Mom, you should probably close your eyes....

Ever since we moved to this area, everyone we meet asks us if we rock climb. That is because this is perhaps one of the best places to climb in the country, and it draws climbers from all over. We may not have a Wal-mart, or a shopping mall, but we have a climber’s paradise less than ten minutes from our back door. But to a girl like me that’s scared of heights and loves some Anthropologie, that didn’t mean much.

Rock climbing has NEVER been on my to-do list. Rather, it was on my list of things that I could definitely, without a doubt, die without having any regrets that I didn’t try it. Right up there with eat a chocolate-covered grasshopper. Or have sex in an airplane. (Really, how do people do that?) Not that I don’t think rock climbing would be really cool-it’s just that peeing my pants while hanging from a rope didn’t seem like a fun way to spend my free time. No offense to those of you who get your kicks that way. Plus, I save the daredevil hobbies for my husband. He’s the one that survived a small plane crash.

So, on Friday when my boss Lisa invited us to go climbing with her and her husband, there must have been someone else inhabiting my body. Perhaps I hadn’t had enough coffee yet. Because I said yes. And then spent the next two days trying to figure out how to get out of it. I thought we were going bouldering, and the boulders I’ve seen in Alabama, they’re not that big. But no, this was the real deal, with ropes and everything.

And….I did not pee on myself! Or anyone below me!

I’m still trying to find the words to describe the experience. Hanging several dozen feet above ground was definitely outside of my comfort zone; yet once I concentrated on just finding the next foot and hand hold and just getting myself UP, it was like I forgot that the ground below was getting more distant with every move. And on my second climb, I got just a few feet from the top anchor. Yeah, I admit it-I felt like a bad-ass. I should tattoo it on each cheek: B-A-D A-S-S. And I’m not talking about my face.

But I’m going to go a step further and go all ‘rap artist accepting a VMA’ and give the honor to God. Because when I was getting nervous that I was clutching the side of a cliff, alone, I thought of a verse I had read the previous week:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” -2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

All I could think of was that the fear I was feeling (okay, more like utter terror) was not an emotion made by God; He fills us up to feel loved, comforted, even powerful. But not fearful. That comes from somewhere else. And I can’t, won’t live my life giving up to fear.

I know the next time I climb (there will be a next time; I’m hooked!) I’ll be nervous. But hopefully, somewhere between the ground and the sky, I can find a place of peace.

Sweet Home Alabama

We just returned from a week’s trip to Alabama. Well, technically we were in Alabama about five days, with 2 days of travel. (This whole not living close to a large airport thing is quite inconvenient.) During our stay we attended a good friend’s wedding and another’s reception, since they were on the same evening; saw both sides of the family, and spent time with as many friends as we could fit in. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see everyone, and of course the trip was way too short. We were reminded of everything we left behind; but also all the things we were happy to say goodbye to again; number one: the Birmingham traffic! I know it’s no Atlanta or NYC, but we now live in a town about 2.5 square miles in size and a speed limit of 25 mph on most streets. We can walk anywhere here in less time than it takes to drive out of our neighborhood in Birmingham! We felt like we literally spent most of our vacation in the rental car. It really is a totally different kind of life when you live in a small town.

Despite the things we don’t miss about Alabama, saying goodbye to the South and the friends and family we have there was really hard, for me at least. Chris had such a panicked look on his face when I started sobbing on the plane on the way back. I composed myself, thankfully, and was able to enjoy the rest of the ride back thinking about returning to the home we’ve made, and the Virginia dog that was there waiting for us.

I got to see my best friend Anna and her almost 4 year old Ava, the little dancing queen:


Also, two of my classmates have had babies since we graduated, and I got to meet their little boys as well. Here’s Julianne with little Jeremiah:


And Courtney with Stryker, who wasn’t feeling the photo op:



Chris and I spent the night in Vegas before we flew out. We had never spent any significant time there, and I was in awe at the décor in the casinos and hotels. We ate at one of Emeril’s restaurants, Table 10, and definitely recommend it. I could have explored in the Bellagio forever, it was definitely my favorite, but we were trying to hit as many places as we could in one evening.

The blown glass ceiling at the Bellagio:


The indoor garden:




Inside the Venetian:


Outside the Venetian:


View of the strip:


Me and my man:




We were sort of amazed by all the families with small children out at midnight in Vegas, with call-girl cards littering the ground and all. Oh, well. I guess you can take the girl out of the bible-belt...