I arrived in Montana late spring, and left in the middle of fall. I knew the experience would be scenic, but an unexpected and incredible gift I was not ready for was witnessing the dramatic cycle of the seasons. Each phase was unique and breathtaking, making me want to be more present in the outdoors going forward .

My arrival in the spring was painted by thousands of blue butterflies and a rush of pink flower blossoms that all seemed to pave a path for me wherever I went. The mountains still had snowcaps, but it was obvious that the they were transitioning into the summer Rockies.

Then came summer, a true masterpiece of color. I was extremely taken a back by the amount of variety in the colors of the wildflowers which grew in perfect harmony. There were red daisies, tiny yellow and blue buds, tall-stemmed purple blooms, and stripes of all the colors in between, all blowing in the wind against a gorgeous backdrop of clear streams and towering peaks. The phone and camera could not capture the beauty that was always in front of me.

My favorite transformation was the slow shift from summer into fall. It seemed like every drive down the winding road brought a changing tree or snowy glisten on the fast running creek. When I would wake up and go outside, the silence of the deer in the falling snow brought a peace I had only ever known in storybooks. The autumn leaves, different than the summer's brilliant palette stood tall on the branches all along the creek, creating a heart warming picture that always made me stop and take it all in. What a true blessing I was not expecting.