MY hike

We went to Elephant Rocks State Park in MO.  http://www.mostateparks.com/elephantrock/geninfo.htm http://www.stateparks.com/elephant_rocks_photography.html It was an awesome day with the girls. They were so good and had so much fun.  I was not only walking the path but the trails and climbing rocks, HUGE rocks! It felt good to move.  It's amazing what we miss simply because we are fat, things as simple as simply moving and enjoying our families.  This was a wonderful day and an awesome moment in my journey to life. Beth

Wow that place is beautiful!  I had never heard of it, but I am so glad you shared this with us.  That looks like one of those places you would go and just feel a shiver go through your body as you are taking in all of the surroundings.  Where is it in relation to St. Louis?  We are going to be there in the middle of April.  If it's anywhere near, we will have to check that out! That's great you were able to enjoy such a place with your family.  I am sure along the journey you will enjoy many more of these moments!

It is about an hour and a half SW of St. Louis. It is worth the extra mileage. It is just a load of fun with trails and rock climbing. You always feel like you will get lost or something and sometimes feel like you are in another world but it is awesome. One the biggest rocks there are names and dates chiselled in from when it used to be a granite quarry. Some of the dates are 1893 and 1903.  http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=38.13827&lon=-90.444505&mag =10&q1=St%20louis%2C%20MO&q2=Elephant%20Rocks%20State%20Park %2C%20MO I hope you get a chance to visit; you'll love it. Beth BTW, are you going to St L for business or pleasure?

My sisiter & family live in Springfiled Ill. My grandma was raised in the hills of MO, born 1909, went to St. Louis at age 14 and never looked back. I dream of going to St. Louis for the blues concert one year!!!!  Also a beloved best friend in St. L.

That almost makes me cry...i know what you mean...quiet times out in God's bounty! I am often flabbergasted at the guys who work with my DH - never have been on our river trail! omg, it is as beautiful as anything I have ever seen,and to think people live within a couple miles and do no****ch its beauty morph each season.  (((((((Beth family))))))) Be proud!

Very cool.  Glad for you.

My 15 yr old is suffering an after effect of climbing the boulders. She had to slide down quite a few of them and some how put a blister about 1/4 in by 2 in on her butt. It's so funny. My oldest scraped her arms up quite a bit as well. Nothing serious but you can definitely tell they were having a ball at the time. lol I'm a little achy today but it is a good achy. It is very beautiful yet a little daunting that something can be so huge. My oldest took lots of pics. I'll post them to my profile when she dl's them to the computer. There was one place I thought I wasn't going to get up but my hubby grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. Thank the Lord for his strength lol. There were a few places where I got up and then wondered how I was going to get down. Thank the Lord yet again for granting us padding on our backsides on which we can slide. Lord help the person standing below lmao. It was all good! Beth

awwwe i am glad that you guys got out as a family and had fun at that!! It is very sad what we miss out because we are overweight and aren't able to do things. I am glad that you had fun with your family and I am sure it was great for them seeing you out with them also. Your family is so proud of you too I am sure. Just imagine all the other things you are going to be able to do with your family.

Wow, that looks breathtaking and glad you had fun and could enjoy it. I am looking forward to getting out more when my legs are up to more standing and walking. Thank you for sharing your special day!

Aingeal, there's an old saying I think all of us live by each day and some more than others, "A journey of a thousand miles starts with one single step." You, too, will get there...step by marvelous step.  Keep looking and moving forward. There's a beautiful view just ahead. Beth