Red River Gorge

July wrapped up with an amazing adventure. Ross has been wanting to climb in the Red River Gorge in eastern Kentucky for years. Two of our friends were getting married in the western part of the state, so we took this opportunity to spend a few days camping and climbing. I'm not much of a climber, but over the years Ross has taught me to keep him safe and alive by belaying for him

Packed up and ready to roll

To be honest, I was trying to keep my expectations pretty low for this trip. I love camping, but felt pretty indifferent about the climbing. I knew it meant a lot to Ross, so I was really excited for him, but I could take it or leave it. Oh how wrong I was. It was amazing. The area was so beautiful and spending a day in the car plus two full days working together on the rock face was kind of like a couples retreat. There was lots of teamwork and communication and it's incredible to watch the person you love crush wall after wall and see him thrive.

Home for a few nights

Restaurant in front, camping out back

 

You can see how I spent my days

Not a bad view to wake up to

Hey that's me! I completed a route.

A Decade

Ten years ago I stood beside my sister and held her 50 pound bouquet as she held the hands of the man who had won her heart. They promised to love and cherish each other until they are parted by death. And I finally got the brother I'd always wanted.

As time has gone on, I realize just how truly special it is to have a brother-in-law like Bryan. I consider myself incredibly lucky to consider him a dear friend. See the thing is that the three of us were all friends in college. (Well technically we were all friends even though I knew Kandice already thought he was the bee's knees.) They still lived in town after they got married as I finished college. I have such sweet memories of dinners at their house and cups of coffee on their couch. So many hours spent together truly enjoying and knowing each other. 

This past decade has been full of so many memories, but to sum it up, I just never could have dreamed of a better brother. He's fun, wise, adventurous, a loving husband to my sister, and caring father to my nieces. I'm so thankful for him. 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY B&K! Thank you for your example of a loving marriage. I look forward to what the next decade has in store. (And be glad I'm traveling and can't dust off more old pictures.)

College days before the wedding

Teaching the city boy to be a farmer

Week long backpacking trip in Colorado

First time seeing him as a dad

Ten years after saying "I do"

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Note: I wrote this post and then forgot to publish it. Enjoy it a few weeks late!

Last Saturday was one of those perfect neighborhood days that make me love life in the city. The day started with a 5 minute bike ride to help a friend move into her new apartment. We've been friends for years and are so excited she's moving to our part of the city. I see lots of porch beers, bike rides, and trips to the community pool in the near future.

Then it was time to prep for our first cookout of the summer! Ross prepped the burgers while I mixed the lemonade. (Is it just me or does Country Time lemonade taste like summer?) After a few hours of food and friendship, we walked the party down the street to the Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival. It was packed! I loved seeing so many people out enjoying this "secret" part of the city. It was a perfect afternoon to sit outside, have a beer, and enjoy some great blue grass.

What's a perfect day in YOUR neighborhood? 

Family photo at the festival!

Simple Truths

This morning I felt like I was living in a #tbt picture. After my physical therapy appointment, I took my old metro stop to work. It’s been years since I rode the metro to work everyday, but as soon as I grabbed my paper and started walking down the escalator it felt like I’d never stopped.

I knew to walk cautiously in these shoes because the soles sometimes slip on the escalator. I knew the exact spot to stand on the platform to be at the door when the train arrived. (And of course that is the exact door you want to catch the escalator at my transfer stop.)  I stood and read the paper with one hand and my brain still knew when to stop reading and start toward the door. As I made my way to the perfect spot to catch the next train, I realized this commute will always be a part of me.

Our days are made up of all these mundane tasks; commuting to work, eating lunch, making tea, doing laundry. And yet it's those little moments that make up your life, that shape who you are. It’s such a simple truth that should impact how I view every hour of every day.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. - Annie Dillard

I Dreamed a Dream

This is not the post I planned to write. I had been thinking of a post telling all about this great adventure I was preparing for and then doing a few recaps afterward. Instead, I’m writing this post to say my dream is on hold. I will not be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro next month.

The dream started my senior year of college. Three of us sat around at our favorite coffee shop and the topic of climbing to the roof of Africa came up. We decided then and there we would do it together one day. But then life happened. We graduated, got married, bought houses, had kids (well, they did) and realized that our evite planned trip for 2010 might not be in the cards.

This February I was training for a half marathon and preparing for a ski vacation when Ross found out two of our friends were climbing Kilimanjaro in May. My jealousy quickly changed to excitement as I made plans to join them.

After our vacation, I went on my last long run two weeks before the race and everything was fine. But as I walked to a friend’s house that night, my foot started to hurt. I tried to rest it for a day or two, but the pain was getting worse and not going away. By the time I got to the doctor, it was better and he confirmed it was tendonitis. I should skip the half marathon to heal in time for Kili.

Then last week, out of nowhere, for no apparent reason, I sprained my toe. I was just walking on flat ground in flats. I knew then my dream was on hold. I couldn’t trust my foot to be healed enough to climb a 19,000 foot mountain.  I was crushed. I went back and forth for a few days trying to decide if I should try to make it work. I knew the answer but just didn’t like it.

I realized too that this dream of mine is somewhat of a frivolous dream. Not reaching it means I won’t get to spend money to go on a difficult week long hike and see a some cool stuff along the way. I have so much to be grateful for and I shouldn’t throw myself a pity party.

Maybe one day, Ross and I will both be healthy and in a place where we can try to take this trip again. But maybe not, and that’s ok. For now, I’m excited to help my friends prepare for their once in a lifetime trip and eagerly anticipate hearing every detail when they return.