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| We arrived in Leadville in time for a delightful lunch on the front porch...surrounded by the grandeur of the Rockies. At 10,430 ft. in elevation, I found breathing a little taxing, but what a wonderful place to live. Linda says it takes 2-3 weeks for your body to start making more red blood cells and then it feels fine.
Linda and Phil having lunch on the front porch.
Our cousin, Linda, had only arrived home from her travels the day before, but was a delightful host, along with her husband, George. It was fun to be with her on her own "turf," and was the third time we'd seen her in two weeks--an unheard of treat!
The ladies did a little walking around downtown. I just could not get over the view from downtown looking down her street! Awe inspiring! And the cooler temperatures were a blessed relief from the heat of the prairies!
George and Phil had good discussions in the hot tub--as the girls played and soaked.
If you look closely you can see Linda & George in front of their house.
We left Leadville and headed to Bryce Canyon National Park where we expanded our geology vocabulary to include hoodoos! What a spectacular sight! We learned that the formations have a "cap" of materials that has to be weathered away before the hoodoos start forming individually. This picture shows the cap material nicely.
If you're not going to hike down into the canyon, visiting is a lot like visiting the Grand Canyon...you hike to different vista points along the rim.
We took several of the little trail hikes to the vista points...most of them going UP and had to stop to breathe, but what a marvelous experience. Inspiration Point definitely lived up to its name...
...as you can see! The layers and colors were magnificent!
From Bryce we drove to Zion National Park. Both Bryce and Zion are in the southeastern corner of Utah. When you approach Zion from the northeast, you actually enter the park and drive about 30 miles to the southern actual entrance that has the Visitor's Center and trams that take you into the canyon. The girls were sleeping during this travel time, but Phil and I were so amazed at the changing landscape...completely different than Bryce. First you drive though miles of white sandstone peaks.
We drove through a tunnel in the mountains just over 1 mile in length and wove our way back and forth down onto the canyon floor. Zion National Park encompasses some of the most scenic canyon country in the United States. The park is characterized by high plateaus, a maze of narrow, deep sandstone canyons and striking rock towers and mesas. I've been to the Grand Canyon, but Zion places you down in the canyon--up close and personal.
We hiked up to Weeping Falls, where the water literally weeps out of the rock face (we're back under the falling water)...
creating a rain forest like canopy and undergrowth where everything else had been desert like...
I saw my first golden columbine there, and later, we saw a wild turkey.
We also walked up to the Lower Emerald Pool waterfalls at the back of a side canyon again with lots of foliage due to the water working it's way through the limestone and out into the canyon.
We saw deer and a variety of kinds of lizards along the way,
plus a squirrel methodically munching his way along a stem of ripened grass, eating the seed kernals, dropping down and taking on another one.
I really fell in love with Zion and want to go back and spend more time...getting out on some of the hikes. The deep canyon itself is only accessible by shuttle which drops you off at various trail heads. No discussion of Zion would be complete with out a photo of the Virgin River...the lifeblood of the Zion area, very different from the waterless Bryce Canyon.
From Zion we went to Hoover Dam, the last stop along the road home. The Virgin River which flows through Zion, empties into Lake Mead, the lake behind the Hoover Dam. Phil and I had been before, but thought the girls should have the opportunity to see and learn about this amazing man-made feat, built before computers and calculators and virtual models.
Since 9/11 the tours are more modest...you can't go down and stand at the base anymore, but we did take the powerhouse tour which took us down into the dam to the turbines. We could actually feel the vibration of the water flowing through them beneath us.
While it was nice and cool down in the dam, it was 115 degrees outside! Yikes!
Of added interest is the new highway being built to replace the current one which snakes its way down on both sides of the dam and crosses over the top--through security checkpoints. The new divided 4 lane highway will have it's own bridge crossing the Colorado river approximately 1,500 ft. downstream of the Hoover Dam. It will carry all the highway traffic and leave the dam road for tourism. Once the arch is completed, the road will be built on top meeting the two existing roads on either side.
