Dear diary,

Yesterday, Daddy said we were going to hike a trail, and if we were, we should be up there by eight O'clock. But as it so happened to be we were up there by nine and got a parking spot even though the sign said "full". We needed to be there early to get a parking spot because we were hiking a popular trail. We decided to go up Hidden Lake trail which was about 1.5 mile long that included snow, fascinating waterfalls, and goats (that includes a kid). Just a worth it trip when you get to your destination of a calm and peaceful, aqua lake. We stayed a little while and had some snacks and took some pictures. We thought about hiking another trail, but went to Lake McDonald instead and then to some awesome waterfalls. After that we headed for camp. We were tired.

                                                                    

                                                                                               Love, Shiloh

One reason we were late. Needed to get some good nourishment.

 Yum!!

A much need drink on our hike.

Our animal of the day ~ a mountain goat

Like father, like son.

Playing in snow on a 80

degree day

Lovin it

Look, I'm walking on water!!

One of the 550 pictures taken today!!!

We squeezed this one in before our battery went deader than a doornail.

Arrival at Glacier National Park

Breathtaking majestic mountains

 Spent the morning doing what you all did. Laundry, sweeping, computer work, and meals.

 Marcus and the children purchased our park pass and went scouting to check out this amazing place. We shared a quick lunch, then headed up to Many Glaciers for a short hike. The pictures tell the story better than I could.

Toward the end of our afternoon jaunt, the children thought they just had to dip their feet in that cool water. Ian got a little more than his feet wet.  :)

Simeon found a worm he thought might work to go fishing with.

   Saw our first grizzly, which they say are common here. After seeing the posted picture of a man's mauled face, we purchased a BIG can of bear spray!!

Dallas my adventurous one.

I had a very real fear that one of the children would slip over that terrible edge. 

Thankful for Gods protection.

 

Trials and blessings

Somewhere in the middle of North Dakota

Another 12 hour day. I just cannot explain how very vast and open this land is. Hours of sagebrush and rolling hills. A dot on the hillside where a lone house stands, deserted by its owners. I have to wonder what it must have been like long ago when it was traversed by wagons and cattle and a strong willed people. What a long journey.

   We scraped the bottom of the barrel to find new things to do today. Ian fought with everything in him whenever he was headed back to his straps of confinement. but once it clicked, he gave up. He has done really well overall as have the rest of the children. I am savoring the hours of chatting with my love, and the scenery, though a lot of sameness, really is amazing. At one point we stopped at a scenic view area to stretch our legs and run off a little energy. A fellow traveler asked if I could snap a picture of him on his camera, and we were happy to oblige."What is your name?" my husband asked.  "Marcus"......  the former extends his hand for a warm handshake and says, "you've got to be kidding me...". He was from Germany ~( interesting, as we were currently listening to 'Corrie Ten Boom'. )  He had came over as a student and was now traveling cross country by himself. So we had to take a picture of Marcus and Marcus. :)

A few more hours under our belt, I am enjoying another nap, when I am startled awake by Marcus stating "something is wrong, the van has no power". I sent up a quick prayer, hoping for nothing major. We coast to a stop and pop the hood. Dallas clambers out to help and the hot smothering air quickly takes over the coolness of the van. Marcus's first thought is the transmission as it is the one thing our mechanic hadn't replaced before we left. lol :) We were instructed to turn off all fans and yet a high pitched whine continued to emit from somewhere. Dallas thinks he's sees something. Yes, under here, its dripping. Papa confirms that it's just condensation from the A/C. But that sound ~ it's coming from somewhere under the van, near the rear. Our ride sits too close to the ground, so we dig out some blocks and Marcus pulls up on them while Dallas directs.
"Whoa, too far!" Dallas hollers. We need to back up just a little and he dashes up under the bumper to help give a shove. NO DALLAS!!!!  GET BACK NOW!

