On August 25th, America’s National Park Services celebrated its 100th anniversary. Leave it to my nature-loving husband to make sure on that special day we were hiking in one of our country’s 412 national parks.

I don’t think it was much of a coincidence that Mike had to do some work in Tacoma, Washington this week and insisted I fly out to meet him. From the moment we drove through the gates of Mount Rainier National Park, I felt that primordial connection to the earth as I rolled down my window and took a deep breath of cool, pine-scented air.

We spent the day amazed by the beauty of rainbow-filled waterfalls, old growth forests, glacially carved canyons, wildflower meadows, subalpine lakes, crystal rivers, and the centerpiece of the park, Mount Rainier. At 14,410 feet, this steadfast mountain is the tallest volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range and the most glaciated peak in the continental United States.

At a time when some question the greatness of this country, I can only suggest taking a trip to a National Park. Though no American can lay claim to the natural beauty that exists throughout our nation, we should be proud our government preserves and protects it and committed to being personal stewards of our parks and public lands.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul.”   ~John Muir

Think On These Things~ Alicia