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the canadian rockies

Driving through the Canadian Rockies and seeing the falls and lakes was definitely my favorite part of the trip. The scenery is amazing. The lakes are beautiful colors–blue, green, turquoise–and so clear. The pictures really don’t do it justice. You will just have to go see for yourself!
Moraine Lake…






Emerald Lake…



Takakaw Falls…


Lake Louise…


The Chateau at Lake Louise…

As you see all these beautiful places you just can’t help but be amazed by our Creator.

Do you not know? 
Have you not heard? 
The LORD is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
He will not grow tired or weary, 
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary 
and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:28-29
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:5-7
I am so thankful that the God who created all of these beautiful places is the same God who is walking beside me through this storm. 
He is the same God who I can take refuge in and find strength to make it through another day. 
He is the same God who loves me unconditionally. 
And He is the same God who is completing his good and perfect plan in my life–even when I don’t understand. 
What a mighty God we serve!

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  • meg duerksen - did you that picture of the canoes?! it is awesome…it looks straight out of a j.crew catalog! i love it.
    they are all beautiful but that one is very cool.

    those poppies are amazing!ReplyCancel

  • PamperingBeki - Jess, this is beautiful! This might be my favorite post you’ve written.

    LOVE the canoe picture!

    You look great.

    Our God is so good.ReplyCancel

  • Elle's Mom - What a beautiful post and such amazing photos. You two look adorable.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Isn’t it just gorgeous? And CLEAN! I am from the next province over and I love being from there. The canoe picture is fantastic. That would be great over a fireplace. Beautiful colours.

    My dad used to work at the Chateau Lake Louise when he was younger.

    Enjoy the beauty that it is and visit more often.

    You look great, BTW..ReplyCancel

  • Stewart Family - Wow…those are all amazing pictures!! Absolutely stunning! What a wonderful creator we serve!ReplyCancel

  • Jane In The Jungle - Amen sister!!!
    And that water is beautiful on Emerald Lake!!ReplyCancel

  • Ambur - So True! What a mighty and awesome God we serve!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Beautiful..the pictures, the words and you and Joel…
    thanks for sharing your life..

    KimReplyCancel

  • wicker0407 - Thanks so much for sharing the beautiful photos I have been to Vancouver but never seen any of these gorgeous parts you visited. Love seeing these pictures. Hope you are feeling well, your family continues to be in my thoughts and prayers.
    Summer & family in CaliforniaReplyCancel

  • Musings of a Homeschooling Mom - Beautiful words and beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing them! You look great!ReplyCancel

  • TRICIA @boutellefamilyzoo - Wow! Those photos are UNBELIEVABLE! What an amazingly gorgeous place! God’s glory is all around us. I think you may have just found the center of it. So beautiful!
    You look gorgeous, Jess.

    Love and prayers,
    XO*TriciaReplyCancel

  • Marla Taviano - Soooo beautiful, Jess!! Blue, green and turquoise are my FAVORITE colors of God’s!!ReplyCancel

  • The Moffats - These have been my favorite pics so far of your trip- and the first time I have really been able to see your belly 🙂 Loving and missing you guys.ReplyCancel

  • Amanda - BEAUTIFUL pictures Jess…or Joel (I know he’s the one who likes to take the scenery pics). What an amazing trip…I have loved seeing all of your pictures!ReplyCancel

  • Lexie Loo & Dylan Too - The pictures are absolutely amazing. What a beautiful place!ReplyCancel

  • Falling Around - Stunning. Absolutely gorgeous.ReplyCancel

  • Candice - Your pictures are amazing! And you are looking fabulous mama. hugs and prayers.ReplyCancel

  • Our Curly Girls - Most beautiful pics ever! Great job!!

    Glad you are enjoying your time away. You both are on my mind…

    HUGS!ReplyCancel

  • rob - Praise God for your faith! Praying for you all from Stillwater, MN.

