Texas, Louisiana, Relatives, & Arkansas...in Two Days!

Sunday, July 7, 2013 -- I woke up at 7:00, got ready, had breakfast (a bagel, yogurt, apple juice), and headed to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.  It's where my mom's cousins (that we visited on Saturday) all go.  It was a traditional service with hymns, liturgy, patriotic songs, a nice sermon, and communion.  The pipe organ was beautiful!  We had a quick tour of the church and surrounding buildings, then we went back to the hotel to change clothes and get on the road at 10:30.  I slept until 2 PM, where we had a stop for gas/bathroom/fixing lunch northeast of Houston.  I had a tuna wrap, crackers, cheese sticks, applesauce, and pineapple juice on the road.

We arrived at our destination in Gilliam, Louisiana, at 6 PM.  The people whose house we stayed at are my first cousins twice removed.  Their daughter, my second cousin once removed, joined us for a delicious supper of lasagna, salad, homegrown sweet corn, garlic bread, apple pie, and vanilla ice cream!  Prior to supper, we had gone up the road to see some skydivers!!  We also looked over their thousands of acres of corn, cotton, and soybeans.  The land is so flat compared to Missouri and the crops look beautiful.  It's like STL weather...warm and humid with slight breezes.  They also have 10 sweet little goats, which we visited with after supper.  The sun was setting and the air was cooler...so beautiful in Louisiana!

Monday, July 8, 2013 -- Slept in until 9 AM, had breakfast (eggs, bacon, toast, cinnamon rolls, fruit, orange juice), and started our nice and relaxing day.  We talked, walked around outside a bit, and met another second cousin once removed and two of my third cousins before heading to lunch at the Main Street Restaurant.  The grilled shrimp salad is excellent!  After that, we went for another drive to see equipment, grain bins, storage areas, and a cotton gin, plus a quick overview of the crops.  My mom and I went for a longer walk after that to look for the goats and the two donkeys (the donkeys actually escaped before we arrived!)...found the goats.  They are so cute and funny.  We also looked at the irrigation method (A flexible white vinyl tube attached to a pipe with a valve, which they could turn on to start the water flow.  Half-inch-diameter holes along the tube allowed to water to come out, which then went down every other row of the crop to keep them irrigated) and the cotton buds.

After a wonderful day exploring on a true southern plantation, we said good-bye and headed for Arkansas at 4:30 PM.  I drove the whole way to our Comfort Suites in Hot Springs.  We had supper at Belle Arti, a wonderful Italian restaurant.  The three-course meal ($12.95) had a variety of options, but I chose cheese sticks for the appetizer, chicken Parmesan for the main course, and cheese cake with strawberry sauce and whipped cream for dessert.  The food was amazing.  This concluded our wonderful day in Louisiana (and evening in Arkansas!).

~Anna~

NYG Days 4 & 5, Six Flags, & More!

Thursday, July 4, 2013 -- Today I woke up at 5:15 AM, had a POP Tart and water, and got on the bus to head downtown for the 5K race.  It was supposed to begin at 6:30 but really ended up starting 20 minutes late.  We did get running eventually -- all through the streets and along the Riverwalk.  It was really pretty.  My mom and brother ran, too.  I finished at 26:22.6, which was very satisfying to me, especially since it was a warmer morning.  It was gorgeous, though, especially when the sun was rising.  After the race, we headed back to the hotel to shower and have a nice breakfast (bagel, sausage, fruit, milk).

Then we headed to the Alamodome for the fourth NYG day.  In the morning, they held a one-and-a-half-hour worship service at 10 AM -- traditional service with hymns, videos, communion, a sermon by Matthew Harrison, and more.  After the service let out, we made our way over to the Convention Center for the 1 PM citizenship ceremony.  This was special!  People (51 total) from Australia, China, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, India, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, the Philippines, Somalia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia joined together to take the citizenship oath.  After they finished, everyone cheered and held up signs and flags.  It was so cool to see that!  Besides the oath, there were speakers, patriotic music from the 323rd Army Band, and a wonderful video to the tune God Bless the U.S.A. (by Lee Greenwood).  Plenty of the viewers were crying.  After the ceremony, a lot of people went up to congratulate and welcome the new citizens.  We did that and also complimented the Army musicians.  It was such a wonderful program to attend.

Next, we headed to a little hidden ice cream shop on the Riverwalk.  We all enjoyed very generous scoops of ice cream while looking out at the happenings (I had a scoop of blackberry cobbler and a scoop of peach/vanilla combo).  It was July 4, so we were patriotic and all-American!!  After resting and looking around the Convention Center a bit more, we headed to Bill Miller Bar-B-Q.  I had a large pork sandwich, potato salad, fruit, and water.  After a good supper, we headed to wait in line for 45 minutes to enter the Alamodome for the Mass Event.  Once again, there was great music (including Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus, Beautiful Things, I Am Free...plus many more), nice videos, real-life skits, dancers, devotional time, Gathering News, the Sand Painter, and, my favorite, Jessica Stevens as the speaker.  Jessica was 16 when a tick bite turned into serious nerve issues that left her unable to move for years.  At wit's end, she went to participate in a test study in Mexico, where she was induced into a coma.  It helped, but things soon turned downhill again, forcing her into another induced coma.  After months and months of pain and suffering, she finally received peace.  She now has full use of her arms and rides in a motorized wheelchair.  She gave her story and encouragement to everyone.  This was excellent!  Besides the regular Mass Event, there was a posting of the colors, the Pledge, and the national anthem due to Independence Day.

Finally, we headed out to watch the fireworks.  Unfortunately, we couldn't get through the disorganized crowd, so we only saw half of each firework.  After it ended, we waited 45 minutes to be allowed to walk to our vans.  Finally, we got back to the hotel to shower and go to bed at 12:15.

Friday, July 5, 2013 -- I woke up at 7 AM, had breakfast (Canadian bacon, fruit, bagel, milk), and headed to the final NYG Mass Event.  It featured Reverend Bill Yonkers, drummers, dancers, music and singing, videos, Gathering News, a devotional, inspiration to Live Loved (the theme), and a cool processional out.  It was a beautiful event and I was sad to say good-bye!

