Dave and Jan enjoyed a visit during the third week of May with their daughter Alissa and her husband, Dr. Andrew Crandall, and their four boys – Levi (10), Elijah (8), Silas (6) and Ephraim (4). They arrived from Huron, South Dakota on Tuesday evening, May 18, having stopped overnight at a Presbyterian camp in South Dakota (because Andrew is a Presbyterian pastor and had access to the camp), followed by a long day on the road on Tuesday. There were many things to enjoy with family the next few days – including visits to local parks, like the Main Street Park just a few blocks from the Balsleys’ house where Ephraim and his brothers enjoyed the spider web.

A visit to St. George the next day included a picnic in a park where an artist had created a very large guitar.

Next came a visit to a display of dinosaur tracks at the Johnson Farm Dinosaur Discovery Center.

A visit to the Thunder Junction amusement park was a fun experience for the boys – and the adults as well!

Friday, May 21st, was a good day for a visit to the Valley of Fire in southeastern Nevada because unseasonably cool weather made for a good experience in a beautiful and increasingly popular location which can be very warm in spring and summer and early fall months – which explained a trail sign which warned against the advisability of a hike!

The Crandalls started toward home in South Dakota via Yellowstone Park and other points of interest in Wyoming on Monday, May 24th. Because they were pulling the tent-trailer Dave and Jan gave to them after purchasing their Kodiak Cub trailer, the Balsleys traveled north with them one day to help with any questions they might have about camping in the tent trailer. So both families enjoyed an overnight visit to Rockport State Park north of Heber City, where everyone spent part of the evening riding on the historic Heber Valley Railroad between Heber City and Vivian Park.

As Dr. James Dobson observed years ago, “No one comes to the end of their life saying ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.'” Dave and Jan are grateful for the children and grandchildren the Lord has placed in their lives, and they enjoyed spending time with Andrew and family exploring so many fun and interesting places in the Cedar City area!

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD” (Psalm 127:3), and “Grandchildren are the crown of old men” (Proverbs 17:6).