Over the last few days I have been thinking about what I can post that would not be redundant and boring.  Lee is a fantastic writer and has certainly captivated our daily experiences over the past 16 days with great detail. Furthermore, Caroline and Josie have added priceless posts that brings smiles and laughter. This post, my one and only, stems from a wooden sign.

On our second to last day in Yellowstone we stopped by the Visitor’s Center at Canyon Village.  The girls initiative was to receive their Junior Ranger badges from the Yellowstone Ranger station by demonstrating to the Park Ranger they had not only successfully completed their junior ranger workbooks but also proving they had accomplished the lab work objectives.  As I waited until they received their accolades, I was drawn to the sign above the entrance.  The inscription on the wood block sign was The Yellowstone Association’s Mission Statement that highlighted three words:  Insire. Educate. Preserve.  I read the mission statement several times, each time becoming more and more deep in thought.  INSPIRE.  EDUCATE.  PRESERVE!

The girls received their trophy badges and we returned to Minnie Winnie and proceeded to drive south through the Hayden Valley.  Again, these WORDS rang through my head.  What did this mean?  Why was this important?  And moreover, why were these words so relevant?  Here is my answer.

Inspire:  I want the very best for Caroline and Josie!  My hope is that by introducing them to the diversity of Yellowstone and the majestic grandeur of the Teton Mountain Range they will continue to be inspired to love mountains, grasslands, tundras and water sources.  I hope the dramatic force of the Yellowstone River and the meandering Snake River inspires them to appreciate the awesome danger, mystery and beauty of rivers.  I hope the horseback “western style” trail riding; the unpredictable weather and climate changes; the mountain wildland; the grizzly and black bears, the moose, the herds of bison and elk; and one of the last natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone will always inspire them to learn and an gain insight to God’s creations.  I hope they are inspired to always live spiritually when they visualize and recollect the beauty of The Chapel of the Transfiguration in Moose Village, WY.

Educate:  I hope we continue to aspire to learn and help others to learn.  Over the last 16 days we all learned so much!  The lessons about geology, thermal energy, weather patterns, the ecosytem, etc, seemed overwhelming and, at times, downright exhausting.  The education we learned about natural disasters (i.e. forest fires), earthquakes, volcanic eruptions were scary, especially to the girls!  Learning about types of scat and identifying animals’ scat was always a fun actiivity.  Learning how the mechanics of the RV (hook ups, the generator, dumping the “black” water) were all memorable and educational experiences.  As a family, we learned more than any post could tell.  But there is one thing I know for sure!  Each of us enjoyed every minute of our trip and took advantage of every learning opportunity that was presented.

Preserve:  When I read the word “Preserve” I immediately think of and define as “to protect.” While Yellowstone’s mission is to protect the natural beauty of 2.2 million acres, I too, have a mission to preserve and protect my family.  I watched Caroline and Josie both engage in activities that for some kids their age seemed impossible, ludicrous and/or “out of the question.”  Whether it was climbing over 10 foot boulders around Jenny Lake, riding horses along 100 foot muddy and rocky cliffs, holding the bow line of the raft while manevouring through Class 4 rapids, or taking the leadership role in dumping the RV sewage, I was always in that protective mode.  At least subtlely.  As a father (or mother), I suppose this is something we never really lose.  Inspiring and educating our kids seems to be fairly easy.  But it’s the “letting go and let them live” that’s hard.  How far to we let them go before we step in?  When do we offer fatherly advice and/or warnings?  Are they old enough to do that?  How far does “trial and error” go? These are a few reoccuring questions I pondered during our trip.  This I know:  I am proud of Caroline and Josie for having the “never give up” attitude.  I am proud that they are not scared to try new things.  I am proud of their adventurous spirits.  I am proud of their faith.  And I am proud they rarely give me push back when I step in to protect them.

In closing, it’s important that I express just how humble and how full of joy and love I am as a result of this journey.  In the months planning our trip I often wondered how I would react in the event of an unfortunate or stressful situation.  What if the RV had engine trouble along the way?  What if one of us got sick or hurt in the backcountry?  What if the weather prevented us from having any fun?  I suppose we got lucky.  With the exception of only one minor mishap, our expreience was perfect!  I feel there is no situation too difficult and there is no unhappiness too great to be overcome.  This trip has encouraged me to put spiritual principles into action and has reminded me that a higher power is in control and working alongside me.  Moreover, this journey has reminded me of just how much I love Lee, Caroline and Josie.