Joshua Tree National Park!!

 When we left Aguanga, CA., we came upon this sight driving through southern California.  How UGLY can it get?!  I mean really.  If the pioneers could see this, it would make them cry!  All in the name of 'natural' energy.....

 Acres and acres of these windmills......

But, then we arrived in Twenty-nine Palms, CA., and met up with a family we had NEVER met before!  :)  The Davis family are great friends with the Hennessey family that we met up in Moscow, Idaho, and 'heard' about our family and our travels, and offered to let us stay at their property when we decided to visit Joshua Tree.  God is SO amazing.  I love how he is putting brothers and sisters in Christ all along our path, guiding us and blessing us along the way.  It is just amazing!  Again, we had never met, however, we felt like we knew each other for years!  LOVE it!

These funny trees are Joshua trees, and we visited the National Park with the Davis' one afternoon.

There is a small museum in the visitor's center, but it was the hiking and climbing that was the most fun!

Leslee and I enjoyed talking and sharing while the kids explored filling out their Jr. Ranger books.

Another badge for the Golden Gang!  Way to go!!

Then we decided to take the kids to Jumbo Rocks in the National Park.  Too Cool!!!

I felt like we were visiting the Flintstones!  I just knew I could hear Fred yelling, "Wilma!!"  :)

We found 'Skull Rock' that was creepy and exciting.  ;)
And the kids absolutely LOVED climbing all over the place.

A little daunting for this mama, but the kids loved it!

Yes, this is Tanner trying to 'pick' Skull Rock's nose.  Nice.....

The kids climbed higher than they ever had a chance to in their lives,  and found lots of caves and cracks to explore!

We had such an awesome time with the Davis family, and had an even better experience with them the next day when their oldest son, Clayton, and Mr. Davis returned home from a trip to Alaska!

We went rock climbing!  (but that will be another post!)  :)

Blessings,

Steph