Only Nine Days Left! :(

It's hard to believe that my High Sierra experience is almost over! I have been so overwhelmed with papers and projects that I haven't had the time to breathe and survey the situation, but now that the chaos is dying down I see just how near the end is and it pains my heart to know that I will need to leave this glorious place. I know that I was not meant to be up here forever, I just feel that this place and these people have become a part of me and I can't imagine living life without them alongside me. They have seen me at my highest and lowest points. It is when someone can see you in all stages of life and still enjoy your company that you know you have found true friends.
It's difficult to comprehend that theses last weeks will be the last times that we, the High Sierra Class of Fall 2012, will be together. Next semester we will be all over the globe, then next year many of us will be graduated seniors and will be moving on to their adult chapter of life. When I think of this, it makes the moments so much more precious.
God tells us there is a place and a time for everything. I feel that right now while I may feel full of sorrow, it is not yet the time to cry. Right now I need to be here 100% so I can soak up and enjoy these last High Sierra moments. I also need to take time to be able to reflect upon the good that has come of this semester and see how God has worked in my life through that good.
If God has taught me anything this semester, it would be the need to be still and just BE. Whether that's with people or just sitting in His creation reflecting, it is important not to live for what's happening next, but it's about enjoying life as it comes.  
This has been an amazing and stretching semester, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. 

SNOW

This is what the campus looked like the day we left for Trek:

View from guys deck

Marissa and I 

Mark on Star Rock 

View from Star Rock

Trek II

Trek was so great! So as I mentioned it was snowing the days leading up to trek. So when we got to Yosemite Valley there was a beautiful blanket of white over it. It was gorgeous!
For the first day we had a scavenger hunt around Yosemite Valley so we could explore and learn more about it while we were there. Then our leaders bought us pizza! (so much better then trek food!)
On the second day we started the morning with a hike to hidden falls, which although small was beautiful! In the spring places that I was able to stand will be flowing water (something cool to think about).
Then for a huge chunk of the afternoon we had solo time to do with as we pleased. I absolutely love solo time. It gives me a chance to just sit and be with God. It's amazing how much peace He can give when you are fully with Him :).
On our final day we did a quick morning hike up to Sierra Point (picture of me to the left). It was gorgeous! The hike was a very difficult constant steep uphill, but it was worth the climb. God never ceases to amaze me while I am gazing at His creation. Songs of praise flow through my head, which keep me pressing-on on the trail..
I was very sad to have trek II come to an end, because it feels like this whole High Sierra experience is really coming to an end. All to quickly i my opinion. I would love to go back to Ansel Adams Wilderness again. I have learned so much from these two Treking experiences and I don't feel like I want to be done stretching myself.

Trek II

Trek two is this weekend!!!
Unfortunately due to the poor weather conditions forecasted for the next few days (aka SNOW!) we are now planning to leave on saturday morning instead of friday. Plus we found out that we aren't backpacking through Ansel Adams this time :( Instead we are camping in Yosemite, so still a beautiful place :) It's supposed to still be freezing though so we'll see how that goes.
I'm still super excited for it no matter what the weather conditions are. I love trek and I love my trek team, I am so blessed! <3 p="p">

Update

Hey everyone! Sorry It's been such a long time since I've posted. It's been really crazy up here :(
So since I've last posted here are some big things that have happened:
Homecoming
San Francisco

So Homecoming...
It was so great, but it was really weird being in the middle of a huge city again. All of the traffic and people were a bit overwhelming at first, but then it began to feel like home again.
It was so nice to be able to see friends and family again, even though it was only for a short time. It was such a blessing to spend time with people.

San Francisco...
Was so much fun!!!
Day 1: We stopped by NASA and got to see two speakers along with several neat space artifacts and models including a piece of the moon. Then we made our way to the Legion of Honor Museum, which was full of beautiful art as is expected :) After we got to the hotel we had free time to roam the city.
Day 2: In the morning we went to Grace Cathedral, which was absolutely gorgeous! Inside there was a labyrinth that I did, which provided a great time of reflection for me of how God has presented Himself to me throughout my life. Then after lunch we had free time for the remainder of the day. During this time me and several others went to Height Ashbury for the morning to go "thrifting" which didn't go so well considering that every used article of clothing was still way to expensive for your average college student. Then we took public transit up and down the San Fran hills to Pier 39 where we witnessed two sea lions battle for dominance. I took a video of the whole thing...it was hilarious and way more entertaining than people fighting. Hopefully I'll have time to put it up sometime soon. We had dinner by the Pier at an amazing bread place that I don't remember the name of, but they are famous for their sourdough. Then of course we had to make our way to Ghirardelli Square :) On our way back home we went through Chinatown and we passed two Banksy paintings, which were really cool to see in person :) To top off the evening we all cuddled and watched Princess Diaries (had to...takes place in San Fran :)
Day 3: After checking out of the hotel we made our way to the De Young Museum, which had a huge variety of artwork. My favorite piece was a Catheral made out of bullets and gun parts. This piece spoke a lot of the hypocrisy in churches, which I could really reflect upon (I could share my thought but that would take hours). Then sadly we had to depart San Francisco and head back home to God's Wilderness.
---Overall, it was a fantastic weekend. We got to encounter and bless so many people while we were just walking around the city. Although it was a bit overwhelming and scary because of how fast paced it was I think it was really good for us to get out of our "High Sierra" bubble and get out into the "real world".

Halloween Masquerade

Battle for Kleos!

Epic in-class demonstration of a phalanx