j u s t • w o r d s —

AMAZING GRACE,

how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

was blind, but now I see. 

Let love & 

faithfulness 

never leave you;

bind them

around your neck,

write them

on the tablet

of your heart.

Proverbs 3:3 

(WOW. Think about that.)

{ TUNE IN }

You may not see it today or tomorrow, 

but you will look back in a few years and be

absolutely perplexed and awed by how every little

thing added up and brought you somewhere 

wonderful - or where you always wanted to be. 

You will be grateful that things didn't work out 

the way you once wanted them to.

I admire people 

who choose 

to shine

even after

all the storms

they've been through. 

To pray is to let go & let God take over. 

Rest in Jesus, 

trust in His unfailing love.

Beartooth Mountains: Skiing in May

This is me! Standing at the top - about to drop in. 

This is steeper then it looks! Here's a pic of my skiing buddy Jonathan -
making summer turns down the Gardner Headwall, Beartooth Mountains, Wymont.
Gardner Lake still frozen down below……  

Starting point elevation: 10,852' & finishing el. roughly 9,985' — After skiing down, we had to hike back up other side, gaining about a thousand feet. It was 37 degrees & it rained / sleeted on us while we were hiking back up. The hike out isn't too bad - only takes about 15 − 20 minutes. It's very steep though. 

There was much less snow this year. A lot more rock was exposed. The Beartooth Basin was unfortunately unable to open, due to lack of snow. But I still had a blast skiing the Gardner Headwall! If your interested in summer backcountry skiing — Here's a blogpost (with more & better pictures!!) from 2014 with my summer skiing adventures. Check it out skiing in July: http://gracierb.blogspot.com/2014/07/flying-by-skiing-in-july.html  
& skiing in June: http://gracierb.blogspot.com/2014/06/skiing-in-june.html 

Skiing at Big Sky, Montana

Me:…ok, I really should get to bed.  It's getting late. I've gotta get up early tomorrow.
brain: Nah, too excited to sleep. Pfttt. Who needs sleep anyways? Can't wait to ski.
brain: Let's reorganize the dresser, bake cookies, draw, paint your nails, & braid your hair.
Me: I'm exhausted. Need sleep. *finishes organizing, drawing, baking, painting & braiding*
brain: No way, we don't need sleep!
Me: I've been getting nothing done. I'm just sitting on a heaping pile of clothes in a chair.
brain: worries about clothes & food & stuff.
Me: This needs to stop. *climbs in bed, lights out*
brain: wait, did you put those wet clothes in the dryer?
Me: Uuuuggg. *gets out of bed* It's 12am.  I'm only gonna get 4hrs sleep.
brain: who cares? You get to ski.
Me: Your right. I know, that's why I can't sleep. I'm excited! Shut up!
brain: never. mwahaha. *gets back in bed*
Me: My head feels so heavy, lights hurt. I'm getting a migraine. Noooo. ahhhh. finally. *lights out*
brain: starts reflecting on life.

Me: *static sound* zombie eyes* frazzled feelings* headache*
brain: ….. sleep, at last. ahhhhhhh. I actually wanted this from the start, just couldn't admit to it!
Me: I know, brain. Let's sleep. Zzzzzz.
alarm: beep! beep!! Beep!! BEEP! BBEEEEEPPP!!!

My bloodshot eyes opened. The day started at 4:15am,  I excitedly jumped out of bed, got dressed hurriedly, grabbed my gear, (2 pairs of skis, helmet, poles, boots, & backpack), hopped in the car, literally sped down the interstate, met up with a friend, (I stopped at the gas station & bought $15 worth of cliff bars, kind bars, & those waxy chocolate doughnuts that come in a big white bag. Breakfast & lunch. Check.) & drove 3hrs to Big Sky Montana. Got there just after 8am. The stoked was high, the skies were blue, air was nippy, but not too cold, & the mountains were calling.

Here's some pictures from my day at Big Ski Resort. "The biggest skiing in America" Despite only getting 4 (or less) hours of sleep the night before - I had an amazing day skiing at Big Sky! I was blown away by the size of the ski resort - the beauty of the mountain … So thankful for the gift of traveling & skiing & good health & eyes to see this beautiful world with. I had a rad day!

Lone Mountain. 

There's something so incredibly awesome about being on a mountain. I feel like so many people don't know what they are missing out on if they don't ski or like the cold. I love the cold, the snow, the colors  of winter - the sheer size of the snow covered mountains - the breathtaking views… Being on the mountain puts things into perspective, makes my problems seem small, helps me think. Wither its skiing down mountains in the winter, or hiking up them in the summer — I will never lose my sense of wonder. Creation is so amazing - I'm super thankful for being able to ski as much as I do, thankful for good health, thankful for where I live - this rugged & beautiful country - thankful for friends to hang with…. Thankful for all the snow. God is so good. He has blessed me beyond measure. 