Next on the agenda was Six Flags Fiesta Texas, in San Antonio.  Before heading in, we had bagels and apple juice for lunch.  Then in to ride the following!
Superman Crypton Coaster -- A roller coaster with loops, twists, steep drops, and excitement!
Bugs White Water Rapids -- Like a log flume ride, this takes you on a winding course through the chute.  I was relegated to the front...therefore, I got completely soaked on the two drops.  It was hot, though, so it felt good...and I dried off quickly.
Train -- This classic takes you on a circular tour of the park as the speaker talks about different rides.  It was nice to sit down for this.
Poltergeist -- This is the craziest roller coaster!  It is bunches of track in the tiniest area ever.  You shoot out of the station and navigate this maze.  It's amazing how much track you can pack into such a little area.
Motorama -- Cadillacs and other old cars make their way around the track --you can steer and honk the horn.  It's funny to see kids and adults alike in these small cars.
Scream! -- This ride is similar to Superman Tower of Power.  It shoots you up and down at high speeds, then holds you at the top to look around before dropping you to the ground.
Iron Rattler -- The new, VERY popular roller coaster had a wait of about an hour (plus a mechanical breakdown while we were waiting).  It was worth every minute, though -- it took you on a wild "bucking bronco" ride up, down, around, and through.  We loved this!
Goliath -- Just like Batman, this roller coaster takes you through loops, corkscrews, twists, and turns.
Crow's Nest -- A nice ferris wheel with multiple colors took you above the other rides (mostly) to see the entire park, which is nestled in a former quarry.
Carousel -- Another classic!  We all rode horses -- I rode a nice gray gelding which I named Prince George.
Road Runner Express -- It looks like a mine train, but it's more adventurous and a bit rough.
After the rides, we grabbed pepperoni pizza, cheese bread, and water, and settled down to enjoy the Six Flags firework show.  For 15 minutes, patriotic music, a nice video, and impressive fireworks entertained us.  After the long day, we headed to a Red Roof Inn in San Antonio, arriving at 10:45.  We showered and were in bed at midnight.

Saturday, July 6, 2013 -- Today I woke up at 8:30, helped load the car, and headed to the Marketplace in San Antonio for breakfast at Mi Tierra.  I had the Huevos Rancheros, featuring eggs, tortillas, refried beans, bacon, and potatoes.  To top it off, I had a cup of Mexican hot chocolate...laced with cinnamon and whipped cream, yum!  After breakfast, we headed to the Alamo -- that glorious American landmark.  We walked all through the complex, courtyard, shrine, and surrounding areas.  End in the gift shop, where we found two books, hatpins, an ornament, and a DVD (The Alamo with John Wayne).  After the Alamo, we headed to the Marketplace to browse the indoor and outdoor shops featuring food, jewelry, crafts, paintings, clothing, and much more.  I found a lovely red Mexican dress, Matthew found a multicolored pottery lizard, and my mom found a blue dish to set on our table.

Then to Mission San Jose, a large and beautiful complex with a visitor center, museum, ornate historic Catholic church (beautiful), and lovely garden areas.  It is so cool to see history in person!  The entire complex was beautifully built...and it's still intact!

Finally, we went to spend the entire afternoon with my mom's aunt/cousins.  They had beef brisket, sausages, salad, beans, potato salad, fruit, lemonade, and vanilla/chocolate pudding for dessert.  It was so nice to meet and visit with them.  We got to our La Quinta Inn & Suites at 9:10, showered, and are in bed now.

~Anna~

NYG (Day 3)

Wow, day 3 of the NYG is already over!  I can't believe it.  We've had so much fun already and I know there's lots more to explore.  This morning, I woke up at 8:15, had some breakfast (granola, bacon, fruit, milk), and headed to the Convention Center.  We planned only two sessions today, so we had some time to explore and get some more freebies!  We rode the zipline this morning (short but fun), made cross necklaces/backpack decorations, and more.  At 12 PM, we went to Denomination Domination, by Clint Colwell (the DCE at Redeemer Lutheran in Springfield, MO...where my uncle and his family attend!).  Mostly, the true meanings of baptism and communion were exposed, and we explored what other denominations feel about those sacraments.  We had some tuna wraps, cheese sticks, crackers, pineapple tidbits, and pineapple juice for a quick lunch.  Then at 2 PM, we went to Life Under Sharia Law: Understanding Islam and Reaching Out to Muslims, by Cynthia Khan.  Cynthia was born and raised in a Christian family in Pakistan and also lived in Saudi Arabia and Canada before settling in her home of 18 years, the United States.  In this eye-opening, incredibly interesting program, we learned about Muslim culture, beliefs, what happens when Muslims take over, and what we can do.  A question-and-answer session after the program was very interesting, too.

Besides pins, a cowbell, a stretchy bracelet, a pen, info papers, and more, I also bought a few things at Concordia Publishing House's "store".  I got a glow stick (I'll use it tomorrow night!), a pair of earrings, and an inflatable hippo (it's a long story).  Lots of good stuff abounded!  We also found out the 2016 NYG will be in New Orleans, Louisiana!

We had supper at Luciano's, an Italian spot in the mall.  The lasagna and bread were so great!  Then to the Mass Event, where great speakers, testimonies, skits, Gathering News (LCMS President Matthew Harrison played the banjo for us), music, and liturgical dancers filled the time.  We were on the first bus at 10:15, and to the hotel by 10:40.  I've got an early morning tomorrow...you'll find out why in the next blog on Anna's Awesome Adventures!

~Anna~

NYG (Day 2)

I woke up at 7:45, got ready, had some yummy breakfast (a cinnamon-raisin bagel with cream cheese, a cinnamon muffin, fruit, and milk), got my stuff together, and got on the bus.  We only had to wait 10 minutes or so for the bus to come...and that was at a later, more popular time.  We were happy with that.  We headed to the Convention Center, where we took in the following programs.

