Hiking the Grand Canyon 2016

 "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9

 We took my Niece to the Grand Canyon.

Sledding down Sand Dunes

"The moment you realize it was better to stay on the sled." - Sled Quote from pin

We had a fabulous day at White Sands National Monument near White Sand Missile Range in New Mexico.

We drove out to the sand dunes. It is amazing how it is desert and then just dunes with out any warning.   This picture shows snow on a mountain top far into the distance but all the rest is pure white sand!

Our first stop was to the Museum to learn about the basin and dunes.  Then, we stepped into the gift shop to buy sleds. (You buy them for a certain price and if you return them you get part of your money back.)

Next we drove into the park to find the perfect picnic spot and sand dune!
We found a great picnic spot for lunch. 

Of course, there is no absolutely perfect sand dune to slide down .... you absolutely must slide down as many as you can!   Remember..... this is not snow!  This is all white sand!

 Sand sledding pictures.....

 

 Pushing Daddy... And, then his wipe out!!!

Walking the ridge line of the sand dune

 

 

 Sand Angel.

Cave Exploring Carlsbad

"The cave you fear to enter, holds the treasure that you seek." - J. Campbell

We are in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
The last few days it has been cold and snowing.  It was overcast and foggy.  
The hares were out during the weather and so were the hawks. The boys counted over 50 Hares!

This morning the sun finally did come out. And, with it so did the other animals 

One of the thing we did was visit the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor center Museum.

And, of course, we hiked the caves!

We also had lunch 800 feet below the ground at the little caves cafeteria.

             ....  and, I just like this picture because it made Beloved and the Little Gal look ghostly and it just shows the tricks of the camera.  But, it also reminds me to note that while driving I saw an atmospheric lightening rod too.  Maybe, I will see a meteor next too? I can use it for the boys Astronomy unit!  Oh, since I am moving to a testing facility I imagine I will see some unidentified objects too!  (I crack myself up!)

Anyway,  on the way out of the caves and down the trails,  the animals were still enjoying the sun in the afternoon too!

The Alamo

"Remember the Alamo." - Historical Quote

Visiting a Resting Place

"Greater Love has not other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

On June 28th, 2014, We all headed to Arlington Cemetery.  9 years before,  On June 28, 2005,   Beloved put four Seals on a Mountain.  Three of four SEALS on the ground were killed during combat operations in support of Operation Red Wings. On the same day, a Quick Reaction Force of eight SEALS and eight Army Night Stalkers were also killed when the MH-47 helicopter they were aboard was shot down by enemy fire in the vicinity of Asadabad, Afghanistan. 

So, the morning of the 28th, we hiked toward the resting places of the crew which was a part of that mission. These were his friends which were closer to him than blood brothers. 

MAJ Stephen Reich, CW4 Chris Scherkenbach, CW3 Corey Goodnature, MSG Tre Ponder, SFC Michael Russell, SFC Marcus Muralles, SSG Shamus Goare, and SGT Kip Jacoby.

 Have you ever seen coins at a military grave site? 

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave.  These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.  A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the soldier when he was killed.

According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans. - Military Grave Coins

Beloved placing his Quarter. 

We placed our coins too. 

And placed a little carnations stem on Sherks grave as he was a Pilot with Beloved for many years. 

Beloved also went to High School with Sherk's wife. 

Special Friendship.

We gathered together and prayed for their families. 

And took a picture of all of us too with the markers of those who were buried at the cemetery.

This area is #60 at Arlington Cemetery. 

The, we said our quiet goodbyes: as this area was getting rather crowded with visitors. 

While we were here, just a few rows over was a older lady who was sitting that morning at what we can only assume was her sons marker. I am sure she was just as curious about our story as we were of her story.  

Then, we took our footsteps up toward the "Changing of the Guard". 

It was a super emotional morning for us but one filled with "Thankfulness."

Finishing up the Monument/Memorials

"Put down the map and get wonderfully lost!" - Unknown

Every morning, we strategically planned our day around our trolley tickets. The trolley picked us up at Union Station.  And, on the days that we went around and saw the monuments we would hop on and off the trolley stops. By our second week in D.C. we were well orientated to the area. So, we just tossed the map. 

This day, we road around to the Lincoln Memorial and had a little picnic lunch by one of the reflection pools in front of Mr. Ab Lincoln.

 Then, we hiked toward the Vietnam Memorial.

 This is the book that you can find a person's name. 

It gives you the section of the wall that the name is in. 

It does not say anywhere near the wall the significance of the plus sign  near the name or the diamond. But, because we read books about Washington D.C. the kiddos remembered that the plus sign means they are still missing. When they find them and identify them they change the plus sign into a diamond.

 We are trying to get over to the Washington Monument.....

 And, as we continued our trek, we stop at the Monument dedicated to the signers of the US. Constitution.

  The signers all have their own little stone. 

You can sit on the stone markers and watch the ducks on the pond.

 Our next stop was the World War 2 memorial. 

You are looking at one side of the monument. (The Pacific Side) 

Each column with a wreath on it has the name of each States. 

 

Finally, the big monument in the sky! 

The Washington Monument. 

The monument is two toned but not on purpose. 

When they were building the monument, they used a particular type of stone. 

Due to the War, they stopped their building project. 

Afterwards, they went to the very same area that they were getting the stone from and the material had aged and was slightly different in color.

Historical Fact: The Men use to be the only ones to be able to ride the elevator. 

The Women and Children had to walk to the top through the stair case that was over 300 steps.

It was snack time. 

And, we had heard that the Native Indian Smithsonian Cafeteria was rated the best even among the 4 and 5 star restaurants. So, we headed on over to the Museum.

The architecture of the building is very interesting. 

It is made to looks like river water and it is the color of sand. 

Some Native American tribes believe is is bad to have buildings with corners.

                                     They believed evil spirits hang out in the corners.

So, the building does not have any corners.

The Museum has live story telling/dance every hour.

And, the Native American beading exhibits were amazing. 

This was made all of beads.

 We thought the Native American vehicle that carries the fish off the ice was awesome.

By this time, we decided to catch the trolley back to the Station. 

We still had a little trek to the stations so we stopped by one of the ice cream vendors. 

This reminded me of all the stores that I saw in Korea just on the side of the road.

The little lady that served us was probably from China Town which is just down the road from the Museums.

 

 We also had a very special dinner surprise for the Children. 

And, so the littlest two needed a nap because our evening was going to be super late.