Team 3G...

We're getting ready to head to the New River in West Virginia and play in the beautiful rush of the whitewater, but I'm realizing I never posted about our last trip out... The last trip on the river was the award winning team 3G - 3 generations, one raft and a victory! Grandparent, uncle, parent, brothers, wife and friend... Team 3G. I just wanted to share a few pictures with you from our trip. I cherish these memories!

a glimpse of true olympic spirit...

What is the point of the Olympics anyway? I've been wondering if there is anyone other than Michael Phelps on the US Team (though he is doing extremely well and I'm not knocking his ridiculous ability to become a fish in chlorinated water). With China's questionable practices of selecting "performers" over true singers and athletes, and Russia's leader watching a volley ball match while his troops are going to war, I've just struggled to get in this world stage of athletic competition. Today, I found an appreciation for this summer's games in Beijing. If you know me you know my love of whitewater. I've been pulling for this everyday guy Scott Parsons competing in the rarely televised event of whitewater kayaking. His everydayness is "something to smile about". Scott was out after his second run yesterday pushing him from 3rd to 20th...Here's where the olympic spirit come in...that third place position was taken by a man and a country that has never won an Olympic medal before.

See it here - http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0812_SD_MUL_AU_CE492 .


Benjamin Boukpeti took the bronze for the country of Togo (a country I admittedly had never even heard of before). Not only was this a first for Togo, it was a first for the sport...Boukpeti was the first black man to medal in kayaking. The true Olympic spirit shining through when someone from somewhere or nowhere can bring their abilities and break on to the world stage (even if it was at 2 in the afternoon when I had to be at work :) May it shine through a few more times over the next few days.

41st Anniversary of His 29th Birthday

Today our family is celebrating my grandpa Barney's 41st Anniversary of His 29th Birthday. (His 70th birthday but don't tell him.) Jeanine and I got to spend the day with him yesterday riding the waves of the New River...he's the only one in the family that didn't flip the whole day. Check out this short video of some whitewater fun with Barney.



To the man who always picked me up for church, taught me to fly airplanes, always tied my ties, and taught me to do the same, taught me how to paddle a kayak and the man who's socks I'm wearing even this morning as I get ready for church (I forgot to pack mine) - Happy Birthday, I mean anniversary! Thank you! Love you, Grandpa Barney!!