The Arches!
These pictures are of a trip Josh just took to the Arches last week with a bunch of buddies from Utah. It was awesome and from what he tells me plus all the pictures, it sounds like he had a total blast. On their last day there, they took a grueling ten-mile hike that just about tested everybody to the max, literally climbing straight down (and back up) through the rock structures without any foot or hand holds, having to use their backs and arms to brace themselves as they climbed up and down through the rocks....sounds like a blast (NOT!) for us armchair adventurers! He still can barely move from the hike! One of the pictures in the slide show is of a lady who was tucked away among the rocks, playing Indian music on some instrument, similar to the flute. Josh said it sounded so cool to hear her play that beautifully haunting music among the rocks. It's so beautiful here....just another trip I have added to Maddie's and my "Must Do" list in the not-so-distant future!
Josh's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
Okay, I need to apologize here because since I am so behind the times, I am posting alot of these things out of order but better late than never I hope! Back on January 18th, Josh ran his very first half-marathon, P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon. It was crazy...if I remember correctly, they started out in Phoenix, ran through Scottsdale and ended up at ASU. I'd never seen so many people in one place at one time...there were something like 22,000 people who ran the half-marathon and 6,000 who ran the full marathon.
Waiting on the finish line for Josh to cross was one of the neatest things I've ever experienced...it was incredible. Josh had run that race for Doug and I definitely felt his presence there that morning. The second Josh crossed the finish line, I called Grandma on the phone and neither of us could stop crying for the longest time....it was incredibly emotional for all of us. I had never in my life seen such determination on someone's face as I did when I saw Josh about to finish. And, somehow, in the midst of trying to finish the race, he had still managed to send me a text to let me know when to expect him at the finish line... talk about the ultimate multi-tasker! His official time was 1 hour, 59 minutes and 35 seconds! This was really something to be proud of, Josh, and believe me when I tell you this will not soon be forgotten.
When Justin and Erica traveled back east for a few weeks in February, their favorite stop, by far, was Gettysburg. They absolutely fell in love with it and sent me, literally, hundreds of pictures. They were fascinated by its rich history and captivated by the sheer beauty and quaintness of the town. Though I've never visited there, my sister tells me that as pretty as Gettysburg is in February, when these pictures were taken, it is absolutely breathtaking in the spring when everything begins to turn green and the flowers begin to bloom after the long, cold winter. I literally had to go through several hundred pictures to select some for the blog but the few that I have chosen do not even begin to tell the story of Gettysburg. I hope y0u enjoy them as much as I have and please ask Justin and Erica if you have any questions...they have become experts on the area and would love to pass on their knowledge (especially when it comes to the ghosts!)
I do believe Doug was there for that one; so was Josh heart and soul. Love ya, Aunt Velda
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