Yellowstone National Park

Since Yellowstone National Park is in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, we will do a blog just on the park itself.

We actually visited it from the west while staying in Idaho, and from the north while staying in Montana and did not go into it at all while staying in Wyoming even though 96% of the park is in Wyoming with 3% in Montana, and 1% in Idaho.

For the blog map though, it will be listed under Wyoming, not that it matters.

North entrance into Yellowstone National Park.

This is one of those places that we always wanted to visit and it is well worth the trip.  We got to see just about every part of the park but had to double back a good bit since parts of the road were closed for maintenance or the season.  It would have been nice to do the full circle of Yellowstone and not have to double back, but at least we got to see most of the park.

We really wanted to come into the park on the Beartooth Highway that starts at Red Lodge, Montana and ends up in Yellowstone by its Northeast entrance.  We missed its opening by a week while staying in Montana so will have to travel it some other time.

So we will not have any pictures of that scenic drive, but will have plenty of Yellowstone pictures.  Each entrance of the park offers different views which are all beautiful.

I'm not going to try and list the pictures in any order but will try to keep them together for each area we visited.  If I showed you every picture we took, this would be a very long blog, so to keep it short and sweet, I will just put in the pictures I think are the most interesting.

Bubbling mud at Artist's Paint pots.

Here is a little joke to help you remember what is the real name for a buffalo:

"What did the mother buffalo say to her son while he was leaving for college?  Bye Son!"  Funny, right?!?

Buffalo or Bison standing in the road.  They are everywhere in the park.

More bison in the park.  Sometimes you had to stop because they block the road.

A bull elk feeding on the side of the road.

Dragon Mouth Spring.

Excelsior Geyser viewed from the boardwalk.

Excelsior Geyser from the parking lot.

Looking into the Excelsior Geyser.

Excelsior Geyser.

Runoff from Excelsior Geyser into the Firehole River.

Fountain Paint Pots Red Spouter.

Fountain Paint Pots Silex Spring.

Fountain Paint Pots Spasm Geyser.

Fountain Paint Pots at the start of the boardwalk.

Bubbling mud at Fountain Paint Pots.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

 Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Lower Falls.

Grizzly bear warning.

Misty, Ethan, Ian, Chloe, Tia, Courtney, Don, and Avery at Fountain Paint Pots.

Old Faithful Geyser.  Click HERE for YouTube video of eruption.

Avery, Ian, Tia, Courtney, Ethan, Misty, and Chloe at Old Faithful Geyser.

Courtney, Chloe, Ethan, Misty, Ian, Tia, Don, and Avery at Porcelain Springs at Porcelain Basin.

Sheepeater Cliff.

Explanation for Sheepeater Cliff.

Steamboat Geyser.

Sulphur Caldron. It really stunk here.

Valley view from West Entrance into Yellowstone.

Another view of the drive coming into Yellowstone from the west.

One of the two Black Bear we saw in the park.

Another shot of one of the two Black Bear we saw.

A view of the drive from Roosevelt Lodge back to Mammoth Hot Springs.

A view of Yellowstone Lake.

We were hoping to also see a Grizzly, a Moose, and a Wolf, but no such luck.  Also the above pictures are just a glimpse of what there is to see while at Yellowstone.  We visited the park two days and saw about 90% of the park which was rushed.  You really need a good week to see it all and even more time to really take it all in and do any hiking and such.

Planning your visit is the best way to see everything since you can learn the park before you come and plan what you want to see.  

This page has a bunch of maps for the park.  If you study them then you will know where everything is and can plan your visits accordingly.  They will also give you a map when you enter the park and will have which roads are open and closed.

If all the roads were open when we visited we could have seen more sites a lot easier because we would not of had to backtrack so much.  Yellowstone is very large with lots of miles between locations.  Here is a link to an interactive map on the Travels with the Johnsons web page that shows the distances between attractions.

Probably my favorite site was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and its Lower Falls.  Somehow I did not get any pictures of the Upper Falls, so will have to do that next time we go back.

Yellowstone is one of those places that you could visit over and over again and see something different every time.  We are so happy that we finally made it there and hope to get back one day so we can explore it in greater detail plus drive over the Beartooth Highway.

We hope you enjoyed what little bit of Yellowstone we shared and will come back to read more of our posts.  

God bless and may He keep you and yours safe.

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...

Twenty Five States Visited So Far.

Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Just a short blog on our trip heading from South Dakota to Texas through Pawhuska, Oklahoma which is the home of The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

Just for your information, the way we find a church to attend, while traveling, is not scientific or a set process, but more of a feeling.  In most cases we are invited to a church by someone we meet.  Sometimes God gives me a feeling of which church to attend either by me driving by it or looking up the churches on the web and picking one. 

