Anyone know the definition of the word: holy?  Well, it means to be set apart.  My girls, upon seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time said; "Set apart cow!" With the their jaws hanging open.  I totally agree!  Holy Cow!  This place is just too awesome to describe in either words or pictures.  That's about all I can say about that.  It's like what I would imagine it might be to be have just a glimpse of God's greatness.  It really is too much to take in!
We drove up to the canyon from the east side of Flagstaff stopping at Wuptaki National Park to visit Native American pueblo ruins.  That day was extremely windy and the terrain outside the east gate of Grand Canyon National Park is vast, open, high desert,  running through a Navajo Indian reservation. Needless to say, I was in doubt that we would make it because of the wind gusts.  One particular gust caused me to say to Stacey; "One more like that and I'm pulling over and we can stay out in the desert!"  God covered us and we made it into the east gate to be greeted by of all things....snow flurries!  Luckily, it was just a brief snow shower and we made it to our campsite just fine.  After set up, I collapsed for a nap. Never knew how stressful it was gonna be driving thru gusty desert winds, followed by chugging up mountain passes followed by snow flurries (no, I do not have a diesel motorhome).  I felt almost like an Egyptian bucking up against Moses on this trip! Locusts anyone?!  Enjoy the pictures!

Our campsite in Flagstaff before we set out for the Grand Canyon.  We were in sore need of some repairs.  I had a back up camera that need to be reconnected and I had no clue where the cable ran because I did not have a wiring diagram.  The local RV service center had an electrician on staff and he did a great job reconnecting it and showing me how to access it if it came undone again.  The only other thing I needed to get done but, could not was having my hub cap and valve stem extenders reattached.  It was like I was asking for something from the dark side of the moon!  I'd been trying to get that fixed since we had the flat tire in Roswell, New Mexico.  Well, for now the tires appear good and I will re-attack this issue on the way back from the Grand Canyon.  I'm getting pretty frustrated with this one.

Molly loves the campsite here in Flagstaff due to the fact there are trails all over the place right behind us and are maintained by the US Forest Service.  Took this picture on a morning walk.

Yours truly on a "man hike!"  What's that you say?  Well,  ya know that I'm the only male on this Team, right?!  Well, sometimes I just gotta hike with me and the dog and this was one of those days.  I hiked up the mountain behind our campsite for over an hour and approached snow territory before I knew I had to come back due to night fall.  I got a lot of my frustrations out with respect to not being able to get my repair issues taken care of and me and God had some conversation.   Yeah, okay, I have let my hair grow and I have a goatee. Hey, this trip is all new... how bout a new look, too?! 

Came across this dude on my "man hike" in Flagstaff.  I think it's a spiny-tailed desert lizard but, I'm no biologist.  Either way,  I did not mess with him.  Molly, my dog, was very interested!  "Hey, dude, you look like I feel right now!"

On our way up to the Grand Canyon, we stopped here.  Another money saver for our National Park Pass! You can read a bit more about this place at the following link: Wupatki Ruins

The girls of Team Breitmann near the pueblo ruins.

Hailey explores a mystery at Wuptaki.  This hole in the ground is evidence of an underground cave.  As you can see by her hair blowing straight up there is wind coming up from the ground, which is clear evidence of an underground cavern.  When the air pressure outside is lower then it blows air upwards and it is cold!  Today, there was a low pressure moving in and you can see the results!

Our campsite in Grand Canyon Village.

South Rim of the Grand Canyon looking towards the North Rim.  Awesome!

Look closely at the person in the red sweatshirt with arms up in a "V".  That's Stacey, my rule breaker.  This ledge is NOT on the official trail and certainly not the recommended six feet rule of thumb from the edge of the canyon rim, which is published in the visitor guide.

Okay, Stacey come on back!  One big gust of wind and you are going for a 5,000 foot fall!

View along the Hermit's Rest trail.  At this vista you can get a glimpse of the Colorado River.

Like Mother, like daughter!  Notice the hand on the railing....

Alright, alright....we'll take a look over the edge here...gulp!