And that's it. We drove to Barstow that evening and on home to Modesto the next day. We arrived tired, hardly believing the trip was over. I am thankful to the Lord for a safe journey, our only interruptions a flat tire on the trailer in WY on the way out and the need to replace the windshield. I'm also thankful for all the people we met--some for the first time, some friends of many years and some family we don't often get to see. I'm thankful for the wedding of Jeshua and Sara, for their new relationship together as husband and wife and for the safe travels of all the folks who came from near and far to celebrate with them. I'm especially thankful for all the beauty of God's creation and the work of man's creative hands that we got to experience. And for the time together with my granddaughters...the laughter, the music, the stories, Phil swimming with them when he'd rather be taking a nap, meals shared in restaurants, beside the road, under the trees, in motel rooms, with the Zooks and with Jim & Sally. For the week with my sister, Barbara...a special time to work and play together.
What a wonderful blessing these three weeks were.
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| On Sunday we began our trek home! On the way to Indiana, each time we had gotten on the highway, we asked the girls East or West?? And they would shout EAST! Now, they were happy to be shouting WEST!
Our first stop was Springfield, IL. Our cousin, Linda, from Leadville, CO, who had been at the family reunion and at the wedding was also in Springfield. We visited the Lincoln Presidential Museum (Presidential Library just across the street). It was fantastic! We did the quick tour--the 5th and 7th grade version, but would love to go back and spend a couple of days.
Here we are with the Lincoln family!
On the way out of town, we went to the Cemetery where most of the Lincoln Family are buried.
We all rubbed his nose for good luck = ).
Phil asked one of the docents about it and the practice started during WWII, when the men from IL going overseas would come out to cemetery an rub Lincoln's nose in hopes of coming home again.
From Springfield we drove to St. Louis, MO and went up into the ARCH--the Gateway to the West! You can't see them, but there are little windows at the top in the observation deck! Going up (on the inside of the arch) is quite the experience.
At the top looking down!
Looking down on the courthouse where the Missouri Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott--saying slaves could not be free or citizens, but were considered property, and therefore could not buy their feedom.
We couldn't leave St. Louis, with out putting our feet in the mighty Mississippi!
In the late afternoon, we took a riverboat ride on the Mississippi! It was fun to be on the river and the guide shared interesting historical details about St. Louis, the Mississippi River, and especially about bridge architechture.
Cherith: rollin' on the river!
The drive across Missouri and Kansas to our next stop, Limon, CO, was cool for us in our air conditioning, but boy was it hot and humid outside! There had been heat warnings for several days. Wheat harvest was in full swing--putting pictures to "amber waves of grain." But we were headed to the "purple mountains majesty!" We stayed with the Bontrager family in Limon--a Mennonite-Your-Way contact. They were delightful hosts and a nice change from a motel! From there we went to Colorado Springs and a visit to Focus on the Family. They have a 3 story slide--really there to wear the kids out, I think.
We had ice cream at Whit's End and enjoyed exploring both the children's area and the bookstore. I had never been in Colorado Springs before...neat to see Pike's Peak loom out of the mountains to the west.
We spent the afternoon at Garden of the Gods, or, as our Limon hosts prefer to call it, God's Garden (and we agreed). An amazing place of 300' towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies. We hiked around a bit,
Got up close to a mule deer,
Learned about the symbionic life cyles of the yucca and the yucca moth. The yuccas were in full bloom-pictures don't do them justice!
Over the course of the afternoon we saw Pike's Peak disappear in the thunderheads. No raindrops, but we appreciated the sun shield!
In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates, long-time professor at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, was lecturing at the summer session at Colorado College. During her visit she joined an expedition to Garden of the Gods and to the summit of Pikes Peak in a private wagon. Electrified by the beauty she saw atop Pikes Peak she wrote the poem that later became known as "America the Beautiful." After coming across the plains, we understand the awesomeness that she must have felt.
