One more Day!

We are in Tulsa, OK tonight and it was a very long day. The high light was when we won Millionaire on my iTouch!!!! It's only the 3rd time since we got it a year ago. We did have a wonderful supper tonight at Outback Steakhouse. Thanks for joining us. Ohio, here we come.
Over and out and and thank the Lord for safety. We saw another wreck today and backed up traffic for miles. Bless their hearts and I pray for those involved and also those held up. So hard.
xoxox Aliese

From Las Vegas to Grants, NM

Hello friends and family!
We had a long day of driving yesterday but we broke it up in the afternoon with a drive through the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Our question is if you aren't allowed to take any wood out of the forest, how did the gift shop at the south entrance get access to all the little pieces they sell and the huge pieces for thousands of dollars??? Just wondering!
Old Route 66 in on our way and we stopped and took a picture of it too. Check facebook.
It was take train pictures day as we saw several but we were usually driving. Gibson will be thrilled. Maisie and Ella will like the dinosaur pictures too.
We hope all is well with you. Thanks for praying for us. We have many miles to go before we get home.

All you need is LOVE

After we spent almost a full day walking around, taking pictures, buying stuff for the grandkids, taking more pictures, being awed by the beauty of the restaurants, architecture and hotels and such here, we went to see LOVE, Sirque du Soleil, The Beatles at the suggestion of Peggy and Todd Lightner and absolutely were amazed, thrilled and awed at the talent not only in the music but the strength, creativity and talent of the performers. It was non stop movement choreographed to perfection and all we can say is thanks to them for suggesting. it. What a great way to top off an already very full and fun vacation.
We are hoping for a very calm, stress free and uneventful drive home from here. We don't have any planned stops as we feel we've been very fortunate to have had the opportunities we've have taken. Thanks for going on this journey with us. I'll post pics later on tomorrow so you probably won't have to look for them till Wednesday. We are 3 hours different from you all in Ohio! How weird. Keep praying till we meet again...

We didn't take the whole Dam tour...

There was a two hour wait so we went on the shorter tour and were amazed at the engineering genious and amount of concrete and the years it took to make the Hoover Dam. Amazing. Now, they are building a new bridge and people will no longer be able to drive over Hoover Dam as we did today. It should be ready for use in November of this year. It is incredible to see how they have put it together.
We are here in Las Vegas and plan to come home on Tuesday. We walked around most of the evening in our hotel and the MGM Grand. There is a 9 million dollar Lion exhibit at the Grand. Quite incredible. Live lions in pure air, pure water and they don't hear the noise of the hotel as it is sound proof. They are relaxed and there were two handlers in there with them petting and loving them. Unique to be sure.
Time to sign off for now. Thanks again for praying for David yesterday. Pray for healing now as his legs are very sore. If he walks a while, they loosen up but it takes getting through some pain before that happens. Thanks! Till next time...

I fought the Canyon and the Canyon won!

The day started out picture perfect, sunny and hot, just the way I like it. I was 3 hours into my hike of the Canyon, close to 3 1/2 to 4 miles down the trail. Much to my dismay, my knees, calves and ankles, mainly my right leg but left some too, began to fail me. I had two choices, spend $3,000 (so I was told) to be helicoptered out of the Canyon or sit down, rest and see it I could walk uphill as I knew I could not take another step downhill. (Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be...)♫
Fortunately for Aliese (she still has money for Vegas) I was able to muster the strength to climb up and out. Funny how all that work last winter on the treadmill with the the incline saved me but I failed to train my muscles for the downhill part of the trip. Bottom line: no regrets, awesome Canyon, just probably won't do it again. See facebook for my pics.

The big day is finally here

He sure hopes he hasn't underestimated the Canyon and overestimated himself. That is his statement before headed out. He has a perfect day if this morning was any indication. Not a cloud in the sky. After watching it rain yesterday and feeling how cold it can be, he's hoping for a dry day and maybe a little cloud for shade later on. David told me he hopes he isn't on the 5:00 news: Man helicoptered out of Canyon... I know he can do it. The chance of a lifetime. Too bad he didn't think of taking a pic of me with my Mastercard in hand. Nobody up here to tell me no!!!! Gift shops here I come. I've gotta quit this blog and putting pics on facebook as I'm burning daylight and the shops have been open since 8:00 a.m.!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually spent a little over an hour walking the rim and finding it exhilarating to be almost alone in a place so vast and magnificent. There were a few runners and photobugs about but it was very peaceful and I thought of Del's favorite song, Majesty, Worship His Majesty! I had myself a little songfest. I can't imagine how David is going to feel when he comes up and tells me all he's seen. Ohhh Aaah!

Monument Valley

Pictures are up on facebook finally. Thanks to all who enjoy them and have gone on this journey with us. I told David he was going to do the blog tonight but I took so long doing the pictures he went to bed! He does have to drive tomorrow. He likes to. We left Durango, Co this a.m. and it was pleasing-ly cool. Love the higher elevation. We went to Kayenta to pick up my phone at our hotel. Yes....I left it at home. That's another story. Our darling daughter ran it to the post office on Monday and now I'm reconnected. I don't know David's phone real well and it's just good to have mine. Besides, we needed it for David to call me once he gets out of the Grand Canyon for me to come pick him up. Oh he is so excited about his hike. DO PRAY he enjoys it and LIVES to tell :-) He's asleep so I can write what I want.
We went through Monument Valley after lunch this afternoon as far as my stomach could handle. The roads were atrocious and we were 1/2 afraid of what it might do to our vehicle. If we'd have gone on a jeep ride tour, I know I'd have tossed my cookies, seriously. I don't even think Dramamine would have helped. We took lots of pics and have the internet to see the ones we missed up close. The weather was 90 + and not humid but I dripped sweat just getting out to look at some Indian jewelry. I got a couple things from one of the Indians that were making them (surprise, not from China) and asked her what her name was. She said Pam. I was so disappointed. I was hoping for some cool Indian name like "One who strings bead" or Maiden of the desert. David was along to interpret so it would have been fun. Oh well.
We drove 20 miles back to Kayenta, took a dip in the pool. I about made myself sick treading water and swimming about for 20 minutes in the wind and sun. BUT, never fear mother, once I had my good supper, grilled chicken salad, I was revived and we are now ready for another day.
Until tomorrow. Happy Trails to YOU.