While Dave and Jan were enjoying the visit of their daughter and family from South Dakota, the two families met up at the Jacob Lake Forest Service campground near the entrance to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Every visit to the canyon is another look at the Lord’s amazing ability to carve beauty with the force of water. Though the secular scientific community sees it as the work of the Colorado River over millions of years, the flood of Noah’s day probably best explains the amazing scenery of the Grand Canyon and the side canyons which adjoin it.

Silas enjoyed the view of local wildlife across the highway from our campground.

The visit at the canyon began with the exploration of the Roaring Springs side canyon and the short hike down the trail to Bright Angel Point – probably the most popular viewpoint at the north rim.

From Bright Angel Point the far wall of the Grand Canyon is visible in the distance – toward the the San Francisco Peaks which are just north of the city of Flagstaff somewhere around 75-100 miles away.

Andrew and the boys (Ephraim, Levi, Elijah and Silas) posed along the trail. Dave failed to get the whole family in a more posed setting because he was taking pictures with Alissa’s camera and phone before taking a few shots with his own equipment.

The next stop was a picnic lunch along the road leading from the north rim facilities along the Roaring Spring side canyon which is already a serious canyon in its own right!

The two families drove next to the Cape Royal portion of the Grand Canyon – back toward the entrance station driving north. Paved trails over flat canyon ledge territory afforded some spectacular views.

A prominent feature at Cape Royal is the Angels’ Window hole in the rock on a significant rocky outcropping. Looking carefully you may be able to see some of the people on the outcropping, but Dave got a close up of Andrew and the boys on top of the outcropping as well.

Another short walk on a branch of the paved trail to the south offered beautiful scenery – including a site for people who wish to hold their weddings at a very memorable location.

As anyone can plainly see (whether they agree with Dave’s perspective from a Biblical viewpoint or not), the north rim of the Grand Canyon is an amazing piece of real estate! Dave and Jan see in it evidence of the Lord’s creative handiwork even in His judgment of the sinful human race in the flood of Noah’s day!

Dave and Jan recently enjoyed a visit from their daughter Alissa and her husband (Rev. Andrew Crandall) and four sons. Because Dave and Jan’s son, Stephen, and family moved to Cedar City in November to assume ownership of the Top Spot Drive Inn and Gas Station, a visit from the Crandalls brought the whole family together in the same place, resulting in some good times for all. This was the Crandalls’ first time to see the house Stephen and family live in, so it provided an opportunity for some family photos – like this one taken on the stairway in Stephen and Meagan’s house.

Top to bottom, and left to right: Jan and Dave Balsley, Meagan and Stephen Balsley, Levi C., Erin B, Ryan B., Elijah C., Andrew and Alissa Crandall, Silas C. and Ephraim C.

Ephraim, Levi and Andrew spent time putting a puzzle together, and Andrew displayed a finished puzzle which held together when he lifted it up by its corners from the table where it was assembled.

The Crandall boys enjoyed finding fossils in a wash within easy walking distance from Dave and Jan’s.

The Crandall family enjoyed finding “who dunnit” as they played several games of Clue together.

Both families enjoyed some meals at Stephen’s restaurant, but only Alissa captured a meal with a photo. While Stephen was running his business, both families headed out to nearby Three Peaks for a picnic and some rock climbing and a game of hide and seek among the rocks in the park. Can you find the boy hiding in the rocks? And a telephoto lens brought Alissa up close from her spot a hundred yards up on a ridge!

Some good meals were enjoyed by both families, and there was a belated birthday recognition for Alissa.

Dave and Jan are grateful that the Crandall family is willing to make the lengthy trek from South Dakota to enjoy the amazing beauty of Southwestern Utah – making such a family reunion possible. And there was more to be enjoyed – like the Air B&B stay the Crandalls enjoyed in the Page, Arizona area, and the camping trip the senior Balsleys and Crandalls enjoyed at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. But we’ll save some of the story for the next edition of the Cedar City Balsleys – thankful for the joys which come with family life, especially for families who enjoy a common relationship with the Lord as our family does!