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A Letter To My Yellowstone Parents

To the people who truly helped me learn to love Yellowstone National Park

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

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Karley Nugent

There are people who come into our worlds and give us entirely new perspectives on life and love.

These are the people we never saw coming, but when they appear, they completely and drastically change our lives so much that we can't even remember what our lives were like before we met them. We learn to love them so damn much, they literally become a part of our family.

For me, two of those people came into my life in the summer of 2015.

How fitting it was that I met these two individuals who would become so important to me in the place that had completely changed my life for the better. They made it better.

You never really expect these life-changing moments when they happen; they're always so random. Thus was the case when I first met Mrs. Shelley and Mr. Rob.

I was with two work friends on my birthday at the general store in our area because I wanted ice cream. I was sitting out at one of the picnic tables and chatting with my friends about some hike that I wanted to do. That was when I heard someone speak up from behind us.

It was a couple behind me, saying they'd done the hike many times before and that I would definitely enjoy it. This launched us into a conversation about everything from who we all were to where we were from to what we were doing in Yellowstone.

See, there is a saying about the people of Yellowstone; they say we are of our own breed. They say that we are kinder people, who enjoy life and appreciate the little things more than most. I never understood the truth behind that saying until I met Mrs. Shelley and Mr. Rob... and believe me, they are two living examples of that.

From that chance meeting outside of the Lake Area General Store, those two people became like my second parents.

They showed me what it means to truly live in and love Yellowstone for all that it could be. The kindness that radiates from these people is beyond measure; they are a huge part of the reason my summer in Yellowstone was so unforgettably wonderful. When I say that these are two of the most selfless people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in this world, I mean it.

They brought out the best of Yellowstone for me; they showed me all of what was possible there.

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Student Life

Wilderness- A Young Life Experience

One of the greatest trips of my life.

Purdue University

178

Genna Thomas

Sometimes I think about how lucky I am. I think about how many places I have been in the world and how much of the world I have already experienced at such a young age. My family used to go out of the country at least once a year if not more. We loved seeing different parts of the world and that's how I plan on raising my children. Seeing different cultures and some of the most beautiful places in the world. In my opinion, it's not all about the resort that you stay at, although the all inclusive and ocean side rooms are fantastic. The trip should be about exploring the places that we do not have the pleasure of seeing every day of our lives and living in the moment.

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Religion

Faith On Trial Part 3

Who told you that you were too busy to dive into the Word?

Pennsylvania State University

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Pexels

These seasons of wilderness are filled with doubt, confusion, reluctance, and loss of identity. But, through diving into the Word and learning about who He is, I've learned that I've been focusing on the wrong thing. My prayers were filled with me, my and mine instead of you and yours, God. Scripture isn't about us, it's about God. Through focusing on who He is instead of who I am, I realized that I needed to remind myself daily to refocus on Him.

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Lifestyle

Faith On Trial

It is possible to lose everything and still lack nothing. That is why He sometimes strips us of the things we think we need to show us it's not what we need but who.

Pennsylvania State University

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Pexels

We all encounter amazing seasons of plenty, growth, and discovery yet still have seasons of drought, complacency, and loneliness. Through the inconsistency of this world, I've found that through seasons of great trial, our life's foundation is exposed. It's also so hard to believe in a God that would allow this pain, but it is even more important to voice these feelings as we walk through the unknown.

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Nature Animals

3 Great Reasons Why 'Inside People' Should Go Outside

I never thought I'd say this, but the great outdoors is pretty great.

Miami University

3 Great Reasons Why 'Inside People' Should Go Outside

Isabella Mancini

I am not much of an outdoor person, but I was feeling stressed recently and confused for a mixture of reasons. The only solution I could come up with was to go for a walk. So, one Saturday morning, by myself, that is exactly what I did. It was awesome. I almost never go outside, especially after surviving the rough Midwestern winter.

Below you will find three reasons why connecting with yourself and nature at the same time can solve all your problems.

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nature animals

Arts Entertainment

40 Things I’d Rather Do Than Own A Chihuahua

Dogs or devils?

West Virginia University

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40 Things I’d Rather Do Than Own A Chihuahua

Pixabay

The debate has been ongoing since domestic dogs came about.

What are chihuahuas and are they worth having? More recently I have seen videos coming about where people are questioning why certain things are considered worse than owning the terror of one of these tiny dogs. So without further ado, here are 40 things I'd rather do than own a "rat dog."

Please note that although some comments are demeaning towards chihuahuas I have had pleasant experiences and no dogs are unworthy in my eyes. No opinions about chihuahuas were damaged during the making of this article.

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To the people who truly helped me learn to love Yellowstone National Park

One of the greatest trips of my life.

One of my most favorite trips I have ever been on was called Wilderness, a young life camp trip.

I was incredibly nervous when I signed up for this trip but was so excited to take this leap and grow in my adventures in my life.

The second day was a whirlwind of events as it was still to this day the longest day of my life.

Throughout the trip, every girl in the group got a chance to tell their life story.

Who told you that you were too busy to dive into the Word?

It is possible to lose everything and still lack nothing. That is why He sometimes strips us of the things we think we need to show us it's not what we need but who.

I never thought I'd say this, but the great outdoors is pretty great.

It will make you think more.

Get out of the bubble.

Exercise!

Dogs or devils?

1. Spend every ounce of my free time studying.

2. Workout for six hours nonstop.

3. Stub my pinkie toe.

4. Work at McDonald's.

5. Fall down stairs in front of my siblings who already think they're superior to me.

6. Throw up on my date on a first date.

7. Own a Great Dane.

8. Own literally any other animal.

9. Or in my case, die from allergies.

10. Give up eating meat.

11. Become a vegan.

12. Get denied from the job I've had for the last three years.

13. Fail an exam that I studied for a week for.

14. Fail out of my major.

15. Disappoint my favorite person.

16. Lose a high score that took me a year to make.

17. Be the person who continues to sit on the equipment at the gym after I'm done using it.

18. Take 20 credit hours.

19. Work in customer service during a Black Friday rush.

20. Become a viral meme.

21. Live through one of the actual "princess stories" written by the Brothers Grim.

22. Write two full lab reports in one week.

23. Hit myself in the ankle with a razor scooter.

24. Peel a hangnail to my knuckle.

25. Eat an entire onion like an apple.

26. Go back in time and attempt the fire challenge.

27. Kill the planet with my plastic usage (oh wait).

28. Be like Dr. Doofenshmirtz and not have my parents show up to my own birth.

29. Experience withdraw symptoms.

30. Not eat for thirty days.

31. Get into a minor car accident.

32. Give myself a bad tattoo.

33. Fall out of my raft while white water rafting in 40-degree weather.

34. Go to a frat party alone.

35. Have absolutely zero fashion sense.

36. Skydive.

37. Fight a bear.

38. Not shower for two weeks.

39. Eat insects.

40. Live my current life without a Chihuahua and keep it that way.

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