Day 3

What is a word to describe Day 3? It isn't 'indescribable' as the kids could certainly articulate the immense drop-offs on the alpine slides and Snake River rapids as 'wicked'. It certainly wasn't boring. I guess if I could use a phrase to describe yesterday was 'controlled chaos'.

We started the day in the morning along the alpine slides at Snow King. Olivia was a daredevil as she kept trying to go faster and I kept wanting to go slower (I guess I'm showing my age a bit).

Hunter and Jalen went a couple of times, at the end of which they both mentioned that they 'caught air' on numerous occasions and almost wiped out.

We walked downtown and then ate at, of all things, The Hong Kong Buffet (memories...). After stuffing ourselves on peppered chicken and General Tso's Chicken, we got our gear and headed back to Mad River Whitewater.

We went down a series of Stage 2 and 3 rapids with Olivia in the front and center. It was a BLAST. Halfway down, we stopped and the crew made us a steak and rainbow trout dinner which was awesome (the kids even ate a bit of trout).

One amazing thing about the white water experience for me was the idea that myself and the four people who I care about the most in the world were completely not in control of our lives. For that short period of time, we were 100% at the whim of the guide who made sure that the raft was in perfect position to face the difficult water, which we went through with joy. I think God has a similar role in our lives if we let him. Its when we don't that we face trouble. More on that maybe later...

The temperature dropped about 10 degrees from the start of the trip and needless to say, we were pretty cold by the time the trip was over, especially Olivia but her smile was all I needed to see to know that she was ok.

Once back at the hotel, the hot tub and sauna were used and perhaps misused by our family as we quickly jumped in and warmed ourselves. It was a nice ending to a day filled with unbelievable scenery and fantastic memories.

As I contemplate my immediate surroundings and experiences, I am reminded of Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth". From what we have seen in Jackson Hole, as well as in the Yellowstone, Shoshone, and Bighorn National Parks, there really is no doubt about it.

Grace & Peace
PLW