HERE

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...

  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!

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.