I'm back! :)

Wow! What a perfect vacation we had in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Jackson, Wyoming! The only research I did was reading on the plane ride going there. I didn't know much about what we were about to see.

Yellowstone definitely is surreal ~ sometimes you wonder if you are still on earth...

As you can see ~ I love photographing landscapes. I had to remind myself to take photos of my family every now and then.

I bought a photo album that holds 200 photos. I'm having a tough time purging the 680 that I took :)

A friend recommended that I buy a few more albums, but I rather have a smaller album of only my best photos. Besides how many photos of geysers can I force my friends to look at...

I really enjoy staying in the national park lodges - no t.v., no computer - just quality family time.

We saw a lot of wildlife - bison, elk, grizzlies, black bears, coyotes...

I really wanted to see a moose and trumpeter swan, but to no avail...

There were wonders everywhere we looked.

It was amazing to see snow on the Grand Tetons in the middle of August. (remember, I'm a flatlander from Illinois :)

We did a lot of hiking and enjoyed a full day white water rafting trip.

I loved this little chapel.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! -Philippians
4:4

How can you not rejoice when you see his wonders all around us.

And look what we found on the side of the road on the way to the airport?!

A pair of trumpeter swans! My own little miracle!

We arrived home and had just enough time to unpack, do laundry and hit the road again... This time to visit my parents in central Illinois - the heart of Amish country.

I am so terribly behind and overwhelmed - professionally (in my real job as an accountant), personally (all the catch up housework and getting ready for school to start) and creatively (with deadlines and commitments).

Actually, I think the visit to my parents was just what I needed. There is something about the clip clop of the horses hooves steadily pulling the carriages. It reminds me to take a deep breath, set my priorities, and accomplish one task at a time. Most especially, don't forget to slow down and take a moment to rejoice.

Blessings, Patti