The Trip

For the last 6 months my husband has been obsessively planning our 5-yr anniversary trip out West. Since we have never been able to really "celebrate" our anniversary because it is always in the middle of the Fall Semester of school (Oct 16), we decided to celebrate in the summer, before PA School landed upon us. Well, quite the adventure it was, and now that it is all said and done, I am very glad he did so scrupulously plan or it may have turned out differently. I look back and think that it could not have been orchestrated any better than how it turned out. So without further ado, here is The Trip:

PHOENIX
July 24-27

* We flew in to Phoenix to visit Jenna and Steve (Derek's sister, brother-in-law) and their precious little girl Abigail. We had such a relaxing visit with them and got to see their new home!They are not joking when they say it is like a convection oven- the temperatures got above 115!!! The only thing they don't have is the humidity...

GRAND CANYON

July 28-29

*We only had 2 days and 2 nights here, but it was perfect! We captured a lightning storm above the North Rim the first night we got there, then were able to see 2 amazing sunrises and a beautiful sunset. Not to mention the great dayhike we did about halfway down the canyon.

ZION
July 30-Aug 2

* This was definitely the most "adventuresome" part of our trip in which we hike "The Narrows", a 17-18 mile hike through a slot canyon made by the Virgin River. When I say we hiked "through the river" that is precisely what we did- having to crawl over and around boulders, through the water, and at some points swimming! Thank goodness for our faithful walking sticks and our backpacks that kept us afloat. This was quite a tiresome few days, but magnificently beautiful, serene, and quiet. We rarely saw anyone while hiking, which made the adventure feel like your own.

MESQUITE, NV
August 2-3

* We decided to detour a couple hours to see our sweet beloved friends the Jackson's and Dorado's. Pretty much over half the team who Derek lived with (and became family with) in Belize, relocated to start a church plant in this tiny town outside Las Vegas. It is so special every time we get to see them. Talk about reliving the "glory days" in Belize...I find out some new story about my husband every time we visit them. Oh! This time we found an old VHS tape they had made one Christmas that Derek was there with them. Talk about nostalgia...

PARK CITY, UT

August 3-6

* We ended our trip in Park City, Utah visiting family who live there. It was so much fun catching up with Phil and Martha (my dad's cousin), being spoiled guests to their abundant hospitality, as well as doing some fun little things while we were there (ie: seeing The Fantastiks at the amphitheatre at Sundance Resort, cayaking down the Provo River, milling around down, and experiencing breathtaking views and hikes around Deer Valley Resort)

And that was our trip! I won't ponder too much what was my favorite part, but I can tell you this, and I believe my husband would agree...We set out planning this trip not to visit anyone because we wanted some quality (and quantity) time to ourselves, and wanted to have plenty of time to enjoy visiting places that we have in the past only talked about one day visiting together. And some of the places we visited hands down could have been on the list of the 7 Wonders of the World. Witnessing a lightning storm over the Grand...I mean, how many people get to experience that? And I can't even put half the experiences in words. Breathtaking. But what was absolutely wonderful was the quality time we got to spend with people who have helped shape and mold us into who we are today. It was a breath of fresh air to be in their presence. I felt I got to know a different aspect of my husband (and he of me) because of the way these people reflect the stories of our lives. Even Phil and Martha, who we did not really know to well prior to this trip, taught us so much about the history of my family, the quirks and our personalities. So much about Martha I see in myself that it just makes me laugh! So, if you are out looking for an adventure...don't waste your money buying tickets to travel the world. Go to the Grand Canyon- the world flocks there and you can see a million different cultures all in one place. HA! But if you are looking for a life of adventure, invest in a friend. Really invest. Be vulnerable. Share your life with them, your struggles and pitfalls. Day in and day out. And feast on God's Word together...or pray for the hunger to do so. It is a joy to look back and relish on the wonderful things God has done in the lives of His people...it stirs the fire all the more for what He is continually doing now...in what appears to be "the mundane". Life is an adventure, and it is meant to be lived to the fullest. It is not my circumstances that need to change, but my perspective. Lord, may it be.