Since I am Presbyterian, if I do not get a feeling or have a chance to look up what churches are available in a location, I will search that denomination out.  We also will attend The Church of Christ since that is the church Misty is a member of.

The most important thing when looking for a church to attend is that they believe Jesus is the son of God and that He died and was resurrected for our sins so that we will have eternal life in Heaven, that He is the second part of the Trinity (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), and they use the one true Bible and do not stray from it.   

So this time we chose The First Presbyterian Church in Pawhuska, which just happens to be the same church Ree Drummond and her family attend.  What a coincidence!

 

First Presbyterian Church in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Of course we had to meet The Pioneer Woman and her family while there because otherwise that would have just been plain rude on our part.

They are very active in the church and help in many of its functions such as assisting with communion and giving the children's message.  So regardless you will interact with them one way or another if you attend services any amount of time.

Ree was more than happy to let us get a picture with her which was especially nice since it was also my birthday that day.  I did not tell her that though, because I did not want to make her feel I was entitled to anything else, you know like a birthday dinner or present.  Just meeting her and her kindness was gift enough.

The Lively family with Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.

So that was our Sunday last week and one we will remember for a long time.

We are so blessed that God has given us the ability to travel the way we do and meet all the great individuals that we have.  Not only did we meet The Pioneer Woman, but while attending the church's annual cookout, we were able to get to know the pastor and his wife, plus many other individuals who were so happy we came to the cookout.  We felt so welcomed while there and loved interacting with everyone.  We also felt very welcomed while attending their church services.

I also wanted to mention that we stayed at Settle Inn RV Park which is a really nice, laid back RV park with a great host, Julie, and a good place to stay for awhile.  We parked in lot #4 which was in front of the playground and pavilion.  When we come back through this area one day, we will surly stay here again.

Playground at Settle Inn RV Park.

So if you are traveling through Pawhuska, Oklahoma, make sure you attend services at The First Presbyterian Church which has Sunday school at 9:00 AM and church service at 10:00 AM on Sunday and plan to stay at the Settle Inn RV Park if staying in a RV.   

There are also other things to see while in Pawhuska, like Woolaroc, which is the ranch retreat of the oilman Frank Phillips (Phillips 66) and soon The Mercantile which is a project of The Pioneer Woman.  We were going to stay in town until its scheduled grand opening on 31 October, 2016, but had to leave early to take care of some business in Texas and get back to West Virginia.

God bless and safe travels and maybe our paths will cross.

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...

Twenty-five states visited so far.

Acupuncture & Placenta Encapsulation

After giving birth to Camilyn, Misty decided to have her placenta encapsulated to help with the production of milk while breast feeding, to raise her iron levels, and to help with any postpartum depression by supporting her hormones.  Placenta encapsulation is when they take the placenta, soak it in oil, dry it out, grind it up into powder, and then place it into capsules.

Placenta capsules.

Many mothers who have had it done and taken the pills, claim that it really helps.  Misty said it made a big difference in her recovery compared to her past six deliveries without having her placenta encapsulated.

Kaci was one recommendation who we ended up using to encapsulate Misty's placenta for $165.00 who lived in Rapid City, SD near where we were staying.  Most who practice this art will also practice other forms of the Chinese medicine which Kaci does, so she is also certified in acupuncture, reflexology, cupping, and Asian bodywork.

If interested in any of her services, you can click on her name above, email her at Tol.placentas@gmail.com, or call her at 605-646-0305.

I'm not sure if the below picture is representative of American Gothic or Green Acres, but they are a very good looking family and really nice people that we are happy to have met.

Kaci with her husband Mark and son Kane.

I have always wanted to try acupuncture so Misty set up an appointment with Kaci for me to see what it was like.  After asking me some basic health questions, taking my blood pressure, and answering any questions I had, she proceeded to start the treatment. She ended up performing a kidney qi deficiency and liver qi stagnation on me where she used points to try to re-balance those organs but also used general calming points as well.  I have to say I did feel an energy throughout my body while receiving treatment.

Before starting the treatment my blood pressure was 120 over 90 and after the 30 minute session it dropped to 120 over 80, so if anything it relaxed me pretty good.  I really should have it performed on me a few more times to reap a better benefit, but it did help me to relax and feel refreshed when it was complete.

Getting acupuncture in my legs.

A full body view of my acupuncture procedure.

A shot of my acupuncture to my head, arms, and stomach.

Acupuncture needles in my ear.

I will try this again in the future and see if I get the same results.  It can take five to ten sessions before you see lasting results, but you will usually see some type of pain relief or feel something positive your first time, but everyone is different, so results will vary.

