Sunday, May 2, 2010

I'm Back . . . .

Wow!  We had a great time!  I'm back, refreshed and ready to get started on May - so many things are going on this month, but I think I am ready for them.

Our adventures actually started on the Saturday, before we left for vacation.  Averi, my sweet little granddaughter, was in a Braille Club talent show.  I can't even begin to explain how much fun we had!  I felt honored to have the opportunity to see so many very talented blind or vision impaired children  show-off their talents!  Averi was so happy about the whole thing, that she would hardly sit still to have her picture taken!


Averi did an amazing job playing the piano - she played, Fleur De Lis, The Nutcracker Suite, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  We are so proud of all of Averi's accomplishments, we love her very much!

Then on Sunday, Chris and Dianna, brought their engagement pictures over so that we could see them.  They were so cute - I'm so excited for both of them, they are such a cute couple.  Here is a sample of what they had taken.

Diana, Chris and Brody - they are an adorable couple!


On Monday, the part came in, my handy hubby put the motor on, we packed up the trailer, had a good night's sleep, and we were off like a herd of turtles on Tuesday!!

We decided to stay outside of Challis, Idaho - a beautiful little community, very rural, but very beautiful.  We stayed in the Cottonwood Campground - it was lovely.

I was standing right next to the trailer in our campsite, can't get any better than this!!  This is the beautiful Salmon River - it was a gorgeous day!

Then the clouds started rolling in - still beautiful!

It rained and snowed and hailed, and the river would rise just a little each day.  One afternoon, we were playing cards (we played cards a lot!) and we heard a huge cracking sound - my husband looked out the window and saw that this big tree had fallen into the river - it was close to the bank and the bank was saturated with so much rainfall!  I was just very thankful it didn't fall onto the trailer!

The day before we left - just another day in paradise!!

We got up on Friday morning, only to see snow on the mountains and moving quickly to where we were - so we loaded up and off we went - so long beautiful valley!

We weren't sure where we were headed, because the weather just didn't look good anywhere!  But we finally decided to go to, Craters of the Moon National Park - it was so beautiful!  750,000 acres of lava rock and the most beautiful lava rock formations!  I know, it doesn't sound like much, but you have to see it to really appreciate what Mother Nature has created! 



I'm afraid my pictures just don't do this beautiful park justice!

Everywhere you look, there is another beautiful picture to be taken -  I was amazed at all of the vegetation, lots of Limber Pine and Pygmy Buckwheat grow on this desolate landscape.  Later in the Spring, probably late May, early June, it will be covered with wild flowers, depending on the moisture it received during the winter months.

Thousands of caves dot this beautiful landscape - this is just one of the fascinating caves and rock formations, the little strip of white you can see in the rock, is actually a hole through the rock - the colors of the rock were just beautiful!

There were thousands of these Limber Pine "skeletons" everywhere - this picture was taken in, The Devil's Orchard, appropriately named!


Friday night, the sun made a final appearance - I am always amazed at God's handiwork!  How blessed we are to live in such a beautiful land!

Just as we were leaving, one of our fellow campers came over to meet us - they said they were "full-timers", didn't have a permanent home, not even a storage shed!  They have been traveling around the country for the past couple of years, visiting and volunteering in different communities around the West.  I'm not sure if I'm ready for that life, but is did sound very interesting and fun, to say the least.   They were nice people, they had a cat that they put out on a leash and a beautiful trailer!   I guess I'm just more of a homebody, I love my home and my family, and I can't imagine not being close enough for a hug!  

Each day that we were gone, I gave thanks to a wonderful Father in Heaven, for the beauty of the earth and for all that He has given us!

"And the greatest of all good things is God.


Our Father in Heaven has given us, His children, much more than any mortal mind can comprehend. Under His direction the Great Jehovah created this wondrous world we live in.

God the Father watches over us, fills our hearts with breathtaking joy, brightens our darkest hours with blessed peace, distills upon our minds precious truths, shepherds us through times of distress, rejoices when we rejoice, and answers our righteous petitions.


He offers to His children the promise of a glorious and infinite existence and has provided a way for us to progress in knowledge and glory until we receive a fullness of joy. He has promised us all that He has.

If all that is not enough reason to love our Heavenly Father, perhaps we can learn from the words of the Apostle John, who said, “We love him, because he first loved us."
~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Warm Hugs,


11 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos. It's sound very nice to be out in nature. I'm sorry the weather wasn't better for you altho I rather like a rainey day. It sounds like you enjoyed yourself anyway. I agree with you I'm too much of a homebody to leave my home like that, but I'm sure it gives them a real sence of freedom. i was just thinking this morning how much I like being at home and feel very content here. Linda

Kimberly said...

beautiful pictures Barb! Glad you had a safe trip!!

Kimmie said...

Spectacular photo's - sounds like you had a fabulous trip~!

WB we have missed you.


Hugs


Kimmie
x

Susan B said...

Hi Barb,
Welcome back! It was so nice to see a post from you. I'm glad you enjoyed your time away. Your pictures are so beautiful, I especially love the last one. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing about your trip.

I hope you have a lovely week!

Heather B. said...

Looks like fun! I've been wanting to go to Craters ever since we moved back, and you just re-inspired me. I think I'll make Ricky take me!!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Terrific photos! Glad you made it home safe, it's sure good to get away once in a while...but there's no place like home!

Take care,
Cheryl

Janean said...

we DO love because....amen!

your photos brought a much-needed contented sigh this morning. thank you!

Sue said...

Hi Barb,
WOW! what a beautiful and wonderful vacation, loved all the photos.
How proud I know you are of Averi's accomplishments in her musical talents. So adorable, and what a beautiful photo, of the engagement couple.
Beautiful thoughts too Barb, your love for God and His goodness shines through here on your blog. Thank you for sharing.
I am so glad that you are safely back home and ready to get started on May, i can't believe it is the 3rd already.
Enjoy your day.
Hugs,
Sue

The Halls said...

I am glad that you are back and had a good time. What beautiful places you visited. It is amazing to see Heavenly Fathers hand in everything. Thanks for sharing!!
Love, Laura

Packrat said...

I thought about you all week, because it was so cold and wet. Glad you had a relaxing time. Beautiful pictures. Reminds me that I haven't been down in your neck of the woods for a while.

The Stewart said...

looks like you had a blast!! And chris and his little family are ADORABLE! I love that picture! I can't wait!

Happy Spring!

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