This is an area that really lacked in my life until I met my husband. Not because I didn't have the opportunity, but because I just didn't want it. I never wanted to take any risk of any kind or test any of my fears. But, living with Craig Obrist... that's just not possible. He has challenged me to connect with nature more and have some adventure in my comfortable and boring life. :) Well, that's something that our kids have been blessed with since they've been born. They have a father that's quite creative and have them do things by thinking outside of the box in all areas of their life. Because of this, for the most part, they seem to really enjoy new ideas and adventure. Her first activity was a helicopter ride. Yes, a helicopter ride! I gifted Craig this for his 30th birthday many years ago (7 to be exact), but I didn't go on it with him and rather had his friends do it with him because I was pregnant, but honestly because I was afraid. :) But, this time... I was going to go for my kid. I was honestly VERY nervous inside, but didn't want to show any fear in case Emma should smell it from me and have a bad influence. I tried my hardest and wow... was I glad I did because what an experience it was! There was a part of me that was concerned that maybe Emma wouldn't go through with it, but wow... she was ecstatic from the beginning to the end and didn't want to get off... It's so crazy how once you do it and conquer a fear, you have this sense of accomplishment and confidence and such fulfillment. I think that's what overcoming fear does to you... you grow so much when you conquer fear because we are meant to live victoriously! We are called to be faithful, not fearful! God desires for us to be bold and courageous! You can't allow fear to suppress you and keep you from experiencing things. We all have fears in different areas of life, but we also have the capability to conquer them because whatever fear you may have, remember that Jesus has already conquered them all. I was one proud mama seeing my girl so brave...
The next day just when she thought that our trip was coming to an end, it wasn't over yet! We had another adventure coming... this time, it was zip lining! I totally remember her expressing how much she wanted to zip line, so we really wanted to make this happen. Because we were in the mountains, we knew that they would have some fun zip lining. I don't know what I was thinking, but I signed up too and when we got there, boy did I wish I didn't or what! When I saw how high it was, I was having some serious second thoughts. I have such fear of heights, and this was just very different from a helicopter ride type of heights, you know? Oh my gosh.... I just didn't know what to do. We already paid for it, so I didn't want to waste the money, but at the same time, I didn't know if I could do it. I started asking questions like, "So... if I throw up, can I not go?" "So... can I just come back down if I change my mind when I'm up there?" "So.... can I just get my money back?" Those guys thought I was kidding, but nope, I wasn't. I tried to sound funny only because my daughter was listening, but I was scared to death! At this point, I wasn't concerned about Emma at all because I was really deep in thought about if I was going to do this or not. Plus, I knew Craig had Emma completely covered. After we signed all the waivers, we were getting instructed with all the rules and then started getting trained.. Emma understood everything the first time whereas for me, I needed more explanation. LOL! After the "ground school", we went up the steps for the first real zip line. As we got higher and higher and higher, I kept saying, "Ok, I don't think I can do this...." Craig responded, "No, you can! You can do it baby! It's going to be so fun! Your'e going to regret it if you don't do it." I started breathing harder... I was in front of Emma, but because I kept telling the instructor that I can't do this anymore, he let her go ahead of me. Oh my gosh! She did it with such ease.... what?! Is she my daughter? I know inside, the instructor was getting annoyed, but was he was very patient with me. He kept assuring me that I'm going to have a great time. Then, I was in panic mode because all these things were strapped on to me, and I felt totally trapped. I almost started crying until on the other side, Emma spoke on the walkie talkie, "You can do it Mommy!" In that moment, I knew I had to just go. The instructor let me take my time.... I finally came to the edge, took a deep breath and let go.... Oh my goodness! It was soooooo much fun! Wow! I couldn't believe how fun and amazing it felt! LOL! After that, I wanted it to be my turn so badly again. Everyone cheered me on like a little kid. LOL... it was awesome. Between the helicopter ride and this, I think I did my share of conquering my fear of heights. I actually can't wait to go zip lining again!
Emma And The Castle Of Fear 2 Zi
At this juncture a great shout was heard from the castle-yard, and amoment later a servitor announced the return of the messenger who hadbeen sent to the king; and, the Earl of Hereford bidding him enter, aknight and squire, travel-stained and showing signs of a hasty journey,advanced up the hall and bowed before the daïs.
