Day 201 Reminiscing About the Aweseomness of Day 200!

I don't know what the weather was like in ya'lls necks of the woods, but yesterday was a gift from God in Arkansas. It was easily the most beautiful day of 2011 in Arkansas, aesthetically anyway. So the family and I had it on our hearts when we KNEW it was going to be like that to go on a hike in Devil's Den State Park. We love this place. It is full of nature's wonders and if there is evidence that there is a God that is incontravertable, I would say this is it. So rather than bore you with my words, I will show you a photographic depiction of our day. I hope you enjoy it.

here is my new favorite picture of us. This is the overlook on Yellow Rock Trail. The pictures don't do it justice, and if we had a better camera, it may help. But it is rewarding to hike up to the top of the mountain, and the pay off of a gorgeous view is awesome every time!

This is a great picture. Lauren had not taken this hike with Kathy and I yet, this is her expression the first time she saw the overlook. See, not only is the hike itself rewarding, but the look on a child's face when they see the wonders that nature has to offer in person rather than on tv or on a web page, it is so great to be there when it happens.

Here are Lauren and I sitting on the edge of the overlook. Kathy is not a fan of sitting on the edge for some reason, so she took the picture instead... haha. Lauren and I are dorks. Where we were sitting at in this picture, the top of a very tall tree is about 3 feet down and to the left. There was a slight breeze yesterday and the top of that tree was swaying back and forth. We kept waving hi back to it when it would do that! It was dorky fun!

I like this picture just because I find that view beautiful. God's work right there.

Here is the Overlook Kathy and I have been seeing on the trail map since last year that we were not entirely sure how to get to. We finally set out to find it yesterday ( to be read, we kinda got a little lost at first and stumbled upon it while looking for it) and let me tell you, it was worth the walk! Kathy was kinda mad when she found out you can drive to it though.. haha.

remember I was open about me being a dork? well here is more proof. Lauren and I are pretending to hold up the mountain here, you know saving all the other hikers from falling and all. It is tiring work people!

So after 4 miles of hard hiking and some goofing off along the way, we was HONGRY hikers. Kathy had made a wonderful chicken salad for us to eat, and thank goodness, cause we were miles from any other food and I don't think any of us were ready to wait for a meal! I have to say, as much fun as we have had over the last few years going to amusement parks and plays and etc., the best and cheapest fun seems to be us packing up a lunch, heading out for a trail and just spending the day with each other enjoying nature and all its beauty. I am so thankful that my girls love it as much as I do. Especially Lauren. She started talking yesterday about how she loves these kinds of weekends and how when she has kids, she is going to make sure that this is an experience that they get too. I was floored by my 9 year old talking about her kids, but basically, I was excited to know that she was not just playing along nicely with her Mom and me, but she does enjoy these outings and that she loves the outdoors.

We apparently have another nice day coming today, although slightly cooler. It looks like I get to be mechanic Shane today and get the oil changed in Kathy's car. Then I get to be home improvement Shane this afternoon. We are buying a vanity for Lauren's bathroom. The poor girl has literally no storage. I have made this storage issue a priority because she is 9, and quite frankly, some things that are coming up, I choose to remain ignorant about to the best of my ability. So, that is what I have planned for today. What ya'll got?