Arizona's motto of "Ditat Deus" means God enriches. The state is one of four that includes God in its motto, which is just one more reason to love this sunny, cactus-filled state. We visited for Goodyear's Coldwater Rumble Trail Run on Jan. 16, 2021. The race boasted everything from a 4 mile to a 100 mile distance. I chose to run the 52K, while Mama opted for the 20 miler, and Papa for the 20K. It was a gorgeous, hot, sunny day, and I felt pretty good in the race for the first half mile. Then I noticed that the course was mountainous, and I was already getting tired. I was also running with a water pack for the first time in my entire life. It's a given rule not to try new things on race day, but regardless, 6:47:27 and 32 miles later, the water pack and I were well acquainted. I figured out how to actually drink from it about mile 11, and slowly but surely got used to the extra weight and the swishing sound it made with every step. I ran on, soaking in the beauty of God's creation. The cacti and mountains were enough to take one's breath away--if the running didn't do that already.
Yes, that is blood running down my legs in the above picture. Red has always been a good color on me, and I obtained some red legs and hands from taking a tumble down the rocky trail about half way through. It hurt; I got some cool comments from passerby hikers, and after I finished, I took a little visit to the medic tent. The medics cleaned and bandaged my wounds, and comforted me with the information that they had seen a lot worse today. One runner had a gash in her leg going all the way to the bone. Those desert rocks were unforgiving for sure.
The next day we hiked through the desert and took tons of cactus pictures. We even found places where my parents camped several years earlier, long before I came into existence. We also stopped at Organ Pipe Pizza in Mesa, which is a must-see for all music and pizza loving people visiting the state.
Overall we had an amazing time in Arizona. You can take a lot away just from the state's motto of "God enriches." The word "enrich" means to make something more meaningful, substantial, or rewarding. It improves something and makes it more valuable. God enriches lives every day. Jesus specializes in turning brokenness into beauty. He takes empty lives and gives them true meaning and purpose. Life is not really complete until you have given your all to God.
The next day we hiked through the desert and took tons of cactus pictures. We even found places where my parents camped several years earlier, long before I came into existence. We also stopped at Organ Pipe Pizza in Mesa, which is a must-see for all music and pizza loving people visiting the state.
Overall we had an amazing time in Arizona. You can take a lot away just from the state's motto of "God enriches." The word "enrich" means to make something more meaningful, substantial, or rewarding. It improves something and makes it more valuable. God enriches lives every day. Jesus specializes in turning brokenness into beauty. He takes empty lives and gives them true meaning and purpose. Life is not really complete until you have given your all to God.