Being the Light in a Dark World -- Sarah Guldalin and her hilarious brother, Jordan, inspired and empowered the teens to not give up hope, even when there is much suffering in this world.  Through testimonies, videos, and crowd participants, we were encouraged to be the light, as the Bible tells us in Matthew 5:14.  This was at 10 AM.
Transformed Testimonies -- Reverend Dr. Tilahun Mendedo gave us his personal life story on growing up in Ethiopia and becoming involved in ministry, which led him to his current position in Alabama.  He gave us deep insight on Ethiopian culture, history, and life there today.  He also told his entire story, from childhood to the current time.  To tie it all up, he encouraged all of the teens to not give up hope, but to trust in God's perfect plan for us.  This was at 12 PM.
We took a quick lunch break after that.  We sat out on a patio of the Convention Center and enjoyed tuna wraps, crackers, cheese sticks, applesauce, and apple juice, all while watching the comings and goings on the River Walk.
Jamie Grace Concert -- The up-and-coming Christian singer kept everyone on their feet singing, clapping, and dancing through this 45-minute performance.  In between songs, she gave encouraging messages to boys and girls alike.  Her sister, Morgan, sang a few songs with her.  Furthermore, Jamie and Morgan were homeschooled...I am, too, so it was fun to see the connection.  This was at 2 PM.
Improv Comedy -- We could tell this was going to be popular, since we arrived at least 20 minutes before and could only get seats towards the back...way back from the stage.  Regardless, we quickly learned that it didn't matter.  Three guys (from three different states) kept us laughing for over an hour with jokes, debates, and skits...all made up as they went (with some help from the crowd).  This was hilarious!!!

In between events, we were able to run through the exhibit halls and check out the games, booths, and other fun opportunities available.  I got a pin, bandana, magazine, and towel.  Tomorrow, we'll be going around for some more freebies.

We finally found a spot for supper after walking around for an hour-and-a-half.  It seems that all the other NYG teens went to supper at exactly the same time we did!!  We had great Mexican food at Maria Mia (I had the taco salad) before heading to the Alamodome.  We stood in line for awhile before racing in...it paid off; we got nice seats right down on the floor of the Dome, where we could see everyone on stage and the screens (not like Monday night).  The Mass Event (from 8:30 to 10 PM) was like last night -- full of singing, devotionals, encouragement, and fun (Gathering News and the Skit Guys...awesome!).  Tonight, we had an incredible speaker (Mia Koehne) who had come from a very broken and messed-up background.  I have nothing but great things to say about her...absolutely inspiring.  To round out the night, we had BMX riders twist, twirl, jump, and spin.  After the prayer, we raced out to the first bus and got on!  To the hotel by 10:50.  I will bid you good-night for now but check back tomorrow for Day 3 of the NYG!

~Anna~

SeaWorld & NYG (Day 1)

Last night, we arrived in San Antonio safely at 9:35 PM.  After settling in to our nice Hampton Inn (which we are staying at for five nights...nice), we had some supper in our room with stuff we had, then settled in to bed by 11:30.  

Today, I woke up at 7:45, had breakfast (ham-egg-cheese bagel, yogurt, fruit, and milk), and headed to SeaWorld.  The Missouri and Rocky Mountain Districts of the LCMS were there, along with the general public.  It wasn't terribly crowded, though, since it was a Monday.  We watched four shows and rode three rides.  Here's a roundup of them.
Pets Ahoy -- A very entertaining and hilarious show involving pigs, ducks, birds, cats, dogs, rats, and a skunk performing a variety of tricks.
Azul -- A jaw-dropping performance featuring whales, dolphins, birds, acrobats, and synchronized divers/swimmers.  There were some really unbelievable tricks.
One Ocean -- The huge, beautiful, graceful killer whales twisting, turning, jumping, and flapping their tails composed this short show.
Cool Vibrations -- This was probably my favorite show of all.  It featured waterskiing, wakeboarding, wetbikes, and boats all doing intricate, close, impressive movements.  The best part of all, though?  Flyboarding, a recent invention consisting of high-powered jet packs that blast against the water and subsequently blast whoever is on the "Flyboard" up into the sky.  Other movements they can do are "porpoise dives" and twists, twirls, and flips.  We just saw the straight-up-and-down and the porpoise dive.  It was so cool to see that!
Journey to Atlantis -- A water-based, short roller coaster-type ride.  You ride in a large Viking-style boat up a long hill, flip around to go down and up a small track, then flip back around to go splash down into the water.  We didn't get too wet.
Steel Eel -- An exciting roller coaster with a very long, steep lift hill at the beginning before going up and down and through turns for the next two minutes.  We loved this!
Great White -- Just like Batman at Six Flags, this roller coaster takes you through corkscrews, twists, turns, and loops, all while your feet dangle.

The LCMS had a catered lunch for all of us, so we enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans, chips, and cookies, plus many drinks (I had lemonade).  Unfortunately, organization wasn't going well -- they ran out of hamburger buns, ice, and drink cups...while people were still waiting for food or drink.  The food was excellent, though.

After a fun day at SeaWorld, we returned to our hotel around 6 PM.  We stopped on the way to get gas and grab some wraps at McDonald's.  Then, at about 8:10 PM, we got on a bus to head to the Alamodome in downtown San Antonio for the opening Mass Event for the NYG.  We got there right at the start at 8:30.  For the next hour-and-a-half, we enjoyed inspirational and funny entertainers, dancing, singing, and just celebrating the love we have for Christ.  It's a pretty cool thing to see 25,000 teens all joined with you for Christ!!

We may have gotten out at 10 PM, but we didn't get back to the hotel until 11:30.  Transportation is not well planned yet, but hopes are high that tomorrow will be better.  It's been a great but exhausting day!!  Enjoy the pictures below.

The Steel Eel roller coaster; we rode it today at SeaWorld.

One of the many great stars we saw at the Azul performance at SeaWorld.

Three waterskiers are in perfect unison at the Cool Vibrations show at SeaWorld.

Flyboarding at the Cool Vibrations show at SeaWorld.

