As iron sharpens iron...

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." 

When I was in college, my best friend began "going out" with the big-man-on-campus (BMOC).  I call it "going out" because none of us that I can recall dated seriously, for we were not at the place in life to begin courtship for marriage.   He was the worship leader and teaching leader.  He was spiritually grounded and had a smile that drew a following.  I always viewed him like a big brother or mentor.  While my friend/roommate was going out with BMOC, I had the privilege of going on double-dates with them and one of his friends.  Our times together were tons of fun, but more importantly, I always come home feeling spiritually encouraged.  There is just something uniquely inspiring about spending time with brothers and sisters in Christ who have that faith connection that seems stronger than the tightest earthly familial bonds.

After college we all went our separate ways, though I did spend an afternoon with BMOC in another state when he was supposedly just passing through to visit family.  However, I am convinced he had a divine appointment to meet me as an answer to a desperate prayer for intervention in a circumstance in my life.  I suspect that meeting also played a part in paving the way for my beloved husband and I to meet again, so I owe BMOC much gratitude. (Gift #421)

BMOC and I never had any romantic intentions toward one another, so let me make that clear.  But I knew that as much I liked and respected my best friend in college, the one gal out of the sea of options he chose to take out, I would absolutely adore whoever eventually become his wife. And indeed I do.  Our families reconnected for the first time since before either of us had married last winter.  They were fabulous hosts, and we were amused to discover than we each got married the same year and that our two children were the same ages as theirs.  That same connection I felt back in college was instantly there, despite the 15 or more years of zero communication, and his lovely wife seemed as close as my best friend from college. They have spent all these years in humble ministry service just as I expected he would.

We had the opportunity to return some hospitality when they were passing through our city this past spring, and we just returned from a weekend together in the mountains.  Our kids got along wonderfully, and we marveled as we watched each set of  kids grow in the Lord simply by spending time together.  The same can be said for us adults.  How sweet it is to experience the edification of the body of Christ. (Gift #422)

Anyway, I share all this as a means of counting my blessings (#1000Gifts) and as a reminder to seek out and cherish fellowship with like minded followers of Christ while also actively seeking to build relationships with the lost. 

1 Thessalonians 5:10-12

¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

Here are some photos from our hiking, gem panning, and feasting adventures in the mountains:

My biggest disappointment during this hike was seeing the forests filled with barren gray blotches where pine trees have died.  Some attribute the pine tree deaths to pollution while others note various insect blights.  Either way, Erwin's view especially was an eyesore with all that death mingled between the colors.  The view contrasted dramatically from my childhood memories of this place and served as a depressing omen of the downward decline of our country.  The stench of death, corruption, greed, and out of control spending which will burden generations after us with unsustainable debt loads no one can carry burned my nostrils.

The government shutdown meant that we could get in and out of God's beautiful landscapes on foot, but we could not bring our vehicles on the property or access any facilities.  Some in our party had to use the woods as their restroom.  Someone was paid to turn off all the water fountains, but that did not deter the large crowds from visiting that weekend.  Had the visitors' center been open, the Fed could have made a nice profit on souvenirs and such.  And had security been available, rebellious teens (and adults who forgot to grow up) would not have taken the opportunity to camp out in the park overnight.

Our kids have been begging to go pan for gems since our rock field trip with our home school co-op last year.  So we finally stopped off by a touristy place along the road.  As much as our daughter begged for the $500 wheel barrel, she had to settle for the $32 bucket which all the kids shared.  They each took home at least a dozen decent sized gems, so everyone seemed content enough...until...our daughter realized she never found her birthstone in her stash.  All she wanted was an aquamarine.  I suggested she try trading with the other kids there, but they didn't have what she wanted either.  So, I told her to barter with the lady at the counter.  Surely bartering was a key economic tool back in the days of the gold rush.  When my daughter asked to trade her best find for an aquamarine, the lady at the counter came back with a huge aquamarine, which she traded only for a smile.  Of course, then the other three kids had to try that trick as well, so all four kids left with a large sample of their respective birthstones.  You gotta love a generous, kind mountain lady with a tender heart toward kids. (Gift #423)

We loved that we could watch the kids on the resort playground from any of our 3 decks. (Gift #424)  Here is a view of them on the playground from the condo living room and pics of the family enjoying the paddle boats.   The resort also had miniature golf course the kids frequented as well.