Bloggy World With-drawl

I have been missing you, my sweet bloggy world friends! I have so much to say, but my world has been revolving way to fast for me to sit in front of my computer for more than moments right now. 

We are having a wedding in our family in a little over two weeks! YAY!!! We are so excited! But I must tell you, that I have been one busy girl with many things! I have a Mary spirit by nature, but I have been acting like I am a Martha to the bone!!! I have a magnet on my fridge that says, "Martha doesn't live here!" but things are looking good enough here these days to invite Ms. Stewart over! 

You see, I have been going through everything! Absolutely everything!!! Not because there is a wedding, but because it just had to be done! My shoulders could not take another day of my piles not being sorted, closets being purged, drawers and cabinets being straightened! 

The wedding and all of our joyous preparations for that are only a part of my busyness. 

I am looking forward to getting to the end of this makeover season and get back to sitting at the feet of Jesus again! It has been too busy and I feel as if I am missing too many wonderful things that He might be wanting to teach me! 

The wedding is October 10th. I left right in the middle of our trip ... perhaps I will just leave it there, or perhaps I will come back with stories about the wedding, or perhaps I will come back with a message that I hear from my sitting position at the Lord's feet. Whatever the case ... I will be coming back as soon as possible! I miss all of you so much! Please remember me!!!!

Blessings to all,

Cheri

Top Of The World/Double Rainbows

We pack our things, once again preparing to leave the Comfort Inn.  Steam rises from the cup of coffee as I make my way to the car. My chariot awaits. Once again I spy prince charming in the parking lot coercing our trunk to shut.  

We leave the city of West Yellowstone, Montana. The morning air is brisk hinting that fall is on its way. 

We could spend a week here and never tire of the majesty of Yellowstone. We could live a lifetime here and never exhaust its surprises! 

A fly fisherman wades through the creek that weaves its way to the left of us. He gracefully casts his rod expecting a catch. He is not the first we have seen, there have been many, but I am caught up in the beauty of his sport. Wonder if I could do that? I realize my limitations ... I do not have the grace for it. So,  I remain an admirer, a star-struck observer, completely absorbed in the performance. 

Buffalo block our way, more concerned about breakfast than our presence. We stop, Scotty takes pictures. I ease my way back to the car. I know they are not really looking at me, oblivious to my presence, but they are intimidating. I watch from inside the chariot. 

We move on.

Our drive takes us past the boiling puddles, springs, and ponds. Rising steam forms clouds that embrace the ground. We are enchanted by its beauty. Wildflowers lace the edges, smiling while enjoying their morning sauna. 
Animals peep out here and there. A bald eagle swoops down to the creek delighted to find his breakfast. We are like children at the zoo, thrilled with all that we see. 

We leave the park and head to Highway 212 which will take us to The Top Of The World. Scotty begins a new song:

"I'm on the top of the world, looking down on creation, and the only explanation I can find, is the love that I've found, ever since you been around, your love puts me at the top of the world."

Snow remains in the crevices of the mountains. We stop the car, he makes a snowball bringing it to me.

Do you feel closer to God in the mountains? 

Do they make Him seem more believable to you? 

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever." Psalm 125:2

I stand on the precipice meditating on that verse. 

The Lord is surrounding me, embracing this moment of time, protecting, fathering, loving, caressing. 

Our hearts reach for more of Him. We have been inspired. We bask in His presence listening in the silence for His whisper. 

Tourists come disturbing our pause. We climb aboard our chariot, prince charming at the wheel and Miss Daisy with my floppy hat blowing in the wind, we continue our ride at the top of the world. 

The Top Of The World connects Yellowstone Park to the city of Red Lodge like a dot to dot color book. We stop. We explore. We eat at an Irish Pub. A grandma with two cherubs sharing her table sits behind us. 

We savor the pub's entrees. Everyone in town seems to favor this place. It overflows with local folk filling up on the noon hour. 

We linger a bit in the village then head on our way. Our next dot to reach is Billings, MT then on to Wyoming. 

We stop at the Battle sight of Custer's Last Stand. The Custer's romance intrigues me. I purchase Mrs. Custers book. He died when he was 34, leaving her behind, a 32 year old widow. She lived a very long life never remarrying. She was loyal to her husband to the end of her days refusing to go on even one date. They had a deep love with staying power. 

Storms in the mountains can be fierce. It compels us to stop and wait for the rain to calm before we continue on our way. The sun begins to shine, a few sprinkles dance in its glow. A double rainbow with vibrant hues like fire pierces the sky. We pull over enjoying the spectacular show. 

Tradition reminds me to ask for a double portion of the Lord's blessing on our lives. Double rainbows have inspired this tradition.  I breathe amen and we head on our way to the Comfort Inn in Buffalo, Wyoming for the night. 

We come upon a terrible wreck. Minivan upside down, burned. Firemen, policemen cleaning the road.  I praise the Lord for the unexpected stops we have made. Stops for rain ... stops for rainbows.  Did they prevent us from being involved in this tragedy? We are sobered by the sight. 

