"The mountains are calling, and I must go." ~John Muir

The end of May brought a ton of busyness to our home. With four kids finishing up track and school and lessons and banquets and concerts and mountain bike races, plus we also had our oldest graduating from high school, which is no ordinary day. The day of Owen's graduation party, I sat down for about 5 minutes before guests started to arrive and grabbed a pop out of the bottom of the cooler outside... to treat myself to a rare Coke and to spike some caffeine in my bloodstream so this introverted girl could survive hosting a couple hundred guests. I loved the writing on the wall as I sat down to chug some sin and dream a moment about our trip west that was a few days away.

Fast forward a week and we are loading up our two compact cars with two road bikes, two mountain bikes, gear, food, clothing and seven people for a 23 hour road trip to Colorado.

Lots of sleeping was involved on the part of the passengers, so I did alot of thinking and looking and dreaming and singing (when I was sure they were sleeping.)

We went through and by some really crazy storms through Kansas and into eastern Colorado. We even watched a tornado form in and out of a large cell... watching it touch down in fields then pull back into the clouds, then repeat over and over as we skirted the road heading in the opposite direction. But, oh my, were the clouds beautiful.

Finally we hit Colorado Springs and those glorious mountains came into view. I know flying is wonderful, but if you want a full appreciation o

f the beauty of the mountains, drive across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and KANSAS into Colorado... Then see how beautiful those mountains are. 

Buena Vista was where we landed and called home for the next two weeks.

Hiking, trail running, mountain and road biking, exploring, climbing. We played hard, ate alot and crashed at night in the cool mountain air.

Brad and Owen got to do an epic ride together to the top of Cottonwood Pass.

I had some beautiful trail runs. 

We had several amazing hikes.

Cottonwood Lake with SUP boards and a kayak were a huge hit. So fun and relaxing.

The time we spent together in the mountains felt like coming home to every one of us. It's strange how you can feel so right in a place that you've never been. Maybe someday it will be our home. Until then, we will cherish the place and look ahead with excitement to new adventures there. But more than that, we will hold with sacred hands the time we have together, living closely with a shared joy in salvation through the Savior who created all of this majesty. 

And this momma will keep soaking in the joys I have found in family that grows and loves.