So, a couple of weeks ago I go bouncing down the stairs at a friends home... on my BUM!! (well, more like my tailbone.) I was holding Isaiah and was more afraid to drop him than to hurt myself. He was fine. I went to the chiropractor- four days later- my pelvis was a little out, and my tailbone was merely bruised.

So, two weeks later and I'm starting to forget that there was any injury.

Valentines: Jer buys me a pink snowboard helmut and goggles. (I haven't "hit the slopes" since ... 1999?? -On the Swiss Alpes, mind you!... okay, unless you count the stairs at my friends home "hitting the slopes!")

So, Jer's turn to plan our date. Friday nights at Big White: 5 bucks for four hour lift ticket!! We go.

Keep in mind, with driving and grabbing a bite to eat we're lookin' at a 6 hour date here!! Sitters are hard to come by for an evening half that long! Our list of sitters is exhausted- after at least 10 different phone calls. So, it ends up that we puzzle the night of sitters together. Troy, Jer's mentor and an elder at our church, takes off work early to come and hang with our boys for a couple of hours. Jer's mom finishes her full day of work and heads over to allow Troy to go home to his own family. Jer's dad joins mom after he is done at work, and helps feed and put our boys to bed.

Meanwhile... I'm gettin' my butt WOMP'D!!

Well, it's been eight years or so... and the board wasn't adjusted right for the first three runs down... and the boots were actually 4 sizes too big, and only for the last run did I actually have Jer tighten the laces for me... and....

Okay, so I didn't do too terribly. I cut back and forth a bit; snowplowed a fare share. Carefully timed my moves to avoid hitting other people, or falling down in front of them.

Jer, on the otherhand, after only his third time boarding was lookin' like a pro!! ;)

He's a natural athlete, and has the guts, pride and determination of a man. He's also got a friend who hasn't let him "whimp out". I, on the other hand, have no pride to become a pro at this. I have three little children who still need me in one piece. So, needless to say, I was quite happy to be cautious as I made my way down the mountain.

Snowboarding requires COMMITMENT to the turns, and IGNORANCE of the dangers. Using caution, I'm afraid, mostly results in falling on your bottom end; namely, the tailbone!!

Jeremy was a patient and committed student teacher for me. (He was actually a bit surprised, and perhaps relieved, that I didn't "show him up". He figured I'd pick it up like an old pro after my past "experience"- all of eight times in my life that I've snowboarded!!)

Anyway, to make this long experience short. We had a blast together. We were SOOO blessed to have a nice long date together. I had the chance to use my valentine's gift. I felt young again. Today I feel old. Older even than before I went. I'm sore today- the day after... all over my body. I ache. Did I mention my tailbone hurts??

But guess what. We're already planning our next trip up the mountain. I'm going again. I'm duct-taping my pillow to my back-side. I'm hittin' back a "Jolt" drink or two, and then I'm gonna go nuts! (I'll make sure Jer and I finally write up our "Will and Testament" before then.)

ps: the smiling photos are both taken AFTER the experience, so you can see how happy I was to get off the mountain!!! (just kidding; we both had such a great time together I couldn't help but smile!)