Yellowstone Vacation

 We just got back from our Yellowstone vacation.  It was wonderful!

*I wrote this on my phone as we were leaving the park.  I was crying in the front seat.

"Yellowstone!

Majestic, grand, serene, beautiful, peaceful, temple-like.  Oh, how I will miss the breathtaking sights!

The sounds of unexpected afternoon thunder showers, the wind blowing through the trees, the rushing waterfalls.

The feel of the cool waters from rivers and lakes gently flowing across my feet and ankles.  The feeling of a constant cool breeze.  The sound of a crackling fire and laughter from my children.  The smell of campfire smoke and pine needles.

The ability to see God's majesty and grandeur with every single turn of my head.  The dense tree-topped mountains that reach the heavens and supply shade.  Countless trees that seem to stretch on into the eternities.  The tranquil lakes and calm streams, stretching on for miles unseen.  The tall trees, rock formations, waterfalls, mysterious geysers, and wildflowers doting the landscape and providing a unique color palette with such variety that only God, the Supreme Being, is capable of creating such a masterpiece.

I'm so grateful that we were able to visit my happy place again!  My Heaven on Earth.  I feel connected to God there.  How grateful I am to a loving God who created such a beautiful place for His children to enjoy here on Earth.  This is how I know God loves us and that He loves me.  There is no doubt in my mind.  Al things denote there is a God and Yellowstone is living proof of this.

How I long to spend my life in a place like Yellowstone.  I've never felt so sad to leave a vacation before.  I think, perhaps, because my soul recognizes that that is where I truly belong.  In nature.  Where I can truly feel at one with God and at peace.  I must face the real world now.  However, in actuality, Yellowstone (like the Temple) IS the real world and going back to normal life is providing me opportunities, stepping stones, to eventually return to my Heavenly Father where I will feel His presence always and enjoy the beauties of the eternities with my family.  I'm looking forward to that.  I must now press on."

We left our house on Wednesday, July 6th.  We spent the first night in St. George.  The place we stayed at had a lodge where the kids could play pool and ping-pong.  We also tried out a few infamous "Crumbl" cookies, which were fantastic!  We spent the next 2 nights at Dad's house.  Then we spent 2 nights in Jackson, WY.  We were able to visit a really neat art museum!  We enjoyed time by the fire.  The kids practiced whittling and Lizzie played her ukulele.

We spent the next six nights in Yellowstone Park.  Three nights in Grant Village, two nights in Madison, and one night in West Yellowstone.  In Grant Village, we camped next to Yellowstone Lake and we were able to go boating and enjoy the beauty of it.  In Madison, we camped next to Gibbons River and we were able to go wading in it.  Such beautiful country!  We also visited Old Faithful, Norris Geysers, Mammoth Springs, etc.  In West Yellowstone, we basically just showered and did our laundry.  The next night we went to Dad's house.  We spent two nights at Tara's house and one night in Mesquite before heading back home.

William's birthday was the next day.  He's six!  I can hardly believe that our baby is six.

While in Yellowstone, we kept a running list of funny things that our family said.

Here it is!

Mommy: Be careful Ezra!  Kids: Goodbye, Papa!

Daddy: 5-year-old Pebble-Elbowed William.

Mason: Oh, look! A deer!  Oh, never mind.  It's a human.

William: After this, I'm DONE with walking.  I'm DONE!

Lizzie: Dead, dead as a doornail.  That's my mptto.

Bryce:  Nature is cool, but sunglasses are cooler.

Lizzie: Don't worry, bears can't open zippers.

William: Lizzie looks like an elephant.

William: When the little trees grow up, they'll be dead, too!

William: Mommy, numbers never end. Just like our lives never end.

Daddy: Every WONG.

William: It's the first time I popped my pants!  I'm so excited!  Now I can be like Mason when he pooped his pants in 1st Grade!

William: His name is MAYON.  Mayon, Mayon, Mayon!  Bryce: Hi Nathan!  William: It's not Nathan!  It's Mason!

William:  Would you rather be a bison or a leech?

Mason:  William is like a leech to me.

William: Caitlyn looks like Gavin's legs.

Caitlyn: Mason likes Zoey, you know, the girl who broke her leg.  Mason: Just because she broke her leg doesn't mean I like her!

Everyone: Violet is Broco's Sister!

Lizzie: Don't be lazy, stick with Graby.

William: Doby knows best, listen to your doby.

Caitlyn: Daddy! Look at the little pioneer kids!

Random kid at Old Faithful: I scream, you scream, we all scream for poopscream!

Caitlyn: No!  The Berf Jeeky!

William: You have a crush on Gollum, that's why you look like Gollum. 

Caitlyn:  Look!  A real family!  Mom: Caitlyn, we are a real family.  Caitlyn: No, we're a weird family.  That family is happy, like Christmas dinner.

William: Where is mommy?  Daddy: She's gone.  William: She's still brushing her teeth?!

Lizzie: That's the problem, everyone wants to sleep with me!

Mason: They call me "one-eyed-Bill" because I have...one eye.

William: Lizzie, your face, in the dark, looks like Gavin's face.

Bryce: My nose!  Daddy investigated.  Is it bleeding?  Bryce: No, the hoodie went up it.

Mason: Yay! Are we going to see some more cool geezers again?

Mom: You taste this chocolate and tell me it doesn't taste exactly like toilet water.  I'm never coming here again.

Dad: Brian Elijah Over.  He's a legend!