I vividly remember the search and loss of Jake Stover. I didn't know Jake, but I remember it because his family was in crisis at the very same time as mine. Sadly, the result of these crises was also the same, despite my family praying for different outcomes for us both. The March 18th edition of the Oldham Era had tributes to both Jake and my grandfather. The loss of a grandfather doesn't compare to the loss of a son, but for me, it was my greatest loss to date. He was my very best friend. My current plans are to attend Belmont Abbey College to pursue a degree in Biology (pre-veterinary) with a minor in Environmental Science. This desire developed through my love for the outdoors, and respect for wildlife and the environment. My grandfather, Tim Jackson, shared this love with me. He knew the name and origin of every tree and most flowers. He took me to observe my first vet clinic, and bought me my first bird feeder for my window when I was just six years old. Then came COVID-19. When my otherwise healthy grandfather passed away 2 weeks after diagnosis, I became disconnected with my love for the outdoors. The joy that I used to experience when surrounded by nature was now replaced with an aching and hardened heart filled with grief. Just three months after his death, my family traveled to Yosemite National Park to attempt to celebrate my sister's recent high school graduation. We thought by getting away we might could get a break from the pain of the loss. It didn't work...at least at first. Despite Yosemite being one of the most spectacular places I had ever seen, when we first arrived, I couldn't appreciate it. I was surrounded by so much beauty, but it only made me miss him more. I wanted him to see it too. Looking back, I can see that this trip was my first step toward finding myself again, but I didn't know it at that time. Now I wouldn't trade it for anything. I don’t believe there was a better place for me to be at that time of my life. I was forced to immerse myself in what I loved most, and although extremely painful at first, it resulted in a return to my sense of purpose. Yosemite, with all of its incomprehensible beauty, forced me to sit in my grief and the God that controlled it all. The whirlwind of emotions I experienced that week was a roller coaster ride that included anger, bitterness, and sadness. Time seemed to slow there, and through the peace and beauty in that park, hope emerged again. The pictures below represent my journey that week. I have included them with Tunnel View, one of the most beautiful views in Yosemite. The correlation between the two can't be missed. We were on a good road, a perfectly ordinary and good road, and then suddenly, darkness hit. It stayed for a long time, and then light slowly began to return. When I see my expressions in these photos, it takes me right back to what I felt at that time. I would have never guessed three years ago, that I would answer a question about my favorite outdoor experience with "Yosemite", but now I can see it was the place that changed the trajectory of my grief. Preserving the beauty of our environment and the animals that live within it, is a desire of my heart. I'll forever be thankful Yosemite National Park helped me find that again.