When traveling, I want my days to start with a sunrise view and end with a sunset view. It allows me the opportunity to appreciate and reflect on my experiences and to be grateful for the nature around us. This photo was taken on the morning of my birthday, July, 19, 2024. My birthday wish was to see the sunrise on Reflection Lake in Mount Rainier National Park. My husband planned the most perfect start to my birthday. Our family woke up at 2:30am to make our trek from our AirBNb to Reflection Lake before sunrise. I’m so grateful to my family for sacrificing sleep so I could get my birthday wish. I can’t describe how beautiful this lake is at sunrise! The slow fog rolling over the lake as the sun slowly touched the tip of Mount Rainier. The glow of the sun moving down the mountain. But the most breathtaking part was the calm, glass like water and the most beautiful reflection. I have heard that the timing has to be just right to get the reflection and that morning, my birthday wish came true. This picture represents a start to a new birth year, the start to a new day and a strong desire to keep these beautiful places protected.
