of God's creations.

 

As I approached this colorful opening, I recalled a few lines of the hymn, I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go

 

"But if, by a still, small voice he calls to paths that I do not know, 

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: 

I'll go where you want me to go"

 

I've been studying the hymns, their origins, and the meaningful doctrine in my institute class this semester.  I find myself singing them with more passion, more conviction, and in so many more places.  Yesterday was a testimony of the words I sing so often.

Only by the powers of heaven are we able to enjoy, to bask in, to appreciate the miraculous creations on the earth.

How grateful I am to live in such a beautiful place and to experience His creations so closely.

I can't imagine having spent my day any better.

 

Fall Beauty

Monday morning, as I was driving to work, I actually opened my eyes and realized just how beautiful the drive to work is these days.  All too often I forget to look around while I drive.  Instead, I'm watching for cops to show out of no where or I am anxiously waiting for the light to turn green after the slow driver in front of me has finally turned right.  But this day, beauty could not be hid.

Sunday night's windy rain/storm created the most beautiful natural sight.  The leaves had blown off the trees and were scattered across the road, some still in the trees, and the mountain tops were tipped with the first light snow of the season.  From where I was driving I could see the mountain tops through the tree lined street.  I drove it again on my lunch break.  Unfortunately, by the time I was finally able to break away from work, the leaves had blown back to the side of the road by the wind of the passing cars and the morning light was no longer glistening off the snow.  But the sight was still picture worthy.

Utah really is a beautiful place!

Fall Ride

Last year, after our bishopric changed, I found myself riding through Dimple Dell on the back of a beautiful horse!  My bishop has several horses and felt like it would be the best way to get to know my presidency... He was right.  Well, the last year has been full of fun and exciting things, including two of my presidency members getting married.  This, of course, resulted in two new members!

Now it is fall again, and Bishop has a few more presidency members to know better.  Oh how I love the perks to my calling!  Again, we took his horses to Dimple Dell and rode through the beautifully changing leaves.  There is nothing that compares to the excitement I feel when I can just ride.

Unfortunately, not all my presidency was able to make it.  Mandy's right foot has been in a cast since August following a bad wakeboarding accident and Annie got called into some last minute meetings for her job.  But for those of us that went, we had a wonderful time!

(L to R): Elizabeth, Shelisa, me, Bishop's wife