It's All Good - Part Two

My travels this past week didn’t allow me time to write. So, I’ll share an overview of our trip and photos. 

Who knew Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming were so beautiful? If you’ve visited or lived there, you knew. But since this was my first trip to these three states, it amazed me. My husband and I flew to Denver, picked up a rental car, and drove from Colorado to western Nebraska. Here we saw two bison herds.

Next, we traveled to South Dakota to a retreat center near Rapid City. Our bare, eight by ten room held a bed plus a bathroom. We left our room unlocked during the day because there weren’t any guest keys. The thought of leaving my things unattended where everyone had access didn’t appeal to me. But my hubby reminded me, “It’s all good.”

After we left the retreat center, we drove to Badlands National Park. Rock formations fascinate me. We got several shots of prairie dogs while there. So cute to watch. 

We enjoyed Custer State Park, Needles Highway, and Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills. Besides prairie dogs and bison, we spotted deer and donkeys. We loved the rock formations, lakes, tunnels, and valleys. 

We left South Dakota and drove to Wyoming. We saw rolling hills dotted with antelope. After a few stops, we made our way back to Denver and traveled home. 

God’s creation continues to amaze me. We visited many magnificent places and met wonderful people along the way. 

I hope you enjoy our photos. And remember, “It’s all good”!

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It's All Good

Two weeks ago, I traveled with my husband to central California. Over the weekend we visited Yosemite National Park. We arrived later than we’d hoped. After 9:00 a.m. Bumper to bumper traffic and we were still a mile from the entrance gate. Hubby commented, “It’s all good.” This became our motto for the trip. God’s delightful creation surrounded us, and we were enjoying it together.

The drive along the Merced River held its own artistry. Crystal clear water flowed over rocks of various sizes and formed ripples of white.

Once inside the park, we drove a short distance along a road cut through huge rocks. We then pulled off and parked along a plush meadow and viewed three waterfalls that make up Yosemite Falls. We pulled back into traffic and found our way to the visitor center where we hoped to park and catch a shuttle. The lot was full. We tried several other locations nearby for a space but found none. “It’s all good,” said my optimistic husband. He found a spot along the road away from the traffic, pulled off, and parked. From there we caught a shuttle to several trailheads, restaurants, and restrooms.

Later, we drove through a long tunnel and stopped at Tunnel View which overlooks El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. We found a parking space where I took the above photo. When we arrived back to our car, we thought we’d never get out. Vehicles waiting to find a spot blocked us. “It’s all good.” And it was. Patience won.

During our visit, we hiked to Lower Yosemite Fall, Mirror Lake, Bridalveil Fall, and through Mariposa Grove’s giant sequoias. They estimate the Grizzly Giant red wood with a diameter at its base of thirty feet to be 1,800 years old. Magnificent.

We observed a deer on one of our hikes, and brave squirrels in the outdoor eating area foraged around our feet. We saw several birds that reminded me of blue jays from back east. After my research, I found they were Steller’s jays. A darker blue than my eastern friends with black heads and necks.

Despite the long line of traffic, lack of parking, and long waits for a shuttle, we enjoyed our time at Yosemite. We hiked, talked, held hands, took nature photos along with a few selfies, visited with others in line as we waited on shuttles, and waded across Mirror Lake. We look forward to more trips together and hope to travel to several national parks. “It’s all good.”

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! (Genesis 1:31 NLT).

Which national park do you recommend we add to our bucket list?

Hurrah or Boo?

Hurrah for retirement. Or should I say boo? Will the pros outweigh the cons?

I’ll have more time to write my blogs, articles, and finish a sequel to my novel. Three other storylines are floating inside my head and heart. I’ll enjoy seeing them on paper.

Bible studies grace my bookshelves. Is there a better way to spend my time than focusing on God’s Word and growing closer to Him?

Travel with my husband will be fun. We have several trips planned. California, South Dakota, Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee. Always, Tennessee. That’s where our grandchildren live.

To sleep in sounds splendid. Not sure how long it will take my body to sleep past 5:30 a.m., but I’ll try.

A cleaner house and better meals? Doubt that. With my nose in a book or fingers on the keyboard, I’ll be too busy for those mundane tasks.

I’ll miss the people where I work. Nine years we’ve been together. My youngest daughter met several of my coworkers and spent time with them. She said, “Mom. You work with the nicest people.” They are a good group.

Losing income may hurt my ego. In the short term, I might think I’m not contributing enough—not adding value to the household. I guess there are always those dull chores. Yikes!

Ways I plan to tackle changes in my new way of life include preparing a schedule and keeping a to-do list. Yes, I’ll add the dreaded housecleaning and throw in exercise. I must discipline myself to stay active.

I hope to continue my Bible study at work, mentor a young woman, attend Toastmasters, and meet friends for lunch as part of my routine. If I need more, pottery or photography classes and volunteer work are options.  

After thirty-eight years of employment, retirement may either excite or distress me. If emotions, doubt, or uneasiness try to get the best of me, I will focus on what the verse below says.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

If you’re retired, what has been your experience?

Beautiful New Mexico

New Mexico offers bountiful beauty. My husband, Kenn, and I travel New Mexico often. We moved to Albuquerque ten years ago from Tennessee and explore this amazing state whenever possible. This past weekend we visited the Gila National Forest. The Gila covers 3.3 million acres of land which makes it the largest national forest in New Mexico and one of the largest in the United States.

Our first stop in the forest took us to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The Mogollon people built over forty rooms in a set of five caves in the 1280’s, but it is believed they only lived in them until 1300. They left for unknown reasons. The trail is a one-mile loop—rather steep and rocky. We were told no food was allowed in the caves because food attracts rats. If rats dig holes beneath the rooms, the rooms will deteriorate.

Our final stop took us to Whitewater Canyon and the Catwalk Trail. We walked along a metal path attached to the cliffs of the canyon. The walkway suspended twenty feet above a crystal-clear stream. The rushing hum of whitewater below, flowing over the rocks, made for a peaceful morning. The multi colors within the canyon cliffs added to the natural beauty abounding in God’s creation.

While in the forest, we saw a javelina (often mistaken for a wild boar), a few deer, tiny lizards along with one medium-sized lizard, and a hawk.

For a few photos of our trip to the Gila please visit my Photos page.