The Jump

I've always wanted to skydive....so when the opportunity to skydive for $15 came around, I was all over it. The Chaplain's office on base sponsored this morale boosting trip, and a few of us from the legal office went. There were probably 60 of us total. Anyways, it was a great time...we went up to Denver and jumped with Mile Hi Skydiving. Check out this video from their website.

It actually wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Having a man strapped to my back was probably the scariest part. Actually, walking up to the door and making myself jump out of a moving airplane was quite scary. But the freefall, which lasted about 50 seconds, was incredible. You don't get the rollercoaster stomach feeling, which is weird. After we pulled the ripcord, we did some twirls and got up to 2 Gs, which was more of a stomach-wrenching experience, but also very exciting. Overall, it was a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat (especially if its $15).

On the ride to the plane.

Getting ready to land.

Jeremy and his fam.

Legal team represents!

Shane & Shane

Last night we went to a beautiful concert/worship thing with Shane & Shane.  If you don't know who they are you should get to know them!  They are two amazing artist who have written so many beautiful love songs to Jesus.  I don't know how to post a song from them but I'll let David help me do that later (or you can click on their names above)!

It was a really beautiful concert in many ways.  First, it was at the Navigators headquarters here in Colorado Springs and the concert was held in a castle!  Second, it was a very intimate setting with only six rows of people across the room.  Third, they write beautiful music!  Forth, we ran into someone we've met before!  She didn't have anyone she came with so she joined us! The headquarters is nestled right amongst the Garden of the Gods and it's just beautiful there with all the jutting out red rocks.

The one thing that got super frustrating about the night was the people in front of us.  Now, don't get me wrong... I think affection is beautiful when used in the right context and in the appropriate amount.  But, the couple in front of me where literally petting each others heads, scratching each other's back and rubbing each other's shoulders... the whole concert!!  Why!?!?!  I was getting so annoyed I had to leave the room one time to refocus so I could enjoy myself.  I honestly don't mean to offend anyone but, it's like when you're at church and that annoying couple in front of you act like they can't wait to get home and attack each other!  Also, the guy was obsessed with his iPhone and took either video or pictures for the first hour.  I understand liking a band but when it comes to the point of ruining and obstructing someone else's view ect. it needs to stop.  Man, this generation needs to get a grip!

Okay, I'm done ranting.  I really did enjoy the evening but those few things were just a little over the top for me.

Look for David's next post... it will be pictures of something he is doing literally right now that is adventurous, dangerous and totally up his ally.  We'll be excited to share!

Special Visitors

This past week my mom and sister came to town!!! It was a fun and busy week. The weather was kind of gloomy all week, and both David and I were busy at work, but I think they had a good time inspire of the busyness. They went hiking at the Crags, quasi-camped, they went to Focus on the Family, the Olympic Training Center, the Garden of the Gods, visited the Air Force Academy, hiked the Incline, shopped, visited us at work, watched the Olympics and spent some quality time with us during the evenings. Here are some pictures from the week:

My mom and I on the Crags hike!

Quasi camping which means we cooked and hung out but didn't have to sleep in a tent!

Sister and me :-)

They are gone and we miss their company. One special thing about my sweet family is that they are good at loving me! They left about 15 cute little notes around the house for David and I telling how much they love and appreciate us. Thanks girls, we love you and can't wait for the next visit.

Best Weekend Yet!

First of all... We've been seeing a lot of these fly over our neighborhood. Strange but pretty. What would they be looking at over here on the East side of town?! I did find out that an annual hot air balloon event is taking place on Labor Day weekend.

So, Friday we went camping! It was so much fun. We had a beautiful campsite with a creek right next to our tent and we could see no one else around! It was so much fun, we had great food and Wrigley had a blast and was totally in his element.

Here's Kel cookin' some yummy desert. Mmmmm :-)

David & Wrigs sitting by the fire enjoying the outdoorsOn our way home on Saturday there was a small town with a cool name, so we decided to stop. The town was about to have a parade so we stayed and enjoyed the show and candy.