We stayed in Manitu Springs, just west of Colorado Springs. Had a delicious dinner at a local BBQ place and wandered the streets of this quaint town.
Loved that the rounded corner on this house was an open air porch on the top floor!
The girls and the bear!
In the morning we would be off to Leadville, CO, the highest incorporated city in North America with an elevation of 10, 430 ft.
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| The rehearsal dinner was delightful...around 100 folks, half of whom are musicians...we sang the doxology before grace...glorious! We had invited all the out of town family and friends plus the wedding party and participants including some of Sara's students who were ushers. We had chicken, rice pilaf, green beans, rolls, salad and dressing and brownie sundaes for dessert with a whole host of fun candy/nut toppings from the Zooks--left over from Katie's high school graduation party! The food was good & the fellowship delightful.
Some of the Warner/Myers family.
Cyrus and Jen arrived from Chicago--they had flown in Thursday night.
Simeon and Clair, plus Stephanie and Elizabeth, drove across the country.
Our cousin, Ruth, from Minnesota, arrived and pitched right in to help.
Gradually the musicians moved into the sanctuary to rehearse and do mic tests and eventually the rest of the wedding party followed. Others got to stay and visit. The church has room to facilitate it all.
Steve and Jolinda Ready from Modesto practiced "In This Very Room" which was the opening song for the wedding.
The wedding day dawned and we all arrived at the church for pictures and final touches and then taking our places. Jordynn and Cherith accepted the gifts and cards. On the table were wedding/anniversary photos of both sets of parents and four sets of grandparents, an idea taken from Jen & Cyrus' February wedding.
The cakes, made by a cousin of Sara's, were put in place. Beautifully done and were so yummy!
 
Elizabeth and Uncle Cyrus all dressed up and ready to begin!
Cherith and Uncle Jeshua!
The bride and groom got a few minutes to themselves and then the photos began!
The bagpiper arrived in time for a photo.
The music started and the wedding began. During the lighting of the unity candle, Sara's Mom, Cindy, sang, "Hear the Voice of My Beloved."
The sweet little flower girls! Sophie is a cousin of Sara's and our granddaughter, Elizabeth.
Lots of kissing! = )
The reception started with the wedding party and the congregation singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Bridesmaids were Melinda, Jen, Jenita--all college friends, and Maid of honor, Katie, sister of the bride.
Brother and best man, Simeon, giving an orange juice toast to the new couple. Additional groomsmen are Chuck, Sara's brother, brother Cyrus and Josh, one of Jeshua's college roommates.
The Franklin men.
Enjoying the reception--Jen, Elizabeth and Cyrus. The food was delicious--muffins, egg casseroles and fruit, plus juice, milk, coffee & teas.
Pam and her cousin, Patti--and carrot cake to go!!
Heading out for the honeymoon--in a jeep convertible compliments of one of Jeshua's teachers and mentors.
And they're off!!
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| We arrived in Mishawaka on Sunday evening, being hosted by Jim & Sally, who took us in for the week! Definite stars in their crowns! Jeshua lived in their basement and they added Phil and I, Jordynn & Cherith and my sister, Barbara. Staying there made our week so easy. We had wedding tasks to do and some traveling things to take care of including replacing our windshield that was hit by a stone and had a growing crack.
We took one day to go to Shipshewana, an Amish community about 30 miles away. We visited a bulk foods grocery and several other stores in the area and stopped at several farm businesses...bakery, greenhouse, and even an Amish yard sale!
We had a picnic lunch together on benches outside of one store.
We also had an evening of picnic and music planned with Sara's family, the Zooks, but we were rained out, so had our picnic indoors at their house and played Gestures and Encore afterwards. A relaxing evening together.
From left around the circle: Cherith, Steve (Sara's dad), Chuck (Sara's brother), Phil and Jordynn;
I also got to spend a morning with a good friend, Rachel. We met at Camp Mack--about half way between where she lives near North Manchester and where I was. I had never been there, so enjoyed getting to see the camp. We talked all morning (imagine that)! There was a group meeting in the auditorium where the paintings of Brethren history are, but we got to go in a take a quick look. I stopped to take this picture as I was leaving because I thought it was such a neat idea and decided I couldn't describe it well enough!
