5 Years!!

On March 1st, ADB and I celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary! Has it been five years already!?! To celebrate, ADB and I decided to vacation in Sedona, Arizona. Well, actually, ADB planned the trip as a surprise, but couldn't keep the secret and so told me where we were going. I was so excited. I have never been to Arizona or seen the Grand Canyon!

Sedona is in the northern part of Arizona about 2 hours north of Phoenix. Beautiful landscape. It is known as the Red Rock Country. Amazing! We spent most of our time hiking the different trails to the Red Rocks and up the Red Rocks. Here are some photos:

This one is called Bell Rock. We hiked 3/4 of the way to the top. After a certain point, we couldn't find a trail and didn't want to risk our lives free climbing.

At the top (or what we called the top) of Bell Rock. Aren't the rocks in the background amazing. They just jet up from the ground in these huge formations.

This is the view from on top of Cathedral Rock. We hiked around the bottom of the one right. It was called Courthouse Butte.

Another view the other way.

One day, we drove to the Grand Canyon. It was about a 2 hour drive. The drive was amazing. You drive about 10 miles north of Sedona (where it was about 70 degrees) and you start to see all these pine trees and snow. Yup, we were driving up in elevation. We went from 4000 ft. in Sedona to 8000 ft. We drove through Flagstaff, AZ where people go skiing. It had about a 100 inch base when we went through.

The Grand Canyon was mesmerizing. Such depth and width. If we ever go back again, we want to hike down to the bottom. With the binoculars, you could see paths and even a ranch at the bottom called Phantom Ranch. We even were able to see the Colorado River. Yeah for binoculars.

Right off the trail at the top of the Grand Canyon there were some elk just resting in the snow. Three of them to be specific. My dream was to see a moose, but the elk will have to do. Those things were huge. Yes, that is snow at the Grand Canyon. ADB and I were talking on our way back to Sedona about what a shock it would be to walk up to the Grand Canyon as an early explorer. Or, what if after walking or riding my horse a ways, they stopped a few yards short of the Grand Canyon and decided to turn around. You can't really see it unless you are near the edge. I hope that didn't happen to any of the early explorers because if it did it would be such a bummer. There was extreme greatness within just a few more feet.

We aren't really known for taking a lot of pictures, but on this trip we took over a hundred. So needless to say, there are lots more I could share, but I hope I gave you a good glimpse. If you ever get the chance....go to Sedona!! ADB and I thought about moving there and driving the pink Jeeps that go all over the red rock country (these jeeps are made to go where I don't think any automobile has ever gone before), but pinks not our color.

Snow?

This is what we woke up to on Saturday morning. SNOW! We didn't think they really got snow in Memphis, but we were wrong. Anyway, it was pretty and reminded me of the North. Needless to say, by noon a good bit of it was melting. We hear snow doesn't last that long and so if you want to build a snowman, you can't wait.





The cherry blossoms didn't really know what to think.

Another Tapawingo

When I first came to know my little place of joy aka "Tapawingo". I thought to myself, what an unusual name. I'm sure they must have made this up. After working there for some summers, I found out that there are several places named Tapawingo. A restaurant and yes even other camps, not to mention another girls camp. So, this threw off my idea that they made up this name. As I continue to venture through this great thing called life, I continue to find places called Tapawingo. Just the other day, ADB came home from a men's breakfast with a flyer for a men's retreat. As I perused this flyer (because I want to know all the fun things they will do) I saw the name "Tapawingo". I thought, "How can men and Tapawingo ever be associated together? This is strictly a men's thing he is going to." (A little background here, the Tapawingo I know is an all girls camp. I worked there for many years.) Then I saw it...Tapawingo Golf. What?? A golf course named after my (okay, I know it isn't mine, but it is very dear to me) little precious island. How can this be?? So, I looked online to verify that it was really called Tapawingo. Much to my dismay, there it was. You can check it out yourself. Tapawingo National Golf Club. It is in St. Louis, MO. www.tapawingogolf.com

I guess for some men (including my husband) a golf course could be a place of joy. Tapawingo means place of joy. Well, if he does go on the retreat, I want him to visit this Tapawingo (I'm sure he will jump at the opportunity to place golf) and tell me if it compares to the little island where fond memories do linger. So, my dear Tapawingo sisters, yet another Tapawingo....add it to the list.