Today, I learned how to fly

Since I have come home from college, I really have not had a lazy moment. Yesterday, I spent the day with old friends, and today, the family celebrated my Dad's 50th birthday with the best idea my mom has ever had - North Georgia Canopy Tours. Basically, we went zip lining for 3 hours this afternoon! It was the 6 of us, plus these 2 hilarious ladies.

Having never gone zip lining before, I was hopeful that my fear wouldn't get the best of me. When we got there, we did a practice run on a run that was 6 feet off the group. Easy. No sweat. They promised the tour started off "low and slow" and built up to "high and fast." Looking at the first one made me nervous about my future, but I quickly learned that there was nothing to it. The guides securely clip you in, you put your weight in the harness, lean back, and fly.

We were told there would be one point where we would have to repel - again, something I have never done before. And yes, when we reached that point of the tour, fear almost over took me. It's simply not rational. You want me to step off the edge and trust this rope can hold me. But, I swallowed that fear, and surprising, it was as easy as the zip lining.

I loved today because for the first time in years, I experienced a family outing that was pure fun. There was no fighting, no awkward exchanges, and no sadness. Dad, Mom, Kyle, Liz, Todd, and I - we talked, we laughed, and we simply had fun. It's a memory I will be able to look back on and not remember one negative thing, which seems to be rare lately. We even came home and had a wonderful dinner with Grandma and Bill (her new boyfriend, of sorts). Today was a day full of so much love.

It was the best gift we gave Dad. He didn't want a party. He didn't want to make it a big deal. He told us he wanted to spend his birthday with his family - I think we were able to provide a pretty good birthday gift.

Hey Dad - Happy 50th Birthday!