Mixed Nuts: July 2016

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Vacation Day 10

Last full day of vacation. Today we had to take the long drive back across Idaho to Boise where we would be catching our plane the next day. But we didn't just drive. We had planned stops to make the day fun and break up the 8 hour driving day.

We spent the entire day stopping at fun places along the way. We stopped and saw a Lava national park which was called "Craters of the Moon" which was really neat. The folks that made it a park called it Craters of the Moon because they felt that is what it resembled. A long time ago, astronauts used to come to the area to practice. In reality - they found that it isn't like the moon's surface at all, but the name stuck.

Then we stopped at Balanced Rock. This is exactly what it sounds like - a rock that looks like it is balancing on another rock. IT was really cool. It was a bit of a hike up to the rock, but well worth it.

We drove by Thousand Springs State park - not enough time to stop, but we could see many of the water falls from the road. Then before we knew it we were back in Boise and settling in for our last night before heading home.

We had a great vacation. I cannot believe how beautiful Idaho is. If I would have known what we were missing, I would have gone a long time ago.

At Craters of the Moon an Artist made a rendition of a Lava Tube

We walked to the top of this lava hill. It was super windy, but great views!

there was snow down inside one of the deep caves in the lava

Balanced Rock area

Thousand Springs State Park

Last dinner in Idaho.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Idaho Vacation Day 9

Second day in the Yellowstone area. Today we did see Old Faithful, and went to the southern part of Yellowstone. We continued OUT of Yellowstone and down to the Grand Tetons. Because they were there.

We had a very long, but very fun day. We saw a ton in a 12 hour period, and since it was our last day in Yellowstone, we made it worth it.

Waiting for Old Faithful. These days it goes off around every 88 minutes - give or take 10 minutes. It was freezing, so we took turns going inside the visitor center to get warm.