I personally know an individual who has acupuncture on his back for chronic pain relief and swears by it, but he has to keep going back for more treatments to keep the pain in check.  He says it is well worth it though.

Well hopefully my experience will make you want to experience acupuncture and see if it will help you too.  May Misty's experience also entice some expecting mothers to have their placenta encapsulated to help with the post birth issues.  Just because you have never done it or think it is weird, does not mean it will not work or help you in some way.

God bless and may you find what's best for your pain relief.  Of course a good prayer to your maker and trusting Him to take care of anything that comes your way, is always the best way to handle it.

If you are not following our blog, please do so and also become a friend on Facebook.  We would love to have you.

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...

Twenty Five States Visited So Far.

Montana



After leaving Idaho, we stayed in Columbus Montana for a week and visited Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in south central Montana.

After seeing it in many of movies and shows, it is sobering to actually step on the ground where the battle actually took place and see the real site. 

Many people think that the battle was lost due to Lt Col George A. Custer's arrogance, but once you visit the site and hear the story of the battle and its interpretation, you may come to a different opinion.

When you realize that communications along the battle lines were slow and that both of Lt Col Custer's subordinate commanders did not fully follow his orders or provide the support he required, the battle could have turned out differently.

Also when you realize that the native Americans were only defending their way of life and families,  you may feel that the battle ended the way it should have, but in the end they still lost their way of life anyway.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

While there you need to watch the 25 minute orientation video and then listen to one of the rangers tell the story of the battle.  After that you will want to walk up to Last Stand Hill where Custer fell, visit the Indian Memorial, walk the 1/4 mile Ravine Trail, and then drive the 4.5 mile tour road to the Reno-Benteen Battle site.

The path up to Last Stand Hill.



The white headstones mark where 7th Calvary soldiers fell.

LT COL Custer's headstone where he fell in battle.

Headstones marking where Native Americans fell during the battle.

Looking out over where many cavalrymen fell during the battle.

Sculpture at the Indian Memorial.

Indian Memorial.

A fallen 7th Calvary soldier with horses in the background. 

Seeing the horses roaming on the battlefield all alone made us think, are they ancestors to any of the horses that were used in the battle so many years ago?

More horses roaming on the battlefield.

A close up of the some of the horses on the battlefield.

This is one of those places you just have to visit in person to appreciate its greatness.  Even though it represents a bad time in our nation's history, it is a part of history we never want to forget.



What Lt Col Custer may have seen just before his demise from Last Stand Hill.

While in Montana we stayed at the Mountain Range RV Park which was really one of the few RV parks in the area.  It is located just off of I90 in Columbus, MT.

While there we planned to drive over to Red Lodge, MT and take the Beartooth Hyway into Yellowstone, but we were there a week too early and the road was still closed for the winter.  It is called "the most beautiful roadway in America" and climbs to an elevation of 10,947 feet above sea level with mountains peaks over 12,000 feet high.

Maybe next time we come through this area, we can plan to do it when the pass is open.

Never the less, we did make to Yellowstone a couple of time, but that will have to be in another post.

While working on this post, our little girl, Camilyn (Cami) was born, which bumped this post back one so I could do a post on her.  We did an at home (RV) water birth that was a wonderful experience.  What a way to bring a life into the world.  If you have not read it yet, it was the post right before this one, so go to our blog history on the right of this page and read all about it.

Pregnant Misty and kids walking up the Last Stand Hill.

God bless you and your families and America.  We are blessed and happy to share a little part of our travels with you.  If you like our blog please follow us or sign up with your email to receive new blogs as we publish them.

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...

Twenty three states visited so far.



'

Camilyn (Cami) Lively

On 14 Aug 2016 God blessed us with our seventh child, Camilyn Danielle Lively or Cami for short.  She was born at 8:29 AM weighing 7lbs 10ozs and was 20 1/4 inches long. It was a water birth assisted by our certified nurse midwife, Luanne Uriel while in the RV.  It was truly amazing!

A happy Misty with Cami just after she was born.

A proud papa with his newest girl.

Luanne, our midwife, with baby Cami.

Getting ready for this event took a little bit of planning.  We were not sure where we would have Cami and figured it would probably be in Dallas at a birthing center.  We knew that we did not want to have her in the hospital though.

 

 

After arriving in Rapid City we started going to church at Black Hills Fellowship and asked some of its members about a good midwife in this area.  Someone there mentioned Luanne Uriel and soon after she came out to our RV to begin Misty's care.

 

One good thing about having a home delivery is that the midwife comes to you, so no trips to the doctor's office for tests and checkups.  It is less stressful on the mom and baby.  Another great thing about it is that once you deliver, you are already home, in your own bed.  We would do it no other way.

