Wishing you a blessed and peaceful Christmas. May the joy of family and friends fill each hour and happiness be in your heart.
All the best,
Kelly
Merry Christmas!
Tag: family
Happy Independence Day!
Recently I was privileged to visit Utah and Omaha beaches on D-Day. It was sobering to see what our soldiers were up against to liberate Europe from fascist control. 
Here lie thousands of our boys in solemn ground after giving their lives for freedom.
Remember, the only reason we’re celebrating our Independence Day is because our forefathers rose up against tyranny and oppression of the Crown, said enough is enough and defeated the greatest military on earth at the time with a ragtag group of farmers and craftsmen. Afterwards they created the greatest government that has ever existed on the planet, at the base of which is the belief that all men are created equal, and are endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and governed by consent of the people, not a monarch born into power.
Remember freedom isn’t free and it is only one generation from extinction, so it must be fought for by the voting in those people who understand and believe in freedom and personal liberty, otherwise once a freedom is lost it can never be regained.
Merry Christmas
I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays from Zion National Park. I hope that the season finds you happy, healthy and prosperous.
Kelly
My Radio Interview!
Today something amazing happened! I was interviewed by Bob Grove for the radio program called “Inside the Outdoors“. We talked about Zion Lodge, Zion National Park, and the exciting things to do here throughout the year.
I was quite nervous because I haven’t done anything like this before, but it was quite fun. Of course, there were technical difficulties with the Internet connection. (What do you expect in a national park? We’re lucky to have email and basic surfing).
Anyway, the show will air this coming Saturday morning from 7:00 – 9:00 am Mountain Standard Time. (I think it’s +7:00 GMT, but don’t quote me on that). The link for the show is here if you want to stream it online.
White Christmas
I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas. May you have peace and happiness with those you love today.
It was snowing this morning when I went to work. It has been many years since I’ve seen a White Christmas, but today it happened in Zion National Park.
Enjoy!
Treasures
Yes, finding a pirate’s booty would be nice and exciting. However, it’s nothing but trouble. Just ask young Jim Hawkins.
There are many other things that I treasure, and they are beyond price and value: family, friends, my beliefs, freedom and liberty.
The price for our liberty and freedoms was paid for by the blood, sweat and tears of our military. It was written by our Founders and defended by anyone who loves what these ideals stand for .
I am grateful to all military heroes who gave of their time, souls, and bodies to defend us and our freedoms. I am also grateful for the Founders who wrote our Constitution and laws and hope they will always stand. Vigilance is always key to maintaining our country,,
Here is my tribute to liberty, one of my biggest treasures.
Merry Christmas!!
I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. I hope all your wishes come true.
Remember, spending time with family and friends is the best Christmas present you can give.
Here is the Great White Throne in Zion National Park after a snow storm.
I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Remember this day is for gratitude for everything we have and cherish. Especially our freedoms and family. Please remember freedom isn’t free. Thank a Soldier and Veterans for our freedoms.
Here is President Lincoln’s proclamation making today a day of Thanksgiving in 1863:
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.
Cloudburst!!
This past weekend was absolutely crazy! The hardest part was saying goodbye to a friend who lost his life in a bad fall from a cliff. His memory will live on in us who knew him. He will be greatly missed.
Then on Saturday last, I was having dinner with some friends in Springdale, Utah at the Pizza Noodle. Just as we left the restaurant, it started to rain. I looked over at the cliffs of Zion, and it was raining so hard, I couldn’t see the cliffs (only a half mile away). I then got in my car to drive away, when I noticed several people gathered on the sidewalk looking to the east, and I’m thinking: “What are they looking at?” Then I saw it! I had to get some pictures of this, because I haven’t seen one in a LONG time! Well, you’re probably wondering what I’m referring to. Well, take a look!
Do you see it? No? Well, take a look at this one:
See it yet? Of course you do! Try this one?
Aren’t these amazing? It’s not very often you see a rainbow over the Watchman Mountain, in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rainbow over this mountain like this. I had to stop taking pictures because the rain started to really come down. I decided it was time to get for the canyon to see if I could find any waterfalls. Boy, did I ever! Not only was there waterfalls from the cliffs, but there were waterfalls across the road! I think they are called flash floods! Take a look:
I came around the corner and saw this coming towards me. Here’s a closeup:
Not a pretty sight, especially if you have to go through it! Technically, you’re not supposed to drive through a flash flood, but . . .
I must confess, I also drove through the flash flood. There were tree limbs and debris of all sorts in the road and it was kind of scary to drive through! I only did it to get home! (I know, excuses sometimes justify stupidity.) But I had to see the waterfalls! Like this one off the Twin Brothers right above the flooded road:
All this water was coming down to the road. Crazy, huh?!
I also had to see Employee Falls flowing! When it really comes down, watch out!
This is right behind the area where I live. It’s been a little over a year since I’ve seen a waterfall come down this canyon. When it does, it’s quite impressive! Here’s a closeup of the waterfall:
I hope you enjoy these images as much as i had fun taking them!
Remember, life is precious and every day is a gift, that’s why it’s called the Present!
Kelly
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year from the Wandering Photographer! May you have a prosperous year and may all your goals and resolutions come to fruition, and may you have peace in your life and with those around you.
As we reflect on the past year, let us remember the good times and learn from the bad times. Let’s also observe a moment for those who are no longer amongst us, remember them always and the times we shared; and learn from the mistakes we and others have made and errors of the past so we don’t repeat them in the future. Spend time with family and friends, for a person who has family and friends is rich indeed, and time is our most precious resource.
Kelly Guymon Photography 