You've Been Given the Gift of Life, Give it Back!

Welcome friends and family!

Thank you for visiting my blog. It documents my amazing journey from pre to post double lung transplant. I am a 37 year old mother and wife with Cystic Fibrosis who has been more greatly blessed than I could ever imagine possible!

It has been a bumpy ride, but God has given me strength, love, friendship, and, FINALLY, health. My prayers have been answered, my miracle was granted, and I want to share the joy of my new life with you.

If you are a first time visitor, please take a moment to watch The Miracle of Transplantation video below. To me, pictures speak a thousand words.

My entries begin in April of 2008 and my double lung transplant was December 10. Scroll down to my blog archive and you can read from the beginning or jump around. If you are looking for a specific topic, you can use the search engine.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or feedback, I would love to hear from you!

I hope I can help you to experience the love God has for each and every one of us!

May God Bless You with Miracles in Your Life! Nancy


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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Our Wild West Adventure


I can't begin to tell you what a great trip we had to Jackson.  It has been six years since Scott has been, so we had a lot of time to make up.  What did he want to do?  HIKE!  We did A LOT of hiking.  There were so many times I wish I could have yelled out a great big Alleluia!  I hiked to places I haven't been in many years as well as to a lake high in the mountains where Scott has wanted to take me, but I have never been able to go.  What a joy filled vacation!

Our first day we hiked at the Rockefeller Center.  While Dad waited for a parking spot, we toured the visitor center.




The first waterfall you come to.


We had lunch at the lake.







Hannah & Grama Ann


Hannah & Granddaddy


Scott and I love the brick oven pizza at the Snake River Brewing Co., so we had to stop there for lunch one day.  Too bad the lighting was difficult for taking these fun shots.



It has been years since I rode the Alpine Slide, so we decided to take a run.  It was really fun, but way too Expensive!





We also rode the Gondola up the Mountain at Jackson Hole Ski Resort one evening.  Hannah was in awe of what we ski in Jackson compared to here.


In 2000 Scott carried Hannah on his back to Inspiration Point.  I wasn't able to make it all the way up with them at that time.

Look at my two cutie patooties...then

NOW!!!  At least one of them has changed dramatically!



I am so excited to tell you that 11 years later, I made it to the top of Inspiration Point and beyond.  What an awesome post-transplant accomplishment!!!





In Cascade Canyon we ran into this bull moose, it is always amazing to see this majestic animals!






No trip to Jackson would be complete without a Bison sighting.  Check out this group.


The Sleeping Indian

 One of my favorite childhood places to go is Kelly Warm Springs.  We spent one of our relaxing days there swimming and enjoying the beautiful scenery!




The warm springs from above.


The Grand Teton Mountain Range.  This view still takes my breath away every time we fly into the valley.  It is so unfortunate that I didn't appreciate what I had until I moved away.


Scott's major goal for our vacation was to get me to Goodwin Lake and to take Hannah to the top of Jackson Peak: the mountain you can see off in the distance in this picture...

The hike to the lake is a brutal three mile uphill trek.





The only thing that kept me going was my dad.  I got behind him and followed his feet, I tried not to look up at the steep climb, when I did I felt overwhelmed!






 What a beautiful hike!  The landscape was breathtaking!


Goodwin Lake:  The red shirt is Scott.


Hannah on top of Jackson Peak!!!!  It is an additional two miles up from the lake.







Making it to Goodwin Lake was a first for me, my dad, and Hannah!!!







What an awesome trip!!!  So many incredible memories.  Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

2 comments:

Blomquist Blog said...

One word: AMAZING!!!!!! What a wonderful vacation indeed Nancy! You did a lot of hiking and a lot of HARD hiking.....that is so great! I am so proud of you, but I am also so happy for you! What a huge accomplishment and one in which you did not think would happen! Your story and journey is just a huge miracle and shows us what God can truly do for people! I am bursting with joy for you as I look at these pictures! Now let's start planning our trip for next year so we can hike together! :) I love you!

Love,

Debbie

Unknown said...

It was wonderful having you "home" again and equally wonderful that you were able to do all of the amazing things you did while you were here. Your Mother and observed with awe the difference 2 and a half years with new lungs has made in your life. Our only disappointment was that it couldn't have been a longer visit!

Love,
Dad

The Miracle of Transplantation

Pause the music player before watching.