 

Luanne was great along with her doula, Jenny McCormick.  If we decide to have more children, then we would love to do it again in SD with Luanne and Jenny.  We would recommend them to anyone wishing to have a home birth.

 

As I mentioned earlier, it took a little bit of planning to pull this off, especially on what to use for a birthing tub.  We first ordered a blowup tub from Amazon.com for $80.00 that was pretty flimsy and not worth the price.  So after sending that back we went to Tractor Supply and bought a Rubbermaid 100 gallon watering tank for $65.00.

 

I replaced its drain plug with a valve so that I could control draining and filling it.  Since it was only 26 inches tall, it would just fit through the door on the RV when tilted sideways.  The next challenge was how to fill it with hot or warm water. 

 

 100 gallon watering tank with valve installed.

 

 

 Misty doing a dry run of the tub.

 

Since we only have a 10 gallon hot water tank, using the RV's water supply to fill the birthing tub was not an option.  I could fill it using a water hose, but then it was hard to get the water's temperature to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.   We bought a bucket heater that is designed for a 5 gallon bucket, but it was too slow.

We also put pots on our 3 burner stove boiling water to try an heat up the water in the tub with them, but after dumping 10 of them in, the water in the tub was just lukewarm.   We had to get something that would heat the water up a lot quicker.

 

So the next thing to try was an instant hot water heater that is used for showers while camping that runs off propane.  I went to Camping World and bought an Eccotemp Instant Hot Water Heater.  I rigged it with a garden hose hooked to its output and ran that into the RV to the tub.

 

It got the job done, but I had to monitor it constantly to keep the flame burning.  For some reason it kept going out about every 30 seconds to couple of minutes.  I also had to make sure the water pressure was low so that it could heat it.

 

 Instant hot water heater I used to fill up the birthing tub in the RV.

  

 Instant hot water heater rigged with water hose on its output ran into the RV.

After a couple of test runs, I got the process down to fill the tub with 100 degree Fahrenheit water in around 30 minutes.  Luckily Cami waited long enough for me to get the tub filled.

 

Everything went as scheduled and Misty was only in labor for around three hours.  Even though she still had considerable pain while doing a natural birth, the warm water in the tub helped reduce the pain and had a calming effect between contractions.  The water also allowed her to move around easier when she needed to.

 

We also diffused Young Living Gentle Baby essential oil and I had the bottle ready for Misty to smell while having her contractions.  She said that in between and during contractions, she would suddenly feel a calmness come over her and then realize that I was holding the bottle under her nose.  The scent would do it every time.

 

We also anointed little Miss Camilyn with frankincense oil afterwards on her head and feet while saying a prayer of thanks to God. 

 

Misty also said that the tub's design helped her get into a better position by putting her knees up on the ledges, made where the tub was indented at the bottom, to give birth.  It helped her push better during contractions.

Luanne was so impressed with the tub that she is going to recommend it to other mothers who want to do a home water birth.  It was the perfect size for both her and Misty and made it easier for her to assist with the birth.

 

All in all it was a truly amazing, peaceful, spiritual experience and one we will cherish the rest of our lives. 

 

Video of Cami's first cry.

If it will not play here you can watch it on YouTube too by clicking here.



 

I know I say this every time, but God has been so good to us and has greatly blessed us.  I do not know how anyone who witnesses the miracle of birth, can say there is no God.

Luanne checking Misty's blood pressure while the tub is being filled with water.

 

If you are in the Rapid City, SD area and decide to have a home water birth, then Luanne is who you want to use as your midwife.  Jenny was a great doula and really helped Misty to calm down a couple of times when she was getting too wound up during the delivery.  Both her and Luanne made a great team. 

Luanne taking Cami's measurements while Jenny writes them down.

 

Misty enjoying chicken noodle soup while Luanne gives post birth instructions.

 

Kids admiring their new little sister.

Courtney holding Cami.

 

Tia holding Cami.

Ian holding Cami.

Avery holding Cami.

Ethan holding Cami.

 Chloe holding Cami.


 

Cami's getting her hair washed for the first time.

 

Our beautiful little angle from heaven.

Mommy and Cami taking a well deserved nap.

 

If you have any questions that I did not cover in this blog, please comment below or email us.  We will be more than happy to answer them.

 

If we do decide to have any more children, this is surly the route we will go again.  I can not put into words well enough of how at ease and amazing our home water birth was compared to those in the hospital.  It is one of those things you just have to experience yourself to fully appreciate.

 

God bless and may your endeavors work out well and may He keep you safe in all that you do.

 

Thanks!

Don, Misty, and Kids...

Twenty three states visit so far.