*I’m so sorry that the blog has looked wonky for the last couple of days. I wasn’t sure what happened to it, but I tried removing all the bold sentences from this post and that fixed it. Thanks for your patience, sweet siestas!*
Top ten reasons to ditch Houston in August and head to Jackson Hole, Wyoming
1. There are days when the temperature will make you wonder if it’s December. And you will start singing Christmas carols without realizing it.
2. Instead of dead armadillos on the road, they’ve got these guys.
3. There are no billboards, no skyscrapers, and no sidewalks so hot you can fry eggs on them.
4. Your man might go for a hike and come back with something like this.
5. You won’t have to wait until February to go to the rodeo.
That is my son drinking hot chocolate in August.
My future cowgirl and me.
6. There are good burgers to be had beyond our state’s borders.
Oh, Billy’s Burgers, how we heart you.
7. When life slows down, funny things happen.
That’s a bagel in Jackson’s mouth.
She fell backwards and landed right in her brother’s lap. He was so tickled.
Annabeth fell asleep while we were at a cookout. She had to have her thumb, of course.
8. Your hair may go bump-it in the night.
You are looking at God-given bump-it, siestas.
9. You might see a grizzly bear. Preferably from your car.
(This is zoomed in – we would never get that close.)
10. Yellowstone National Park is like the Disney World of Nature. You cannot believe how much cool stuff is in one place.
We got there early in the morning in hopes of seeing more animals.
And there it is.
I’m not sure what this is. Maybe Jackson was excited about the dirt on his hands.
Jackson and Curtis with the Upper Falls in the background (I think).
Can you see the rainbow?
River water going over the Lower Falls.
This picture makes the bottom of my feet hurt. Does that happen to anyone else when they look down from up high?
After seeing it from close up, we drove down the road and saw the Lower Falls from a distance.
Top ten songs from our vacation playlist
1. “Just Wanna Say” by Israel Houghton
2. “My Brightness” by Charlie Hall
3. “Glorified” by New Life Worship
4. “You’ll Come” by Hillsong Live
5. “Light of the World” by Watermark
6. “A Grateful People/Bless the Lord” by Watermark
7. “Glory to God Forever” by Fee
8. “Since the World Began” by Matt Maher, Amy Grant, Ed Cash, and Mac Powell from Glory Revealed 2
9. “He Will Rejoice” by Trevor Morgan from Glory Revealed 1
10. “Waters Gone By” by Shawn Lewis from Glory Revealed 1
*More pictures than you ever wanted to see coming soon!
Wow! Some of those pics are just breathtaking… I can only imagine what it looked like actually being there. What a beautiful state! I'd love to go sometime!
P.S. Loving your bump it picture sista! Ha!!
What great pictures! My sweet hubby and I went to Jackson Hole for our honeymoon in March of 1997. We spent one night at the Turpin Meadow Ranch and went on a day-long snowmobiling trip through Yellowstone. Oh how I remember the Rusty Parrot in JH! It looks like y'all had a fabulous time! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Marsha in GA
These pictures are wonderful. I've eaten at Billy's it was one of the best burgers I've ever eaten. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, I love the pics of Jackson Hole. Reminds me of home, without the mountains of course.
Those are awesome! That's the kind of place I want to vacation. That settles it, we are going. Thanks for the pics.
Aysha
This was our vacation this summer! LOVED IT! I told my husband that I wanted to retire in Jackson Hole, and I meant it. I have never loved anywhere like I love the Tetons. It's so fun to see someone else's pictures that were exactly the locations where we took ours.
I have never been to Wyoming, but feel like I have been after seeing all of your beautiful pictures.
Thank you for sharing part of your vacation with us.
I'm so glad y'all had such a great time and made wonderful memories to treasure for a life time.
What a sweet family you have!
I love pictures and am looking forward to more. ๐
Have a blessed weekend!
Love,
Valerie
I am going!! That is beautiful
Wow, I feel like I was on vacation with you all! Thanks for sharing God's beauty with us.
Thanks for taking us along on vacation! Wish Wyoming wasn't so far across the country from Georgia! Looks like loads of fun!
