Beautiful, Beautiful World

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

It is amazing to think that our Lord created the earth we live in just six days.

I don't think that you have to travel the world to see the awesome beauty of what the Lord created. However, it helps if you have the opportunity to! I was able to visit Europe when I was in high school, where about 50 or so of us were able to tour England, Ireland and Scotland. It was a fabulous trip, but being in high school and younger, I don't remember a lot of the trip or cherishing the time that I spent there. Although, I do remember how gorgeous and green Ireland was -- and the food was actually delicious. And, yes, we did eat at McDonald's in Dublin, Ireland! Trey also took the same high school senior trip where he visited France and Spain.

By the grace of God, a little more than two years ago while dabbling in a sweepstakes hobby, I actually won a bicycling trip to France. It was a shock receiving an email that said we had won a trip for two to the area of Provence in France! Parker was 7 months old at the time we found out we won and we really debated whether we should leave him to go overseas or not. Boy, are we glad that we did! We think about this trip often and always joke that we would move there in an instant (we seriously would!).


What made it even more of a cherished memory is that we didn't just hop in a car and drive around France -- we were on a bike! Even though I was deathly afraid of going top speed down the small mountain roads on my bike (I got cramps in my hands from braking so much -- boy that Lance sure makes it look easy!), it was all erased by the smell of a crisp apple orchard or a grape vineyard that you can see for miles. Definitely like something I had never experienced before. The sweet, refreshing smell of just made lavendar soap displayed neatly in little packages and the bags and bags of spices lining the tables at the weekly French markets is a favorite memory.


One time when we were about to make our last part of the trip into another quaint town, I was just by myself on a long stretch of road in the French countryside. I literally remember the feel of the wind on my skin and the distinct smell of clean, fresh air. I get goosebumps thinking about it - it was so surreal! I go back to this place often when I think of the beauty that the Lord created. It's a beautiful memory when I need to escape the concert jungle of freeways and buildings that clog the beauty of the world around us.




"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." (1 Corinthians 29:11)

There was no eating at McDonald's for us on this trip. It was top-of-the-line gourmet French food the whole way. All of it was absolutely fabulous. Even the road side picnics that we had after a few hours on the bike were so good! Crusty French bread, pasta with tomatoes and chunks of mozerella cheese, lots of olives and melt in your mouth French chocolate. And, of course, just about every meal (which were always four or five course) began with trays and trays of cheese -- some of it a little too smelly for me!

I feel so blessed to have been able to go on this journey. In our everyday struggles, it is so easy to forget the beauty of the Lord in the things that he created -- to stop and take in this wonderful land that he made for us to enjoy.


Even though we are not of this world, we are in this beautiful world. Praise be to God for all his majesty!