Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
"Full atonement!" can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
"It is finished!" was His cry;
Now in heav'n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Last week at church, we sang one of my all time favorite hymns, Hallelujah! What a Savior! by Philip P. Bliss written in 1875. The Bible that is still "lost" had this song written among the songs I would like sung at my funeral. So in life and in death this will always be one of my favorites, sung here desiring to see my Savior face to face and sung seeing Him in full glory!

Trekking

Happy Labor Day!!!

The trekking through Broines Regional Park continues. By November 11th all the trails need to be completed. Today's hike was on beautiful trails with incredible scenery and sweet fellowship. I've been back at work with students now for 2 full weeks, it's been awhile since my "walking gals" have all been able to get together, but this morning we were all present. We had a good time laughing and talking while hiking 5.51 miles. I praise God for my dear sisters in Christ.

At one point, Kim asked me what theme my photos had for the blog. I have no real theme except documenting our trails, and I have noticed that there usually is some sort of gate and oak trees included in the photos.

Most of the trails were new today, only doing the first section over again. The trails on this side today were much more shady, scenic, and not so "heart attackish". The gals asked me if picture breaks were truly picture breaks or breaks for my heart to get back in my chest.

Our trek started on Bear Creek Road to the staging area, Old Broines Road Trail, Crescent Ridge Trail, Broines Crest Trail, Seaborg Trail and ending on Bear Creek Trail. The Bear Creek Trail was lush and woodsy, loaded with poison oak. If I don't get a patch of the oozy, itchy skin from the poison oak, I will be surprised. I should have taken a photo at one point when we were walking through the narrow trail. We all were walking with our hands in a pyramid shape above our heads. Our boots had about 16" to walk and the poison oak was reaching out to our boots, calves, arms and down to our heads. The others said that they did not think they were allergic to the poisonous plant. There were a few points on the creek trail that we had to crawl under or over a tree that had fallen down. In this picture the trail widened slightly and this path looked like fall has already arrived. The fall colors were sprinkled across the trail.

Right towards the end of our hike we came across Bear Creek. It was a pretty area and the water was moving ever so gently. I bet during the winter and spring time after a good storm that this creek is moving well.

The question was asked today, how the goal of doing all the trails in the park got started between Suzy and I. Suzy gave the challenge after our first hike, my first hike in Broines. Most of my entire life (except the 10 years in Los Angeles) has been in the East Bay and I had never been in Broines. What a blessing for me to be able to hike these trails. The trails display God's incredible creation, His goodness to allow us to enjoy His beauty, to allow my body to get some wonderful exercise (I don't like traditional gyms, only God's gyms in the outdoors), and to have some sweet fellowship with my friends.

The first time Suzy and I hiked on the Bear Creek side, we came across this area called Newt Hollow. I'm not sure if I commented in my post on the area the first time. Suzy thought Newt Hollow would be a wonderful place for me to be married one day, when God brings the man I am waiting for into my life. The area is so beautiful, so reflective of God, and would be a good place for my guests too. Not sure if this would work out when I get married, the Lord knows but it is fun to think about. If that day happens, I will not be wearing shorts and hiking boots!

I love this little old fence above Newt Hollow.

Another great hike, another step closer to finishing up the goal.

Broines Missing Links

The last two Briones hikes have been somewhat familiar. Parts of the trails we have hiked before and other parts were connector trails. There is something nice about familiarity, you remember certain landmarks, steep uphills, slopping downhills, and which way the trail bends. With new territory, you wonder how high a hill goes, if the downhill on the other side of the hill will cram your toes in your boots, or if there will be a post marker telling you where to go.



Today's hike was the second shortest in distance, but took the prize for the hottest temperature hiked in yet. The temperature was close to 100 today. Thankfully, most of the hike was under the canopy of the trees giving huge relief from the blistering heat. Last time we hiked the Pine Tree trail, it was foggy and cold and we slogged through deep thick mud. Today the ground was nothing but leaves and fine dust.







The poison oak is alive and well this year. Oaks and poison oak seem to go hand in hand. Poison oak and I don't have a good relationship with each other. I have done a pretty good job this year to stay clear even though there has been a ton of the poisonous plants on every trail we have hiked. I have had 3 or 4 tiny isolated spots of poison oak this season. I do not want a repeat outbreak like I had in high school a few times. The leaves are real pretty at this time of year, especially when the sun hits the leaves from a certain angle.




On the hikes, we have discovered lush, green, protected areas and we have been out with the grass (very dead and dry at this time of year) with not a tree in sight. From the hikes, I have discovered that I like the lush and cool areas better than the open hillsides.

The second to last hike we took was on the last day of July. There was a flock of turkey's looking for food. There were two "Tom's" in this bunch. One was on the fence and the other is the one with his head up checking us out. The Tom's are pretty protective of their hens. They make a bunch of noise too.