Dave and Jan enjoyed a week-long visit with Stephen, Meagan, Ryan (7) and Erin (4) July 2-13. It was the best chance they have had to spend time with Stephen and family for some time, and it was nice that it began over the 4th of July week-end because Cedar City is a very patriotic community and Meagan loves fireworks. The families (along with Pattie Shew, Dave and Jan’s former neighbor from Brea, CA) took in two city fireworks displays – one in St. George on the 3rd of July and one in Cedar City on the 5th. And Ryan enjoyed using grandpa’s small camera to take pictures of the 4th of July parade (on July 5th in Cedar City).

Ryan also took some interesting night-time pictures of the Cedar City fireworks display at the airport.

Stephen’s family enjoyed Cedar City’s Aquatic Center on some of the city’s warm summer days. And they also enjoyed cooling down in the water of Coal Creek which flows through town not far from Dave and Jan’s house.

Because Ryan and Erin like to climb rocks, Dave and Ryan hiked to the top of a red rock ridge close to the house.

What summer visit to Cedar City would be complete without a visit to beautiful, nearby Cedar Breaks?

A more recent discovery for Dave and Jan is the interesting trail to Cascade Falls – formed by a stream which flows for a mile or two from Navajo Lake through lava tubes to the place where (when water flows) it falls into the canyon below the colorful and beautiful Virgin River Rim. The cascade was dry, but the hike was invigorating!

The final scenic outing took the family to Kolob Canyon where a short hike provides views of the amazing rocks.

Dave and Jan were happy for the opportunity to share the patriotic atmosphere of Cedar City and some of the scenic beauty which surrounds them with Stephen’s family during the fourth of July holiday season – and they look forward to more opportunities to introduce family and friends to the beauty of “color country” in Southwest Utah. If the Lord can use the judgment of the Flood of Noah’s day to create such beauty, what will the perfection of heaven be like?