Beauty Surrounds Us!

After a couple of weeks of working late on our basement (which flooded this spring and we are now remodelling...NOTHING compared to what families are facing in Minot...I cannot even imagine, especially when 1/2" of water made us cringe, broke, and tired!) we decided this Sunday was going to be spent worry free hanging out in the beautiful badlands that surround western ND.  We were thanking the Lord all day for the beautiful day He gave us (when it was supposed to storm)!  When we got to our trail head (Jones Creek in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park) I was quite unsure of how the kiddos would do hiking.  But boy did I underestimate the power and strength of our 3 and (almost) 5 year old children!  They hiked almost FOUR miles with us and only complained once (1/4 mile INTO the hike after seeing a hill full of snakes)!  Here are a few favorite snapshots of the day:

The only wildlife we were able to spot were a TON of snakes (blue racers and bull snakes...no rattlers, thank goodness!) ...

And A LOT of beetles eating buffalo dung (I had to take a picture, A: because the majority of our time was spent watching the beetles walk backwards rolling poop into perfect circles--sorry, but it's true, the kiddos were AMAZED, and B: you wouldn't even imagine how many beetles are on this one pile alone!  It's almost like a hidden picture...this picture doesn't do justification!)

I CANNOT WAIT for family days with another little child to love on and care for!  I thought about her often throughout the day...wondering if she's born yet, where she is living, if she is suffering, if she is safe.  I cannot explain the emotions I already feel for this little girl who may not even be born yet!  All we can do right now is pray that she is comforted and safe, whereever she may be!

We are looking forward to spending the week with friends and family we love!  We are praying for a successful turnout at our fundraising dinner (see earlier post for more information) tomorrow night and then have a fun 4th of July (MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!!) weekend planned with my brother-in-law's wedding and my 10 YEAR CLASS REUNION (getting older!).  I pray that each and every one of you reading this has a safe, fun holiday weekend enjoying this beautiful world God created.  Look for the beauty that surrounds you each day!

Love from our family to yours!