Last night at the hotel in Minneapolis 1 of the kids decided for some unknown reason to try & open the locked latch on the gear box.  This box is attached to our van on a hitch and holds ALL of our camping gear- some old, some new and Sumner's bamboo walking pole (found in the woods).

Well much to my surprise the latch opened.  In fact both locked latches opened.  Someone had picked the lock and taken ALL of the camping gear.  Not even Sumner's dirty, bamboo pole was left.

We are trusting God to work this situation out for us.  I know that we did not see our camping gear as treasure.  But it does remind us that we have to have a proper perspective for our stuff!  

We will hit a Cabela's and Walmart in S. Dakota and replace what we can.  Tents, propane stove, fuel, air mattresses, walking poles, bear pepper spray.  BUT we don't know if they have backpacking stuff and I really prefer REI for that so we may have lost our stuff we need to go backpacking at Yellowstone.  That is the most disappointing for me and the kids.

BUT we keep reminding ourselves that they didn't get into the van where more valuable stuff is- computer, cameras... They didn't hurt us.  AND they can't steal our joy at being on vacation!

Will now try to upload some pictures.  As you can see we have already seen some wild life- bugs at a rest stop, beautiful flowers by the road (don't worry the close-ups were taken at rest stops not beside the highway), and scenery.  IF it works there is a picture of the HUGE windmills in MN.