Living in the NOW

Lake solitude 

Zeke: take my picture! 

Monday mornings you'll find me sitting at my computer hitting refresh on my gmail page every 30 seconds. Waiting for Luke to get online. Hopefully I can get a few exchanges with him before he's out of time. We went hiking yesterday and when we got to the lake at the top, I asked, "what would Luke be doing now?" Answers were, building a dam, a cairn, exploring the cave, or the cliff wall. Anything but sitting still, like I was. I'm trying to be more present. Live in the moment, unconcerned with past or future. It's very difficult for me. Mostly because I have a hard time quieting my mind. It always wants to think about what's next, or dwell on something that has been. I identify with my mind, and yet, that's not who I am. I am not my thoughts. 

I think God is in the present. Time does not exist for Him. There is only the now. When we can still our minds and just BE still, then we can experience His presence. I've had a few glimpses into that stillness. My goal is to be there always. 

I'm reading A Course in Miracles right now. It's really pushing me. Intellectually, spiritually, mentally. I'm gaining a whole new understanding of the atonement through it, and it's amazing. 

Anyway, still no Luke online. I'm waiting for the day when I don't miss him so much. But there I go again, dwelling on the past and the future instead of focusing on the now. 

Missing one big, size 11 Chaco. 

Tess and Kate got henna tattoos at the community festival. Kate's so dark tho-- hers barely shows. 

Bonneville Salt Flats

I've never seen the salt flats. Chris used to go out with his dad and look for old bottles for his moms collection, but none of the kids had seen it. Tess told me she wanted to see them, so I looked it up and thought the reviewers seemed impressed. I also found out there is a little Mexican dive at the exit, and used that as enticement for Chris to make the hour and forty five drive! He loves Mexican, I hate it, so we never go. The kids watched a movie there and took their RC cars hoping for a nice smooth place to drive them. It wasn't as smooth as I'd imagined. I guess they actually smooth out the salt before they race on it.

Zeke decided that pulling his car on a leash was easier than driving it remotely. Lol. 

Interesting fact, the flats used to be 2-3 ft thick, but now are only 2-3 inches thick. They used to have a 14 mile course for the speed races but now can only find about 7 miles of safe area. The source blamed industry for the decrease. The races may be cancelled this year due to poor conditions. 

We stayed about 20 min. Man, it's hotter out there than here! Zeke and Ella were mad we didn't stay longer, but it was hot and we were hungry. The Mexican was ok. They had cheeseburgers --thank goodness-- Ella and Zeke were threatening a hunger strike over the Mexican! Guess they inherited my distaste of that particular cultures food. 

Really cool place. Felt a bit like being on the moon, or another planet. You can drive your car out there and go as fast as you want. There were a few taking a spin. 

The drive home was another movie (would not have been a fun trip w/o movies!) long. It was a fun and different outing.