Day 4: Utah, The Boys First Taste of the Desert

A crisp June Colorado morning sure does something amazing to the senses.  As we walked to breakfast, the mountain air was delightfully refreshing.  I breathed it in.  Slowly and with a mindfulness that this would not last long.  Capturing the moment as if I had a Kodak camera for the senses.  The sky was crystal clear and the most vibrant of blues.  It hung ever so perfectly behind those glorious peaks covered in strong evergreens.  We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the hotel "lodge," knowing that our drive to Moab, Utah was a drop in the bucket compared to the previous day’s jaunt.  Just shy of four hours seemed delightfully attainable, so we settled in to the rustic atmosphere for a relaxing quiet anything-but-laid-back breakfast with our three little pigs. 

Watching our boys adjust to the this life of change has been both interesting and challenging.  Our conversations are filled with anticipation on how they are going to handle a life far removed from what they are used to, and how we can help them to be brave and strong.  Brian and I are not the only occupants of this ship that is trying to navigate difficult waters.  We have little passengers that are affected by our every move.  No small task.  

Brody senses the change the most.  He has become especially close and extra loving to me since we left home.  He is my second born, the middle child.  The exact position I hold among my own siblings.  He is cautious and concerned and wants everyone to be happy.  He tells me at random that he loves me.  Sit with me at dinner.  Holds my hand without prompting.  Cuddles close at bedtime.  He has also drawn especially fond of Warner and tenderly says  that he is a “cute baby.”  He talks with such compassionate love to WJ when he is upset and has been wanting to hold him lately.  His conversations with us are often sprinkled with questions about Las Vegas, but  in the next breath reveals how he misses our home on Olivia Lane.  My sensitive boy has a lot processing going on in that 4 year old mind.  

I think children pick up on change faster than we adults do.  Even today, we noticed it in the physical.  As we pulled out of the quaint and peaceful little city of Avon, CO, we took a deep look into those majestic wonders lying crooked across the horizon.  Interstate 70 West bound held unknowns for us as a family.  Rather quickly, Garrison and Brody both pointed out all of the "dirt and sand" and how it was starting to look like the desert.  My boys noticed the subtle changes before I even had time to settle in to my jump seat.   Sure enough, the camera captured what their little eyes had already seen.  The landscape once again transforming to show God's excellent creativity.  The mountainsides boasted of rock and hardy vegetation poking their way through.    

Such contrast to the fertile, green draped masses that were slowly becoming images in our memory and rearview.  Small bushes began to replace towering evergreens.  Hard, rocky earth lay increasingly revealed, becoming too intense for most vegetation to dig their roots down deep.  Layers upon layers of rock exclaim the majesty of how our Lord created these beastly mountains.  Deep terra-cottas, browns, and grays were His color palette as He carved out the earth exposing mighty canyons and steep cliffs.  These sights simply take your breath away as you snake through them.  

When it becomes impossible to pass over an obstacle, push your way through it.  Blast a tunnel right through and get to the other side.  The work is hard, but the payoff is spectacular...

With each mile this handsome man has driven, all 25 hours of them might I add, the horizon has promised gifts of beauty.  

The Colorado Rockies make you feel sheltered.  Snug.  Secure.  The Utah Rockies are mammoths, spread out with long expanses of valleys in between.  You get the sense of just how tiny you really are as the stone carved cliffs tower over you even at a far off distance.  It is barren, yet still so mighty and beautiful in its own right. 

And it is HOT!  The boys grumbled at the 90 degree temperature as we looked out over Utah.  My insides literally felt like knots as I imagined the triple digit temperatures they would have to endure this summer.  Our desire was to find a home located in a community with pool access...or better yet, a pool of our own.  Neither happened.  Now, we are praying that we can find an affordable watering hole that we can slip our melting-because-we-are-not-used-to-this bodies into this summer.

Evidently, Utah was the inspiration for Radiator Springs and Lightning McQueen.  I could NOT get enough of these giants.  One after another, their presence owned the landscape.  

Meanwhile back in the Carnival Cruise Lines Mama Mobile of the Roads, the activities director continued to pass out supplies to keep little people occupied and happy.  This guest decided that drawing on his board was growing rather boring, so he moved to more exciting things like drawing on his face, hands, and legs.  No big deal.  As a matter of fact, we likely left it there for a few hours.

Then, for snack number 248 of the day, cookies were served.  I'm not sure what the server was thinking, but chocolate chip cookies and a two year old is never really a good idea.  EVER.  It especially creates a BAD situation when strapped into a carseat where said two year old cannot spread his crumbs over a wide range and then they are less noticeable...

This captures not even the half of it.  Cookie came flying out of the car when he was later unstrapped.  The prairie dogs at exit, Middle of Nowhere Utah, are jacked up on sugar tonight with all of the cookie I threw into the parking lot.  Now, the maid will be have to clean cookie fragments and melted chocolate chips out of this seat for days.  

We detoured off of I-70 for two nights to explore Arches National Park.  Again, the rock formations are awe inspiring and cannot be given proper justice through pictures.  Rent an RV (they are everywhere out here...EVERYWHERE) and drive yourself across the country to see this place.  You won't regret it.  Promise.

Tonight, we lay our heads in Utah.  The sun scorched land awaits us tomorrow with tourist camera in hand and hearts praising our Almighty God for his immaculate handy work of creation and our grateful opportunity to adventure through it. 

Psalm 121: 1 I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? 2 My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake. 4 The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps. 5 The Lord will guard you; he is by your side to protect you. 6 The sun will not hurt you during the day, nor the moon during the night. 7 The Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe. 8 He will protect you as you come and go now and forever.