Memorial Day

I don’t recall, in my life, ever having been a part of any Memorial Day ceremony. Maybe I have, and I've just forgotten.

At any rate, Auburn has an event of this sort each year. I KNOW I haven't been to the one in Auburn, and this year I decided to go.

I’ll admit I had double motives. I needed a project for which I could shoot some video and brush up on my editing skills before starting my new job at The Alexander City Outlook next week. I thought Memorial Day might provide some great footage.

Unfortunately, I was nearly thwarted by my own lack of preparation. Here's a helpful hint for you: never assume your technology will always be ready and waiting for you. Ten minutes before time to leave, I decided to give my camera and video camera a once over.

Camera battery: dead. Video camera battery: dead.

I gave them a quick charge for ten minutes and then bolted.

Camera in tow, I walked on the scene at the intersection of Glenn Avenue and ... some other road. Ross, I think. The police had the streets blocked off, and several dozen people were gathered in the heat to observe Memorial Day.

The ceremony was much shorter than I had expected. Nevertheless, I was able to get some video and stills and pull together a project.

Sadly, I have been unable to figure out how to upload it to this blog. I think I must not have chosen the best method for exporting, because the file size is much too large to be compatible with anything.

So, if you want to see my one-minute photo/video slideshow, I guess you'll have to just come visit me and check it out on my laptop.

For now, you can enjoy a few of my still shots I incorporated into my project.

Memorial Day. It’s one of the three days out of the year when the nation puts a collective effort toward honoring our military (the other two being Independence Day and Veterans Day). This being the case, my dear fiancé decided to open a big slimy can of worms on Facebook by asking what part patriotism/nationalism has in the life of a Christian.

As you can imagine, the query elicited some varied comments, though not heated, I’m thankful to say.

In case you’re curious, I will give you my take on it.

I think there can be a place for patriotism in the life of a Christian, as long as love of country does not overshadow love of God and man in general (cf “the first and greatest commandment” and “the second is like unto it,” Matt. 22:36-40).

There can be a lot of different facets to this discussion, and I don’t really want to go as deep into it as whether it’s a sin to be in the military or whether or not all governments are from God.

What I will say is this.

I am proud to be an American, but I am blessed to be a Christian.

I love this land, but there’s an even greater Land of the Free where I hope to go someday. The USA is beautiful, but that Place is –out of this world.–

I am grateful to the men who have fought and died and are still fighting and dying to protect my freedom from oppression by other nations, and I pray that God will protect them. But I owe everything to the Man who didn’t fight and died to give me ultimate freedom from oppression by the Devil. They protect my life, but He protects my soul.

Paul advertised his nationality as a Roman, but he valued his citizenship in Heaven (Acts 22, Phil. 3:20). Memorial Day may only come once a year, but the day for memorializing our Savior, Sunday, comes every week. Let us always keep our priorities in order!

Summer Saturday

It's been a while since I had a completely free Saturday, so I knew I wanted this one to be special. The question was how to spend it. I didn't want to waste the beautiful weather so I decided to have a "backyard adventure" at Chewacla State Park.

Chewacla is just minutes from my apartment, and it's full of fun and beauty. I started my morning there with a picnic lunch at the base of the waterfall. A ham sandwich and grapes and cookies just tastes so much better outdoors.

The waterfall area was a bit crowded, so after my picnic I moved downstream a little to a more private area.

I was just enjoying it, but thinking about this blog and wishing pictures had sound, so you could all experience the rush of the water and the crickets...

Then I remembered that I had the ability to shoot and upload video. So, for your listening pleasure:

I couldn't resist slipping into my flip flops and wading a bit in the cool water. I thought about wading all the way down the river, but concern for my iPhone and camera led me to eventually continue on foot.

Though I've been to Chewacla at least half a dozen times, I've never hiked beyond this wading spot. It was so nice. Quiet. I saw a lot of great wildlife!

These little beauties were everywhere!

I wasn't quick enough to get pictures of the lizards, but I did almost step on this little guy.

Love these pretty purple flowers, though I don't know what they're called.

After my hike, I headed back to the base of the waterfall for a snack. Oatmeal creme pie, diet mountain dew and people-watching—great way to end my one-mile hike! The waterfall was less crowded, so I snapped this photo for you guys:

As I headed back up from the waterfall, I noticed a little side trail I had never seen before. It looked out over which the body of water from which the waterfall flows, and it was there that I saw them: the paddle boats. I knew I had to rent one. Half an hour and $5 later, I had my own little paddle boat.

The boat-renter guy was a bit dubious about me taking one out alone, but I handled it pretty well! It's easier to paddle with two, but I still enjoyed myself. It was nice to put forth a little physical exertion that had nothing to do with schoolwork or journalism. I must have looked pretty rough when I got back though, because Mr. Boat-Renter Guy offered me a bottle of water.

I had a great day. Chewacla has a lot more to offer than I had the energy to enjoy in one day, so I definitely want to go back soon with my sweetie. Maybe we can take out a canoe or enjoy a game of tennis or Frisbee...maybe one day we could even rent one of the little cabins and hike some more of the trails.

The best part is, I had almost a whole Saturday of entertainment for only $8 dollars, not counting the price of groceries for my picnic lunch. Cheaper than a movie or bowling. Cheaper than the zoo or an aquarium or something, especially considering how far I'd have to drive to find something like that. And I had loads of fun!

It just goes to show you—you can have a fun adventure, right in your own backyard.

Past the future

I have been an alumna of Auburn University for two and a half days, and I gotta tell you ... It feels good.

It's strange though. Four years ago, I never could have imagined I would be where I am today. Oh, the graduated-from-college thing, sure, I could have imagined that. But when I think about all I have accomplished in the last four years, it's kind of amazing.

I've traveled to London. I've worked as a counselor at summer Bible Camp. I've had my faith tested, and come out better on the other side. I've gotten engaged. I've made friends, lost friends, and made new friends—some of the best I've ever had.

I feel like I've really grown into myself. Seventeen years of organized education has led me to where I am today.

And it's a pretty wonderful place to be.

I feel so blessed. So blessed by the opportunities God has afforded me—the things He's allowed me to learn, the places He's allowed me to go, the people He's allowed me to meet.

And now ... everything changes. Of course, things are always changing. But right now I feel like my life is two unequal halves: everything that has been up to now, and everything that will be from here on out. 

But then again, isn't that always the division of life?

I'm now in what a few years ago was a dizzying, fuzzy abstract: 

The Future

And now still more future lies ahead. I suppose I'm rambling now, but just looking at where the past few years has brought me, makes me that much more excited about where the next few years will take me. So I ask you join me on a journey that will take us past the future.

———

In other news, I think I've avoided writing much because I wasn't sure my life was really exciting enough to write about. I don't want this blog to become an online journal. Rest assured you will never see posts like this:

Today I woke up and had a scone and bacon and strawberries for breakfast. They were so delicious. I decided to sit down and update my blog before work; I think I'll try to squeeze in a bubble bath before I head to Opelika to interview some Relay for Life volunteers.

Although it's all true, I'm not sure it's exciting enough for a blog. The only two blogs I currently follow are my friend Rachel's—who is chronicling her new life in New Zealand—and my friend Emily's—whose travel blog is currently filling up with stories of Iceland.

Compared to that, my bubble bath is hardly adventurous.

But I want to welcome you to my world of Backyard Adventures. We all have stories that seem more interesting to those who weren't here to share them with us. So from now on, I will be searching out and sharing the adventures of my life. 

Stay tuned, and please feel free to share backyard adventures of your own!