The Falls

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands”

Psalms 19:1

My husband and I just returned from a long weekend away. We went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for our anniversary which was last week. It was a much needed get away. Work has been super busy and crazy for J and I’ve just been trying to keep up with everyday life at our household. We are used to taking 2 vacations during the year, but we haven’t been anywhere since a year ago when we went to Florida for our 5 year anniversary. So this was a well deserved break where we could spend uninterrupted time together. And was it ever nice!!

Why Sioux Falls? Well…we are saving for that dream family vacation to Disney World , expenses are a little tight and we wanted to stay relatively close to home no more than 3 1/2 hours away. J did some investigating and discovered Sioux Falls is a growing up and coming city and it wasn’t too far. By the way I love it when J plans trips!! He definitely gets bonus points from me.

When it’s just the two of us our vacations are pretty laid back and relaxed. We like to have no schedules or time line. If there’s something we want to do we’ll do it and if not we’ll just lounge around the hotel. One of my favorite things to do on vacation is to sleep in. It’s a luxury I hardly get at home. 2 of the 3 mornings I slept until 10:00!! SHH!!! Don’t tell anyone! 🙂 I felt so rested and refreshed afterwards.

Sioux Falls is known for their waterfalls and so we spent half a day watching the falls and walking the trails around Falls Park.  There are no words to describe the majesty of the falls. They were simply breath taking and that is an understatement. It was amazing to see how the water weaved its way through the quartzite rock, down the ledges and into the river. Did you know that quarttzite is the second hardest rock in the world? Diamond is the first. J jokingly asked why more people don’t make as many rings out of quartzite as they do diamonds? Once you see the picture below you’ll know why! Nonetheless I still think its a beautiful rock.

Quartize Rock

One of the things I love about being out in nature is that you can truly see God’s handiwork. I’m often awestruck by the beauty around me and it was no different at Falls Park. Everywhere I looked I saw God’s creation. He was in the waterfalls, trees, geese, birds, the wind, clouds and sun. God was all around me and I could feel His presence. It was truly an amazing feeling and I’m still in awe of it all. I was so thankful to be in a place where all I could do was bask in God’s glorious creation.

How often do we desire to feel God’s presence? To know He is with us? The busyness of life often gets in the way of truly experiencing God’s creation. We have places to be, things to do and we miss what’s right in front of us. Be encouraged my friend. God IS with you and all around you. He’s not just in the waterfalls, trees, flowers, etc. God is walking with us daily in our lives even on the busiest day. We may not recognize it at the time but rest assure He’s there. Maybe it was finding an open parking spot close to the store instead of the usual one you get furthest away. Or maybe it was in the kind person who helped you carry your food tray to your table while you juggled a 5 month old, a diaper bag and a wandering 2 year old all because she too knows what it feels like (true story). Or maybe God was in the much needed hug and reassurance from your husband because you were having a “fat” day and nothing fit or looked good.

We serve a mighty God who loves us and desires to have a relationship with us. He wants us to come to Him when we are tired and weak as well as when life is good. I encourage you to slow down this week and experience God. And once you do please share your experience with me. I would love to hear where and how you encountered God.

Below are just a few pictures of the falls along with some scripture. I hope you enjoy!

The grandest of the Sioux Falls

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”  Psalms 24:1-2

“Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth.” Psalm 48:1-2

A view of the entire falls from the Look-out Tower!

At the top of the Look-Out Tower

J on the Look-out Tower

Psalm 65:5-13

“You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
    God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas,
⁶ who formed the mountains by your power,
    having armed yourself with strength,
⁷ who stilled the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    and the turmoil of the nations.
⁸ The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.”

^{9 “}You care for the land and water it;
    you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,
    for so you have ordained it.^[d]
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
¹¹ You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.
¹² The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
    the hills are clothed with gladness.
¹³ The meadows are covered with flocks
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;
    they shout for joy and sing.”