A killer whale poses at the One Ocean show at SeaWorld.

~Anna~

Six Flags Over Texas

Today I woke up  at 7 AM, had some breakfast (a blueberry pancake in the shape of Texas, a biscuit with strawberry jelly, and water), and headed to a church service.  We went to Holy Cross Lutheran Church...very nice, funny pastor; patriotic music (Thursday is Independence Day!); and very nice, welcoming people.  We met a youth group also worshiping at Holy Cross.  They were on their way to the NYG and were from Carthage, Missouri.  Furthermore, one of the girls in the group was related to my mom's cousin's wife!!  It was so funny to see the connections.

After the 8:30 AM service, we went back to our hotel to change clothes and pack up.  Then on to Six Flags Over Texas, arriving at 11 AM.  Below is each ride we experienced and a quick description of each.

La Vibora -- This is a bobsled roller coaster.  It takes you on an exciting, winding ride, very similar to a real bobsled track (only slower).

El Aserradero -- This was a log flume.  It was a nice, quiet ride through the trees, then up a big ramp for a cool splash on a hot day.

Superman Tower of Power -- We have one with the same name at Six Flags-St. Louis.  But this one is different -- it shoots you up and down several times with nice views.  My mom always says, "Why do I do this?"  Then she really loves it afterwards!!

Titan -- This is the tallest roller coaster in Texas.  It features steep drops, 85 m.p.h. speeds, tight and looping turns, and excitement!  Don't hold your breath, though -- it can make you lightheaded.

Runaway Mountain -- This was an indoor roller coaster.  In complete darkness, you're taken up and down hills and through turns.  You can never see what's coming next, so there's some suspense.

Texas Sky Screamer -- At 400 feet, this is the tallest swing ride in the world.  As you go way up in the sky, you're treated to bird's-eye views of the whole park and surrounding areas.  We have one at Six Flags-STL, only half as tall.  Everything is bigger in Texas!

Judge Roy Scream -- This is like the Screamin' Eagle at our Six Flags.  A classic wooden coaster with lots of ups-and-downs.  I liked it.

Batman the Ride -- Again, we have one of these at our Six Flags.  This takes you through corkscrews and upside-down loops while your feet hang.  The employees lacked ambition, leading to a much-longer-than-necessary wait.

Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast -- A 45-second mirror image of the one at our Six Flags, this takes you (at 75 m.p.h.) through an upside-down loop and then up to hang on a straight-up-and-down tower before lauching you back the way you came.  You gotta love this, especially for the air-conditioning while you wait!!!

Runaway Mine Train -- Much better than the one at our Six Flags...it's longer and smoother.  There are mining camps set up as you cruise along, and a saloon at the end before dropping into a tunnel.  

We had lunch at Johnny Rockets -- hamburgers, onion rings, fries, a vanilla shake, Sprite, and a water filled our hungry stomachs.  Their shakes are really yummy.  Today, we had temperatures of around 95 degrees, but it was a drier heat than St. Louis, so we were fine with it.  There were shade trees, covered wait lines, fans, and misters to keep people comfortable.  We did get dehydrated, though, because water fountains are few and far between.  Small ice water cups are available at any eating area, but it's about four swallows with minimal ice.  You can't take water bottles or backpacks on rides with you, so taking that wouldn't do any better.  We did fine with what we had.

Around 5:30, we headed out to our car and left.  We're now on the road to San Antonio.  We expect to get there by 9:30, hopefully earlier.  It's been a fun but tiring day.  Tomorrow, we'll be spending the morning and afternoon at SeaWorld, then the NYG starts at 8:30 PM.  I'll hopefully be able to blog and post some pictures tomorrow.  Hope everyone's doing well!

~Anna~

STL to Dallas, Texas!

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Anna's Awesome Adventures!  You know I can never stay away from fun and excitement for too long.  This time around, I'll be journeying (with my mom and brother) to Texas for the National Youth Gathering, visiting relatives, and some other fun stuff.  The National Youth Gathering (NYG) will be taking place from July 1 to 5.  It is a gathering of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) churches from all over the United States (even Alaska and Hawaii) to celebrate and grow in their faith while having fun!  It's held every three years and this is my first one.  It's going to be in San Antonio.  It does keep you very busy from morning until late at night, so if blogging slows down during this coming week, don't worry.  I'll be back before you know it, so stick with me.

So today (Saturday, June 29, 2013) was the first day of this 12-day trip.  I woke up at 7 AM, had some cereal and milk for breakfast, finished all the last-minute loading/packing, prayed, said good-bye to my dad, and headed for I-44 at 8:45.  We stopped for gas/bathroom at Springfield, then into Oklahoma, where we stopped at 12:50 to put together lunch.  I had driven until then.  Matthew took the wheel from there while I enjoyed a tuna wrap, Ritz-Bit cracker, cheese stick, and pineapple juice.  At 3:40, I started driving again and drove through the last two counties of Oklahoma and into Texas (yaay...two new states I've driven in).  Two hours later, we stopped for gas/bathroom/windshield cleaning, and Matthew drove from there to our hotel in Dallas, Texas -- a Comfort Suite.  After checking in, we headed to supper at Beto's, a great Mexican restaurant.  I had the stacked enchiladas -- four tortillas with cheese, beef, and chicken.  Topping it off was salsa and chips, beans, and rice.  Yum!

Now I'm ready to get all ready for bed and go to sleep.  It'll be a nice early bedtime!  Tomorrow, I'll be heading for some fun adventures to kick off the trip.  Check in to find out what happens!!

~Anna~

Silver Dollar City, Mother's Day, & Home!

Saturday, May 11, 2013 -- Silver Dollar City (SDC) day!  We slept in until 8 AM, had some cereal and juice in the room, checked out, and arrived at SDC around 9:45.  After parking and walking a good ways, we were in the park.  My parents got season passes and this weekend was a "bring-a-friend-free" weekend.  So Matthew and I were the free friends. :)  They were also having bluegrass weekend, so there was plenty of nice notes floating through the air, both live shows and via speakers.  My grandma, who lives about 20 minutes from SDC, met us and was with us for the day.