Amanda,
You have such a beautiful way of expressing yourself. And your pictures were priceless. What a lovely way to capture the memories of your time together – and what a precious gift you are giving your children with these "scrapbook" of times with your family. I know these blogs will be cherished by your kids when they get older.
Okay, gotta go. I'm going to Expedia.com to book a trip to Jackson Hole. Don't think I've ever seen a place where our Lord's majesty was on such glorious display.
Blessings,
Gretchen
Thousand Oaks, CA
Amazing photos + an amazing family = one great vacation in God's country. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Also, AWESOME website update. Was shocked this morning when I pulled it up and it was all brand new.
Blessings,
Kelli in Colorado
I've never been but always wanted to…thanks for the pics.
Do you think your feet hurt becasue you are subconsciously trying to grip with your feet to keep from falling over? funny…
awesome!
Amanda – you are such a great photographer….love these pics!
WOW! That is stunning!! Makes me want to get in the car and go. ๐
How can anyone NOT see God's hand all over that place? Can you imagine what heaven is going to be like?
have a wonderful weekend!!
stephanie
Oh and the new website looks great!!
Looking forward to more pictures. How beautiful it is up there….thanks for taking us along. Blessings to you and your fam…..love ya'll so much.
We're in JH right now…we've been here for 10 days and our time is almost up!! We love JH!!! I never tire of looking at pics or taking pics…no matter how many times we go. It's such a beautiful place and we always feel so blessed for being there. Only wish we could go more than one time a year!!! Thanks for sharing!!
I absolutely LOVE Yellowstone and Jackson Hole!!! I have been to Denali in Alaska and still think Yellowstone beats it by a mile! Thanks for sharing.
The photos make me want to visit. Jackson is a mini Curtis: ) Amazing! You have a precious family Amanda. Thanks for sharing. B
Your pictures are priceless!!! Nice work at handing the camera off so you are in them too. Just an idea – take those photos of God's creation, add some of God's precious WORD and make them into the most stunning art work for your home! Your heart will be amazed. It is one of my favorite things to do.
Thanks for sharing – now I want to go out and take some more pictures!!
WOW. We have friends that just moved to Wyoming and we are planning to go visit them soon…I was planning a trip to Yellowstone while we were there and now you made me want to go TODAY!!
Amanda, thank you for sharing your fabulous pictures. I have been so many places but never there. It is on my bucket list.
I can't believe how mature Jackson looks in these pictures. He is becoming a little man. Your children are precious. The picture of Anna Beth falling in Jackson's lap is priceless.
Glad you had a great time. Can't wait to see the rest of your pics.
Lawan
Phil 4:8
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! : ) I want to go!!!! So thankful you had an awesome vacation!
Melana… "Moose Mama"
How fun to have moose and buffalo in your back yard! Can't imagine living near such beauty! Wow! : )
I just wanted you to know that Trevor Morgan was in my youth group growing up and would lead worship for our retreats after he graduated! It blessed my heart so much to see his name on your top 10 list! Beautiful pictures!
Thanks for sharing with us Amanda the pictures are beautiful and the wildlife and the rivers and the falls just awesome how I needed to see these this today and be reminded how Awesome and Great Our GOD Is if He cares about the details of Creation He cares about me and knows what is going on in my life. Those pictures are amazing and thank you for taking time out of your day to put those up for us seista's love you all to pieces.
Love Carol Albuq. NM
Amanda, we were there during the same week that you guys were there. Saw that same bear feasting on that elk carcass every single day. Your picture sent my husband back to his mad rant about wishing he had purchased a zoom lens before our trip. I can't wait to start working on our scrapbook. And we will definitely be planning a trip to go back. Thanks for taking a vacation with us. Sort of.:-)
Beautiful indeed! South Dakota was like this and we ventured into Wyoming also – just got back . . . Yellowstone is on our list of "to go" places, but we are planning on Yosemite next in the Spring – we love the outdoors.
You have the most beautiful little family! Your babies are precious! : ) Looks like y'all had an awesome time taking in the fabulous God-sights! Love the pictures!
