Part 3: Upper Falls

This is what the view from our campsite looked like... trees trees and more trees. It was beautiful.

This was at the beginning of our hike... there was a fallen tree that was huge so of course the kids had to get up on it for a photo. Josh measured the length (about half of the tree... the top was missing) it was 58 yards long without the top.... crazy big!

Our rock towers that Austin & I were building!

the trails were steep & the younger kids got pretty nervous that they were going to fall right over the edge...

the upper falls... oh my goodness, these were some impressive falls. I had to hike out to the point to get this shot. The water below the falls was a total whirlpool... definitely not a good place to take a swim...

nature's beauty


the cove below the upper falls

hiking out

okay... this tree was HUGE, there is really no way to describe it so we lined up all the kids + Melissa and posed them in front of it.... I have no idea how old this bad boy was, but it towered above all the other trees.


I know I have already said it... but the peace that you feel when out in God's nature and beauty is something else. To be reminded that we can live "without" is wonderful. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life I tend to forget that we were intended to live without all the distractions... it is so easy to get caught up in the current and be drug down.

It reminds me of the song by Casting Crowns... " If We've Ever Needed You"
"Hear our cry we pray, Our faces down, our hands are raised, Your called us out, we've turned away. With shipwrecked faith, idols rise, We do what is right, in our own eyes, Our children now, will pay the price, We need Your light Lord, shine Your light.

If we've ever needed You, Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now. We are desperate for Your hand, we're reachin' out. All our hearts, all our strength, With all our minds, we're at Your fate, May Your kingdom come, in our hearts and lives, Let Your church arise, let Your church arise."

and it goes on... I love the lyrics & music because we all need to be desperate for God, waiting for His second coming and telling others of Him instead of leaning on our own faith.
This camping trip reminded me (and I need reminding) to take more pleasure in Him & let the earthly things fall away.