Badlands Not So Bad

In an attempt to create some 4th of July family traditions, we decided to visit a national park and check out some of the diverse landscape this country has to offer. Pat has been wanting to visit the Badlands for quite awhile and I was admittedly reluctant...the name doesn't exactly conjer up warm fuzzies within me, nor does the fact it was in Starship Troopers, (a fact Pat proudly revealed on the way)entice me. However, it's family weekend and the planner for Sunday was Pat and he had Badlands on the brain, so off we went. Wow. Was I ever weak sauce. What a cool place! Once I moved beyond the memory of my geology professor raving about it, I really loved it. We have been truly fortunate to see so much of this country and its breathtaking diversity. God is truly a God of wonders! How great is He to create so much beauty for us to see. So, Badlands, not so bad. Actually, really really good.

Canyon Lake Park

So, with 4 days of family time at hand, we thought we had better make the best of it. We kicked off our Happy Birthday, America weekend with a picnic lunch at Canyon Lake Park.

Mom & Dad enjoying some quality time on the day trip with Abraham

So, how do you really test the patience and love of your parents? There are a number of ways, but we thought letting them ride in the backseat with Abraham, our great dane, on a day trip through Spearfish Canyon might test the limits. Truth be told, we are so blessed to have had them visit us and actually suggest we bring him along. They are dog lovers, but more importantly, they love him because he's ours. They get the award for "best sports while enduring big dog bad breath". We loved having them visit and cherish the laughs, the pastries and the time together.

Pat and I at Spearfish Canyon Drive with Abraham. We still miss parts of Hawaii, but are loving the changing of the seasons here in South Dakota.