Day 6

The middle two pictures are Jason shooting.

The last picture is what the target looks like through the scope.

The targets are only 9 inches by 15 inches.

Jason and I both hit a 920 yard target today on the first shot.

We shot 1200 yards today (1800 is a mile), me with a .223 and

Jason with a .308.

They say a .223 can't shoot that far. . . : )

Well, I did it today!!!

So, I am definitely going back again tomorrow for more.

: )

Day 5

Day 5 went really well. Our furthest distance today was 550 yards.

The picture of me shooting from behind shows how far we were shooting

across the valley.

I am enjoying it so much, I asked if I could stay for one more day.

So, I am going again tomorrow too. I am not sure,

but I might ask to stay Friday too.

I am really enjoying the training!

Days 3&4

I did not post yesterday because I was so exhausted after

our first day of class. I am pretty wiped out now too, so this is

going to be fast.

So far I am actually really enjoying the training.

I really enjoy shooting, and I am learning how to do it right.

We are in a class of 13 and I am the only girl, but you can

ask Jason, I seem to be keeping up just fine.

Jason is doing really well, he is shooting on a new gun,

and that can be really tough, but he has it sighted in well.

Our last shot today we shot 270 yards (almost 3 football fields)

and we both hit the target on our first shot.

Jason is much better with the calculations that are required for

long distance shooting, but so far, I am at least getting it.

We are having a good time working together.

Tomorrow is my last day of training, and I am anxious to get in more

long-range shots.

I don't know if I will have the energy to post tomorrow, but hopefully

I will post by Thursday.

Day 2 in Arizona

Day 2, we headed to Tucson and Tombstone. We drove straight through Tucson to see Tombstone. I would like to go back eventually to see Tucson as it is a beautiful city with a mountain range backdrop.

When we arrived in Tombstone, it turned out it was their huge parade that they only do once a year, and everyone was decked out in Western wear. The pictures above are from the parade. We then went to the silver mine (pictures in last post), and then walked around the town for awhile. Because Tombstone was almost four hours from where we are staying, honestly we spent most of the day in the car, but it was worth it. Arizona is beautiful!!!

Good Enough Mine in Tombstone, AZ

The black stones at our guide's feet are actually ore deposits which are what

is used to process into silver when it is mixed with other chemicals.
The entrance into the mine

Tombstone's claim to fame. . . the silver mine that made the town rich.

Called the "Good Enough Mine".

When the first miner began looking for precious stones,

people told him the only thing he was going to find was his tombstone.

When he became rich from his silver discovery, he named the town Tombstone.

Our guide was SOOOO informative and I learned a ton about silver mining.

I had no idea what an extensive process it is/was.

October 18th, 2008 (Arizona)

Arizona Day 1

We arrived in Arizona yesterday. The trip was essentially uneventful except for during the four hour flight to Phoenix, Dawn was seated next to a lady who thought it would be fine to have her elbow halfway into Dawn's seat. Dawn spent most of the trip half on Jason's lap trying to avoid being elbowed over and over and over. And when Dawn asked if she could get up to use the restroom, the woman literally rolled her eyes at her. Good grief, what has happened to kindness and common courtesy????????

Anyway, after we landed in Phoenix, it went up from there.

We got our rental car, which has built in Sirius radio. Never used that before, but it is actually really cool.

Then we headed to a local burger joint called "Whataburger" because we

were both starving. I thought it ironic that we both ordered chicken from "Whataburger".

We headed out to our hotel and then drove up Interstate 17 for awhile. Absolutely beautiful!!

We met Kathy and Jeff for dinner at a local western joint with campfires at each table so that you could roast your own marshmallows. It was very cool.

Today we are going to go out and explore the Tucson/Tombstone area with Jeff and Kathy.

Hopefully I will have lots more pictures!

