I love to ask people who are embarking on something new what their hopes and dreams are for this adventure. It often catches them off guard. I asked my kids what their hopes and dreams were for our vacation. With a little trepidation, of course, because it might not be in the plans. Ben's dreams were to go see the Rockies play at Coors Field (a post for another day, which he already knew about), and to climb a mountain. Hmmm. He didn't really have a grasp of how big those mountains were, and the impact of altitude, but I filed that one away.
When we reached the summit of Trail Ridge Road, the scenic loop through the park,
the kids turned and saw a trail going up a nearby peak, and asked if they could go.
It was well above the timber line, and the gently sloping trail was clearly marked,
so I knew this was Ben's chance to climb to the top.
Soon...
they both reached the top of the world
and disappeared out of sight.
Which was when my mom guilt got the better of me.
I mean, they weren't going to fall off a cliff or anything, but still.
I couldn't see them.
So I headed up the trail,
(being the parent of less altitudinal affect),
(and the parent with actual concern that anything could go wrong),
until over the top came this. big. grin.
Followed a few minutes later by a slightly winded sister who really just wanted to get down to the van.
What did Ben want? He wanted to be photographed at the actual TOP.
So off we went. Unable to see just how far away that was. But hey. I was still in my forties.
Love.
I can't actually remember what Bethany's dream for her trip was. It probably involved swimming. I knew something she didn't know. I had bigger dreams than she had imagined. (I think God feels that way frequently!) Here she is, so excited and waiting for the big moment.
It was an unforgettable way to witness purple mountains' majesty.
Truly.