    Love, KatieReplyCancel

  • Mum2twopreciousgifts - Beautiful pictures, beautiful words, beautiful scripture. Thank you for sharing. Good night from Australia.ReplyCancel

  • Shosh - Wow. Amazing pictures, amazing messageReplyCancel

  • Queen B. - Oh my gosh, just BEAUTIFUL !!ReplyCancel

  • Erica - your pictures are fabulous! the picture with the different colored canoes all along the dock is by far my favorite, great shot!!! and i’d have to say lake louise looks like my favorite like… so beautiful! what a great and uplifting post 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Jessie, I’ve been following your blog since Cora went to heaven. And I just wanted you to know that you have given me great courage to face the scary things in life. I look at people like you, who live a living nightmare, and yet still praise God, and I know that no matter what happens in my life, God is the one thing I cannot live without, and that this world is a broken place and someday we’ll get to be in a place where there is no more pain or weeping.
    Thanks for the encouragement.ReplyCancel

  • Lauren Kelly - Seriously, how can you not look at that scenery and not believe in the very God that created it! So gorgeous. Great post!!ReplyCancel

  • Robin in Benton - WOW – it is beautiful there. Know where I want to go on our next big vacation! You both look happy and relaxed – and I see the baby bump is growing!ReplyCancel

  • Karina - What gorgeous pictures, and I agree, that canoe one is GREAT!

    I so wish I could embrace the notion that a God created all this beauty. I envy you that belief.

    You look great, BTW!ReplyCancel

  • Sarah - Beautiful pictures!!ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Beautiful pictures!

    I’m grateful you feel our God walking with you. I don’t understand, and often wish I did, why things happen the way they do. I pray everyday that you continue to walk this great path of FAITH!!! Love to you, Joel, Angel Cora, and new sweet baby.ReplyCancel

  • Danielle - That place is absolutely breathtaking! Amazing…ReplyCancel

  • mommyof2 - Thank you for this great post. We do serve a Mighty God and His plan is perfect. Thanks for the insight thru scripture. Love the pictures as always!ReplyCancel

  • Amber - Wow! Beautiful scenery! Cute belly too. Thanks for such an inspiring post. I needed it today.ReplyCancel

  • Have Cracker Will Travel - LOVE your new blog look – and seeing Cora’s beautiful at the top of the page = BEAUTIFUL!!ReplyCancel

  • Paula Aspacher - thanks for making cora the focus of your blog… she is the focus of your thoughts and darling.. you don’t know me, but i think it was a great idea.. her little brother or sister will love her through what you show them and tell them!! she will never be forgotten!ReplyCancel

  • mrosev14 - Love the new look out! Those pictures are phenomenal, it looks like you had such a wonderful vacation.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - LOVE THE NEW LOOK OF THE BLOG…although it makes my heart hurt so much…tears just stream down my face..YOU are an amazing, inspiring woman..Thank you..

    KimReplyCancel

  • hoosier68 - Love your new format. Cora’s photos are treasures to behold. You continue to be in my daily thoughts and prayers.ReplyCancel

  • Andrea - I am so inspired each time I read your blog. Love the new layout.ReplyCancel

  • Angie - I love your new blog! And the pictures of your sweet Cora just brought me to tears. Know that prayers are still said for you.

    What beautiful pictures you have – sounds like a great trip!

    Our God is such an AMAZING creator!ReplyCancel

  • Walquist - jess i LOVE your new blog background! the makeover is just stunning! glad you two could make the trip and get away. i heard you saw spence & rhon, hopefully they gave you a hug from us. We think and pray for you guys often!ReplyCancel

  • Monica - I love the new layout of your blog! These photos you’ve been posting of your vacation are amazing!ReplyCancel

  • jenjensden - I have walked very closely with a friend going through a horrible storm, and I have watched from afar as others have gone through storms as well. The thing that strikes me about my friends and about you is that through all the pain they clung to their Father, and through that trial they became more like him rather than becoming bitter. It didn’t take away the sadness of their storms, but we’ve said over and over that we can’t imagine these storms without our God who loves us and is walking right beside us. Your words are such a wonderful reminder of that. May God bless your faithfulness.ReplyCancel

