Summer Part 3 - Niagara Falls

Well the next part was probably my favorite of the entire trip. The pics tell all. God's power is amazing!!!

This is after the falls looking back up towards them its so peaceful no hint of what just came down the river or the rapids that the river is fixing to turn into. It is beautiful.

These two pictures above and below is called the whirlpool its a 90 degree sharp turn of rapids class VI rapids that is but it looks like it would be fun to raft.
The American Falls from the Niagara State Park in NY. This little section is Bridal Falls and you can climb this deck and stand under it.The bottom of the American Falls getting ready to climb to Hurricane Deck and stand under them. Hmmm I might get wet even with these fancy panchos.Yep getting wet and mom managed to get a picture yes that blur is water and yes it hurts when it hit you!!
On the Maid of Mist going to get close to the horseshoe falls oh wait I'm wet they already got close to me. The pics are great but its just water.The Horseshoe Falls from Niagara State Park in NY
We stayed on the Canadian side and this was our view of the American Falls at night and we could also see the Horseshoe Falls but the mist was so amazing you could hardly see the falls so... no pics posted. I mean I took over 200 I have to stop somewhere!!From the Canadian side the last two are the Horseshoe Falls up close and panoramic well sort of.

Summer Part Two

So after camp I braved the month long trip with the parentals. It was a lot of fun and I can proudly say I've been to close to every fort and battlefield in Pennsylvania and New York as well as President's Houses, gravesites, and captial buildings but it was fun. Here are the highlights of the first part.

In Pittsburg I wish we had more time here I really liked this city.

Pittsburg looking at 3 rivers and the point lots and lots of bridges. Really a cool city.

They were serious about not getting on the field at Heinz Field much less stand on it but mom snapped this picture before they yelled to get off!!

Not a huge Steelers fan but the tour of this field was really cool. Stadium is nice.

Serioulsy is it possible to eat this much chocalate?

There is serioulsy a town called Hershey and its where they make Hershey products Wow what a concept!!

My dad got excited about New Holland because he used to sell this equipment so it was kind of cool going to this plant in the middle of Amish country.

In a real Amish buggy - this nice couple gave us a tour of their farm.

Of course my dad loved this town and only the Amish could name a town "intercourse"

The whole country is litered with farms like these. Really pretty.

Summer Part One

Well I'm back to the furnace of Abilene but I've had a great two months off of work and stressful life (well at least not in the suicidal/homicidal clients stressful way) and got to spend ALOT of time with family. The first two weeks I headed to Camp and yes that can only mean Camp Blue Haven with Miriam, Rachel and Todd and the kiddos. Miriam and I taught pre-campers which was fun but very different from teaching jr. high. I hope the kiddos had fun and well I have a lot of pictures of them looking like they were having fun so that is going to count. It was a lot of fun to see all the cousins play together and get to be at Camp together. There was a fire threatening the area on Bear Mountain and while it added some different elements to 2nd session it was a blessing to get to see and spend a lot of time with my friend Polly whom I hardly ever get to see when up there. I could write so many stories about what the kids do and how Dawson liked to scare us by stopping his breathing one night but I'll let some pictures speak for themselves. I hope we can do this every year I guess at some point we might have to get my brother on board - hmmm to go to Camp well doubtful....

Thanks to Lance and Wayne I finally have gotten to go to Barillas Peak I can't say I've hiked it but it was beautiful and I got to hear all about repeaters and other really techy equipment!!!

Karlee is fearless although last year she went to the top of the swing but still....

The girls in their bling - apparently Brooke is not fond of bling

Proud Dad

Ava's favorite thing to do is get on my bed and mess it all up and get gritty dirt all in it and die laughing when I see her on it!!

Ava loves her little cousin Dawson but apparenlty he makes her tired.

Brooke loved to paint!!

Karlee dressing up as Lazaraus

Ava loving on Dawson again - oh wait he is asleep!!!

Karlee loved we let her put the green icing on her ice cream cone

POWER

My shirt says simply "fight for Julie." I don't know Julie except through her brother and sister in law my good friends Jenn and Steve. But I share this cancer journey with her so I have a connection with her and a lot of other people I know and people I've heard of. When I was at CBH a couple of weeks ago met an awesome young lady that shared her C word journey with me. It is a constant on my mind. So while I was at these amazing falls I opened my suitcase and here was this FightforJulie shirt in the work out pile. But this day I wore it because I was reminded that while this is a constant in our life the grandeur of these falls shows me the power of my God to kick this C word out of here whether on my time table or my way or in this life or the next it does not have the power - so I wear this shirt today in view of the great Thundering Waters as the Native Americans termed these falls in honor of all you out there who fight this battle with me and to all our loved ones who encourage us and provide the love and strength to battle.