First turn toward home

We have just turned on to I 40, which means this is the first turn toward home.
Tonight we stop at the La Posada Hotel in AZ. The cool thing about this place (other than the fact that it is in the desert) is that several famous people have stayed here including: Mary Pickford (of the silent film era), Albert Einstein, Clark Gable and Shirley Temple. Pretty cool huh!

Sent from my iPhone

Coyotes

Two nights ago I woke up and heard the howl of a coyote. It was a bit eerie at first, but then another joined, and another, and another...they sounded like they were singing. It was really beautiful. They were in the forest behind our lodge.
I tried to imagine what they were doing. Maybe just breaking out in song, or perhaps they started dancing too...hehe I've been reading some CS Lewis lately- can you tell?

Sent from my iPhone

Snow!

We're in the Grand Canyon now and yes...it's snowing! Like blowing snow...like slushy, icy roads- snowing!
We are in the Maswik Lodge near the rim and in the forest outside our window are Elk. Huge-300 to 400lb Elk! This is pretty cool!!! I wish you could see it. How cool is God!

Sent from my iPhone

Zion, Page & Grand Canyon

We can now add wild turkey and buffalo to the list of animals we've
seen. I love seeing all these animals. Yesterday, at Zion we saw
several mule deer so close that if I had taken one step closer I could
have touched them!

Lake Powell was very beautiful. Basically, it is a series of canyons
filled with water. It acts as a reservoir.
We took a boat into Navajo Nation country and saw Rainbow Bridge- a
natural arch formed by water. It is so tall that the Statue of Liberty
could sit beneath it.

We're now driving to the Grand Canyon and the country around us
reminds me of pictures I've seen of the African Savannah. We are
driving across Navajo country, which incidently is the largest Indian
Reservation in the US.

See you at the Grand Canyon!

Sent from my iPhone

I will woo her into the desert and speak tendery to her there.

The title of this entry can be found in Hosea. This is God speaking
about wooing His bride to Himself.

I love the desert. What?! Yes, yes, I love it! It's not like the Gobi
out here; but it is a desert. I am amazed at how alive it is.
Yes, it is arid and dry; but it is covered in vegetation. Even the
ground is alive! A series of bacteria grow over several years which
creates some of the most nutrient rich soil around.
Wild animals abound. From big horned sheep to fox to mule deer,
bobcats, cougars, coyote to kangaroo rats to lizards, snakes and frogs.
When I look across the blankets of red rock what a beautiful suprise
to see wild flowers springing up here and there. Bright red Indian
Paintbrush, yellow Broom, white Daisies, and a purple flower whose
name I don't know quite yet peak up at the edges of rocks.
And speaking of rocks- they do Circ du Soile-like balancing acts, pop
up in the middle of fields like the wildflowers. They're the shapes of
people and animals. And the other day I saw one that must have been a
mile wide in the shape of a heart.
Yes! I love the desert. There is a peaceful quiet here. What a wild
and beautiful place for the Lord to speak tenderly to His people. He
speaks to me here. This earth reflects His wildness which is
captivating, and His beauty which is majestic, breathtaking, and
enthrolling.

Today we will be leaving Bryce Canyon, traveling to Zion and then on
to Lake Powell.

Sent from my iPhone

Arches & Canyonlands

First off, I'm so sorry that we can't get the pictures to go through.
I'm trying to get that fixed.

However, in the meantime, yesterday was awesome! We were able to spend
about 4 hours in each park.

In the Arches National Park rocks where the shapes of people, sheep
and marching elephants.
My favorite part was a primative trail where we saw a kangaroo rat! We
stopped for a rest here and this sweet little bird flew into a Juniper
bush right in front of us and sang the most beautiful song.
Canyonlands took my breath away. Vistas that stretched for miles with
the La Sals in the background, then mesas, then a drop off into canyons.

We are in Green River this morning and are headed to Capitol Reef an
Bryce Canyon.

If I can't get the pictures working rest assured there will be an
incredible album posted when we return!

Love you all!

Sent from my iPhone

The Road Before Me

I'm on one of those roads that stretches out before you with no end in sight. In the distance there are mountain and to my right- mesas. The way the sun kisses this land is stunning. It looks wild here and at the same time- inviting. 

Yes- the earth is full of the glory of God. This earth is reflecting both His wildness and His beauty! Shout rocks-shout! 

Sent from my iPhone