Home again, home again, jiggity jig
So did you miss me?? ha, ha :-)
We made it!
3300 mi. on the odometer, not enough sleep, lots of sunny weather, more sight seeing than I believed we could have fit in (thanks to my mother who drove through night on the way home to get as close to home as possible into MT. so we could sight see on Monday), and 500 plus photos to prove it! We got home last night about 10pm for good after returning the rental car and I can't say that I am fully recovered yet! We had a wonderful trip, saw so much I am still trying to process, and had a very blessed time at our church conference/campmeeting in SD.
This is a list of the places we managed to visit for varying amounts of time:
Montana
Butte
An awesome canyon between there and W. Yellowstone
Grizzly Country
Lewis and Clark Caverns
Virgina/Nevada City
Bannak
10,000 Silver $ (famous little gift shop, casino, rest. etc. where the walls are covered in at the moment almost 45,000 mounted silver dollars)
and survived some real montana hail storms!
Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park
Teton National Park
South Dakota
Mt. Rushmore
Crazy Horse
Spearfish Canyon
Lead (historic mining town)
And we took in an awesome lightning storm
Washington
Went over on Hwy. 2 through Leavenworth
Came back by way of the North Cascades Hwy. 20 by Grand Coulee Dam and Winthrop
Also saw Ross and Diablo lakes
We saw so much my poor brain is still on over load but it was wonderful and I have already started a list of things I want to see again or spend longer at next time! Stay at a Dude Ranch in the Tetons or MT is definetly on that list! I had always dreamed of going to MT and it completely lived up to my expectations. Some parts were different but overall I am in love with the state! I could seriously dispense with all the casinos on every corner there though. Sitting at one stop light we counted 5 in one city. They are everywhere. Yellowstone was INCREDIBLE and I want to go back with more time sometime very soon. We had 2 1/2 days and that wasn't nearly long enough.
The amount of wildlife we saw was fantastic: Buffaloe, Moose, Deer, Elk, Antelope, Mtn. Goats, a Wolf, Pelicans, a Osprey nest with almost fledged young, hawks, an eagle, the usual small things like praie dogs, sqirrels, chipmonks, etc., bears at Grizzly Encounter (none in the wild) and I saw a bat flying around in the caves which was very exciting. We didn't see any snakes but you don't hear me complaining!
We didn't really have any car problems or accidents but there was one night when mom woke me up at almost midnight somewhere in the middle of nowhere MT. almost out of gas so I could help pray that we would make it to the next gas station. The light was on and we had no idea where the next station with a credit card pump was. Many prayers and 15mi. down the road we found one and all was well. Other than that one small rock in the winshield was about as close to car excitement as we got.
Our time at campmeeting was very blessed. I found myself in some difficult situations that were a real test of my character and praise the Lord with a lot of prayer this time I think I passed the tests. I have come to see that I have some points of real impatience with myself that really comes down to a lack of trust in God and it manifests inself at certain times in frustration at my inablity to understand things as fast as I would like sometimes. I have caused some problems in the past by ill advised speech and lack of control of my emotions so I know it's a problem but to finally have it pinned down a little more is a great help. Real victories were won and the camp theme/lecture topics were a great blessing. The topic was Principles of Christian Leadership and we learned about twenty some odd principles of Christian Leadership...things that I can apply very practically in everyday life. Maybe sometime I will post more about that. I got to spend a lot of time singing and learning new songs which really tested my sight reading skills! For much of the time when we weren't in meetings or I wasn't singing I was working in the kitchen which I really enjoy. I have spent many years at camp helping with the food so it's something I am comfortable with and it makes the time fly by for sure to say busy. The schedule was pretty packed for that week with meetings starting at 6am and going till 8:30 or 9pm with only a couple of breaks for meals but it was worth it and I also got to see quite a few old friends and aquaintences.