We rode four roller coasters -- Fire in the Hole, Wildfire, Powderkeg, and Outlaw Run.  The latter is their new coaster, the only wooden one to go upside down in the world.  Wait times were awful, as is normal for new rides, but we actually were able to get right on at the front (due to a long story...ask me about it later!).  It was pretty exciting but definitely not worth more than a 45-minute wait, I would say.  Other than roller coasters, we did the giant swing (major g-forces), the Flooded Mine (laser-gun "boat" ride; my gun didn't work), the train (it stopped for a funny skit), a swinging bridge, and a "haunted mansion" (weird mirrors, crazily sloping floors).  Besides rides, we checked out the Wilderness Chapel, the petting zoo (goats, chickens, geese, CUTE baby pigs, and a rabbit), the blacksmith and wood shops, the leather shop (smelled so good...I got an adorable little saddle purse), a shawl shop, a baked goods shop (found some cool cookie cutters; Grandma got everyone yummy sugar cookies), an ice cream shop (the pineapple shake is homemade and wonderful), and the glass shop (we even saw glass-blowing and solid glass sculpting...beautiful).  Right before leaving, we got pork rinds..."protein and air," according to the team of two running the little booth.  Yum!

After our busy, tiring, people-filled, incredibly fun day, we returned to Grandma's home.  After supper, apple pie for dessert, and showers, we hit the covers at 11:15.  We slept well!

Sunday, May 12, 2013 -- After waking up at 7:45, we all had breakfast, including fudge muffins I baked on Wednesday night as a surprise.  My mom didn't know it!!  We went to Redeemer Lutheran Church (where my uncle and his family attend); the 9:30 service.  Then we went to Leong's Tea House in Springfield (MO).  It has great Asian food.  Most everyone got the famous cashew chicken, and combined with rice, wok tok (fried pork), and crab rangoons, it was a feast.  Visiting and eating followed.

By 4:00, we had arrived back home.  This was a wonderful, much-needed getaway.  From the trail ride (perfect temps and weather!), to the Dixie Stampede, to Silver Dollar City (we hadn't been there for more than seven years), to beautiful sunsets, it was great.  What I enjoyed most of all?  Being with my wonderful family; the four of us just enjoying fun things together.  It was a special weekend and I'd especially like to thank my parents for making it possible, my entire family for taking time to do this, and my Grandma for coming to SDC and letting us stay at her home.

I will bid you farewell for now, but I'll be back before you know it.  I can never stay away from wonderful adventures too long.  Adios, amigos!

The Wilderness Chapel at Silver Dollar City

Baby pigs at the Silver Dollar City petting zoo

Sunday was Mother's Day!  Matthew, my mom, and me at my Grandma's farm.

~Anna~  

Branson Adventure!

Hey everyone, I'm back!  This weekend, I'm going to Branson/Silver Dollar City for a late-birthday present. Yesterday, we left STL around 6 PM (I drove); had supper in Lebanon at a Mexican restaurant; then drove in very heavy rain until we arrived at the Radisson in Branson (around 10:30).  Late bedtime at 11:15.

This morning, my parents had to go to a talk about timeshares here in Branson (it was a deal -- you had to listen to a two-hour spiel to get a major discount on our room at the hotel).  Matthew and I had breakfast in the room, then we went to swim in the cool indoor/outdoor pool.  When you wanted to head out into the sunshine, just slide under the divider and you're outside!  We had a good time.

After my parents got back, we headed to Missouri State University's Ralph Foster Museum.  Three levels of musical instruments, military artifacts, animals, plants, and more made for a nice time.  We didn't have that much time, but we did enjoy the breeze-through (especially the real Beverly Hillbillies car).  After that (and a quick lunch), we headed to Dogwood Canyon State Park.  We enjoyed a one-hour trail ride with a nice young wrangler, seeing beautiful hills all around.  The sun shone, a cool breeze blew, and the temperature was perfect as we wound through forests, up and down steep rocky hills, and across pastures.  It was just my family and the guide, but he rode beside us, allowing me to lead.  I rode a gentle brown Quarter Horse gelding, Hershey.

After our ride, we went to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, a first for all of us.  Over creamy vegetable soup, a rotisserie chicken, a pork loin, corn on the cob, an herb-basted potato, a biscuit, and an apple turnover (take-home bags provided!), we enjoyed watching the "North" (that's what we were) compete against the "South" in various fun competitions.  From pig and ostrich racing to a Saddlebred performing beautiful dressage, it was an exciting event for an hour-and-a-half.  No photography of any form is allowed...just put the beautiful show in your mind.  For the grand finale, many participants (dressed in sparkly red-and-white costumes) galloped in intricate, gorgeous patterns while Dolly Parton sang patriotic songs (on a video).  Everyone stood and was reminded of the true American spirit.  It was especially fun to meet the equine stars in their stalls before the show began.  Quarter horses, Paints, a Saddlebred, and Belgians peeked out at everyone taking pictures.

After the show, we drove to (and across) the Table Rock Dam.  Pretty sunset!!

Today was such a nice time.  Tomorrow we'll be heading toward Silver Dollar City...check in to see how it goes!  Meanwhile, enjoy the pics!

Beverly Hillbillies car at the Ralph Foster Museum (at MSU)

Pretty views during our trail ride in Dogwood Canyon State Park 

The Saddlebred, one of the Dixie Stampede equine stars

A gorgeous sunset on Table Rock Dam

~Anna~

Jackson Hole & Home!

Hey everyone...sorry for the delay in getting the final blogs to you, but here's the final days of the awesome vacation to Montana/Wyoming!

Thursday, February 28, 2013 -- Woke up at 7:30, went to breakfast (a biscuit with jam, cereal, a mini blueberry muffin, milk, and cocoa), geared up, and headed to Jackson Hole Ski Area.  We got our tickets and started skiing...blues and blacks, mostly detachable chairlifts, very nice snow.  It was pretty crowded on some trails, it snowed all day, and visibility wasn't great.  The sun popped out occasionally and when it did, we savored it.  Temperatures were between 0 and 25 degrees.

