Simple Beauty

We’ve been enjoying the beautiful Wallowas this week. Twenty years ago I was in this area and always wanted to return and finally, I’m back and it’s as lovely as I remembered. There’s a saying, “you must go east to find west,” meaning the eastern parts of both Washington and Oregon are more western: cowboys, cattle, working barns and horses are more common east of the Cascades than the west. People in the west are more inclined to wear Birkenstocks, drink espressos, and listen to NPR. Those in the east wear cowboy boots and jeans, listen to country music, and drink regular brewed coffee.

This morning we took the tram up to the top of Mt. Howard at 8100 feet. A gain of 4000 feet from the valley floor up the sides of the mountains where tall pines cling. It tickled my tummy as we swung up the sides of the mountain. Each time we passed tower cable gears, the little tram car gave a lurch and I grabbed the center pole. The views were stunning and worth the nervousness I felt.

On top, we were hungry and treated ourselves to a breakfast of eggs, sausage, hash browns and english muffins, washed down with coffee.

It was delightful, sitting atop the mountain, gazing at the skies and enjoying our food. We laughed at the ground squirrels so used to humans they scamper right up to us.

We hiked on top of the mountain on well groomed trails and came to the flight deck for hang gliders, their jumping off point. The skies were indigo blue, clear and unpolluted.

When it cools down here on the valley floor near Wallawa Lake, clouds puff up and give beautiful formations to the all-blue skies. There are tall, dark green pines with black rough bark poking holes in the sky. Looking up at them makes you dizzy. The temps are moderately warm in the daytime, but evenings are cool. We try to wear a jacket to keep comfortable.

It has been nearly 35 months since Jim asked me out the first time, and I shake my head with wonder and surprise. The time has gone by so quickly! We’ve been married nearly three years and are both still very much in love. We thank God daily for His gift of our love and that we are together.
As we walk, we talk with others but find our company together so delightful, we really don’t need anyone else. My dread is that one of us will be called to heaven and I fear the day if I’m the one left behind. We often say, sometimes me, sometimes Jim, “Please don’t leave me!” Of course we know neither of us has any control over the situation, but we say it anyway. Both of us have said final good-byes to previous mates— I’ve said it twice. That influences how we treat each other. We don’t miss opportunities to tell one another we love each other. We nearly always kiss goodbye when the other one goes on an errand. We don’t leave apologies unsaid. We’ve learned how quickly things can change and we may not have another chancec

Even after nearly three years of marriage, both of us still delight in our mornings together. Jim gets up first to make the coffee. I slowly wake up, and make the bed while the coffee’s brewing. Then we sit together on the sofa—in the summer it’s the one by the back window so we can look outside; on cooler, dark mornings, it’s in front of the gas fireplace. We cozily sit and drink our coffee, I write down our prayer requests, we read from our chosen devotional book for this year, One Year of the Psalms by William J. and Randy Petersen. We also read a portion of the New and Old testaments. As we read aloud, I’ll write down a verse or phrase that catches my attention and speaks to me. We talk about it. Then we pray—conversationally to God together. Jim will speak a sentence, then I will. It is a holy moment with the three of us. Yes, three:  Jesus, Jim, and me. Then we plan our day. It seems like it’s always full of things to do. Sometimes together, sometimes not. We come back together in the early evening for happy hour. That’s what we call it. The hour before dinner. We might watch TV, we might have a friend, or just ourselves where we have a glass of wine or soda. Then we fix a simple meal.

When it’s time to sleep, we reluctantly say goodnight, and hold each other tight—as though that will keep us together longer—before sleep overcomes us.

Our lives are simple, yet some would say not-so-simple and a gift from God. Thank you, dear Lord for the gift of marriage. And love. And second chances. We are blessed.