On with the almost last leg of our "Out West" Vacation.

Before traveling to our next destination, we stopped at a Burger King for breakfast. Just behind it was a beautiful creek

running behind it with huge homes built on the edge of the hills over looking the creek. Also running beside the creek was a bike/walk trail. While walking we discovered a bridge... shaky bridge when KIDS ARE JUMPING ON IT AND SHAKING IT! Barbie and I practiced, on solid ground, our old modeling skills .... which we have no longer (and never did).

This was an unexpected place of beauty we happened upon. See, God's beauty can even be at Burger King!

After loading up everyone, we head to
Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Through tunnels,

23 miles of VERY high... twisted roads, up the mountain. There were many dwellings of old by the Pueblo Indians. This was a gorgeous place, but we just couldn't understand why or better yet HOW they walked so far up...to build?! Neither of us could fathom this. I had decided beings it was sooo windy that high, they built up for "air conditioning". Pretty sure that's not it, but hey, I wasn't there.

The kids just left us and walked around the adobe home areas.

They walked in and out of places,

trying to reason out what this and that was and the whys of it all. Ok, so by now you know we weren't of any help to them : )

then again maybe it was the vibrant colors of the flowers that made them build here....

Aren't they gorgeous?!

Madge and Carly are always finding pretty flowers to put in their hair and this time was no exception. There was no sign saying NOT to pick a flower or two.

I'm thinking they were picking up Indian vibes and without feathers, used the next best thing.
Just as they thought there was no excitement...well, excitement found them, or should I say JoBea and Brandi.

JoBea and Brandi came running hollering snake! We run to find it, still laying there looking around. They were inches from stepping on it. The snake blended in so well with its surroundings it took us a few min. to see it WITH the girls pointing it out.

Barbie and I were slowing down so we let the guys finish walking with the kids up the trail . On their way back the snake decided to cross the trail. Madge was so excited to get a close up and personal sighting of it.

After looking around this area,

(In the picture below you can see steps coming out of what use to be a water reserve. The reserve was so large in size I couldn't get the whole thing.)

our time was starting to run out, it was time to leave. As we travel back down the mountain, you can get a glimpse of how high we were. I told Harold it looks as if we were in a plane...not that I have ever been on one :)

Just a little further drive down the highway was..... As we were driving up we could see the rain coming. Pulling into the parking lot huge drops began to fall and then it flooded for just a short time. We all ran quickly to get pictures before the next wall of rain came. My right arm is in Arizona, head is in Utah, left arm in Colorado, and my big feet are in New Mexico! I know I'm a big woman but to cover 4 states with my body...!

Below is Harold, JoBea, Brandi, Madge and myself....

all visiting each other from another state...well, Brandi and JoBea were standing in one state together. This is just too cool!

After shopping for some native American trinkets, we headed out for

That's correct! Arizona...home of the Grand Canyon. The main venture of this trip was to get here and we have. Next blog will have some BEAUTIFUL, AWE INSPIRING pictures. This is part of the Grand Canyon. Wanted to give a sample of what's to come.

You may be getting tired of hearing (reading) me say, "beautiful, gorgeous" and so on, but when it comes to God's creations how can you not say these words over and over?!

Stayed tuned as our next journey will be the GRAND CANYON!

Hang in here for some truly amazing art work from God, our Father!!!

God bless you and yours......