Gary and Karl's Big Adventure Part 2

November 3, 2013 Blog – The continuing story. Now that I am home I wanted to keep remembering wonderful things about our mission and wonderful places in Kyiv. Welcome to Gary and Karl's Big Adventure Part Two.

Awareness. Another valuable thing that I learned on my mission. When we first arrived in Kyiv everything seemed so different. My daughter-in-law told me to write it all down because soon everything would seem ordinary. So I took pictures. I wrote it down. And I became constantly aware of everything around me.

Now that I am home I realize that there are a lot of things here that are just as unusual and beautiful and I have truly learned a new awareness. This week we drove down to Nevada to see family. The red mountains around St. George took on a new beauty to me. All of the beautiful flowers that were blooming are unique and beautiful as were the sunrises, the sunsets the people the birds, the trees and even the cacti.

Last week I was raking leaves in preparation for winter. I noticed the difference of all the leaves and realized how truly incredible that is. Some turn red, some turn yellow some turn orange and some brown. Their shapes, their colors, and their ability to endure. Even though the oak tree’s leaves are basically the same, I counted several really different patterns, whereas the Maple leaves all basically look the same. Oak leaves hang on a little longer than the ash leaves and the Russian Olive are truly the most persistent. Isn’t it wonderful that God has given us so much variety in every creation to make our lives more interesting. I’m sure you have all noticed these things also but have you really thought about the majesty of it all?

I am grateful for my new awareness in everything around me. I am truly in awe of all God’s creations. I hope I never let these things become ordinary or take them for granted again.