~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mountain Man
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The mountain calls out his name
Upward he walks away from pain
Higher and higher he climbs
Each mile distancing his shame
~
The summit reached so soon
He overlooks the town below
Not wanting to return home
Content to dwell on heights he knows
~
For mountains speak of Majesty
No cruel words are heard on high
For here he’s known as a conquerer
Not a shy sojourner others pass by.
~
Wendy/2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am sharing with you some of the pictures I took while on the climb up Mt Becher. They are in the order that I took them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a breathtaking hike which continued to reward our efforts with scenery that is unlike what one finds at sea level. ( This part of the path was the easiest…)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of our sons has climbed this mountain several times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The poem was written with him in mind. ( I say this with his permission.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He is over six feet tall now, and so I doubt anyone will bully him again as they did in our previous neighborhood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bullies are cowards.
~
They fear anyone who does not act and think exactly like they do.
~
Bullies need a spiritual awakening.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank goodness there are people who think outside the box.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Both our sons have great friends now. Our family warmly welcomes them into our home without any reservations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our basement looks like a teen hangout with a large sofa, universal gym, musical instruments, and a ping-pong table. I love hearing homemade music travel up the stairway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abuse is not tolerated here. We all feel free and safe to speak our minds about anything.
~
Unconditional respect is encouraged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We don’t always get it right; that’s where grace comes in…
Gracious Blessings ~ Wendy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendy L. Macdonald 
Beautiful poem and photos. I love it so much 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Karina! I appreciate your kind words.
LikeLike
How wonderful to hear that they have great friends now! It must have been very hard for you, also, to see them go through those tough times. Now it is evident that peace & love fills your home and their lives. Thanks be to God! Tough times make us appreciate the good times so much more, right?!
LikeLike
Daisy, I’m so relieved to see my sons and daughter hanging out with good-willed friends. I guess a mother’s heart is always longing for the best for her offspring…
LikeLike
Lovely words, Wendy!! Just a beautiful hike too, gorgeous!! I am dreading this coming school year due to my sons problems with being bullied. We have talked to him about the best way to handle this so hopefully it won’t be such an issue this year! Enjoy your day🙋
LikeLike
My heart goes out to you. It is awesome that you are talking with him openly. They learn from these experiences to smell a bully a mile away. It’s the ones that befriend first that are more difficult.
LikeLike
Hello Wendy, awesome photography but your words struck such a chord within me. They are so real and true aren’t they? Thank you for a beautiful post today! Much affection to you, Penny xx
LikeLike
Thank you, Penny. It’s hard to watch those we love suffer – I know that you have shared in both the joys and sorrows of motherhood. xo
Warm wishes ~ Wendy
LikeLike
Great pictures, Wendy! What a beautiful place. Bullies are insecure cowards, they need awakening indeed. Glad to hear your sons have good friends now. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, dear Camilla! On one of my son’s hikes he took a picture of a herd of wild elk. He can really out hike his mother… 🙂
LikeLike
Love this post, Wendy, everything about it. Isn’t this a new look for your blog too?
LikeLike
Hi Jennifer, yes it is a recent reno of my blog. It’s something I really enjoy doing. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement!
LikeLike
Beautiful photos–thank you for the mini-vacation! I’m glad your sons like to hang out at home. Mine did too! what a blessing! Enjoy!
LikeLike
Thank you, Laura! I’ve read many times that it’s a good idea to provide the means for your teens to hang out at home with their friends. We feel honored.
LikeLike
And I’m sure their friends are blessed by being in your home!
LikeLike
I am amazed at how our humble and laid back home is used for good. Not many families have an adult present most of the time. There are a lot of lonely teenagers out there…
LikeLike
REAL NICE!!!!!
LikeLike
Thank you, Jonathan, for your encouragement and reblog! 🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
A CLIMB TO THE HEIGHTS HAS MY ATTENTION, DEAD TO RIGHTS!!!!!
LikeLike
Hello Wendy, I too love green..creation, new life, new beginnings. I see that we share the interest in writing..I try.. Please consider joining me at http://rambleann.com I will be kind of quiet here at WordPress as I seek direction on whether to continue here or not.. Thank you!
LikeLike
Hi Roberta. Yes, I will follow your other blog. Since I follow a lot of blogs, I may not get around too often. 🙂 Post about what you love and you’ll really enjoy it.
LikeLike
What a story of overcoming. The climbing. The social growth. The presence with young people.
We also seemed to have a lot more children around than our three daughters. My wife has an exceptional gift of connecting. And our daughters, all now married, still stay connected with us. That we treasure above all.
Peace
LikeLike
Your daughters will probably be like you both in staying connected with their children and their children’s friends. You’ve passed on a wonderful gift! My husband and I learned to do this from a couple who had their family before we did. My kids love them as much as we do.
LikeLike
Lovely peaceful post, in more ways than one. Love the new look too!
LikeLike
Thank you, Liana! I love renovating my blog. 🙂
LikeLike
Hey, My Wendy-Lee!! 🙂
I can’t stand bullies and I’m really happy your son now has a great group of friends.
Your poem and pictures were beautiful. I want to hang out in the basement…it sounds so cool!! Lol
BTW: I love the new design of your page and you are so beautiful and youthful looking!
Love and hugs to you. Paula xxxx
LikeLike
Hi Paulama! Thank you for your sweet words. 🙂 I’m a decade ahead of you, so I’m honored by your words… xo
LikeLike
Wow! Miss, Wendy-Lee!!!