We find the hotel cloaked in a beautiful Wyoming sunset, check in and head to our room. We are quite weary. We turn in calling it a day!

Until tomorrow!

Cheri

Mesa Falls, Idaho/ Yellowstone National Park

I am speechless!

My words will be few! The power and beauty displayed here bring words to mind like, awe, majestic, exquisite, pristine, and turbulent. Yet they pitifully fail to describe it.  The awe of the places we explore literally  stirs the fear of the Lord in my heart. 

Pictured above: Mesa Falls (near Ashton, Idaho) and Snake River that it falls into (above). It is truly one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen! You can feel the spray as the water pours over the falls. Photos fail to portray the glory  of it. It is one of my very favorite places in the world!

 I wish you could hear the sound! It drops over one million gallons of water each day into the Snake  River creating quite a roar! A bald eagle soared over the waters while we gazed. 

A scenic drive will lead you to this incredibly breathtaking location.

Above: I am standing in front of steam rising from the craters in the earth's crust. Below: Yellowstone wonders! The erupting  geyser is called the Beehive Geyser. It is bigger and erupts longer than Old Faithful which we were waiting for. The guide said that the Beehive only goes off every 15 to 22 hours. Old Faithful followed its eruption within about 3 minutes. It goes off about every hour depending on the day. 

The Lord led us to this marvelous sight with impeccable timing. We so easily could have missed the Beehive eruption. It was the blessing of a double portion. I am still celebrating it!

Pictures from Yellowstone below:

Tower Falls, Melting Paint Pots (very, very hot), Beehive Geyser, buffalo (Scotty took this picture. Our car was in the middle of their herd.),  and The Kepler Cascades.

Scripture says that creation speaks of our God so that we are without excuse! His fingerprints are visible here. 

For now~

Cheri

Searching For Favorites

The sun is slipping away, we are reflecting, "What was your favorite today?" 

We search our thoughts remembering:  

waterfalls, a violin recital in the park (we were uninvited guests), museum featuring Titanic memorabilia, restaurant with alligator tail sandwiches (in Idaho?), jazz band accompanying  a couple dancing resembling The Notebook characters Noah and Allie, serene river walk around the park in Idaho Falls, 

and try to decide on the one event from the day that is our favorite. 

He shares first, "The little cafe in Malad City, 
Idaho was my favorite!" 

"Really?" his answer surprises me. 

Malad City is a little tiny town that boasts of a museum on road signs along the highway. I plead to stop. 

We have a lot of miles to cover. Do I think it will be worth it? 

"I don't know, but I just want to explore ... " I respond to the Practical side of us. 

 I was thrilled when he took the risk,  driving off the highway, onto the ramp, and into the town of Malad!

It took all of five minutes to scope out the town. The museum, small, abandoned for the day, made us question the embellished road signs that caused us to drift into town. We did not feel let down that we missed it. We crept down the main drag looking for something that would make this detour worth our while. 

"Are you hungry?" 

"Is the sky blue? Is the grass green?"

Every time he inquires my stomach growls! He hears and smiles!

 Where to eat? Little cafes, barbecue stands, at least two or three, provide options.

 "Eenie, meenie, minie, moe ... this one or that one?" Hmmmm ...

The Dude Ranch Cafe on Main Street draws us in. 

We step out of our now and back our past as we step over the threshold of the little cafe. Faces stare, stricken with the wonder of where we came from. They are all unfamiliar to us, yet strangely resemble folk we knew in childhood days. 

We are aliens here. A mystery.

We both grew up in Small Town, USA, so we recognize the wonder that we have stirred .  

We discern their thoughts as we smile toward their stares. 

"Wonder where they're from?" 

"Are they new to town?"

"Wonder if they have a church home?"

"Do you know, is that the new couple that bought the Miller's place?"

Beef tenderloin, mashed tators, and green beans are the special for the day tasting like the ones once served in grandma's kitchen. I catch a glimpse of a piece of pie that is delivered to the booth across from me.

"Do you wanta share a piece of pie with me?" he asks.

"Is the sky blue? Is the grass green?"

Intuitively the waitress knows we have a story. She lingers hoping we will share our adventure. Before she is ready, duty calls her away, leaving most of our story untold. 

Our forks tangle as we savor the best coconut cream pie available in the state of Idaho as the cafe echos with chatter.

We leave the little village knowing we are a mystery to this community. They will be talking about us for awhile, until more new faces are lured into town by pretentious museum signs. 

"Why was that your favorite, Babe?"

"Because it felt like home," he speaks gentle words laced in reflection. 

I agree.

"What was your favorite today?" he turns to search my heart with tender eyes.

"Being with you! I just love getting to be with you! That is my favorite!"

We head for the Comfort Inn when the sun sets and ease into another night of slumber.

Tomorrow we will head for Yellowstone National Park. With every mile our love for adventure and our love for each other deepens!

Tonight we sleep in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where the sky is blue, the grass green.  

Nitey, nite!

Cheri

Pictured: The Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah. ( Just passing through and checking it out.) ~ Violin recital in the Park at Idaho Falls, Idaho. (I loved this!)