The day after our jobs wrapped up (with warm send-offs from our wonderful coworkers), we got out of dodge and took a vacation trip to northern Arizona/southern Utah for a week of camping with our good friends from church Bobby and Lois Suruki. The week away was perfect; it allowed us to completely forget about all our To Do List items back home and to slow our pace quite a bit.

View all the photos from out west.

Highlights of the trip included breakfast at the North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge, waking up to see the sunrise most every morning and brewing coffee, Lower Antelope Slot Canyon (a magical place!), campfire dinner the night of the Fourth of July, stargazing at our campsite at Bryce Canyon and hiking The Narrows at Zion National Park (a creek hike, sometimes in waist-high water, with sheer 2,000 - 3,000-ft. cliffs on either side). Much credit goes to friend and ever-adventuresome Todd Austell for his pointers on what not to miss. Low points of the trip included trying to sleep in 90-degree weather with no breeze one night, dealing with pesky ants and losing $20 entirely too fast on the slot machines in Vegas. The Surukis were an awesome pair to travel with, and we are so thankful for them and their friendship! Granted, as soon as we returned back home in North Carolina, life was crazy again with Africa preparations, but we are grateful that much of the slow pace and peace we gained has stuck with us through this final homestretch of planning.

Related posts:

1. About South Africa
2. About This Endeavor: Our Calling to South Africa
3. An Awesome “Second Date”

Filed under: General by Rebecca on July 21st, 2008, rest, vacation