The Grand Canyon

We've always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon while visiting family in Arizona, and have never "had enough time" on our quick trips home for holidays during the school year to make the trip 4 hours north. This week we had the opportunity to made it happen. Dustin's grandparents have a cabin in Flagstaff, so we headed up to Flagstaff Sunday evening (leaving Caleb with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days), and spent the night at the cabin. Monday morning we woke up early and headed an hour north to the Grand Canyon... a life-long dream of mine - again (Alaska, too, a few months ago) coming true. What a year! Thank you Jesus:)

We took off from the South Kiabab trailhead at 8:00 a.m. Our plan was to make a day of it... take the South Kiabab trail 9 miles down to the bottom of the canyon, eat lunch on the Colorado River, then make the 9 mile trek back up 5,000 ft. using the Bright Angel trail.

I was absolutely overwhelmed with the grandeur and majesty of the Canyon...

If you look closely you can see our lunch destination at the bottom of the canyon: the Colorado River

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The lord is my rock, my fortress and may deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." - Psalm 18:1-2

...Happy, happy, happy girl:)

Getting closer to the river... SO beautiful!

Nothin' like chucking rocks over the side of a cliff into water! :)

Love you Bro!!! :) ... will always and forever fulfill our childhood bridge duties! :)

Starting the ascent back up

The way up was wonderful!!! Rivers and waterfalls kept us company;)

What a surprise! Fall in the Grand Canyon? Who knew!! ... I was SO EXCITED to see yellow leaves!! :)

What a fun journey! We thoroughly enjoyed time playing, laughing, chatting, singing:) and hanging out together! After 7 hours and 18 miles of hiking, we made our way out of the canyon a little after 2... happy as could be:)

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." - Romans 1:20

We stuck around to watch the sun set over the canyon... wow!

"Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sign for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." - Psalm 5:11 - 12