Another Walk Around the Lake. Another Lap Around the Sun.

Celebrating another year of grace...and appreciating the gift of godly examples.

On our first date, Jeff saved my life.

He invited me to join him on a hike, and the contrarian in me loved the idea because it wasn’t a cliche “dinner and movie.” It was a chance to be outside, and to talk while we walk.

So, on the following Saturday, Jeff took me to a popular trail in the foothills north of Pasadena. The trail paralleled a stream, and all around us I could hear the sounds of nature. The waters rushing beside us. The breeze rustling through trees. And even the buzzing of bees somewhere unseen.

I was looking around, trying to locate where the sound of bees was coming from, while also examining the stream to see if it was deep enough, in case I needed to jump in to escape a swarm of killer bees.

With all of this ambient noise, I failed to hear the rattle in front of me. Jeff grabbed me and pulled me back as I was about to step on a rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike. (You can picture here a near-swoon moment.)

Ever since our first date, we continue to go on hikes when the weather is nice, and we have turned most of our anniversaries into more hikes. This year was no different.

To celebrate another lap around the sun together, we found a nearby lake in South Carolina and went for a hike.