Thoughts from a ski lift

I love to ski. A lot. As you can tell.  Any chance I can get up to Tahoe, I’ll go. It’s been such a fun gift from the Lord these last few years. I’ve had problems with my knees for a long time, and I figured they probably wouldn’t be able to handle downhill skiing. But somehow, as I’ve skied regularly and built up technique and strength these last few winters, they’ve been OK. It’s like God just smiled at me and said, “Here, take this—enjoy it.”  And I did.  ;)

Last week I went up to Sugar Bowl with my brother Chris and my parents one last time before the resort closed for the season. The snow got really slushy in the afternoon, so my parents decided to call it a day, and I headed over to the Lincoln peak to join Chris for a couple last runs.

As I rode up the Lincoln lift for the last time, at the end of the last Sugar Bowl ski day of the season, a wave of sadness swept over me. Sugar Bowl is so dear to me. It’s about more than just skiing. It’s been a tremendous part of my life these last four years. Good times learning to ski from Dad, my dear first ski instructor…conquering fear and pushing my limits…struggling so much with my bad knees for those first couple seasons…taking lessons, improving, learning how to use my body so my knees weren’t so stressed, building up strength and skill…good times with God and family and friends…it’s a special place. Not that other resorts aren't cool; I’ve had plenty of good times at Squaw and Heavenly and so on. Hey, I like snow anywhere! But Sugar Bowl is special. It’s about more than skiing. So it’s no wonder that I felt a little nostalgic and melancholy as I rode up that lift for the last time this season...wouldn't you?

At that moment it was like the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and said “My dear girl, what about all the good things I gave you this season? We’ve had all kinds of good times, you know!” I looked around at the beautiful snow-covered peaks and realized—if I mourn the fact that the season is over, I miss the point. I should be reveling in all the goodness He has given me here! I’ve gotten to ski a lot this season. I’ve gone this whole time without getting hurt, even minor injuries. I’ve learned and improved a ton. I have grand memories of many good ski days here this season, including this very fun final day with Dad and Mom and Chris. I’ve seen a lot of beauty here, surrounded by snow and cliffs and trees and clouds, and I’ll carry the mental pictures of that beauty wherever I go. I’ve made new friends and had good times with them—John, Spencer and Laurine; many helpful instructors like Danny and Craig and Alex. I’ve tried out the new Summit chair many times and conquered some fears about skiing more challenging terrain.

It’s all about gratefulness. Even when the situation looks bleak, God has always given us so much goodness that goes un-thanked. At the most fundamental level, He gave me life and his love and the opportunity to call him Father and Friend. He gave me a body that works, parents who love me, a beautiful place to live, work I enjoy, and countless other things. How often do I just sit down and spend some time thinking about all these things? Thanking him for them?

I can focus on the fact that I have to wait eight months till I experience the joy of skiing Sugar Bowl again, and get all gloomy—or I can thank God for the abundant good things He gave me this season. It’s a choice, where to put my focus. I can make an agreement in my heart about sadness and fear of the future; or I can pay attention to the goodness of God and be grateful and happy. Because gratefulness makes you happy!

So the rest of that ride up Lincoln, instead of being all gloomy that the season was over, I thought over the many good gifts Jesus has given me there, and he and I had a little grateful-party. And I was happy.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits” (Ps. 68:19).

(Thanks, Chris, for the photos!)



- Kelsey Schweickert

Discovering beauty...

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the green machine

Alright...I'm a photographer, I love green, and I love my new (to me) car.  Therefore I take photos of my green car.  And want to share them.  So I ask you, kind readers, please humor me once more and allow me a few more car photos...  ;)

The first is my favorite.  What's yours?

Happy.  :)

Best of all, with 4WD, this kind of thing is a breeze:

And enables me to do THIS kind of thing.  ;)

I know it's not a fancy car by any stretch of the imagination.  But to me, it's a beautiful gift from the Lord.

I've looked and prayed for a car for long time. Not having a tremendous car budget, and not knowing much about cars, I was beginning to think it would be impossible to find something above jalopy grade.  I've looked and prayed for a long time.  Of course it wouldn't be the BMW of my dreams (yet!!), but if I could just get something reliable that could get me to piano and photo gigs, that would be great.  And -- I figured this was pretty silly, but I asked the Lord, if it was his will, could he please find me one with a sunroof?

I shopped on and off for months.  I got discouraged.  I began to wonder if God was ever going to come through for me.  After all, he's my loving Heavenly Father, but when you go for a long time without receiving something you know you need, something you've asked him about repeatedly, don't you find yourself beginning to wonder?  It's the same insidious question that Satan asked Eve, thousands of years ago in the Garden of Eden: "Isn't God withholding something good from you?"

In just one week's time, my doubts were shredded and my confidence in his goodness was strengthened.  It all happened so fast.  I'm still in awe of how he lined everything up so perfectly...an experience on snowy Tahoe hills with a 2-wheel-drive sedan that got me thinking about SUVs again.  A re-listed ad with a newly lowered price.  A friend who knows a ton about cars and had time to help me out.  A free Saturday.  A seller who was willing to give me a good deal.  A beautiful deep green (I would've taken pretty much any color I had to, but God knew I really didn't want boring white or silver, and definitely wouldn't buy something red or really noticeable!).  And 4WD and leather seats and cargo space and a roof rack and...oh yeah!!

It's not just a car.  It's a reminder that my Father cares for me.

Oh, and as you can see from the photos...it has a sunroof.  ;)


- Kelsey Schweickert


Discovering beauty...

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Smashing spring skiing styles (?)

Seen at Dodge Ridge yesterday: my two uncles, sporting some truly amazing styles...

Orange shorts and blue leggings.  Such class.  Not to mention camo suspenders.  But of course the pièce de résistance, in my opinion, is the old-style long, straight skis!

And then there was my cousin Tim.  Now here, my friends, is a gentleman who clearly knows how to dress for the occasion:

(And I'm related to these folks??)  ;)

My apologies for using a lowly cell phone camera for such important moments.  But it was all I had.  I'm rather glad the other camera was in a safe location, because I probably would have dropped it in the snow, being overcome with laughter more than once.  ;)

Now, don't let my relatives' amazing style fool you, they ski better than they dress.  In fact they ski very well.  They're just unusually gifted in their fashion sense.  Or perhaps they didn't want to overwhelm the other skiers with their superior sartorial effects.  Or...I'm not quite sure.  They're Schweickerts, what else can I say??

And let me assure you, clothing style aside (or perhaps because of it?), we all had a great day on the slopes.  :D

- Kelsey Schweickert

Discovering beauty...

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