Days Two and Three

Day Two (Tuesday July 12)
We drove from Regina to Bemidji MN.  North Dakota was nice but fairly flat at times.  There was more flooding than in SK- at one point the water actually came up to the road and had spots where we had to drive around it as it lapped onto the pavement.

Minnesota is beautiful with tons of trees.  Lots of fabulous small towns.  We took the Number 2 Hwy through and it was quiet and wonderful.

Tuesday we stayed at the "AmericInn" and it was comfortable and clean and even had a hottub.

Flooding in Benson Saskatchewan

Lots of Water

Funny Sign

Great old-fashioned A&W in Minnesota (?)

Model car gathering right next door to the A&W

Day 3: Wednesday July 13

We drove from Bemidji MN to Sault Ste Marie MI.  Another long day, another LOT of gratefulness to CBC and their wonderful podcasts!  Kurt and I have had the chance to talk more in the last couple of days than we have in months- that has been a lovely side effect.

I saw another new state today- Wisconsin. Tons of trees and very hilly in our area (if I wasn't from the Rockies I'd call them mountains). I also got to see Lake Superior for the first time since I was very young (I have a vague memory of my parents taking us to Thunder Bay when we were little).  It's so huge that if I didn't know better I'd swear it was the ocean. 

In Michigan we said good-bye to what has become our beloved Number 2 and headed east on Hwy 28. The highway brought us winding along the lake.  Sometimes the geography reminded me a lot of AB/BC around the foothills except with more ferns, etc.  Other than the roads being in poor repair it was great.

Tonight we are at the Kewadin in Sault Ste Marie, MI.  We had the privilege of meeting up with Kurt's parents and and aunt uncle.  We will travel with them to a friends place tomorrow for a few days vacation.

Highway 2 <3

First view of Lake Superior

Bridge in Duluth going over Lake Superior

Entering Michigan right after Duluth

Our destination for the day

En Route to Doughnut College

Today was the first leg of the journey to, what I have started to call, Doughnut College.

In my opinion, Saskatchewan is currently the most beautiful that I've ever seen it.  Lush, green and vibrant.  For the past month I have spoken with many different growers and have learned the price that was paid for this beauty.  Such a startling contrast between devastation of livelihood and nature at it's finest.

This evening we happily arrived at Kurt's brother's home and have had a lovely visit with his family.  Thank you Kevin, Connie and boys!

The World's Tallest Tepee in Medicine Hat, AB

A canola field while driving to Regina

a day with Ethan

Had a lovely day with Mr Ethan... click on the title to see a few pics of our time together

Concerts

Tonight I had the privilege to go to a concert- for free!  While I'm not a country fan, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with a great friend.  And it paid off- we were able to see Miranda Lambert  and Jason Aldean in concert.  I was (and am not) familiar with their music, but they sure made a great impression.

On a side note, walking back to the vehicle a truck flew by and as it proceeded it up the road it slammed into a parked Honda Civic, lost its bumper, and continued up the road. A gentleman near-by was narrowly missed.  This reminded me of the ever-present, but sometimes regrettably ignorable, reality of drunk driving. Lord, please keep people safe as they make their way home tonight, help them to make smart choices and surround them with your protection.

Yikes- too long

Grandma's blog has encouraged me to get up off my butt and start writing again. More to come. I promise (when have you heard that before?).

;o)

It's official...

We're going to China! Our friend Crawford was planning a trip, and invited us to join him. It will be a "quickie" trip as far as international traveling goes (we will be there for only 5 days) but we decided the opportunity was well worth it.

Our visas are applied for and our arms have been shot (lovely immunizations). We've bought travel guides and done infinite research. Now all that needs to be done is to actually go! As we are flying on passes departure and arrival dates remain somewhat in the air.

I can't wait to post pictures and stories!!!!!

Joy comes in the morning...

Especially when it is spring. With weather like this it is very hard to stay down.

Today I'm grateful for:

1) My amazing husband who has put up with me in most amazing ways. I love him with all of my heart.
2) An amazingly supportive family.
3) Friends who are really there for us- good and bad.
4) Dogs who won't let me crawl into myself.
5) A house that has become a haven.
6) God who is looking out for my very best, even when I don't feel like caring anymore.
7) People who have seen me at my worst and love me anyway.