Growing up as a mid-western girl, I’m enjoying, astonished and overwhelmed with the western topography! The countryside is vast! There are such drastic changes in the landscapes. I have never been exposed to so much openness and ruggedness. In driving through North Western AZ on the way to CA, I have had the same thoughts impressed upon my mind every time we drive that way. The thoughts are different from each other, but consistently come to my mind.

• …What is man that thou art mindful of him…. Hebrews 2:6 or Psalms 8:4
  The heights of the cliffs and the depths of the canyons are so huge. I feel so little compared to this landscape. I stand in awe that the God who created all of this loves and cares for me. The drive always invokes increased appreciation for the love and care of God our Father.
• The land is so rugged and unwelcoming it leaves me wondering about our forefathers who traveled west by mule, wagon or horse. How they were able to traverse this rugged land leaves me amazed. I also ponder what motivated them against such obstacles. I wonder about the woman who made these journeys; about what their thoughts were and what their lives looked like. I believe a future reading topic will include women pioneers of the west. I would like to understand this experience from a woman’s point of view.

There are so many things about the west that interest me, I suspect I will be standing in awe many times and finding new things to research or read about for a long time. That means probably writing about it also.