25 January 2011

cairns


In 25 days, I will be marrying m'Love ... the man who encourages me daily, challenges me to new heights continually, protects me, loves on me, believes in what I dream to do/or become, places hope in the same Savior to direct our lives together. He knows how to make me laugh (even when I try to be stubborn not to); he listens to the 'never before said aloud' thoughts I articulate; he asks questions that make me really ponder and speak so raw-fully true; he loves me with those eyes when I'm close up or far away...

We've had the opportunity to face some hard things emotionally together. Distance and time were at one point factors, but God knew what we needed to go through and how, despite what I thought was difficult or unfair. I knew this day would come, where I could look back and say, "That all was for a reason", but honestly, I never knew how overjoyed and blessed this feeling would be. Like along a hiking trail, our story has built cairns along the way ...


We set out on a scramble this past summer ... it was the middle of July, but because of our cold spring, at some parts on the mountain, there was still waist-deep snow!! I knew once our group got narrowed down to 3 athletic men and yours truly ... that I was in for it! Not only that, but on our drive to the mountains, I was informed that we wouldn't be hiking along a path, but creating our own (scrambling to the top). I told Matt that I probably wouldn't be able to keep up, and his reply was, "No matter what, I will be with you. We'll do what we can. We'll enjoy it together." If you know me, you know that my competitive spirit is, well, impressionable ... so yes, this was hard to swallow as we had not even begun yet!

There came the point where moss met rock, rock met snow ... the first cairn. Significantly placed. It was a point we could turn around and walk back to the jeep after a 2 hour hike, or continue on up for the next few hours! What our next steps proved to be, were the most frightening yet amazing moments I have ever experienced. Scaling a mountain wall is fun ... until you look down. Being snowed and hailed on while hiking in thigh-high snow is never fun (or safe), especially when you cannot go anywhere for shelter...

That one day summed allot of what our relationship has been through ... challenge, endurance, and learning how to rely on God's strength which really is simple, pure joy. I wouldn't trade any of the sweat and tears or leaps and fears out of my memory or reality. For, just like rocks are carefully placed along the trail to mark the journey to form a cairn, so have each of the details in our lives together been.




Love ... I can't wait for the cairn building ahead!


pic pix: Mount Sparrowhawk, Spray Lakes, AB, 10.Jul.10

4 comments:

brittany danae said...

aww i love how you can take one experience and make it so profound! i admire you for that, but mostly admire you for what you have had to go through these last few years. you are simply the best sister i could ask for ... i look up to you ... the way you take a situation and make it a challenge, that you WILL complete or just the way you light up a room with your smile. you are so strong - physically, emotionally, spiritually - not many people would trudge through what you have, but by the grace of God (i believe) you have overcome so many hurdles ... that overwhelms me. I wanna be just like you when i grow up!!!
I love you Sarah Nadine Lajeunesse (I know I can't say that for much longer, better get it in while I can;)
xoxo
boo

fawne said...

beautiful post sarah.

Christa Michelle Vanderham said...

Beautifully written, transparently told... I was really truly blessed to read this post, MRS. SARAH ARSENAULT!!!!!! Love the imagery and metaphors between the cairns and the seasons of your own relationship together along the way...

Eeeek! Ok! Seriously now, haha I am honestly beyond thrilled for you both that at this point you've been man and wife for... over two weeks right? So awesome! What a brilliant story you have. Like a tapestry with many colorful threads, some that seemed too dark or grey, but when brought together into the light, blend perfectly with all the other colors... Your story is God's story, because of Christ in you... hope of glory :)

Darling, you're just so creative and you've got such beauty about you! Thanks for writing... Don't stop k? If you're like me, you can't help it! haha
And I hope you'll always desire to photograph creation/creations in all forms, because God's given you a real gift there as well... As our Lord continues to lead you guys on this journey called life, I smile to think of all that He has in store for you as a couple! Thanks for posting and sharing, making the lives of those who see the photographs and read the words, that much more blessed this side of Heaven... and quite possibly beyond :)

win her back said...

wonderful write sarah..happy on you to found a right guy..

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