Update #6 - Banff

"I lift up my eyes to the hills...."

This past weekend we took a day trip to Banff which is a little ski village in the Rockies. We did the touristy thing and took a gondola up the mountains (well Sulphur Mountain to be precise). Breathtaking just doesn't begin to describe the awesome views. Psalm 121 kept playing in my head and I stood astounded by the majesty of the mountains that surrounded me... huge chiselled rocks with their story woven in their layers and the dark brooding clouds covering them like a blanket.
From the top of the gondola ride you continued to walk along a path to the top of the mountain. The air was crisp and the view spectacular, the children excited but almost subdued by the beauty that surrounded them. It was one of those moments which is so perfect and you wrap it up and store it away in your heart because you just want to cherish it forever.
It is when you stand admist such beauty that you realise truly how big and how awesome is our God. Your worries fade away and you almost feel the arms of God holding you.
As you can tell we had a FANTASTIC day. We spotted mountain goats and the kids just loved the ground squirrels. There was one particular squirrel (see photo attached) who was an absolute character and had the kids in stitches with all his antics. They could have watched him for hours.
Following Sulphur Mountain we returned to Banff for lunch and then went for a walk along the Bow River (see pictures attached). It quickly changes from serene, crystal clear waters to a fast flowing river with rapids! Boy did I keep an eye on Danny!!! Once we returned to the serene waters, I could relax a little and watch as Laura collected wild flowers and the boys threw sticks into the river and ran alongside the banks following them. 
Just as our day was coming to an end, Daniel of course had to fall into the river. Please remember that the water flowing is from the melting snow, so you can imagine the expression he had upon his face when it occurred! Of course he was not happy and kept declaring that it was not his fault, but the fault of the river bank which just broke! I on the other hand had to try to contain myself from laughing hysterically as life sometimes can teach us so much about the importance of listening to one's mother!!!
Well that's another week from us. Hope we didn't make you too jealous. :)
Love from your adventuring friends,
The Ebans.