Then we went to lunch at Subway and talked another hour before heading back our separate ways.
On Thursday morning we got serious. Sally, Barbara, the girls and I added the ribbons to the bookmark favors. I finished the last sewing tasks. Several of us shopped for the food for both the rehearsal dinner (for 100) and the wedding brunch. Thursday evening our family went over to the church and set up for the rehearsal dinner, decorated the tables, and did a little prep work.
Friday was a work day. Barbara and I orchestrated the 54 egg casseroles (3 different recipes) with lots of egg cracking from the girls. A crew cut melons and stemmed grapes.
Various groups of people took down the chairs in the sanctuary and put up the 58 tables and added the 8 chairs to each one, put tablecloths on the tables, did the daisies in bud vases for the centers, wrapped plastic ware in cornflower blue napkins, set the tables with various items, set up buffet tables, decorated the altar area, helped in the kitchen and completed at least a dozen other tasks.
 
Over the course of the day, hundreds of muffins of at least 8 different varieties arrived from friends and families who had helped by baking. In the afternoon we made our chicken, rice pilaf and salad for the rehearsal dinner, which was at 5 p.m. A crew of folks got directions for serving and swept us out of the kitchen to enjoy the evening with our family and friends.
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| July 1, 2009
We am home again after three weeks of traveling...one wedding (including cooking the rehearsal dinner for 100 and 54 egg casseroles for the wedding brunch), 4 national parks, four capitol cities, a presidential museum & grave, up to the top of the Arch in St. Louis, a riverboat ride on the Mississippi, a visit to Leadville, CO-the highest city in the nation with an elevation over 10,200 ft., one family reunion, 13 states, and over 5,000 miles--Phil and I, with granddaughters Jordynn, 12, and Cherith, 10. Whew!
Trip East-Part One
We started our trip in the wee hours of the morning and drove to Salt Lake City, where thanks to great directions from Bill, a co-teacher, we drove around and saw the architectural sights of the city including the state capitol. The next morning we visited Pioneer Village and wandered through the buildings talking to the period docents...played games from the middle 1800's, learned about leather tooling and, of course, bought penny candy at the Mercantile. Every bed, in either cabin or lodgings or gentry house, had beautiful scrap quilts.
These beds were interesting...wood frame with woven rope to hold the straw mattress.
We started our time at Mt. Rushmore in the rain, but it cleared up nicely before we left. The girls began learning and connecting as we traveled...as adults we forget how much knowledge we take for granted. Cherith's 5th grade history will be a whole different experience for her this next school year!
 
As we traveled we stopped at rest areas and Welcome Stations. We all agreed that this one in Iowa outdid itself...a beautiful barn with exhibits about Iowa's agriculture, some beautiful art, delightfullly clean bathrooms and, of course, a gift shop.
Our next stop was Freeport, IL, very close to Wadum's Grove, where the Myers family, from my maternal grandmother's side, lived and farmed. The old homestead was still standing, but had experienced a furnace explosion this past year and will soon be torn down. Jeshua and Sara joined us there, along with my sister, Barbara. On Saturday, we took a trip out to see the house and then on to the cemetery--at the grave of Albert and Clara Myers--who would be Jordynn and Cherith's great-great-great grandparents! My grandmother told me stories about riding her horse up the front steps through the house, out the back door, and down the back porch steps! The front porch wasn't enclosed in those days and it wrapped around the side of the house...and the house had a picket fence around it--to keep the farm animals out, I suppose.
 
We added Barbara to our car as we headed out to Mishawaka on Sunday afternoon.
Several cousins would be out and about traveling and planned on being at the wedding a week later, so fun to look forward to seeing them again soon instead of 2 or more years later! We stopped at an "Oasis" as we traveled around Chicago--where the rest stop and resturants are above you over the road...the girls thought it was way cool!
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