Zion, Oh Zion!

 Our favorite escape here in Saint George is now Zion National Park.  Friday night - July 5th we hoped into the car and headed to Zion.  It was a little cloudy - but so hot in Saint George - so we decided that even just riding the bus would be fun if it did end up being rainy. 

 The bus ride is definitely Andrew's favorite part.  We could do that all day long! 

 We enjoyed the clouds.  We rode up to the Temple of Sinawava stop and hiked up to the beginning of the narrows from there.

 Andrew got tired on the hike... of course :)

 Ethan also got tired on the hike... he was so sleepy! It was cute.  He just hung over the edge of the backpack.   He was out!

 We got to the river and told the kids that we were going to hike in the river.  Boy were the kids excited! Especially Andrew and Eric.

 Ethan had a good time watching the water and just hanging out.

 Andrew LOVED getting wet!  He thought this was the most fantastic hike EVER. And it was!

 Eric was soaked head to toe when we were done.  He even got his hat wet - because it was just awesome to be soaked. :)  He is such a boy!

 Ethan was entertained - and loving it.

 Family photo - good thing Ethan is peeking out just enough to be seen - so we can prove he was there too :)  It was nice to cool off in the canyon for a while.  We even got to enjoy a rainstorm on the way back down the river to the trail.  It did make me think a little about flash floods - but it didn't happen. 

My favorite smell in the world is the smell of a good rainstorm.  It was just beautiful.  We had a great time leaving our troubles behind and just getting away.  We left our phones at home and just enjoyed each other. What a beautiful world we live in.  In church today we sang "O Ye Mountains High" and it says "O Zion, dear Zion." and it made me think that this is our new theme song!

Lyrics

1.  O ye mountains high, where the clear blue sky
   Arches over the vales of the free,
   Where the pure breezes blow and the clear streamlets flow,
   How I've longed to your bosom to flee!
   O Zion! dear Zion! land of the free,
   Now my own mountain home, unto thee I have come;
   All my fond hopes are centered in thee.
    
   3. In thy mountain retreat, God will strengthen thy feet;
   Without fear of thy foes thou shalt tread;