'My lady,' he said, holding one of her hands in each of his, but nottrusting himself to look in her face, 'I must bid thee farewell. I haveno right to remain longer in this castle. The king has forbidden ourmarriage. I had hoped to make thee my bride. Bride of my heart thouwilt always be!'
Many relatives of Harold had property in Norwich, and when Ralph deGuader had received his earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk, which Harold'sdeath on the field of Senlac had rendered vacant, he had taken pity onthe forlorn condition of the little damsel, whose male relatives hadbeen slain in the contest, and who was thus left without protectionfrom the insolent conquerors. De Guader had been amused by thepatriotic defiance the bereaved maiden of ten had flung at him, ratinghim as a renegade and a murderer, with other terms of equal politenesswhich had sounded oddly from her flower-like mouth, and perhaps hisconscience smote him, and told him they were not untrue. Her couragemoved his admiration and generosity, and, having no women-folk of hisown to whom he could confide her, he had induced William Fitzosbern theNorman Earl of Hereford, to take her into his castle as a playmate andlady-in-waiting for his daughter Emma. So began a companionship whichwas to endure for their lives.
'No; I think it is perhaps a good thing that thou sittest here, insteadof being Ralph de Guader's bride, though I had lief have gone with theeto my dear old Norwich,' said Eadgyth. 'My dear old Norwich!' sherepeated, with a sigh. 'I should scarce know it again, with its finenew castle, and its streets full of Normans and Bretons, and foul,greedy Jews.'
'Tears, Emma, tears? What! is my little sister weeping?' he asked in atone that was half banter, half tenderness. 'This is a thing that mustbe inquired into. I can have no weeping damsels in castle of mine.'
Emma started with apprehension. In those days, damsels of rank wereoften disposed of in marriage by their male relatives with very littleregard to their prejudices or affections, a girl's whimsies appearingof small consequence in their eyes beside the importance of a goodpolitical alliance, and Emma feared lest her brother might intend todemand a summary transference of her affections. Hitherto, it was truethat the young earl had been tender and indulgent, and had regarded herwishes the more readily perhaps in this matter, that Ralph de Guader,the powerful Earl of East Anglia, was the very man of all others tosuit his views of a desirable brother-in-law. But Emma knew him to beboth impulsive and obstinate, and visions of a fierce struggle withhim, ending in the cloister, the haven of refuge for women in thosedays, passed through her mind.
'She will have to get used to it,' said Earl Roger dryly, 'for mypatience is at an end. Beshrew me! she will hear a good deal of suchtalk. William has ever popped upon me like a cat on a mouse wheneverany scheme which promised me well was in hand. And what has he given mebut ravaged land that the Welsh run over and harry at will? I say heonly gives away what he must needs pay a garrison to defend if he keptit himself. What is your earldom of Norwich, Ralph, but sea-washeddunes or waste corn lands? He is ever nibbling at our power. Earls,indeed! Poor earls are we beside Godwin, Leofric, and Siward! But Itell thee he has gone too far this time. I'll not be thwarted in myplan to be thy brother-in-law; no, neither by king-lord or foolishdamsel!' He turned to Emma somewhat fiercely. 'Hark ye, sister of mine,by the little finger of St. Nicholas, to whom De Guader has dedicatedhis castle of Blauncheflour, thou hadst better make no mincing aboutaccepting a man thou hast already pleaded guilty to loving, or I shallhave a crow to pluck with thee!'
'Ha! just as I expected,' said the earl to himself. 'I thank thee,reverend father,' he replied. 'It is courteous and kind, and my wishwas to have speech with thee to-night, but that I feared to break inupon thy rest. Take me, I pray thee, to thy sanctum, where we may betogether without audience.'
Theodred bowed his assent, and the earl, having dismissed hisattendants, followed the almoner to his private apartment, a small butsnug room in a recess in one of the towers of the castle. In the centrestood a small table bearing a silver crucifix, covered with parchmentsand materials for writing and illuminating, a page of an unfinishedmissal lying on the writing-desk, and showing what the occupant's lastbusiness had been.
When they reached the marshy ground to north-west the castle, at whichthey had been aiming, the spaniels soon put up a heronshaw, and Emma,who had no mean skill at falconry, slipped off the hood from the Danishhawk, and cast him deftly from her little fist into the air at what wascalled the jette serré, that is to say, as quickly after thequarry had taken flight as possible. 2ff7e9595c
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