Skiing is a mode of living in the moment: heart pounding, legs burning, lungs gulping down pine scented air. Flying down the mountain, with a vast expanse of earth stretched out below, you become one with your equipment. Skis are like wings on my feet. :) 

View from Lone Peak Tram. Gettin' high. Elevation 11,166'

See the blue line? That's the rout we took down the mountain. Gullies 3 and 1 to the Bowl. 

This is me skiing down Gullies 3 & 1. Pretty extreme steep skiing, on heavy spring snow. This is actually a lot steeper then it looks. No room for mistakes on these off piste chutes. You fall you basically die, because its about 1,000ft down. These rad photos are by Jade Flanagan. Jade managed snowboard down the mountain, & take some pictures, & not fall or die. Bravo! I took a couple pics, but holding ski poles, taking off my glove, while trying to keep an edge proved to be too challenging for me. 

Had a blast skiing at Big Sky! Never stop exploring His earth. Chase Winter. Stay rad. Keep the wonder. 

-GB 

Winter Carnival 2015

Red Lodge Mountain knows how to throw a good party! This year's Winter Carnival was a blast!

I skied like usual on Saturday - I skied hard all day long… Skied with friends, found stashes of untouched pow back in the beautiful Headwaters, basked on the lift in the sun, enjoyed the calm air… It was a really nice day. It was super busy - there were (I'm totally guessing) about 3,500+ people at the mountain. But the nice thing about RLM is that even though it's a smaller mountain, its big enough for everyone to spread out - I skied a ton of double-black, & single black runs - & usually had the entire run to myself! The snow was really good, fresh & powdery. Sunny skies & warm temps.

Last chair up Grizzly Peak. (elevation 9,416')
This was at about 7pm. See the sunset's afterglow lingering in the west along the horizon. 

Torches lit! Ready to descend! This was the COOLEST thing ever. About 100 people skied in the dark, down the mountain on ungroomed runs. Onlookers below got a show of glowing torches winding down the mountainside. As we (the torch holders) made it to the base of the mountain, there was a FANTASTIC fireworks show! So much stinkin' fun! 

Be sure to check out this video below - a friend made it; capturing parts of the Rail Jam, & the Torchlight Parade down the mountain. Enjoy! 

Look for the Winter Carnival in 2016! It's a lot of fun, a party ya don't wanna miss! Ski hard, have fun, & never stop exploring! See you on the mountain!

-GB 

Red Lodge Mountain 2015

Wide Open Spaces - Groomers at Red Lodge Mountain 12/26/14

…It's the end of February now, time is flying. This year's ski season started pretty slow, but has now accelerated to full speed.  So, let's rewind…. It snowed 3 times in December: total snowfall  26". January wasn't much better. It was a very bleak time for skiers - it only snowed 17" the entire month! We were "plagued" with lots of sunshine & unusually warm temps.

But during January (& part of Feb) I skied in the Town Series races - a 6 week timed team & solo GS race for skiers, snowboarders, & telemark skiers. All ages, & skill levels were welcome. The competition is pretty dang tough if you are fast! Town Series is hosted by Red Lodge Mountain, its workers, & amazing "volunteers" who help organize, set up courses, timers, take pictures - & keep things going.

This is me. I've been training with Silver Run Ski Foundation's  professional 
instructors. I paid $150 for 5 training sessions. I've learned a LOT about 
slalom & GS skiing techniques! Still have lots to learn…Totally worth it! 
With the bit I have learned & done, I have sooo much more respect for GS 
racers. It's a  challenging & dangerous sport! 2/13/15 

If you live in Red Lodge, Billings, or anywhere remotely nearby, you should join the Town Series fun! It's a great excuse to skip work, & get some fresh mountain air into your lungs. There's never a dull moment on the mountain. It's a great way to make friends or rivals (just joking!) of local skiers, hone your racing techniques, & explore Red Lodge's many little bars & restaurants. There's a party every Friday night at 6pm with announcements, results & awards from the day's race. You get free food & drink, a T-shirt & there's live music too. 

I had a good fast team this year "Snag & Browns" - we managed to get 2nd place overall; & one of the guys from my team, & myself, received the "fastest overall" men's & woman's skier prize! That was exciting! Training with Silver Run has been great too; it presented a challenge, & something for me to work on — groomers were the only thing really worth skiing early season, as there wasn't hardly any snow. Off piste was out of the question, unless you wanted to scrape your skis on rock. It was a "Rock Dodge" type season early on.

>>>>>>>>>>> Eventually my prayers & snow dancing paid off —  February came with cold winds & lots of moisture! I LOVE snow. In fact, its dumping right now - even as I type this, I'm excited for the mountain! I'm always looking forward to the weekends or whenever I can get up there.

