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Not Enough Words Here

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Friends, there are not enough words to describe the natural beauty we encounter in nature and in the people we meet. That's partly the reason for inserting pictures in this blog, we suppose, but there aren't enough pictures to communicate the beauty, dignity, and worth we encounter everywhere, in everything and everyone, all the time. A lot happens that never can be posted here. Then, too, we are somewhat hindered by technology. Just look... Our laptop is literally held together with duct tape. That's an excuse for not posting more, but we are going with it for now. Since the last post, we have camped in Colorado, New Mexico, and today, Oklahoma. Next up: Arkansas, Mississippi, then Alabama--our home state--for a couple of weeks. Since you are reading this, please know we appreciate you, are grateful for you, and bless you.
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Utah Parks Here

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Tomorrow, we leave southwest part of Utah. For four nights we camped at a roadside Motel/RV Park on US Highway 89. Here is a photo essay taken in Zion National Park... Look closely. These two are committed. This one takes the lead. Natural  beauty abouds in this park. We soak in our perceptions. We find beauty, dignity, and worth in nature's sanctuary and in each person we encounter in the park, and we reflect beauty, dignity, and worth back to the same. Among several other destinations we visited, Bryce Canyon National Park stood out for us. So here are a few photos we snapped today...
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Friends for 40+ Years

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  Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park is a lovely place. We remark to one another that each territory has its own kind of beauty. We see it again and again. The picture above was taken on a day trip that we took while camping in West Yellowstone, Montana. We meet with friends at Walcott State Park, Idaho. We have known them for a long time. On a day trip to City of Rocks National Reserve we snap a few photos. The next day we eat at Jasmine Thai Restaurant in Idaho Falls, Idaho, then we go to Shoshone Falls Park. The locals tell us that the water level is low. It must be even more spectacular when the water is at a high level. As much as we treasure natural beauty, we may cherish the loveliness of long-maintained friendships even more. Thanks for renewing our ties, friends!
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Check Off the Bucket List Here

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Today is our last day of camping and sightseeing in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The Creator's beauty is on full display here. A couple was stopped on one of the boardwalks. The mom was entertaining a restless toddler. The dad was preparing a bottle for a hungry infant in a stroller. "I'm sorry," the man said.  "Oh, no apology is needed," we replied, "You are doing a good job. Your children are precious and beautiful. You remind us of our own family back in the day." We wondered why the dad was apologetic. Had he and his wife been shamed? Had someone criticized their parenting? Was it a cultural thing? We'll never know. But we feel good about encouraging that mom and dad. They seemed to need a lift in that moment.
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Western South Dakota

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We enjoyed a week of camping at Rapid City, South Dakota, and traveling around the area, exploring sights to see, and local culture. Today, we bid Rapid City farewell and continued our westward pilgrimage. Here are a few graphics, taken during the past few days:
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not here

We admire both of our sons. The older one, Stephen, has been fighting wildfires in Colorado. That's not here , where we are. It's there . He sent us this video of the firefighters, as they "play" in the water: Given his foray into seasonal firefighting, we interrupt our pilgrimage plans, travel to our son's and daughter-in-law's home in order to assist with caring for grandchildren. A video of the grandchildren, as they play in the water, here , not there,  can be viewed below: What a difference!
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Cherish the Local Color Here

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During our travels last year, the "little" destinations stood out for us almost as much as the "large" ones. For example, the Pierceton Heirloom Tomato Festival shimmers in our memories, as does our ride on Niagara Falls' Maid of the Mist. So here we are, traveling through South Dakota in 2024, really embracing our lunch stop at a water feature in Arlington. It's very inviting to the eye. The sign says, "Stop and..." So Jeri does, of course! Bye, bye! Neither of us had witnessed an indigenous people's homecoming, so when we saw an invitation, we jumped at the opportunity to attend the 158th annual ceremony in Winnebago, Nebraska. The songs, drums, dancing, dress, and patriotism of these Native Americans were on full display. We felt welcomed and awed. We are grateful and offer thanks.
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