For the better part of the past two weeks, Nathan, Sandi along with Jared their son have been making a long road trip through seven western American states. The main purpose was to deliver Zulu the dog to their daughter Kaeli who works as a clinical therapist at a Christian youth ranch that helps troubled and abused teens and pre-teen boys and girls that is located near Minot, North Dakota, located about 1,268 miles and several states away from them. After that, they turned the rest of their trip into a vacation—their first real vacation in more than a year.

After two years of intensive training, Zulu has been become certified to be a resident therapy dog. For the past five months Zulu has lived with us, and Sandi has helped to finish his training program. She volunteers for an organization that raises dogs and trains them from puppies to help people with physical disabilities and those who are suffering from PTSD. The dogs live with us for awhile as part of their training program. During this time, they are taught some 95 commands and learn how to help people with special physical and psycho-emotional needs.

After delivering Zulu to Kaeli, his new owner, we spent a few days with Kaeli and Ryan, her husband, and then we headed off to visit some of YHVH’s natural wonders in the western U.S.A. as we slowly headed our way back to Oregon, our home state.

Sandi and I are especially keen of YHVH’s natural beauty and wildlife. The typical city-type tourist attractions hold little or no interest to us. However, we passionately enjoy, no revel, in the earth’s scenic wonders, and we love to learn about the history and culture of the areas through which we travel.

During this trip, we will have traveled some 3,200 to 3,500 miles geeking out on things such as deer, buffalos, wild turkeys, antelopes, eagles, elk, mountain goats, mountain sheep, magpies and more. We’ve also seen some amazing geological formations, petrified trees, cactuses, spectacular mountains, cloud formations, forests, rivers, amazing geothermal features and too many other things to mention. We’ve been through wind storms that almost blew our car off the road as well as several snow storms as we crossed many mountains and praises as wall as the highest mountain in the U.S. The road in front of our car has, at times, been blocked by flocks of wild turkeys, and herds of elk, deer and buffalo. I could go on and on.

In the mean time, Sandi and I have been able to spend quality time together away from the stressors of everyday life including work and the noise of the city. We’ve also been able to spend quality time with our youngest child and traveling companion, as well as with our daughter and her husband.

Praise Yah for these blessings!

Please enjoy a few of the photos that I took along the way.