We arrived to our Tucson destination on February 3rd where we will be serving with SOWERs at the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. What a delight to find that our RV site for the next three weeks backs up to the Pusch Ridge of the Catalina Mountains! I am writing this blog from our “porch” (concrete slab just outside our rig). A picture of our site is highlighted above and below.
I’ve been reflecting recently on the verse from Psalm 37:4 that says: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” One of my heart’s desires has always been—and continues to be—experiencing the beauty of creation. I’ve experienced a wellspring of joy when hiking along a northern Minnesota lake shore in the summer, or roaming the autumn-painted hills of New England this past fall, or trekking through a desert trail now in Arizona. I feel overwhelming gratitude when surrounded by creation.
Visiting National Parks is an obvious place to experience beauty. These parks are truly national treasures. On our journey to Tucson from Texas, we visited the White Sands National Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Even though rather stark, the contours of the white dunes were magnificent. Blown and chiseled by wind, the dunes evolve daily. The tenacity of the sparse vegetation was inspiring. The snow flurries dancing in the wind blended into the sea of white dunes.
Here in Tucson, we’ve already visited the Saguaro East National Park, enjoying a two-mile hike through the Saguaro Forest. Today we hiked in the Sabino Canyon, part of the Coronado National Forest. I found it rather curious that these areas are dubbed forests. However, as we’ve hiked, we’ve seen the stately saguaro cacti standing tall in groves, dotting the desert landscape; forest seems apropos. The variety of cacti has been astonishing. Twenty-five types of cacti grace this park. We plan to visit the Saguaro West National Park and the famed Arizona Sonora Desert Museum on Sunday.
The mountains here in Tucson are glorious and quite different from the Rockies. As a downhill skier who has visited Colorado many times in my life, my eyes are trained to see and admire snow-capped peaks. The southwestern climate apparently does not foster snow-capped ridges, at least not at this time of year. Still, there is beauty in the weathered rocks, canyons, and etched ridges of the Santa Catalinas, the Rincons, the Santa Ritas, and the Tucson mountains.
I hope the beauty I am sharing uplifts your spirit.
More adventures to come and beauty to behold! Come along for the ride!
What a beautiful experience. Yes, the SW is a very different type of beauty, isn’t it! Love the updates.
Wow – I too share your love for the Creator’s artistry in adorning the creation with incredible plants, animals, and yes, we humans – earth was a wonderful selection in the Universe to for God and the angels to give us an opportunity to live here – now I pray that part of each person’s ministry will include caring for earth with the love and kindness by embracing the lands, waters and air that we depend on in order to continue our life’s purpose and life’s work. Celebrating the beauty is celebrating our Creator’s gift and yet a reminder of how fragile it is.
I agree, Gary. As humans, we need to be stewards of the beauty that God has entrusted to us.
Don’t give up yet on the snow. There were times over the years, in February, when we donned our Minnesota boots and coats for a trip up Mount Lemon to see the locals playing in the snow!! I may have told you of the the time, while driving up Mount Lemmon, we saw a fully loaded pickup coming down, loaded with snow. We were bewildered. Checked on Google and lo and behold, it is commonplace for people to go up there when there’s snow and fill their trucks. They bring the snow back to Tucson and have snow parties!!! Enjoy your day!
I love the photos from the White Sands area. And the cactus are amazing. Skip looks pretty little next to some of them. Is it cold? You talked of snow. I love nature, too, and nothing soothes me more than God’s creation in nature. We will miss you at Scott and Karen’s brunch today for our leader’s group. Enjoy your time. You are blessed to be able to do this. What a nice way to start your retirement.
Gorgeous!!
I love how the different regions of the US have their own unique beauty. Thanks for sharing the beauty and wonder.
Love reading your blog and seeing your photos. How wonderful. I too love the outdoors in all seasons and places.
Enjoy it all.
So glad you are reading the blog, Barb. Looking forward to reconnecting in March!