And finally the top 3 stupid questions we heard in Yellowstone:
1. Does Old Faithful erupt during the night?
2. When do the Deer turn into Elk?
3. Do you know that the animals are out?
So much more I could say but I will end this post for now...I will let you know when I get some of the photos up and posted.
posted by Crystal @ 6:31 PM
12 Comments
12 Comments:
So, you're home, are you? Sheesh! You two DID a LOT of sight seeing! :-p
Well, I got to go to the youth camp so :-p *spit*.....:-) It was nice to see everyone, and to learn. I mean, honestly, there have been principles, yet no practical ways to apply it, but this time... it was really good.
Let me tell you though, youth camp was a test. Endurance, willpower, etc. :-) It was...really nice. :-) General camp was nice, although I have to say, I got more out of the youth camp, as far as practical learning. :-p.....it happens. :-)
What have you all been doing for church?? j/w because I know of some ideas, and I was looking for more. Got any??
I'm glad you blog! :-D
Talk to ya sometime else!
So Crystal, DOES Old Faithful erupt at night? Hehehe. You know, we stopped by Yellowstone when we went to that wedding in Montana a few years back, and that was one question I didn't think to ask! Lol
Sounds like you had a great time. :-)
Welcome back Crystal!!!!
Up for another hike???:)
I spelt my name wrong. oops
sorry Josiah I didn't respond earlier. I am always up for another hike but are you??? That is the question! How is your foot by the way?
Rachel, I am glad you had a good time at the youth camp. Justin really enjoyed it too so that made me happy. As to the church ideas I will get back to you on that.
Tina,
I didn't know you came out this far West at some point in your life. So when are you going to come and visit me???? Thanks for the e-mail the other day by the way.
Crystal,
Um, well, you see . . . That trip was very unusual. We're really not the sort of people to take long trips anywhere (unlike some people we know?). It was just that this very, very dear friend of ours was getting married and my brother-in-law was in his wedding besides, and we had a bit more money than we have now. I'm afraid those circumstances are quite unrepeatable!
However, if we someday have more money and you can talk some of my family into a nice vacation out west, there is a remote possibility that we could take another trip for YOUR wedding, provided it wasn't in summer or in winter. :-)Given those criteria, I think you'd better just come visit me! Hehehe.
Tina, If I ever get married you had better come to my wedding. It will be a miracle and I am sure you wouldn't want to miss it! maybe I will have you sing and that will ensure that you have to come!
Ah, yes! I would love to come to your wedding. But I never travel anywhere alone, so you must convince other members of my family (or find me a husband).
The chances of me coming to your wedding would increase the closer the wedding was to me. Want to get married in our yard? It's beautiful in summer! :-)
Really, I could travel farther than that, almost certainly, and hopefully all the way out there would be possible. :-)
Miracles DO happen, I am told. Shall I start practicing?
I know for a certain you could travel out here alone! You silly girl. I afraid getting married in your yard might not work out too well but thanks for the offer! Find you a husband...now that is an interesting assignment. I haven't been successful for myself, not that I have really been trying, but what makes you think I would be much help to you??? Sorry I am pretty good at reading people and predicting but setting them up. LOL
No, no, no, I could not travel alone. I know myself! I know it sounds silly, but I am being totally honest and realistic. I experience stress more deeply than the average person. What isn't stressful for other people is very stressful for me, and what is stressful for other people is positively overwhelming for me. Even the very thought of "someday" traveling to WA even WITH someone else is a bit . . . unsettling.
Awww. That's too bad about the yard. I was hoping to get the wedding closer!
As for finding me a husband . . . Well, for me to come out there it will either require a husband to take me or some other family member(s) to go with me. I was just giving you another option in case you thought talking some of my family members into a trip would be too difficult. Lol Like finding me husband would actually be easier. This is, my dear, my weird sense of humor. Exagerated understatments are my trademark.
Although, if I ever run into anyone who needs reading . . . hmmmm, I'll keep your talent in mind. ;-)
~Tina
I didn't think you responded, so I never looked at this post again, until today:) It is October 14. Yeah, about 3 months from my last comment. Anyways, my foot has been better for awhile now so a hike is due. I'll have to ask Kristi:)
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