Here's Darth Vadar & some other Star Wars guy.

One of our favorites was this guy on stilts with a teen tiny little dog!
Later in the day we went to the new Batman movie at the iMax theater near our house. It was really good. On Sunday we enjoyed church, meeting a few people at church (!!!!!) and REI. Great weekend and so much fun.

The Infamous Incline

One of the things Colorado folk have said is that if you are to be accepted as a true CO lover of the outdoors you must conquer the Incline. What's the Incline you ask? Well, this is a loaded question because of the history and controversy surrounding the Incline. For example, three different parties own the hill which the Incline is on and so the trail passes through three properties. This website says, the Incline as it exists now is the roadbed to the former Mount Manitou Scenic Incline Railway (a cable car)... with the steepest section at a grade of 68% (VERY STEEP!) and the average grade just over 40%. Also check that link for a better picture than ours below.

Here's the Incline from a few miles away. Our house is 18 miles away and you can see the scar of the path from our house! Pike's Peak (not shown) is just behind it and to the right.
This hike is a loved workout for many locals who run up it and down another trail called the Barr Trail (4 miles down). The picture above is from the beginning of the hike and as you can see this is not well maintained but is vigorously used.
Here's where we take a log of breaks, during that 68% grade. The above photo shows looking down at what we had accomplished, and below some of what we have left. What you think you see as the top is actually a false summit! During this section of the hike the majority of the steps were knee high to us, we are thankful we are tall :-)

Oh and a cool tidbit, right before I took this picture a deer was walking around in the trees to the right and then decided to cross the "path" about 15 feet from us, how cool!

Here I am at the top!

Once we arrive at the top we headed down the Barr Trail thinking it would be quick. It took us 1 hour & 15 minutes to hike up the Incline and 1 hour to hike down Barr Trail. It was almost 9:30 by the time we got to the car. As you can imagine it was very dark! And a little scary with no flashlights. We love our Colorado and now we are true locals, thank you very much.

at a loss for words.

Everyday I want to post something on the blog... everyday I think to myself, "Self, what would you write about?"

I'm not a storyteller and I ain't no eloquent writer.

Lately I've been intimidated by how great other people's blog stories and lives are compared to mine.

I will think of something soon. Sorry for the delay if you're reading this.

The Military Wife

Being military has its ups and downs and we've been able to made the best of both so far. One of the downs is being apart at times. David went TDY (temporary duty) this morning. This means he flew to Ohio to take another military law class. This a great thing for his career because he can continue to learn and gain more legal knowledge in areas he hasn't gotten to focus on. I believe this week's class is on family law. Each JAG is able to specify which classes s/he would like to go to throughout the year. Then depending on space in the class and the timing with cases and other office things they are sent to the class if possible. I think that a TDY can be any temporary duty including deployment, just as a FYI.

For some reason I am really emotional today. I really hate being away from David. Who doesn't right!? But, after I dropped him off at the airport I went to church. I was really looking forward to church because we have loved the worship we've had there so far. It was a rough time though today. I was sitting alone of course and then the preacher does this "talk amongst the people you're sitting by" thing. Um, yeah no one talked to me. I know that sounds like a pity party thing but I'm new and know no one! I know there were others who didn't get talked to as well and I just don't get that!! It's church, the body... why would we leave anyone out? I can't say I am innocent and have never done this but when you become the new person you realize all the things that you need to be sensitive to in the future. The people sitting right by me had the closed off body language and turned themselves the opposite direction from where I was sitting. This just really hurt. Besides that whole thing, at least I was challenged by the sermon.

Wrigley and I are just trying to get through this hot day in the upper 90's with no A.C.!
Here's a beautiful snapshot I'll leave with you, a picture from our window as the sun set on Friday night. Thanks Lord! The mountain on the left is Pike's Peak.