Beautiful morning

Questioning

There are times in life when I feel like I am looking in. . .
Looking in through a portal, through glass that distorts everything.
I want to see clearly, to understand why,
But I won't, not now, maybe never
On the other side of that glass is reality, is meaning. . .
Is the answer to the mystery of life.
The meaning of suffering, grief, pain. . .
and of joy, celebration, and happiness.
The harder I look, the more foggy and distorted the glass becomes,
until I find myself looking into my own reflection.
When I try to understand, I take my focus off of Heaven. . .
Off of the temporary station that I live and breathe in

A mere vapor is what I am
I must stop looking, striving, struggling,
and start living, gazing upwards,
but then how, how will I see?
How will I see what is in front of me?

Dawn's Car- Shark Bait

Our Pit Crew

Jason at York Fair

BEFORE

AFTER

Check this out

We caught this possum on our deck trying to eat our cat's

food. Our poor cat, raccoons, possums, other stray cats, and even

birds eat her food. No wonder she is always hungry! : )

Masai Mara

And this is how I see Masai Mara. I have seen it high places and have searched the heart of it, but the way I shall always see it is from a log deck overseeing the land, a far horizon etched with eucalyptus trees, foggy and faint yellow in the morning, bright scorching gold at noon, gray waving grasses lined with red at sunset. I have the memory of fierce, golden felines stalking their prey, of small frightened deer watching with terrified glances. And I see a lake, a shining lake, rippled with movement, silver-blue, with shadows of trees reflecting in the gathering dusk. A bright star burns far off upon the mystery of the wild, and the wildlife is enchanting and inspiring. We watch at the stone wall with excited gasps, and suddenly a leopard stands out against the darkness, a wild leopard, untamed by man with unusual beauty in its exotic coat, its contrasting coat, comes out of the still night- the first hint of my love for Masai Mara. That will always be part of my soul. It was mesmerizing and unbelievable, like a dream, like faraway hope that would never come true.

This World Called Africa

Alone, lost alone
In this world called Africa

The high, sparse grass
Waving in the wind

Dancing, moving,
Like a chant in full sway

The drums rolling,
The dancing and beating

The clack of bones,
Dry bones floating on the wind

The sweet smell of spice,
Of roses, of pepper trees

Lost, alone, lost
In this world called Africa

The browns and reds,
The dark, heavy earth

The rhythms, the dancing
On a dark, cloudy day

The fire, the spark
The smoke surrounding

Enveloping, closing in
Taking the air away

In this world,
this frightful world,
In this world called Africa

Ashley, Beth, and Dawn

Lasik

Jason just had Lasik eye surgery done in Philadelphia. He has to keep his eyes closed for the next four hours, so we are just hanging out at a hotel. Actually, I am out in the lobby because my typing was keeping him awake. : )
He has his follow-up appointment in the morning and then we head home. So far, everything went well. Thank you Lord!!!

Half Marathon VA Beach

13.1 miles

The second half marathon I have ever run. It went FANTASTIC!!

The first one I ran in 2 hrs 29 min. This one I ran in 2 hrs 8 min.

That is a HUGE improvement for me!! I ran 10 min/miles

the whole way!!

Beth did really well too, she ran it in just over 11 min/miles.

Ashley's knees were really bothering her, so she walked and ran and finished in about

3 hours which is pretty impressive for walking a good bit of it.

I am already trying to plan my next one.

I LOVED it!!!
P.S. the pic below is before the race- we didn't look quite so happy

when we were done! : )

Virginia Beach

Ashley, Beth, & Dawn

Update Aug 2009

Well, my summer class is officially over, and I have started my fall classes. I have two classes this semester, Theories of Personality and Counseling Assessment Techniques. I am hoping to back off to just one class a semester in January so that I don't feel quite so stretched with everything else. This Sunday I will be running a half marathon in Virginia Beach. I ran the York 10 mile rail trail run last Saturday and it went really well. Jason drove me down to the race and cheered me on, which was really awesome! Volleyball at church starts soon, and I can't wait. I love playing volleyball. Well, that's about it for now.