  • Shana - What beautiful pictures.ReplyCancel

  • Nadia - I love the new layout! Such pretty pictures of Cora…

    Thinking about and praying for you in IL.ReplyCancel

  • PamperingBeki - Whoa, LOVE the new look of the blog! Love the pictures of Cora at the top.ReplyCancel

  • The Schilling's from Cimarron - Hey guys how are you? I love the new look of your blog and loved seeing the pictures of Cora again. It sounds like you had an awesome trip…. You have been on my mind a lot lately, thinking about the year we have had and things I have learned and cherished along the way…. You were at the top of my list! Still think and pray for you daily! We miss seeing you and can’t wait to see the playground in person! I am back to work today and had a really hard time leaving my kids. I am trying to stay positive…..
    Hope things are well with you and your families… Jess you look adorable in the pictures with your little belly! 🙂 Take care and hope to see you soon!

    Love you,

    AMIEReplyCancel

  • The Mangus Family - beautiful pictures… such a moving post. thank you for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • Christina - That picture of the boats, so colorful and beautiful, it’s wonderful! And the pictures of you two are lovely. It is amazing to see you in the midst of all that the Lord created, knowing He created you as well and is watching over you, and leading you. Thanks for sharing your awesome photos!ReplyCancel

  • Mrs. H - Thank you for sharing the photos. Beautiful journey through Canada. My daughter (1st grader) has to do a VERY brief report on Canada. I will have to come back here and show her your pics (possibly contacting you about using a few w/ credit given to you?)
    I have been following your journey through grief, praising God with you for the new life He’s placed within you, but also understand the “highs and lows” that come along the way. May God continue to guide you on that journey (as He is me as well).
    Thank you again for sharing the beautiful pictures. I am a HUGE fan of photographing God’s amazing creation!ReplyCancel

  • Baylee and Blair's page - Unbelievable pictures! Those lakes are amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lake that is so blue! It looks more like the ocean! SO Clean looking!

    Big Hugs- TiffanyReplyCancel

  • michelle - Jess~ thank you for sharing God’s word…today I had a friend who was in need of encouragement…and I couldn’t find “the verse” I wanted, so I came to your blog and there it was!!! Thank you.ReplyCancel

  • susana - What a beautiful post and such amazing photos!!!!!!!
    water is beautiful on Emerald Lake!!
    fantastic..
    thanks for sharing your wonderful life..
    ___________________
    susana
    Get easy cash at your door stepReplyCancel

  • Nan - We go to Lake Louise often but the one time we went to Moraine Lake, in June, it SNOWED! Canada is nuts! LOL (I can say that cause I live here!) :^D

    It’s fun seeing these familiar places from your perspective.ReplyCancel

  • Renee - The picture with the different colored canoes all along the dock is by far my favorite, great shot!!So beautiful!
    You look gorgeous…thanks for sharing such a beautiful post..
    ___________________
    renee
    Get the best FREE offers on the Best Home security SystemsReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - I LOVE the canoe pic. You need to put that in some kind of contest or make a poster of it!

    I’m really interested in this whole area you went to and would love to hear/know more about it for a possible vacation spot. How beautiful those photos were!!! Please send me more info on distance, time to travel there, where at is it all located. You can email me at southnurses@hotmail.com. THanks so much!
    Wendy LierzReplyCancel

  • writing4612 - The pictures are amazing! That Chateau at Lake Louise is breathtaking.ReplyCancel

  • Nana - Thanks for the pictures of Lake Louise. We were there in the winter when it was frozen and rode a sleigh on the ice along the edge of the trees. I could not visualize that little inlet or stream or whatever it is in your last picture. It is nice to see it not frozen.

    VickiReplyCancel