Recap of Many Things

 We had two weeks of rain followed by two weeks of hot. Things are growing and greening by leaps and bounds. Summer vacation has started out perfect.  One hot afternoon, we packed a picnic and walked around the corner to this semi-public spot. Shaunti's plan was to roll down the nearby hill, to picnic, and to run through the sprinklers. After doing all three, I asked her if her dreams were fulfilled? She wrinkled her nose and said, "No, too many cars."

 So the girls posed for a little trick photography instead...

 And then we went camping...

 A Sunday morning moon...

 The crew of us as we headed up the trail... I stayed in the back just to keep everyone moving dontcha know... They needed me.

 Burton Peak... The top of the world...

 We could see the whole valley from up there, all the way into Canada and down to Sandpoint at least.

 Not to mention the Montana mountains on the edge of forever toward the west...

 A weird setting on my camera to make it look like a painting...

 Our three growing up children. Conversation over the campfire was interesting. It's changing somehow. They now talk about memories of their younger years, and about boy / girl crushes, and about new experiences, such as: new jobs, biking, and dreams of the future...

 The girls found snow behind the little cabin...

 At the top, I thought of the people who went before and blazed that mean trail we had just finally conquered, and then I got all pious and thought about how we parents are blazing that trail for our kiddoes.  I wondered if we make it as difficult as a mountain trail can sometimes be?

And then God sends a pretty little butterfly that perches on a flower that grows on some greenery that clings to a crevice in a rock on the top of a mountain and then I know that YES, it is difficult for all peoples at times, but look at that miracle and faith in action in those circumstances. YES! God made that word picture just for me on this camping trip with my family on a Sunday. And then, I danced a little jig right there next to the butterfly.  Just kidding... But I did worship a little and inwardly I raised my hands to the sky...I would have outwardly, but was plumb tuckered out from the long hike.