Lunch was at the top of the gondola, in a deli -- I had a big breadbowl of chili with cocoa and 1/4 of a chocolate chip cookie.  It was good.

The big highlight was going up in the famous tram (two 100-person cars).  It takes you to the very top of Jackson Hole, Rendezvous Mountain, standing at 10,450 feet.  It was really windy and you couldn't see very far ahead...maybe 50 feet!  We took the black run Rendezvous Bowl down...wide open and powdery.  Awesome!

Unfortunately, the day didn't end great for me.  We were riding up a double chairlift called Marmot for the last run of the day.  As the chair came around for us to get onto (it was a fixed-grip, meaning it doesn't slow down in the station), I was on the side of the lift attendant.  I thought he would hold it for me, like all of them should do.  So I put my hand down to hold the edge of the chair, and just as I sat down...WHAM!  The chair hit me directly on my elbow...hard!  The lift attendant did not hold it for us and this resulted in an incredibly painful ride up.  I skied the last run in pain.  Riding back to our car on the shuttle bus, there happened to be an EMT right next to me.  He asked me lots of questions and when we got off, he looked at it.  It's not broken but possibly cracked, chipped, and/or a deep bone bruise.  I iced it when we got back to the hotel.  We all showered and headed to the Sweetwater Restaurant.  I had the apple pork chop with salad and mashed potatoes...flavorful.  We came back, brushed teeth, and got to bed at 9:45.

Friday, March 1, 2013 -- I did get a good night's rest, sleeping in until 7:45.  Relaxed and iced my elbow for a bit, then had breakfast (biscuits with jam, yogurt, a small waffle, milk, and cocoa).  My dad and Matthew took a free 8 AM shuttle to the ski area.  My mom loaded the car and then she and I walked around the Jackson town square, looking at the snow sculptures, checking out stores, etc.  We headed to Jackson Hole at 11:30.  We met my dad and Matthew at the Alpenhof Bistro for lunch, a great German restaurant.  The schnitzel on a bun with potato chips was yummy!  It was great to celebrate our very German heritage by eating some good German food...served by a nice German lady!

After lunch, my mom and I got half-day passes.  We started skiing around 12:45.  The snow was excellent and the temperatures (25 to 35) felt warm compared to the much-colder temps earlier on the trip!  We rode the tram again, taking Rendezvous Bowl down again.  We took the gondola up twice.  One run we took from it was called Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and wild it was!  There were bumps the entire way...winding through the trees and past rocks.  It went up and down hills, too.  Crazy fun!  It came out onto Casper Bowl, another big and wide-open run with some rocks and lots of moguls.

By 5:00, we had headed out.  Saying goodbye to Jackson Hole and all the fun memories of skiing was hard but hopefully I'll go back someday and experience the glorious creation of God again.  As we drove away, we saw snow-covered fields, majestic ranch homes, and an indescribable sunset -- pink, orange, red, blue, golden, yellow!  All those colors glowing against the mountains...just beautiful.  I was glad to have skied that day, even though the elbow hurt and I couldn't put any pressure on it.  Through that pain, I enjoyed an hour or so of sunshine...and a spectacular view from the top of the tram -- we could finally see the snow-covered mountains all around, glowing with sunshine!

We drove until 8 PM, stopping at Rock Springs, Wyoming, to have supper at TacoTime.  The bean burrito and pineapple-coconut-orange smoothie were good on-the-road food.  We then drove until 10:40, where we stopped at the Rodeway Inn we spent the night in.  After showering and brushing teeth, we were in bed at 11:45.

Saturday, March 2, 2013 -- Awake at 6 AM, got ready, had breakfast (cereal, cocoa, juice), and on I-80 at 7 AM.  Mainly just driving today; crossed into Nebraska around 8:20.  Matthew drove nonstop until York, Nebraska, where we fueled up and had lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1:40 to 2:25.  From York we drove all the way to Kingdom City, Missouri, where we got gas again (at 7:30 PM).  I drove from there to home, arriving at 9:20.  We were happy to see snow all over when we arrived...coming from snow to snow is nice!  We had soup and nachos for supper and got to bed, exhausted yet happy to be home safe, at 11:30.

As always, trips are a wonderful way to refresh yourself from the hectic daily life.  We enjoy the mountains because we love to ski.  It is peaceful, serene, and stunningly beautiful.  For a week, we were able to ski at three different ski areas and snowmobile in Yellowstone.  We experienced new things and just enjoyed being together as a family.  We love being together, especially outdoors.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing photos and hearing my stories of the beautiful states of Montana and Wyoming.  It was a wonderful trip and, for the most part, safe.  My elbow is still quite sore (and swollen a bit) despite ibuprofen and icing.  We'll see, I may go have it checked out tomorrow.  But even with it hurting, I still skied half a day at Jackson Hole, rode all the way home, and even drove the last hour-and-a-half!  Although it was something unplanned, unexpected, and definitely unwanted, it's something that will heal.  It could have been much worse.  And in the end, the overall experience of the trip was 100% awesome.  Quite possibly my most favorite.  Thanks for reading, everyone!  I hope to share more adventures in the future!

~Anna~

Snowmobiling

Today we woke up at 6:45, and after getting ready, had breakfast at the hotel restaurant -- bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast with maple syrup, and cocoa.  After loading the car, we headed across the street to Traveler's Snowmobile Tours & Rentals.  After signing papers, getting familiar with the snowmobiles, getting helmets, and waiting for the other people in our group to arrive, we headed toward Yellowstone National Park at 9:15.  It was snowing and cloudy, so you couldn't see much.  The temperature was 12 degrees entering the park...it ranged from about 10 to 15 degrees all day.  After a good part of the morning, it was nearly all sunshine...beautiful!

We had plenty of stops, including the Fountain Paint Pots, which we visited on the Alaska trip!  It was so cool to see them in the winter -- no big crowds!  We enjoyed looking out at some big open meadows, geyser basins, hot springs, and more.  There was snow all around, making it a totally different feeling...quiet and perfect.  We walked on some snow-covered boardwalks and even touched the outflow of a hot spring...hot water!

