3500 miles...

We've made it to Glacier National Park!  Camping just a few miles to the east of the west entrance and actually have wifi access for the first time in a while.  Here's the latest update...

We had an incredible time in Yellowstone NP.  Cody (WY) is such a western cowboy town...what a fun place to be.  Of course we went to the Cody Rodeo and marveled at the skills of the men and women who rode the bucking broncos, lassoed the calfs while riding full speed on horseback, and those brave enough to try and last 8 seconds on a bull.  When they invited the kids to come down and try and pull a ribbon off of the run away calf's tail, Lucy came a whisker away from grabbing it!  Good times!

Yellowstone was of course, remarkable.  The wonder and majesty of God's creation is awe inspiring.  Probably the highlight of highlights was watching a grizzly bear frolicking in the meadow just 50 yards away.  A beautiful animal.

We spent each night along the shores of the reservoir at Buffalo Bill State Park.  Total wilderness in the Wapiti Valley.  One evening a huge thunderstorm rolled through and we watched the lightning strikes head off over the mountains in the distance.  A kind park host kept us well supplied with drift wood for our fire.  A neighbor couple (who incidentally are going from west coast to east coast in their rv) gave us some great tips and even gave the kids $5 to buy Wilcoxson's ice cream...a Montana speciality...especially if you get the huckleberry!  Another neighbor saved our towels and chairs from blowing away when the storm came racing in and we were away in town.  Such kind people giving us small provisions of grace along our journey.

We spent a great morning with some fine and faithful folks who run the Provisions of Grace food pantry in Cody...a ministry of Harvest Church (www.harvestweb.net).  Each one of the volunteers we met spends close to 30 hours a week at the pantry, which in turn provides food to over 60 families in town twice a week.  We got to tour the facility, hear about the people they serve, and how the church is responding to the needs of the community.  We then heard what their most pressing needs were for the pantry that week, and went on a shopping spree to buy lots of fresh produce and dairy items.  It was moving to bring it all back to the pantry, spread it out on the table, and to pray over it, and for the volunteers, and for the families that will receive it.  The Missions Ministry at Covenant Congregational Church provided funds for just such an opportunity as this.  In a real and tangible way, the church there in North Easton impacted the people of Cody.  Praise God.

A couple quick updates...

Elsie reports that the ice cream intake has increased dramatically and Dairy Queen continues to serve us well.

Tanner reports we have now seen 500+ bison, herds of elk, more pronghorn than we can count, bald eagles, a golden eagle, a coyote, a marmot, loads of deer and mule deer, big horn sheep and one big grizzly bear.  Hopefully here in Glacier we will see some mountain goats.

Lucy continues to take lots of pictures that we'll post on our Facebook page (Parks with a Purpose).

Tobi has completely run out of books to read even with her kindle fire loaded down with them.

Ann met some amazing cyclists who are riding 4000 miles from Baltimore to Seattle to raise funds and awareness for cancer research...many of them riding for specific individuals battling the disease.  Very cool to see their commitment and determination.

The RV is doing well, other than a busted door knob on the bathroom that is a constant source of irritation.

Thanks for the prayers...we feel them!