Heidi, my big idea gal, suggests that we hike down the Bright Angel Trail, which is only one of two trails down to the Canyon floor and the Colorado River.  The National Park Service does not recommend attempting to hike down and back in one day.  It is a 7 mile hike down from 7,000 feet elevation to near sea level,  and it will feel like a 14 mile hike back up.  Heidi says, "Let's just hike down to the first rest/water stop, which is about a little over an hour down!"  That would put us at well over a three hour hike because you can bet on twice the time on the return trip.  Needless to say, I say, no way are we in shape, as a team for that one!  After a little over a half hour down we hike it back up....Heidi:  "Hey, can we slow down the pace a bit!"  Me: smiling, "sure!"

Here for a reason!

No, kidding!

You can see the Bright Angel Trail running right to left.

A closer look at the trail from above.

Hailey and I pause on our way back up the Bright Angel Trail.  She was a real trooper!

Yep, snow forecast was accurate!

Molly, our Florida dog, sees snow for the first time!  I took this picture on our morning hike.  We are out in front of the Pioneer Cemetery near the Shrine of Ages.  It is the only active cemetery on a National Park.  The Shrine of Ages is a building right behind us, where we attended an Assembly of God Church service on Sunday.  A great message on the topic of God being bigger than anything we can do or not do.  You can read a bit more about the Shrine of Ages and the Pioneer Cemetery at the following link: Shrine of Ages

Heidi enjoys a snowball fight in the campground!

Ditto for Hailey!

Little Sister looking up to her big sister!  I think they actually like each other!

Along the Hermit's Rest Road. The girls have to keep picking up snow for making snowmen!  You can see the route we took along Hermit's Rest Road at this link: Hermit's Rest Road

Hailey constructed this snowman whom the girls dubbed; "Mr. Glen Canyon".  Hailey perched him so as to have the Canyon in perspective.  It was hilarious because nearly every person coming by this wall took a photo of Mr. Canyon highlighted against the Grand Canyon.  Hailey sure has an eye for art!  Too bad we couldn't charge a fee for the photo op with Mr. Canyon!

Another snowman, left behind on Hermit's Rest Road trail!

Hailey atop the monument commemorating the first expedition down the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon in 1896, led by Major John Powell.  Incredibly, this was the very first of it's kind and all the men survived.  The Grand Canyon was one of the last places to be explored in North America and put on a map, with Alaska being the last.  You can read about the expedition at this link: 1869 Expedition

The girls in front of Kolb Studio right on the rim of the Canyon.  Sixteen years before the creation of the Grand Canyon National Park, the adventure seeking Kolb brothers founded this photographic studio at the Bright Angel trailhead.  You can read more about this brothers at this link:  The Kolb Brothers 

sixteen years before the creation of Grand Canyon National Park, they founded a photographic studio at the Bright Angel trailhead

Hailey is sworn in by a Grand Canyon Park Ranger as an official Grand Canyon Junior Ranger, complete with certificate and badge.  Kids up to 14 yrs of age can earn Jr. Ranger badges at participating National Parks by completing a Jr. Ranger booklet (each age group has age appropriate tasks to complete).  Once complete, the kids take the booklet to a Ranger Station, where a Park Ranger goes over the book with them, asks questions and once satisfied that they have accurately completed it are "sworn in" as Jr. Park Rangers.  Pretty cool addition to our homeschooling curriculum.  You can read about the Jr. Ranger Program at this link: US Park Service Junior Rangers

We saw elk like this one all over the place!  

Team Breitmann gets to know another "road schooling" family!  The Millers.  Notice that Team Breitmann only has 4 representatives in this photo; Stacey, Heidi, Hailey and our dog Molly.  All the rest in the photo are members of the Millers!  Count 'em! They all live and travel in a pretty massive motor coach that they parked right next to ours.  We felt dwarfed not only by the size of their motor home, family but, also their tremendous faith in God.  I don't mean that in a bad way.  They are simply the nicest, faith-filled, awesome folks you could ever meet!  A faith like theirs is an inspiration and testament to the Holy Spirit.  You can read about the Millers at this link:The Millers
Well, I know I said Sedona was the most spectacular place we've visited so far, but now I have to amend that...the Grand Canyon rules!  So, now we bid the Millers and the Grand Canyon a good-bye and we are back down to Flagstaff for a few days of school catch up and re-charging!  Blessings to you.  Until our next update!