We reached our turnaround point, Old Faithful, at 1:30.  The famous inn and most of the surrounding places are all closed up, but there are a few eating places and an operating hotel throughout the winter.  There were lots of snowmobile and snow coach tours, so there were lots of people around!  Nothing like summer, though!  We all watched Old Faithful erupt at about 2:10...majestic as ever.  It went higher than we'd ever seen it...and this was my fifth time seeing it!  After Old Faithful's eruption, we had lunch at a place called the Geyser Grill.  Their special was a bowl of chicken-rice soup and half of a ham-and-cheese sandwich.  I got cocoa for a drink.  Yum!  After lunch, we took some pictures before starting back for West Yellowstone at 3:30.

On the way back, we didn't stop much at all.  We drove fairly fast (40-45 m.p.h.) past huge meadows, deep forest, and gorgeous rivers.  We arrived at our starting point at about 5:00.  After turning our helmets in and getting organized, we were heading for Jackson, Wyoming, at 5:30.

We saw wildlife today -- lots of bison, a coyote, a fox, and a bald eagle way off in a tree.  We even saw some wolf prints!  We were heading back to West Yellowstone when suddenly, out of the forest, came a dozen or so huge, mature male bison running...straight toward us.  We stopped and pulled over to the side of the road and they ran on by, looking at us as they went.  Our guide (a young man, very knowledgeable about snowmobiling and the park) thought there was a bear or wolves in the woods that scared them.  It was quite an experience to have them coming straight toward you!

My dad started driving in the morning, but after 15 or 20 minutes, he let me drive.  My mom rode with me mostly after that, and I let her drive for 10 or 15 minutes.  Besides that, I drove to Old Faithful and all the way back to West Yellowstone.  We guess that I drove about 45 or 50 miles.  I loved it, especially since the seat, handlebars, and throttle were heated.

To go into beautiful Yellowstone National Park in the winter (with no RVs or crowds or anything unpleasant!) was absolutely incredible.  With the snow all around, it was like an enchanted area!  I have now been to Yellowstone three times, and this was by far my favorite.  I look forward to visiting in the winter again sometime!

After the snowmobiling fun, we drove to Jackson, crossing the Teton Pass.  We went up pretty high but conditions were very good...no snow and clear roads.  After arriving at our hotel, we had supper at The Garage.  Their monstrous bison burger is filling!  I am now ready to take a shower and go to bed...more skiing coming tomorrow!

One of the many bison we saw on our snowmobiling through Yellowstone.

Here I am on "my" snowmobile! :)

A hot spring...steam rising and snow all around!

We saw a coyote...

...and a fox!

Here we all pose with Firehole Falls behind us.

Old Faithful showing her stuff.

Matthew and I stand with Old Faithful behind us.

~Anna~ 

Another Awesome Day at Big Sky

Up at 7:10 this morning!  It was nice to have a long night's rest after a great day of skiing.  Breakfast in the room again -- I had a bagel with cream cheese, oatmeal, and cocoa.  We loaded up all our stuff and were headed out at 8:30.  We arrived at Big Sky at 9:30.  We were riding the chairlift at 10:00.

It snowed overnight and there was fluffy, beautiful powder to float through!  The temperatures ranged from about 0 to 20 degrees today; average was about 15.  For the morning, snow fell constantly and the sun was quite rare...there was also lots of wind.  But to ski through the quiet powder was so awesome, it didn't matter.  Also, when we were in the trees, we were out of the wind.

We had lunch at a cafe across the hall (in the same building) from where we had lunch yesterday.  The tomato basil soup with a cornbread muffin was delicious!  We shared a big cinnamon roll, too.

After lunch, the sun popped out, bathing everything in a bright, happy glow.  There were places where it was still cloudy and/or snowing, but mostly we had sun for the whole afternoon, which was very nice.  We went up the tram to the top of Lone Peak, like we did on Sunday.  We took the same run down, called Liberty Bowl.  There was much more powder this time around!  We had sunshine some of the way down that, making for spectacular panoramic views.

All good things must come to an end, and we headed out at 4:50 after loading everything up.  As we left, the clouds at the top of Lone Peak parted and sun glowed on the entire mountain.  It was SO pretty!  We also enjoyed sunshine the whole drive back.  We headed for West Yellowstone, enjoying towering rocky cliffs, dense forests, the Gallatin River (frozen in some places), and snow everywhere.  It was a wonderful drive.

We arrived at 6 PM at our hotel in West Yellowstone, and after getting settled, we walked to supper in 10 degrees and cold wind.  We had supper at the Three Bears Restaurant.  I had the herb-roasted chicken with sides of creamy macaroni and cheese and vegetable fritters.  We all shared an Apple Brown Betty, too...apples, cinnamon, whipped cream, and vanilla ice cream.  We figured we'd earned it with the challenging skiing we'd done.  My body is tired and will be happy to go to bed...but it's a good tired feeling.  It gives me great pleasure to know that I have accomplished very difficult runs.  We had a great time at Big Sky and I hope we can go back.

The trip isn't over yet, though...stay tuned for more exciting adventures tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday!

At the top of the Challenger double chairlift, ready to take a run.

Looking out from Liberty Bowl...pretty sunshine!

At the bottom of Hanging Valley (a double-black)...lots of powder!

Skiing some moguls on Moonlight

~Anna~

Moonlight Basin

 Today we woke up at 7 AM, got ready, had breakfast in the room (biscuits with jam, cocoa, apple juice, cookies from last night), and headed out at 8:20.  We arrived at Moonlight Basin at 9:25.  Moonlight Basin is a resort that touches Big Sky and even shares some runs with it.  It was off-and-on sunshine, high overcast, and around 10-20 degrees today.  In the morning, there was strong wind, but good gear kept us warm.

There were two main chairlifts we rode -- a high-speed, detachable six-pack called the Six Shooter, and a fixed-grip quad called the Lone Tree.  From these, we were able to access lots of terrific trails -- blues and blacks.  We were able to ski for a long time because the runs are so nice and long!

