So my 3 week vacation along with time in Utah and St Louis included a weekend in one of the most BEAUTIFUL places on EARTH!!!!!!!
Southeastern Montana
The friends I had planned on hanging out with while I was in Utah ended up taking a trip up to Montana (my friend Maddie's family has a cabin up there) while I was there. When I found out they were going I was super bummed cause it meant I would get much less time with them. But then because they are the awesome people that they are..they totally out of the blue invited me! Seriously these guys are the salt of the earth! I'm not really a part of their group anymore because of the simple fact of my moving..but they welcomed me back with open arms as if I had never left!
We left Friday night about an hour later than planned....and found out on the way that we were headed for a completely closed highway and frontage road (HUGE ACCIDENT!!!) So we were forced to take a different route...and therefore add an extra 2 hours to the trip. But better than 6 extra hours right??
I was in one of the cooler cars of course ;) Lots of chatting, teasing, and game playing happened on the way up. And we finally got there around 1 in the morning!
But of course we couldn't go straight to bed...we had to play with huckleberry and the swing!!!!
Eventually we finally went to bed...but not before me and Kelsi planned to get out to the lake by 7 am to catch the last of the fog on the lake (we wanted to see the sunrise....but that just didn't seem practical haha)
It was one of the PRETTIEST MORNINGS EVER...seriously!!!!
That day we spent on the lake boating and hanging out. I spent the whole morning lying in the sun dozing in and out on the dock. It was the BEST!!!!! Just being able to talk to my friends and spend time with them doing fun things in such a beautiful place....BEST!!!!
That night we got all "cleaned up" and headed to the Mountain Man Rendevous. Ok seriously cool place!!!
Best part was Mad Jack....we had some pretty awesome jam sessions with him!
That night we had a great bonfire and just hung out. Games..and of course lots of singing!
The next day was Sunday...and we managed to get all 22 of us to church on time!!!!!! AWESOME!!!! And we all got seats together and in the chapel. The West Yellowstone ward is so full in the summers they have overflow in the Relief Society room! And the sacrament took literally 45 minutes. It was the best! You got to really sit and think. And it was so great!
After church we all drove into Yellowstone national park to see the sights.
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| Joe literally fell over cause someone pushed him....so that is a real look of concern from me and Rachel |
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| we were instructed to do something with our hands haha |
That night we came back...took a little nap and started making dinner. Then suddenly somehow we realized the sunset was AMAZING!
So we all headed out to the dock....and seriously got almost eaten alive by mosquitoes....but no matter. We were all together looking at the most amazing view. None of us cared to much as we watched the moon rise over the lake.
3 things I learned this trip......1. 22 people eat A LOT OF FOOD 2. 22 people take FOREVER to get anywhere! 3. 22 people CANNOT make a decision!!!!
The next morning was kinda cloudy and cool...but we went out on the boat a little and went across the lake to play some volleyball.
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| Our 6 sets of siblings.....cool eh?? |
Unfortunately, that afternoon we had to leave. Luckily I got to ride back with my FAVORITE Lauren...and we chatted and had fun for the whole way!!!!
Even with the great ride back I was NOT happy about leaving. It had been a very hard couple of months and I had missed my friends all so much. I didn't even realize how much they meant to me until I went back. They truly are my family. The kindest and best people I have ever known!
I found happiness in Montana. It had be a long time since I truly was happy. I had almost forgotten what it was like. Thank goodness I had this trip to remind me!
Montana will always hold a special place in my heart!
