mountains and food drives.

So as you've seen over my past few blogs, i've taken to hiking as a fun new hobby!  I never have considered myself to be an out-doorsy person.....i mean, i enjoy it, but never like to just be hiking around in it!  But lately I have been really enjoying myself!  It's a good way to get some air, some exercise, some time with friends, and some beauty that is God's creation!  This last time we decided to hike Camelback mountain....which had rumors of being fairly difficult.  But I gotta say...i lOVED it!!  it's been my favorite one so far!  It was definitely a challenge, but very beautiful.  There's even some parts of it where you have to pull yourself up using metal handle bars!  

me, jen, and mikael!!

THE TOP!!  victorious :)

the way down was a little trickier! haha....
So at youth a couple weeks ago we had a canned food drive to contribute to our food bank at church! We give food/non-perishables to over 100 families a week from our church food drive, which is just incredible!  And it's getting to the point where we aren't having enough to give out.  So although the food bank is always taking contributions, the church takes a couple weeks in particular to highlight it and raise more awareness about it!  It was a great chance for the youth to have a little friendly competition, so that's what we did!  My girls (11th-12th grade) came in second place!  They were a little sad being second, but we did really well!  All in all it was a fun time and all of the youth combined collected SO MUCH STUFF!!  Here are some pics of my girlies! They rock!

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord

All the earth

Make a joyful noise to the Lord

All the earth 

The flowers of the field

Are cry'n to be heard

The trees of the forest

Are singing

And all of the mountains

With one voice

Are joining the chorus of this world

And I will not be silent

I will not be quiet anymore 

Running through the forest

Dive into the lake

Bare feet on beaches white

Standing in the canyon

Painted hills around

The wind against my skin

Every ocean

Every sea

Every river

Every stream

Every mountain

Every tree

Every blade of grass will sing"

-I will not be silent, David Crowder Band