It snowed 77 inches during the month! Powder skiing is fantastic. All that snow has been keeping my knee constantly sore, mountain workers on their toes, & lifts turning busily. Stoke level: high. Very high. The entire mountain opened up, including the beautiful Palisades! I've been skiing hard. Temps have now been consistently cold, & the skiing AMAZING.

"Coal Chute" with a fresh 26" dump on 2/19/15

Totally sickkkkkkk! 

The view from "Big Bear Gulch" Double-black. 2/20/15

  

There's something so incredibly awesome about being on a mountain. The cold, the snow, the colors - the sheer size of everything - the breathtaking views… Being on the mountain puts things into perspective, makes my problems seem small. I will never lose my sense of wonder. Creation is amazing - I'm super thankful for being able to ski as much as I do, thankful for good health, thankful for where I live - this rugged & beautiful country - thankful for friends to hang with (you know who you are!!) …thankful for all the snow. God is good. 

Skiing is a mode of living in the moment: heart pounding, legs burning, lungs gulping down pine scented air. Flying down the mountain, with a vast expanse of earth stretched out below, you become one with your equipment. Skis are like wings on my feet. It's more then sport. It's a passion. Hope you are enjoying all the snow - be safe, keep the wonder, & ride hard!  

See ya up there!

-GB

Note: Snow measurements from www.onthesnow.com & from RLM's emailed snow reports. 

twenty-fifteen

Wow. It's 2015.
365 new days.
365 new chances. 
Make the most of the year.
.

-GB

Ramblings, Change, & Resolutions

Another year is coming to an end.  Wow. What happened?

To finish the year off, I wanted to write something deep & meaningful, something to summarize how amazing life is. But found myself at a loss for what to say. Life is good, & God is awesome. I sat around & stared at the screen for a long while… Finally I decided just to write "generally" about what this past year has been to me. To briefly write about the good, the bad, change, hopes and aspirations….

For me this year has been probably been the best yet. Much has happened.

2014 in a nutshell: Traveling in Europe, skiing 8 out of 12 months, hiking up mountains, floating down rivers, working in my garden. My year was filled with good sunny & snowy moments, & sure, some not-so-good stuff happened too, but that's life right? I was able to explore, meet new people, learn & grow. I've been blessed with good health & work. Blessed with an amazing church. I've got some really amazing friends & family. (you know who you are.)

Looking back on this year, it's amazing so see how God has worked (& is still working) in my life. To see how time changes things & perspectives… Past experiences fade into the distance, & the rough edges soften. Golden memories linger. Sometimes it seems that day-to-day life can be mundane & repetitive, but now, when I look back, everything is different. How is this possible?

Change is constant - like dark foamy waters swirling around - sometimes change hits like a tidal wave, ripping away those you love, & slapping you in the face, or presenting a new challenge. Change is change, challenge is good, big or little - we need to except the challenge & make the most of it - sometimes change slowly creeps in without you realizing it, until it's lapping around your ankles… Change makes us grow & opens our eyes to see our strengths, & faults, whether we like it or not. Change, by God's goodness & mercy, can beautify us. It makes us realize how much we need one another, how frail or strong we are, change makes me realize how much I need Jesus.

Change is inevitable, theres nothin' I can do to stop it. God is working in my life, in your life - making things happen for us. He never gives us more then we can handle, & with each coming day He is preparing us for the next. Even when we don't see it, even when we can't feel it, even if it's not evident…God is working.

When change is before us, we need to stop & examine our hearts. Don't let your heart become callused. We need to be soft. (Personally I'm pretty thick-skinned & have to work hard on this.) Do not let the world make you hard.  Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. There are so many fragile things in this world. People, dreams, & hearts break so easily. Change is part of life. Everything will be okay in the end. If its not ok, it's not the end.

While change is constant, & life can be a roller coaster, somethings are unchanging, anchored & unmoving.  The cornerstone & foundation of my life is built upon God. He is always there for me. When I took this pic, I was 7 days at sea in the middle of the Atlantic - It stormed, rained, the boat was really rocking around.  I was the ONLY person who ventured out on deck & saw this double rainbow. I spent a quite moment mulling on God's promise to Noah, & His promises to all his saints in the Bible. ..Wet clothes clinging, I stood alone on deck, the cold wind whipping my hair whipping across my face. Change is gonna happen, but God is always there. He's ready to listen to your prayers, guide your steps. He is my Rock, my salvation, what should I fear? Whatever has happened this past year, & whatever is out there, just below the horizon - I know that I am never alone. 

