Fall Break with the Nolan Balls Family

 Great start to a long weekend.  Klondike Bluffs with the crew.  14 miles of great riding. 

It had been raining for days prior to our trip so there weren't many canyons we could do.  Looking Glass was a great a climb with a fantastic rappel.  Everyone did so well on the 2 pitches to the top.  After lunch at the campground we headed into Arches to do Not Tier Drop.  Great big drops.  Beautiful views. The sun was just setting and the panaramic view was lovely.  

The next day was all did slick rock.  It was amazing for me to remember the first time I did it when Darren and I were dating.  Those are some great downhills and some punchy uphills or walk a bikes!  Then we headed back to Arches to do U-Turn.  Short and simple.  These canyons are all about family time.  Talking and stretching ourselves.  Its amazing to see everyone learning and pushing their limits.  

Each night we had dinner together and sat and visited.  "Amy questions" are fun.  Ranging from misisons plans, college plans, baby plans, girl friends, etc.  I love hearing it all.  On Sunday we opted to have "Canyon Church". Hike to Longbow Arch and have a few spiritual thoughts.  I even shed some tears seeing Gods hand in out lives, adding Sandra and her family to ours.  

September 2026- Dallas Texas South Mission, Spanish Speaking!

 September was a full month.  I spent a lot of time working for Canyons School District.  Testing special needs kids and subbing.  In my spare time, I worked on framing 20-plus pictures for our house.  I got in some bike riding with Abby and her middle school team.  And when Tyler and Ella came home every Monday and Tuesday, I cooked and prepped them food.  I got in a good hike with childhood friend, Tawnie Baldwin.  We hosted about 20 Finnish missionaries one Sunday.  What a great group of kids.  Then we got to watch them play steal sticks, which is always entertaining.  

The big news of the month was that Ella got a mission call to Dallas, Spanish-speaking.  So exciting.  She will be loved by so many there, and I know she will love it. 

Moab: Abby's Last Race, Tylers 21st Birthday

 Abby had a race in Moab, her last race in middle school.  Loading up 6 bikes is quite the feat!  We went down a day early with Jane.  We simul climbed Looking Glass arch and then rappelled down.  Abby and Jane did great.  

While they did the preride, I took my friend Shalene and her son Palmer to Cluster (Entrajo) canyon.  It was full of water!  They were new to rappelling and did amazing.  Even when we had a full-on swim at the end.  

Tyler and Ella drove down after college classes on Friday.  Saturday was Tyler's 21st birthday. We headed into Elephant Butte, the tallest peak in Arches.  It is so fun to canyoneer with them because we can do anything.  Great teamwork to get up some class 5 climbing.  Tyler had his camera and took lots of pictures.  Ella didn't have shoes, and I will chalk it up to "God's Hand in my Life" and not a coincidence...that we got her shoes and were able to do this canyon.  We made it to Abby's race, and she was amazing.  She is racing Advanced Girls and moved from 8th place to 7th place.  Tough competition.  She was amazing. 

That night, we hiked to Delicate Arch in the dark.  I asked everyone around us to sing Happy Birthday to my son, Tyler.  It was lovely.  A great end to a great day.  We stopped at the grocery store on the way home and got Ben and Jerry's to celebrate.  

Our last day in Moab was spent on a family bike ride.  Soren came.  It was amazing.  We rode a great downhill (with plenty of small uphills) trail: Eagle Eye, Falcon Flow, Kestral Run, and then back to our campsite downtown.  It was a great weekend, and one we all went home tired.