Wind Caves

My Brother David

This was a stop also in South Dakota the famous Wind Caves. I have a picture of the original opening to the cave and it is about the size of some body's head.

Yeah i couldn't believe people could actually fit down there. The cool thing about it was that there was always air flowing out of the cave or into the cave dependent on weather systems pressures.

Usually caves have stalactites and stalagmites well this has 'Box Work" it looks like this

And it is only found in three other places in the world. The wind caves were way cool to see something completely different. So if you ever find yourself in Hot Springs, South Dakota go check out the Wind Caves you won't be disappointed

Family Road Trip 2010

I look at this heading and a rush of memories flow through my brain. Memories of fighting, sleeping, getting too close to one's side of the seat in the car, the constant bathroom stops delaying our final destination, numerous highway rest stops and the interesting people you see there, and not to mention the smell. I have been on a lot of road trips with my family but this summer was the mother of them all. Two weeks in a car with 5 grown adults sounds fun huh.

Mt. Rushmore one of our first stops

It was pretty amazing to see that great monument. As we drove up through Colorado and Wyoming to get to this "in the middle of nowhere" spot we passed various fireworks stores and soon realized that if you want to get high quality, Mexican style fireworks in the Midwest.... you go to Wyoming.

Mt Rushmore is right outside of the small town of Keystone in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We stayed in a town by the name of Custer, after General Custer for all you history buffs. When we drove up to the monument we took the road up the back of the mountain and as we came around the corner I was surprised how small it looked. In the movies they make it look huge because of those killer close ups and special effects Those thoughts we squashed as we walked up closer to the monument and realized that the faces we huge. It is sad what Hollywood has done to our perception.

I loved Mt Rushmore it was amazing to see it up close and personal and to learn about how it came to fruition. My favorite part was the lighting ceremony at night where they light up the faces and have a video presentation on a stage below the monument. At the end the guard asked if all people in the audience retired and actively serving in all branches of the US Armed Forces would come down on stage and help fold the American flag. As they stood there the crowed rose and sang the national anthem and then we just stood there clapping for at least 5 minutes it was pretty amazing. I am glad I got to be a part of that and thank all those men and women who fight for our country

AMERICA!!!!

Nauvoo

I was in Nauvoo on a family trip. well lets back track a little, I was on a two week road trip with my family. Yeah i know what you are all thinking, what the...! My parents love road trips and this trip started out being a family reunion that was gonna take place this summer in Nauvoo. Needless to say that failed, due to financial reasons and scheduling conflicts. (Side note) There is great motivation for grandparents to see their grandkids especially if they live 1300 miles away and no other children have given them any... thats another story. SO we decided to go to Nauvoo this summer anyway with all the single kids in the family namely my brother David my sister Natalie and myself.

We couldn't just fly to Chicago or Iowa or St. Louis and drive the 2 hrs to Nauvoo that would have been too easy. To explain, my family is very competitive so we are having this little competition. The first one to visit the 50 states in our great union wins. Wins what, i don't know... bragging rights for all time. This all started when my older brother nathan decided to drive most of the continental U.S. and he has visited 48 states over the course of his 10 years of marriage. I having a undying competitive spirit told him that i would visit all 50 states before he did. (I had only been to 23 states at the time) thats how competitive i am. So the competition began, my sister natalie jumped in to the competition having this crazy idea when planning this trip that while were were in the midwest why don't we just knock off 10 states in the meantime. EERRRR (scratching of a record), 10 states in two weeks! my family is certifiable but we all went along with it. My mom and Natalie planned the whole thing out, fly to denver and then drive.... just drive. We saw some of the most beautiful countryside in Colorado, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri. In future posts i will give you a run down, of my extensive travels this summer

29

As 2009 is out and 2010 comes in thinking about new years resolutions are on the forefront of peoples minds. I am going to make some definite resolutions for this year but i want them to be more thought out than the average "no more fast food" resolution or "i am going to go to the gym religiously" or "i will call my mom more". Not to say that those are noble goals... they are just not for me. I mean i just moved out of my parents house 3 weeks ago just 4 days shy of my 29th birthday, so..... who am i to judge. I think the reason i wanted to write something tonight at this hour was to say i need to trust in the Lord much more than i have been doing in the past. so i am going to leave my new years resolution up to this

Proverbs 3:5-6