Two weeks ago I shared how our family vacation did not go exactly as planned. We had planned to go to Colorado but the Lord took us to South Dakota instead. I was frustrated at first but I learned a valuable lesson:
In his heart, a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
We loved visiting Custer State Park in South Dakota. We were so excited to take Isaiah on his first hike and there were lots of trails to choose from in the park. Harney Peak ended up being ‘the one’.
The hike was wonderful – and challenging. Notice in the picture above where the arrow is pointing. You can hardly see the lookout tower that was our destination! It was a little over seven miles roundtrip and my shoulders were SORE the next day. The view from the top was worth it though!
Gorgeous. Harney Peak is the highest summit in the United States east of the Rockies (although at 7,242 feet, it is only about half as high as another summit Sam and I have hiked).
We had beautiful weather for our hike and were able to enjoy God’s creation as a family.
We visited Mt. Rushmore the following day. I was fascinated by the sculpture. I loved learning about Gutzon Borglum and his vision for this massive memorial. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt were chosen by Borglum to represent the birth, growth, preservation, and development of our country.
While we were there, we tried to take pictures of Rushmore that were different than the typical ‘postcard’ shot. It was fun to challenge ourselves this way and look for new ways to see the memorial.
As a sidenote, I’m glad we were there last month since the memorial is closed right now.
We were also able to stop at Nebraska’s own Chimney Rock on the way home.
It was a wonderful trip. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn how to trust God’s timing rather than my own planning. Thank You, Lord, for a blessed time as a family!