Paradise Valley

There is a part of Clarksville that many never get to see. I have been geocaching for less than a year and it has taken me to places I know I would never have visited. One of those places is Paradise Valley, you won't find it on a map, it's just there. It's between Madison Street and Memorial Drive.

This is the jeep tail down to the valley.
Once in the valley, there is a stream, to small for kayaking, but it sounds great.
You can't hear any traffic, all you do hear is the wind in the trees and the water moving slowly to wherever it meets the Cumberland River miles away.

Looking up you see moss covered rocks and steep cliffs along the way.

A frozen waterfall, yes it was cold this morning, but you had to see this. The green moss encased in frozen wonder.

The old dam, and it's small waterfall.

The view from on top of the dam.

Wow, that was too much like a National Geographic special.

Yea, I had to get that close.

The fun part?

Jumping over this to get to my car.

Christmas Day 2009

Christmas morning finally arrived after starting way back in Mid-October. All my girls arrived at 6am sharp to start our traditional Christmas morning with Stacy's breakfast casserole and gift exchanging.

Every year we all agree to downscale the giving, we all promise that we will not overdue it the next year. One year we may actually follow through with it, this was not it.

Nichole, Emma, Mandy and West, just getting started. After about an hour, we broke and ate the casserole, then ate some more. After eating, it was back to opening gifts.

Emma spotted her shopping basket and it was just about game over for her. She didn't seem interested in much else until later in the morning.

Lisa, (at least her backside) Emma, Mandy and West, still opening.

David, all but buried in gifts and wrapping paper. Did I mention we were cutting back this year?

This is our step son, Moor-Reece!

Honestly, it's Jerry, a very good friend of the family. We have welcomed him into our home and will miss him as he travels back to Orlando where he lives and goes to school. We were so glad he could join us for the holidays.
Nichole doing sit ups, cause everyone loves her so much and because she is so cute and everyone loves her and she is so cute and.....blah blah blah.....

Emma actually on top of one of her presents unwrapping it.

We exchanged many gifts, but the most interesting and disturbing thing I received was this thing.

It was sent from California from our good friends Larry and Cynthia. As best as we could determine, it was a river rape whistle with compass. That way, I could alert the river people where I was, then be able to describe which way the river people went after being attacked by them.

The best gift, in my opinion this year? A ticket to the CHARGERS/titans game Christmas night.

Oh yea baby!

David and I bundled up before the start of the game in Nashville.

Glad I brought my Bolt hat, it gave the Chargers good luck.

Pregame introductions.We had great seats, here I am enjoying L.T. score a touchdown against the titans.

And the extra point is good!

It was a great Christmas because I got to spend it with the people I love.

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Emma is Two Years Old

Last Saturday we celebrated Emma's second birthday with a party at Lisa's apartment.

Emma and Lisa chillin' in the chair.
Busting into the presents.
Dress up shoes.

Aunt Didi and Emma playing with babies.
Aunt Didi and Uncle David getting thier book on.
Thanks Poppy, I love the grapes.
Decked out in her bling and dress up shoes.

Best part, the cake, Nana loves the cake.

Kayak Trip 12/21/09

Ok, this is where I am starting this years kayak trip. Billy Dunlop Park in Clarksville TN. It's a long and curvy route on the Red River, then connecting to the Cumberland behind Two Rivers Mall. Based on my calculations, it's a 2 to 3 day trip.

I have not been on this part of the river before, and Google Maps is sketchy. But if you never try something, you will never know if you can do it.

There will be some shallow points and some areas where I will have to carry my gear, but it's all about the journey.

Stacy would like me to take someone with me, but I have yet to find anyone who will do this with me. Go figure.

Life is what you make it, take some chances, make some choices, just have some fun.

These photos were taken 12/18/09 and the flow looks good.

Emma's New Words

We met up with Lisa and Emma at the OG this morning. Lisa picked up a shift, so we got to have Emma hang with us all day. Emma got into her car seat and she got ready for our normal Saturday routine.

Strapped into her backseat car seat and ready to go, she gives me the eyes, a slight pout, and says, "Poppy, money." Then, she puts her hand out and repeats her request, "Poppy, money."

I said, "What?"

Emma responds with, "Peeze, Poppy, money."

So, as Stacy explained it, "She said please, give your grand baby some money." So now, I'm being shaken down by another generation of women in this family.

Emma and her "Peeze Poppi Money."

Through the Eyes of a Child

You have heard that you have to "stop and smell the roses", or "slow down your moving too fast". Either way you look at it, it makes sense. I have been in a crappy mood because I feel Christmas is way to commercial.

Christmas, lately, has been about retail, not Christ. Kick God out of schools, law suits against city's with Nativity scenes, it's all about the bottom line.

I had lost my Christmas spirit until I took Emma and Stacy to the River walk and the lights this past Monday.

Emma was amazed at the surroundings and could not stop pointing at the lights.
She made sure that everyone there knew about the lights.

She truly enjoyed the River walk, and gave me a new perspective.

It's been a long time since I have seen Christmas though the eyes of a child. You know, I can overlook the commercialism, sales margins and the greed of Christmas, knowing that Christmas is about Christ.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

I pray that you find the Light of Christmas, Christ Jesus, this Holiday Season.

May God bless you, may God keep you, and I wish you all the best.

Amen.