how romantic!

there's this one spot on the sandy river that joel and i have dubbed "our place."

i know just about every married couple has at least one spot like that - a restaurant, park, or remote spot. we've got a few, but this is probably the most special.
it's hard to get to in the winter, so we're always super excited when it gets just dry enough in the spring to climb down the muddy hill (it's practically a cliff) and hike on the rocks and around the rapids.

a few weeks ago we decided to take tim and heidi thomas to "our place." it didn't matter that it had rained that day and that it was already 8pm and dark was threatening... (overt foreshadowing)

so we drove, and hiked, and jumped on rocks... and it got dark.

we hurried back, not wanting to be stuck in complete darkness... only two major hurdles between us and the car: one last major jump across rapids, and climbing back up the muddy hill.
we reached the rapids - the boys jumped, no problem (boys!). heidi... let's just say she finally jumped with no problem.

...and then it was my turn.
and i looked. and i could barely see the rock.
and finally, i jumped. and i hit the rock. and my legs gave way.
and i was falling into the the rapid-y, waterfall-y, river

and then the most amazing thing happened.
my husband caught me.
and he lifted me out of the river.
and he saved me from hitting my head on the rock and going over the rapid.

at the time it was not very romantic. it was painful and startling. i was bruised, cut, wet, and shaking like a leaf.

but looking back on it is very romantic. :)

the treasured keepsakes of most romantic evenings come in the form of pressed flowers, special gifts, maybe a napkin from a special cafe...
~my memento is a scar.