So now what?  We are well aware of the desolation, and the atlas confirms that we are about the furthest from civilization that we we'll get on this trip. We wish we could make some calls ~ but there is simply no service to be had out here in the middle of nowhere.
OK God, we're all yours. We let things sit as we discuss our options. Being on the top of a hill, we decide we can start out coasting, and hopefully limp it to the nearest town, more than 50 mile away
Our hopes had been to get as close to Glacier National as we could yet tonight. We're thankful that we have no reservations, so we're flexible right?

Here we are, more than 250 miles down the road. We drove slowly, not pushing it too hard, and until we pulled into that little town, and talked to a couple mechanic friends, we decided it was simply a vapor lock in the fuel pump. We eventually put it to the test again on those long uphill grades and everything seams to be running smoothly.

We feel so blessed.

And God showed us in person that he keeps His promises.

He gave us a rainbow.

Thank you all for your Blessings and Prayers!!!

12 hours and counting

DAY 2 ~

Picture drawn by Shiloh Hess - Age 10

Travel.

You really can fill up a twelve hour day in a van.

Started out the day with singing songs of praise. God is so good.

We are looking for all 50 states licence plates. found 13 so far, and 2 from Canada.

Do you know how many people text and drive!!!??? scary~

We've burnt through at least half of our audio cds.

Friendship bracelets have been made.

Pictures have been drawn.

Meals have been eaten.

Everyone but the driver took a nap. (all at the same time too!) ~ so nice.

It really is fun to study an atlas.

Changed a really messy baby diaper :/

filled up the van with fuel more times than I care to count.

Played on leap pad and other electronic devices.

Learned a little more about my camera.

Learned we need an upgrade to get internet access on the computer, so we're journaling on paper.

And enjoyed some blue, blue sky and wide open spaces.

Auction and Action

Dear Diary,                                                                                                                     8-4-12
       This morning I woke in silence, I knew today would be a BIG day. If I was going to go with my father, I would have to wake at five thirty. I got up at five, and decided to wait until Daddy and Dallas would open there rested eyes, and come down stairs. Then we would go pick up my uncle David. After we picked him up we went to my Great Grandmas auction, for half of my BIG day! When we were done at the auction, we went home, and packed last minute things, then we were on the road for Illinois. We were on the road about three and a half hours down the road when we were struck by a powerful, blasting, wind and rain that made us almost have to pull over to the side of the road. We had to go through some stoplights that were out of power, so we just treated them as four ways. The boys in the back seat looked like jumping jacks because they were bouncing over all the bumps in the road. The rest of the journey was just a bunch of chaos that goes on.
                                                                                            Blessings,
                                                                                                  Shiloh
READ MORE~

Mom post

OK, confession time :)

 This blog would not exist if it were not for my persistent children and my wonderful husband who is in favor of keeping a journal.

 I chaffed at the idea, thinking, it takes way too much time to figure it out.

 I'm a novice when it comes to technology.

I really am not a writer.

 But, somehow it happened, and since it is up and running, it demands that I post.

Though it was intended for my children do the pictures and writing, I think that i'll have to enter an occasional update. 

It needs multiple view-points, don't ya think?

Welcome to the dining room, complete with storage under the benches that happens to be packed to the gills with sleeping bags and pillows under one and canned goods and water supply under the other. please enjoy this rare tranquil moment with me, as it will actually be a bed most of the trip.

My kitchen on wheels for the next week. The lovely little gift box was just hand delivered by my dear friend Melanie Todd, who would love to be a stowaway, and whom I will miss.

Ahh... and our bedroom, that will be such a welcome sight after a long day of hiking.

I AM READY TO BE ON THE ROAD!

Clothes packed - check

Food in the frig and freezer - check

Loads of activities for the many road hours - check

Look over the garden for last minute veggies to stow away - check

Two loads of laundry ( Oh, and one more due to a wet bed), hung on the line - check

Wash and stem grapes for family gathering this evening - check

Clothes laid out for tomorrow - check

look over list one more time.

check.

Practice Before Departure

~This is the journalist ~ 

~And the camera man ~

~We will leave with blossoms on the vine ~

~And cookies for the road~

Only 5 more days ;)