// Resolutions for 2015:
some silly, some serious

1. Seek Jesus more
2. Organize & prioritize - work, play, home, lesson planning, etc. (LIFE in general.)
3. Run more (like with running shoes on roads & paths; trail run)
4. Read 3 books a month - (Honestly, I've been slack with reading. Little goals. Baby steps.)
5. Attend farmer's markets regularly - grow more in my garden, cook with what I have
6. Travel to a new country - Iceland, perhaps? (Totally doubt this will ever happen, ha…)
7. Pray more

With that said - I'm gonna start no.7 right now! I'm resolving by God's amazing grace, that however feeble & poor my prayers might seem to me, that I will pray on — Let's pray together through the last moments of  2014 - & into 2015! Let's face this new year bravely, facing the unknown while knowing that everything is gonna be ok - & whatever has happened, or does happen in your year -  is all part of God's plan. God works every situation for your good, & ultimately for His glory. (Maybe we just cannot see it yet!) Stay strong, do good work, stick to your resolutions & keep the wonder!

-GB

Polar Bear Painting Project

Look at their adorable painted bears! This was an easy project for the kindergartners - took about 35 minutes. 

You need: blue construction paper, acrylic paint, sharpie markers, & oil pastels.
(& of course - paper towels, brushes, jars of water, & erasers. But you should know that.) 

First we practiced circle shapes, drew the bears lightly with pencil, then we painted it all in, & added the snowflakes. While that was drying, students used oil pastels to draw the scarves - using two colors, layering them to create stripes. Then we used the sharpies to draw facial features, & lastly added a white highlight in each eye! The kiddos signed their names & we were finished! I absolutely LOVED the way these turned out. So much fun! 

-GB 

Hot Laps in November

Red Lodge Mountain

"What good is the warmth of summer,
without the cold of winter to give it its sweetness." ~John Steinbeck

The first day of the 14-15 ski season has arrived! Waahooo! Its felt like winter for quite sometime, with snowstorms, icy roads, & sub zero temps - but now it truly feels like winter - because the lifts have started turning! Winter is the best! I am SO excited for ski season to finally be here & STOKED to be back on the mountain! Good people, good mountain vibes - fun snowy days - got my November shred in! (I skied 8 out of 12 months this year, was trying to get all 12 months in, but due to traveling it didn't work. Oh well, always next year, right?)

The snow is sparse this season (as of November 28th, the 1st day open; only lower mountain lifts are operating), & the weather forecast is not looking promising - EVERYONE: Pray for snow, okay?!! But, snow or not, I still love going up to the mountain & skiing. Early season is fun; you ski because you've been counting down the weeks, days, & hours till the season starts - Oh, & don't forget how you've been checking weather reports every chance you get, hoping for a snowy forecast. You ski when conditions aren't the greatest, because you love the sport. You ski to say you ski. You ski to hang out with friends & catch up how everyone's summers went. You ski to earn that drink at the end of the day. ;)

(To all of my rad snowboarding friends, you are okay too, I guess. hehe.) Early season skiing is like the hot laps of a nascar race - Everyone's stoke is getting built up, we're all getting ready, toned, & super excited. We can ski the off piste in the trees where there might be pow hiding. We can find bumps & give them a try. We can enjoy the sunshine & fresh air. We can work on improving our ski technique. Take a ski class or two - who's ready for Town Series?! Mostly, I'm just glad to be back on the mountain & have skis on my feet!

See ya on the mountain, & here's to a hopefully snowy season! Cheers!

-GB

BLUE BEATS GREEN

Showing BLUE tonight in BILLINGS MONTANA! The event is FREE! See you there! 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNKQ-tkf-ds
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluebeatsgreen 

7:00PM Friday (10.17.14)
Holiday Inn Grand Montana 
5500 Midland Road 

in misty rain at dusk

I'm restless. 

Things are calling me away.

My hair is being pulled by the s̶t̶a̶r̶s̶ (mountains) again. 
~Anais Nin (& me)

Hiking in September -

Mystic Lake, Montana. 435 acres, 205+ ft deep, elevation 7,683 ft. 

I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains, & now live by the Rocky Mountains. Mountains have a very special place in my heart. As a child, I spent every moment of free time playing & exploring in the mts & foothills. Now, as an adult, the mountains are still my "playground" year-round. I always feel like a little child when I look at the mountains. I also feel very privileged & blessed to be able to live & walk among them. The sheer size of mountains, always strikes me with awe. Makes me realize how small & helpless I am. I hike as much as I can during the summer, & ski during the winter. It soothes the mind to be in the mountains - getting away from the hustle, noise, & businesses of life is refreshing; it puts things into perspective, lets ya see the big picture. The beauty & complexity of God's creation is amazing. There's no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this! Move your body, still your mind. Hike while you can. Go outside & do something you will remember. Do not view mountains from the scale of human thought, explore His earth & keep the wonder!

"Slow down & enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss when going by too fast — you also miss the sense of where you are going & why." - Eddie Cantor 

down to earth….

-GB