Wow, it's been awhile!! Where did the summer go??!! We have been busy. Most recently, we went on vacation to Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks. This was an extra special vacation because my brother was able to go with us. Our vacations almost always end up being physically intense and this one was no different. In total we hiked almost 60 miles, gaining at least 5,000 feet in elevation, and some of the hiking was in a river. Hard work, but oh so much fun!!! There's something very renewing about being able to get outside and see some beautiful country. We were all physically exhausted by the end but ready to go back to the real world with a renewed sense of mind.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was hiking the Zion Narrows. Hiking the Narrows was definitely on my Bucket List~now I can check that off. Basically, you hike up river in Zion Canyon. When you start out, the canyon is wider and you can find dry land to walk on. But soon, the canyon narrows forcing you to fight the currents to get upstream. In most places you and walking in about a couple feet of water, but there are places where you have to swim!!! It was SO much fun! A little intimidating though to look up as the canyon narrows and know that there is no way out except to keep going. We guess that we only spent about 6 miles in the canyon, but you can start from the top of the canyon and work all the way down~about 18 miles. Maybe next time!
We went to our first K-State football game yesterday, so I guess that means fall is officially in the air!! We LOVE football season. Not only because we're diehard fans, but also because it means we get lots of family time in. It's so much easier to say goodbye when you know you'll see them all again in a couple of weeks. This weekend we got to see Matt's sister and her family. I had not seen my nephew Cooper for several months and boy is he growing!! I can't believe how much bigger he is, but the most fun thing is to see his personality coming out and to hear him talk. Not always can I make out the words yet, but he knows what he's saying!
It's so fun to think that a year from now *hopefully* we'll be able to share all of this with our own child. I can't wait to go on vacations as a family of four (Jack included, of course). I can't wait to initiate our child as a little Wildcat and take them to their first K-State football games. I can't wait to see them play with their cousins and get loved on by grandparents and aunts and uncles.
Thank you for continuing to pray for us as we prepare to meet our child. In the past, we've been so focused on getting paperwork around and doing all the work we have had to do to get the process going that I we haven't been able to worry a lot about how we are actually going to parent when our child is home!! I know we will figure this out together, but boy can that thought be intimidating. Thank goodness God has placed lots of good examples of parents around us to watch and learn from.
Blessings and Hugs, megan
