Photo Credit: Nathan

Upon arrival to our little mountain town, we stop for the freshest spring water that runs uninterrupted. We fill jugs and water bottles for a few days’ supply. Crystal Springs is our first stop, and we frequent it on numerous walks during our stay.

The old ski road is as bumpy a ride as ever! The cabin is waiting for us on the right. Plain and tall, it’s large door stands locked. We’re the first to break the winter fast, and no doubt, fill it with all manner of happy sounds! First things first, the children pick a flag, and Nathan raises it high over the top deck. We often see this flag peering amid the trees on our hikes.

Photo Credit: Nathan

Making and filling the humming bird feeders in another first day ritual. Nathan and Eva follow a recipe for “juice” (sugar water) that will keep the humming birds busy at the three feeders. Ruby Throated and bronze Rufus had been watching in the pine trees, no doubt. The “honeybirds,” as Nora calls them, buzz by so close to us the instant Nathan hangs the feeders!

A hike to Big Rock, which is a large boulder out-crop about 500 ft. in elevation above the cabin, is the most celebrated and anticipated tradition. Nathan reads a Psalm at the summit, but this year we recited Psalm 121.

Unload, unload, and unload some more – we’re ready to call it a day, except, of course, a visit to the outhouse. Nathan says that a visit to the outhouse makes you fit for the mountains (no, thanks!).

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

with love. Damaris