Overdue update and thoughts...
So, I don't know how many of you know this, but Dirk had work in Washington (state) for 2 weeks a few weeks ago and Daniel and I went with him for a little road trip. Daniel did VERY well! I figured he's scream the whole way home, but he was fine as long as one of us sat in the back with him. That aside, Washington was fun. Apples and grapes gallore and they are all yummy! We brought more back than we'll ever be able to eat, so this weekend I'm making apple bread among other things. Mmmmmm....
On the way back, we visited Yellowstone for half a day (could've easily stayed longer if we didn't need to get back) and stopped by Mount Rushmore (a total tourist trap if ever there was one) and Crazy Horse Memorial (which was WAY cooler and more expensive than I ever would've thought possible). (I love parenthesis, btw) Crazy Horse is a huge Native American museum. I have always had a great love of Native American history, stuff, people, etc. Sadly, I didn't realize how cool it was going to be and we hardly had any time to enjoy it. We WILL go back someday when we have more time. One thing that caught my attention was a piece of artwork (I think it was beaded) that had a prayer on it. I can't remember the exact prayer, but I was absolutely stunned at the profoundness of the prayer on it. I tried finding it through Google (granted not very hard), and stumbled upon many other Native American prayers. They really know how to pray!! It's incredible! I've never been one that's entirely comfortable praying written prayers because they don't feel genuine, but so far every Native prayer I've found is one that I would want to pray every day! It's incredible! This is one of my favorites so far:
O' Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life
To all the world, hear me!
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty,
And make my eyes ever behold
The red and purple sunset.
Make my hands Respect the things you have made,
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise,
So that I may understand
The things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons
You have hidden In every leaf and rock.
I seek strength,
Not to be greater than my brother,
But to fight my greatest enemy- myself.
Make me always ready
To come to you with clean hands
And straight eyes.
So when life fades,
As the fading sunset,
My spirit may come to you
Without shame.
The website where I found this also has "Amazing Grace" playing in the background, but a Native American is singing it in her native language. It's beautiful!! I could ramble about how awesome Native Americans are and how the settlers sucked for doing what they did to them, but I think everybody already knows that.
Oh, and I will post the hundreds of pictures from the trip online sometime soon-ish. Hopefully.
On the way back, we visited Yellowstone for half a day (could've easily stayed longer if we didn't need to get back) and stopped by Mount Rushmore (a total tourist trap if ever there was one) and Crazy Horse Memorial (which was WAY cooler and more expensive than I ever would've thought possible). (I love parenthesis, btw) Crazy Horse is a huge Native American museum. I have always had a great love of Native American history, stuff, people, etc. Sadly, I didn't realize how cool it was going to be and we hardly had any time to enjoy it. We WILL go back someday when we have more time. One thing that caught my attention was a piece of artwork (I think it was beaded) that had a prayer on it. I can't remember the exact prayer, but I was absolutely stunned at the profoundness of the prayer on it. I tried finding it through Google (granted not very hard), and stumbled upon many other Native American prayers. They really know how to pray!! It's incredible! I've never been one that's entirely comfortable praying written prayers because they don't feel genuine, but so far every Native prayer I've found is one that I would want to pray every day! It's incredible! This is one of my favorites so far:
O' Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life
To all the world, hear me!
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty,
And make my eyes ever behold
The red and purple sunset.
Make my hands Respect the things you have made,
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise,
So that I may understand
The things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons
You have hidden In every leaf and rock.
I seek strength,
Not to be greater than my brother,
But to fight my greatest enemy- myself.
Make me always ready
To come to you with clean hands
And straight eyes.
So when life fades,
As the fading sunset,
My spirit may come to you
Without shame.
The website where I found this also has "Amazing Grace" playing in the background, but a Native American is singing it in her native language. It's beautiful!! I could ramble about how awesome Native Americans are and how the settlers sucked for doing what they did to them, but I think everybody already knows that.
Oh, and I will post the hundreds of pictures from the trip online sometime soon-ish. Hopefully.