You are just too beautiful. Hugs to you and your family. Paula xxx
LikeLike
beautiful photos…and lines..
thanks for sharing
sriram
LikeLike
Thank you, Sriram!
LikeLike
Beautiful words, Wendy. This time your words could capture a deep thought with a message. I am glad you shared this post with us. Have a great day!!
LikeLike
Thank you, Arindam! I appreciate your kind words.
LikeLike
Your pictures are glorious.
LikeLike
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful photos Wendy. I think bullies are cowards too. There’s safety in numbers: your son’s safe now with loyal friends around him. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you! In this safety I have been watching his creativity blossom with his music. 🙂
LikeLike
The views in your photos are stunning. I really enjoyed them.
LikeLike
Thank you, Charlie! 🙂 It was worth the climb.
LikeLike
Poem and photo’s are fantastic.Love it.
LikeLike
I look forward to catching up on your pictures! 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful poem, Wendy – and I share the sentiments expressed.
Lovely photos – you never fail to amaze 🙂
You’re right – bullies are cowards and am happy for your sons that they have great friends. Actually, happy for all of you.
Peace and blessings,
Eric
LikeLike
Thank you, Eric! I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit here. 🙂
LikeLike
This too shall pass….in your case I am SO glad it did. Beautiful picture of the two of you!
LikeLike
Thank you, Laurie! I often say those words (this too shall pass), and it sure keeps things in perspective. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful… Love this!
LikeLike
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Wendy, I’m so glad I finally got to read this post and see these pictures tonight. Your last line really got me in the heart–that we don’t always get it right, and that’s where grace comes in. Praise God for his never-ending grace!!
The views are breathtaking; thank you for sharing these amazing testimonies of God’s wondrous creation!
I hope that our home will someday be a house where our kids’ friends love to be. Based on my teen years, a ping pong table, music, and true friendship are a superb combination!
I am sorry to hear about the bullying experience. Our son’s new school has been very proactive about having a bully-free zone. Everyone deserves to grow up free from fear!
These days have been busy; I am itching to write more and read more of my friends’ posts! I pray you are well. Blessings to you! –Alison
LikeLike
Alison, a proactive bullying program is a great idea. That way people don’t wait until too much damage is done before trying to approach the situation. It needs to be in place ahead of time so people feel safe and accountable.
I’m sure that your kids’ friends will feel welcome at your home. The fact that you have the desire is what will make it so. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
LikeLike
You have a lovely blog, Wendy.
LikeLike
Thank you, Patti! Spotlighting creation is a pleasure.
LikeLike
“to dwell on heights he knows…” some very nice diction there. Lovely voice and message. I hope you don’t mind….you don’t have to respond in your busyness, with all the traffic you have. But you’ll see how your poem brought these to mind.
http://aholisticjourney.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/knowing/
http://aholisticjourney.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/rain-story/
Blessings.
Diana
LikeLike
Thank you, Diana, for sharing your lovely poems with me. I see that Creation speaks to you, also, of Majesty.
Nice to meet you!
LikeLike
Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate your time. Your blog is lovely.
LikeLike
I love your writing! 🙂
LikeLike
You’re awesome. So gracious.
LikeLike
What a splendid collection of photos taken on Mt Becher. The accompanying words have such a ring of truth about them. We should all do more mountain climbing.
LikeLike
Thank you, Mary, for your visit and kind words. Yes, it is good for us to be out in nature more often.
LikeLike
trees, sky, water, rocks – perfect pictures! and I loved the poem too – encapsulated my feelings exactly – the need to just get away and BE….
LikeLike
Freya, nature is the perfect companion to be with – safety from words that wound. Thank you!
LikeLike
Wonderful photos, beautiful words.
LikeLike
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful photography and special words filled with love.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Sheri!
LikeLike
Bullies are cowards, I’m glad your sons have great friends! I feel like jumping into my laptop, the photos are so clear and beautiful. I’m glad you had fun, my love to your beautiful family!
Blessings. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Seyi! xo
LikeLike
Breathtaking indeed! What a magical hike. I hated that your son had to go through being bullied — my own son had to deal with that some when he was younger, and I was glad when he got older and it wasn’t much of a problem. Congratulations on your long and happy marriage!
LikeLike
Becky, I am glad to hear that your son had a happy ending to his bullying experience. It’s good when they can learn from it and become even more compassionate men because of it.
Blessings ~ Wendy
LikeLike
I lived in Oregon for a while when I was a kid. Loved the mountains, trees and trails. Your pictures bring it all back. Gorgeous, the Northwest.
LikeLike
Thank you, Linda! I would miss looking up at the mountains if we moved away. Blessings.
LikeLike
Lovely poem. What peaceful places!
LikeLike
Thank you, Elizabeth! We love our mountains.
LikeLike
Beautiful poem and photos. The pictures show fantastic views that draw on in. Thank you for sharing them. :-). Pure Glory
LikeLike
Thank you! Creation points to a Creator. 🙂
LikeLike
Loved your pictures and moving words. I, too, have suffered as a mother but in a different way. My faith and my new-born foal helped in a small way. So glad things are now better with your family
LikeLike
Thank you for your visit and for your comment. Nice to meet you! 🙂 Animals seem to have an angelic way about them that allows their sweetness to touch our hearts so deeply.
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog for a little while today. I had a great time and tried to leave my campsite as good as when I arrived. I’ll be back!
LikeLike
Thank you for visiting. I’m glad that you are a “happy camper” who leaves the woods pristine. 🙂 Blessings!
LikeLike