The TattleTale Gazette: TABLEROCK, 2011.

As you might remember, my friend Stacie and her family were in a horrible plane accident last year. Visiting her in the hospital was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It turns out, it was also a life-altering day for me. I followed Stacie's progress religiously, rejoicing the day she --get this-- got new LEGS. Somewhere along HER journey, it occurred to me, I have two perfectly normal legs that I certainly didn't use to their full potential. In January (of 2011 of course) I bought a gym membership and shortly thereafter, hired a personal trainer. And I began to work HARD. There were days of debilitating soreness and complete frustration when I thought of giving up but then I'd think of my beautiful friend. Back to the gym I'd go. My journey has never been about losing weight (though that has most certainly happened). My goal (to this day) is to be healthy, capable and STRONG. The amazing thing I've learned (from all my new gym rat friends) is "strong" is never finitely achieved. It's something you work on FOREVER!!! One of the proudest moments of my journey was the day someone asked me, "What's the magic number? When do you stop?" and without hesitation, I said, NEVER. (Tell a story like that to your trainer. I think he almost did a backflip). However, when you are on a never-ending journey, it is still important to have goals. Since my journey isn't about a number on the scale, my goals come in the form of a STRONG BUCKET LIST. Hiking Tablerock was first on my list. At only three months into training, this wasn't a particularly easy feat. Jessie and I hiked it together -- stopping a thousand times along the way (dang if the top part isn't the steepest). But, WE DID IT. And now, I am UNSTOPPABLE. Go, legs, go!

TEAM COUSIN

HE NEVER SAID THE JOURNEY WOULD BE EASY, HE ONLY SAID IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.

READY . . . GO!

THE OLD PENITENTIARY

OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY OF NOT-QUITE-GREEN-YET TREES!

GUESS NOW THAT WE TOOK A BREAK FOR PHOTOS, WE BETTER . . .

FINISH THIS OUT!

THE MOMENT WE GOT TO THE TOP, I FOUND A LADYBUG CRAWLING ON ME!

LADYBUGS ARE MY SYMBOL OF ADVENTURE. MY FAVORITE MOVIE SCENE TELLS OF A LITTLE GIRL HUNTING LADYBUGS IN THE GRASS. FINDING NOT A SINGLE LADYBUG, SHE FALLS ASLEEP AND WAKES TO "LADYBUGS CRAWLING ALL OVER" HER. ALTHOUGH I AM DEFINITELY A LADYBUG HUNTER AND ADVENTURE SEEKER, MY FAVORITE ADVENTURES LAND IN MY LAP WHEN I AM LEAST EXPECTING THEM.