Those are beautiful pictures Amanda! Can't wait to see more ๐
I can't wait till the days of cool weather, sweatshirts, and hot chocoloate!
WOW!!!! I've never seen that part of the world, my friend. Thank you so much for sharing. What great pictures.
P.S. You've inspired me to take more pictures. Thinking of you today as I am making my Devin (4 year old son) his star student poster. Yes, I'm letting him color and cut…thanks for the heads-up!!! ๐
Love you in Sweet Jesus,
Susan
Jacksonville, FL
Looks beautiful…You have sold me on going in the future ๐
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. God's creation is amazing! So glad that you were able to see so much wildlife as well as amazing views and cooler temperatures. Loved this post and can't wait to see more pictures!
Love these pictures. This is our dream vacation that we want to take some day. Please share more pictures – there can never be enough.
Amanda –
thanks for the photos, I love 'em.
Now girl friend that was a water fall. It was so beautiful, and yes I did see the rainbow. I'm an artist and I want to paint a scenery like that over my bathtub….just hadn't got to it yet. oh well
I like the photo of the baby what? buffalo? following his mommy.
Blows my mind that it was that cold in August.
Cool……..Thanks again, can't wait to see more.
Becky
Two summers ago my nature loving husband and I spent a week at Yellowstone and the Tetons. Beautiful and amazing!!!!!
I did think of Beth several times during the trip. She has either filmed studies from or spoken of the Tetons so many times that I couldn't help but think of her as we relished in the grandeur and the wildlife.
I'd go back in a minute. I asked my husband several times, "and why do we live in West Texas and not up here." To which he'd reply, "The winters" =)))
I can't wait to go there one day. Our son wants us to quit our jobs, get an RV and hit the road. I'm always amazed that someone can see nature like that and still doubt the existance of the one, true LORD!
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Amanda, THANK YOU for all the pictures! I feel like I went on vacation with you and your family, and I "THANK YOU" very much!
Just beautiful! Wish we were closer to there!
I was there 30 years ago, it was awesome. Thanks for all the pics Amanda truly beautiful I have lost all of mine over the years. That baby girl is growing so….fast! What a great trip for you all.
Don't you just love road trips with Christian music? one seems to just notice God's beautiful creations more.
Love ya, Sue B
I don't think we can ever have too many pictures!! It looks like you had a relaxing time. My dad just loves that part of the country!
love,
Audrey
ps-we have a post-thumb sucker, but we had to do similar things to keep his thumb from falling apart. Fun thing is, you could do just about anything to babies at that age and they still look incredibly cute!
Thanks so much for sharing! Can't wait to see the rest
They are absolutely beautiful!!
Amazingly beautiful pictures, Amanda! I really liked the one with the rainbow in it. Can't wait to see more pictures! I looks like you had a really great time! Love the pics of Jackson with the bagel in his mouth and Annabeth sleeping with her thumb in her mouth! Have a wonderful weekend!
Joan
Stunning photos of Wyoming; sweet ones of your family. Love the rainbow in the trees, and your bump-it ๐
Went to Wyoming when I was 15 and will never forget horseback riding through the hills–not on a trail! So new for a Southern California girl.
Thanks for taking us on vacation with you!
Someone who can pick wildflowers AND perfectly time them into a bouquet with grass – WOW! SO sweet!
And just so you know, the bottom of my feet hurt too!
love the pic's, love the new web site. great job!!!!love ya, Jeanette
Love the pictures, keep 'em coming.
I might also be just a little bit envious.
whoa!!!! Thanks Amanda!! They are great. We love that you share your life we us…..we feel like we know ya'all!!!
Great choice of pictures!! Will look forward to more!!!
Blessings for the weekend!!!
Bible Bunny in NO MI
My brother lives outside of Casper and I've never been up there to see him. I need to go see that part of the country. Thanks for sharing such great pictures. It's also hard to belive that people actually wear jackets in August when its in the 100's down here in Texas.
Amanda,
Those pics are amazing. Looks like a great vacation place. Glad y'all had some family time with such beautiful surroundings.