Lunch at noon was at the Jack Creek Grille, in the Moonlight Lodge.  Crab cakes for an appetizer, then I had the Flatbread, a pita with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil...yummy.  Cocoa topped it off.  By 1:00, we were back out.

"The Headwaters" are a series of trails (rated black or mostly double-black...for experts only) high up above the rest of Moonlight Basin.  Shortly after lunch, my dad, Matthew, and I pushed ourselves up a hill, got on a double, and rode to the top.  It started snowing and it was pretty windy at the top!  We were, however, able to see mountains all around; picturesque!  After snapping some pictures, we started down.  To get to the runs, you had to go on a very narrow, packed-snow path with rocks.  We tried to dodge most of them.  We took a double-black down, and we all got down safely.  It was powder and quite steep and SO MUCH FUN!

After that, we did some moguls (fun to bounce through), tree skiing, and powder since it was snowing pretty hard in the afternoon.  The powder was soft, fluffy, and quiet, perfect to float through.  To finish off, Matthew and I got hatpins before heading back to our hotel, arriving at 6:15.  We're having leftovers in the room for supper.  It'll be nice to relax after a wonderful day of skiing.

 Today was, for me, a day of becoming a more confident and experienced skier.  I really enjoyed the challenges and I handled the moguls, powder, and glades with much more confidence than before.  I went faster, had springier knees, and just cut loose.  My new skis are perfect; they really help me.  Overall, I'm really enjoying honing my 13-year-old skiing skills.  I've never had as much fun!

The view we saw eating lunch...pretty!

One of the views from the top of The Headwaters.

The Headwaters double chairlift; we came down just to the right of it.

~Anna~

Big Sky!

Today we woke up at 6:45, got ready, had breakfast in the room (biscuits, cereal, muffins, apple juice, cocoa), and headed out at 7:50.  It was a beautiful drive up the valley -- 10 degrees, snow-covered mountains all around, and sunshine.  It made it wonderful.  Matthew and I were given new skis for Christmas, and Matthew ordered his from a shop in Big Sky.  We picked them up on the way up to the slopes.

By 10 AM, we were riding a HIGH-SPEED chairlift (yeah...feels so much better compared to Hidden Valley's slow old things!!) to start the fun day.  The runs are nice and long, with gorgeous snow.  Matthew and I enjoyed skiing for the first time on our new skis.  Mine, which are longer and fatter, are the perfect fit for me.  They turn, glide, ski backwards, and handle groomed or powder runs beautifully.  It's a joy to ski on them.

At 11:45, we headed to The Yurt for lunch.  No electricity or running water (you have to settle for the good ol' outhouse for your bathroom needs), but a stove keeps the small room cozy.  The chili and cocoa warmed us back up and gave us the energy we needed to enjoy an afternoon of beauty.  It never really got above about 15 degrees; it was probably as cold as 0 in some places.  Good gear kept us comfortable, and the sunshine all day (a real treat) helped.

At 1:30, we went to a mountain chapel church service.  Those are so much fun!  You just stand in your skis, in God's beautiful creation, and sing songs, pray, and listen to a short devotional.  It's not very long but it's a nice way to worship on the mountain.

Finally, we headed over to the tram, which took us to the very top of Big Sky -- 11,166-foot Lone Peak.  The only way down is on a black or double black run, meaning that if you take the tram to the top, you better be an experienced skier to get down.  We took a nice, wide-open bowl (rated as a black) all the way down.  None of us fell.  It was the best run ever and my skis did perfectly...it was so FUN!

We did a little shopping around the Big Sky village -- t-shirts, new mittens for me, and hatpins.  Afterwards, we went to supper at Ousel & Spur, an Italian-type restaurant.  We shared pasta, pizza, salads, and bread.  The prices are high and the portions smaller than expected but the food was good.  We were back to the hotel at 8 PM.

Here I am on my terrific new skis with beautiful mountains behind me!

Me, my mom, my dad, and Matthew at the mountain chapel.

Lone Peak is the tall white mountain sticking up.  We rode the tram to the top of it and skied down.

~Anna~

STL to Montana!

Hey everyone!  I'm so glad to be back and able to share my next big adventure.  My brother, Matthew, was given a ski trip for his birthday and he chose to go to Big Sky in Montana and Jackson Hole in Wyoming.  So that's where we'll be hanging out for the next week...it's going to be super fun!

Yesterday (Friday, February 22, 2013), we left Wildwood at about 3:20 PM, drove to St. Joseph to have supper and get gas at 7:30 (great sandwich at McAlister's Deli), then back on the road at 8:10.  We then drove nonstop until 11:10 PM, arriving in Sioux City, where we spent the night.  Asleep at midnight! :(

This morning, we were up at 6:45, had breakfast (sausage, cereal, muffins, cocoa, juice), loaded up, and were on the road at 7:30 AM.  It was between 2 and 5 degrees until about 10:30 or 11:00 AM...COLD but soooo pretty with sunshine and sparkly snow.  At 11:30 (Mountain Time), we stopped in Wall, South Dakota.  We had lunch at the Wall Drugstore, which Matthew and I visited back in July 2012 on our Alaska journey.  It was fun to check it out again in the winter!  They had a crazy deal for lunch -- $4.49 for a BBQ pork sandwich AND a nice-sized bowl of chili.  We all had that...yummy!

At 2:10 PM, I started driving at Spearfish, South Dakota.  Two-and-a-half hours later, I finished good driving practice (complete with light snow for the last 15-20 minutes!) in Sheridan, Wyoming.  I haven't even had my permit for a month and I've already driven in four states (Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, & Wyoming)!!  From Sheridan, we drove all the way to Bozeman, Montana, arriving at 8 PM.  We had some snow and slush on I-90 for quite a ways.  We had supper at Santa Fe Red...awesome, generous-sized portions of Mexican food.  By 9:30, we were at our hotel in Belgrade.  Can't wait for skiing tomorrow...check in to see how it goes!

~Anna~