Hiking Season is on it's way!

The training has begun!!! Arizona is so beautiful and a wonderful place to hike! It is wonderful to be married to a man who is a native to Arizona and loves this state and loves to be outdoors like me.  Last year we got into hiking too late in the season and was only able to go three or four weekends in a row. This year I plan to go a lot more. And last year I was wearing my tennis shoes I've had for about six years. (that should tell you how awful they are and had no traction). This year I am preparing early! Saved up money I've made from doing hair for new hiking shoes and a CamelbaK!  So two weekends ago we went to look at the camelbak I've been saving up for and I wear it around the store and it is awesome, so of course I'm going to buy it! And then we looked at hiking shoes, and I can't go home empty handed when shoe shopping!!! The following weekend I want to start breaking in my shoes, so Travis and I go on a mini hike on the Superstition mountain. We decided to do a late afternoon hike (it is beautiful to watch the sun set). We go to Quick-Trip to pick up our water and snacks! Travis shows me how to fill my camelbak (already rinsed and cleaned it at home) and then we set off to the mountain. The sun is already beginning to set and we set off on our mini hike. The weather was beautiful it was about 103 degrees out but you wouldn't have even know. And there was a slight breeze. It was a lot of fun hiking and talking. we then reached the end of our mini hike and sat at the bench on the path. and watched the sun go down. then we began walking back and I got my headband flashlight out and lit the way back. It was a great way to break in my shoes. They still need to be broken in. But it was a good start.  I've been preparing for the hiking season by continuing to do P90X. Hiking mountains has really been a great motivator for me to get fit and healthy. I highly enjoy being outdoors and it is fun to be out in nature and enjoying it. The cardio and the weight training has really helped me to improve my hiking abilities. I didn't get winded and I was extremely energized. Very glad hiking season has begun! And my goal is to hike to the very top of Siphon Draw!!!

Hiking! Second weekend in a row!

Hiking! Ya! Second weekend in a row! It has been wonderful to be out in nature the last two weekends. Sunday is our usual hiking day, this past Sunday we were coming home from a camping trip so we decided to go on Monday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. It is perfect hiking weather. This weekend we went to our regular mountain, Superstition Springs, and decided to do Siphon Draw.



This is my least favorite hike. (because of my fear of heights, this terrifies me). Anyway, we made it up the trail of Siphon Draw and went even further than last year. It felt like a real improvement for me to be able to go further and go even higher. As you pass the Siphon Draw trail you then do a lot more of climbing over rocks and it is quite the experience. Travis calls me an "emotional Talker" because as we climbed further up the more emotional my speech got and how I was scared and this is not fun.  When we climbed back down and got back to our truck it was dark, we sat in the bed of the truck and looked at the mountain we had just conquered.



It felt great, I then turn to Travis and said, "with all said and done, that was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed the hike and all the animals we saw. I know I was being a pain as we got higher up but now that it is over I feel fine." He turns to me and says, "like I said, you are an emotional talker!" And I understood what he meant by it. =)



Dancing with JimBob



So one story I forgot to mention when we reached the highest part there was a bee/fly thing like creature! And no joke it kept following me. At first JimBob (the creature's name) really freaked me out! And then I realized he was my guide. A guide bug. Because he would surround me then go to Travis and then back to me. He kept flying between Travis and I. And no joke he followed me down the entire mountain!!!! I have the picture where JimBob and I are dancing.

 

 

 



Laughing at me because I swore I never made it this far last time, but then I remembered I had



 



Letter to God

 Dear God,

There are always many questions that come to my mind throughout the day. Of course now as I say that none come to mind. On the other hand when I walk outside and feel the sun on my face I feel your kiss upon my cheek. As I walk barefoot in the grass I feel your hands tickle my feet! When I am in nature I strongly feel your presence and love! The wind your breath. The rain your tears. These tears are many things, tears of happiness, joy, love and occasionally sadness. Mainly tears of love, love for me as well as all your creations. All things are created out of love. The woods I find refuge and peace. The sky I find answers so clear and all so bright. The stars are my guide that help lead me in the path I choose. The love that sparkles through starlight and reaches the depths of my soul.

This letter I write to you is to let you know I feel of your love and light and appreciate your many signs of love.

Lacey Jo

Yes...it is True...



BlueRed



Issy watching her new friends









BlueRed and Gary



RoundTail



Yes it is true Travis and I have welcomed new additions to our little family! We got FISH! I didn't think I could love fish, but I do! A lot, nothing like sitting and staring at them watching them swim. We have a Betta, 6 forms of tetras 3 of each kind, a snail, and a mollie.

BlueRed and Harold spend a lot of time together

The betta is a blue/red color, so Travis named him BlueRed. I named the mollie Harold. The first three tetras that look the same can be told apart by some features, one has a round tail the other two with pointed tails are different by one has a little dot and one has a big dot. So I ask Travis, now that we can tell them apart what should we name them, his response, "we just named them, we have RoundTail, Little Dot and Big Dot." And the names have really stuck. I names our snail, Gary (like from SpongeBob). And the other three fish that look a like are whatever I feel like calling them that day. So usually Zipper, Speedy and Stiper.  I love my fishies! We set up our tank and have to wait three weeks until we can put live plants in it. So one week down two more to go. Travis decorated the tank with some amazing stones he has gathered while on his field trips for Geology!




Smokey Quartz



Zipper and Striper







He recently went on a field trip to Tuscon and brought me back some amazing stones!!!



Fluorite





The three stones Travis brought back for me



Issy loves the stones too





Azurite



The Power of Meditation

"Spirituality and materialism coexist. It is the mind and attitude which decide which attracts more, and to what extent"

The past week has been dedicated to working on meditation. Things to keep in mind is to have a clean space to meditate in. A quiet and comfortable area where you feel safe. My meditation area is in my room. I have a prayer rug where I sit and listen to ocean waves and let my mind come to stillness and where I can just relax and become one with my Source.

"Meditating on an event that is going to happen, and visualizing it as you want it turn out, have the power to mould it according to your thought."

"When you have a problem, meditate on it and the answer will come, during the meditation or afterwards."

The above quote is what has been my meditation practice. Focusing on a problem or even pondering a question. It has been very enlightening and inspiring. With each day take at least 20 minutes to meditate and become grounded.

Peace and Love