Our Family Goes West

We spent over 12 hours in the car on Mother’s Day in the van, eventually ending up in Albuquerque. Our plan was to have breakfast in the historic district and enjoy the adobe architecture, but instead we had breakfast at Starbucks and were on our way to Flagstaff.

Part of our trip was on historic route 66 which runs from Chicago to Los Angles and covers eight states. The girls ate at a diner for the first time on the route, complete with swivel stools, the old fashion metal milkshake machines and pancake tacos.

After four years without snow we didn’t anticipate seeing it for the first time at the Grand Canyon. The sun broke through in just a little while and added to the breath taking, stunning, spectacular view. We sat in the van at an overlook and listened to Joyful, Joyful by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Mesa Verde (Green Table) was just ten miles from where we spent the night in Cortez, Colorado. This photo is the back side of a famous cliff dwelling ruin. We were really disappointed not to stop, but it would have taken three hours out of a very long travel day.

Traveling the back way to Colorado Springs gave us great opportunity to see the Rocky Mountains up close and personal. We fell in love with the Colorado country side. It was so refreshing and brought us back to our mountain roots. G. Harvey’s Reflecting His Majesty appropriately titles this area of our country.

We are at Whit’s End Ice Cream Shoppe waiting for our WodFamChocSod (World Famous Chocolate Soda). The Discovery Emporium is the Odyssey section of Focus on the Family welcome center. This ministry has been a big encouragement in our family’s life and to spend some time there was a pilgrimage of sorts.


This castle at Glen Eyrie is the headquarters of the Navigators. We spent Thursday afternoon touring the castle and the grounds. Then through a gift from some special friends, we enjoyed a formal tea there.

The tea consisted of a black tea called the Castle Blend, scones, mini quiche, fresh fruit, baby Gouda cheese, palmier and chocolate truffle. Our waitress was Jewish and pronounced a blessing, asking for the Lord’s favor upon our family. She explained that having the Lord’s favor was broader and more encompassing.

We finished up the day on Thursday at the Garden of the Gods, a National Park near Glen Eyrie. It was a beautiful drive through park with fascinating rock structures. I could only wish that we lived within sight of the Park and could take our morning walk there.

We providentially discovered Shelter Pines just outside of Colorado Springs. It’s a ministry that provides rest and renewal for missionary families. We sent three nights here and on Friday did nothing more than accomplish the purpose of the ministry. God is Good!