Michelle

When you’ve got a name like “TallGrass Prairie”, you’ve got a decidedly humble claim to fame. But behind Kansas’ modest offerings lies a park with rolling beauty and a little peek at the “heart” of the heartland. We hiked among the amber waves of grass (spotting wildlife and gorgeous foliage), explored a furnished 1800’s ranch house, sat in desks at an 1800’s one room schoolhouse, felt pelts and artifacts from native animals, and met a 36-year-old horse named “Badger.” We were struck by the beauty of it all.

And then of course we topped off our day with burgers and double-dips at Braum’s.

God is good.

Jason has always said he feels closest to the Lord when he’s in the mountains, and to his defense, today’s Rocky Mountain National Park adventure (in Colorado) revealed God’s magnificent glory in such grand splendor. The Aspens pointed their branches heavenward, the lakes danced in twinkling worship, the wildlife displayed His amazing craftsmanship. God was there when we splashed in the lake, climbed boulders, played “I Spy” with the animals, and stood in awe atop the mountains at the beauty below. It was the perfect backdrop to celebrate Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to our beloved, adventurer Jason and to all our loved fathers, and may our Heavenly Father be glorified!!

(P.S. - The Junior Rangers unlocked their 2nd badge of the trip today!)

Sometimes the sweetest joys are found in the unexpected, unplanned things that we stumble on in spite of ourselves. On today’s grand adventure to the Grand Tetons, we found some surprising treasures outside our itinerary: Sacajawea’s cemetery (and subsequent history lesson!), a cowboy herding cattle on the range, a military tank from World War I (I believe), saddling up atop a roadside jackalope, talking and praying with a stranger we met who’s not a stranger anymore, and playing on a beach at the base of a mountain range. These were not on my bingo card for today, but what fun they were!

As believers, we know the unplanned is never really unplanned, as our good God is sovereign and brings all things together for our good and His glory!!

“A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

I don’t know if there’s anything more iconic in Yellowstone Park than Old Faithful, the geyser that erupts every 92 minutes or so. Like clockwork, this thing’s been going off on the regular, spewing water and clouds of steam skyward since before history began recording it in 1870.

For the kids, it was a first in a day of firsts- first time to see animals in nature like bison, deer, a wolf, chipmunks, a raven; first time to see rainbow-colored bubbling pools and other geothermal springs; first time to see steam billowing from giant cracks in the ground (Yellowstone is so other-worldly!!); first time marveling over exploding geysers.

But it definitely wasn’t a first for our Old Faithful, and it won’t be his last. He was shooting off waterworks before any of us were born, and I’m guessing he’ll be around long beyond our lifespans.

As faithful and steadfast as Old Faithful is, he’ll never match the faithfulness of the One who created him, the God of heavens and earth!!

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness!!

Sometimes one looks for danger, and sometimes danger just finds you!!

Today’s adventure began just feet from a black bear on a Yellowstone road (we were in our car thankfully!!) and ended in a sea of lava (cooled lava, of course!) at Craters of the Moon!! I have never seen a landscape like Craters of the Moon - with lava as far as the eye could see, cinder cones and opened earth, collapsed lava tubes, big boulders of lava rock, and giant caves created by molten lava!! We climbed to the top of a cinder cone, hiked the barren wasteland, and explored caves carved out by volcanic activity!!

And you know what? We found the most beautiful flowers growing in the middle of the rock!! I think there must be a lesson in that…

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12b-13

We may not quite be the adventurers Lewis and Clark were, but today we got to tread where Lewis and Clark camped, learn more about Nevaeh’s favorite Sacajawea, examine Native artifacts and clothing, touch bear hide, dip our toes in the creek Sacajawea camped at, and stand in a teepee. We even met a local Native (Salish) man who shared his culture with us and played Native music for us on a flute made from elderberry branch (see his picture we took :).

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”

-Psalm 84:5

Today we deviated from our National Parks tour to attend a 2-day Homesteading Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We have so much to learn about growing/raising/preserving things along our homesteading journey, so it was such a gift to sit under the tutelage of veterans in the field and grow in our knowledge and have access to resources and be encouraged!!

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:10-11

PS - The kids grew too today - braving water slides and wave pool and water playground at the indoor waterpark connected to our hotel!!