Well, I went from encouragement to discouragement on our hike this Saturday. Last week I was elated at my progress and this week I wondered where it all went.

This past Saturday's hike was difficult but not AS difficult as the Saturday before. This week we did close to 10 miles but the elevation was about 1800 feet instead of 2,000. I expected it to be a tad easier than the week before, but it kicked my behind.

Within the first mile I thought, "I can't do this." I so wanted to turn back. But Zack and Kayla had gotten up early to meet us and Nick was excited to do this hike with Wes. I was not about to ruin everybody's day so I kept going, but the conversation in my head was not inspiring.

Even as much as I struggled (the humidity didn't help), it was a magical day. To get to see Wes experience nature, everything was new and exciting. Acorns, pinecones, small puddles on rocks... he wanted to start a collection of acorns in his pockets so Scott told him to throw them in the woods so a tree would grow. He walked down the path picking up acorns, throwing them in the woods and proudly stating, "Make tree!" He wanted to walk with hiking sticks, just like his Pop.

Oh the wonders of being grandparents. And the wonder isn't just watching your grandchildren, it's watching your own child parent with such joy, patience, love and wonder themselves. And watching your other children (and soon to be daughter in love) be the most amazing aunts and uncles. I love watching all of them find such joy in their nephews.

I did learn a lesson on Saturday... Scott reminded me more than once that sometimes you just have a bad day. But isn't that true of life? And I realized in everyday life, I tend to have the same uninspiring conversations in my head, when I'm having a bad day, or things get tough. I might press on when met with opposition, but my heart and my head default to discouragement. I think it's time to start a new conversation and set a new attitude as my default mode.

On the way back down, we got to a section of the trail that was very steep with lots of small, loose rocks. I asked Scott, "That's what we came up?" He laughed and said yes. I realized I had accomplished a lot more than I thought I had but the conversation in my head had not allowed me to see that in the moment.

It's amazing how much our thoughts and swirling inner conversations impact how we approach life. I guess that's why Roman's 12:2 says, "...be transformed by the renewal (the renovation) of your mind." Time to drag out the 'sledge hammer' and do some much needed renovations. I love how Scripture can give us wisdom for all areas of our lives, even when the hiking gets tough.