Schaetzle Shenanigans: Grand Canyon and Beyond

For those of you who wondered if I fell off the face of the earth, I haven't. The rest of our trip was very busy so I didn't get a chance to blog. Our first few days home have not been what I expected either, but I do want to share a condensed version of the rest of our trip. It was really nice, even the dry heat (ha,ha)! The second day we explored the Grand Canyon some more. I am really glad we did because the sights from the second day were even better. More color, more neat architecture, and more of God's beautiful creation. We chuckled to ourselves as a park ranger was describing the millions of years of rock layers and erosion the park shows. It did spark some discussion between us though concerning the Great Flood and also the new heaven and new earth in Revelation. I won't get theological on you but enjoy the pics.

A peak of the Colorado River at the base of the west end of the Grand Canyon.

Then we traveled in the red rock country around Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona. The rocks, the country side with all the pine forests down to desert cactus, and even the towns of Sedona and Jerome were really neat. I really loved the saguaro cacti too. They are down out of the mountains all around Phoenix. They amaze me because of their size and age. They grow 50 years as one tall trunk before they begin growing out any arms(or shoots or whatever their called). So some of these ones that you see with 3 or 4 big arms growing up must be REALLY old. I think they are protected because we saw some around road construction areas with cushioned braces supporting them. They are so cool that I kind of expected dusty old cowboys in chaps and ten gallon hats to come riding out from behind them at any moment waving a six shooter in the air. And you wonder where my son gets his dramatic imagination from!