Festival Spanish-style

"Blam! There was a big firecracker thrown from a soldier on the streets. It was the streets of Spain. It was fiesta time in Orce and the town was re-doing the fight between the Moors and the Christians. The "Moors" looked like raiders because their faces were covered and only their eyes shone mysteriously.

The Christians were wearing chain mail with crosses on their chests. There were soldiers from the parade next to me when all the sudden around the corner came a Moor with a staff that had a sharp blade on the tip. He pointed his blade up to the sky and started yelling. It was hard to tell who he was because he had a dark blue sash covering his face. Then, other Moors came running out from behind the corner. I watched in awe as the Christians met the Moors with soldiers of their own. Next, the Christians came holding a big cross with Sain Sebastian on it. On the cross were a lot of flowers and other sacred things. 

What I've learned on this trip is that as one civilization crumbles, another rises."

J, 9 years old.

Hiking the Sierra Nevadas

The Sierra Nevadas aren't named the 'snowy range' for nothin'. They are really beautiful and full of fun 'peaks' to scramble around. Our two oldest mountain goats had a blast. It was completely silent. It's been a real treat to have vistas clear of electrical lines and cell towers.

The kids had a great adventure hiking to the top of one of the peaks, just in time for a beautiful sunset.

It's funny how seeing a sight can transport you to another time. Rick and I met in college and he used to wear his hat backwards all the time. When we backpacked around the world it was a familiar sight but in the last several years I can't say I've seen it very often. Today it took me by surprise to see that old sight with a changed landscape of course.

When we left a week ago I knew things would happen while we were away. I remember taking pause and wondering if something too horrible would transpire and saying a little prayer in advance. Last night I opened my email to the sad and startling news that the husband of a friend had passed away. Their children are the same age as ours. He was Rick's age. He adored his children and his wife. We are thinking about them and praying for them. 

Hold your special people close.