Sailing, Sailing Over the Sky So Blue...

Cool Beans!! sailing through the air.
















Jeanne, Taylor w/Bryan, Olen, Scarlet Rose, Sydney, and Bryce in front of the rising purple bean.





One great thing about the Southwest is the variety of hobbies available. One of the PICU nurses we met while Bryan was sick 2 years ago is a balloonist. Jeanne "Bean" Gartner is originally from Pittsburgh (she threw a great Super Bowl party earlier this year--in true Steeler style). Before she worked at the hospital where Bryan spent 5 weeks of his life, she traveled the world on a cruise ship, working as the ship's nurse. Through family connections she ended up here, then chose to stay because she fell in love with ballooning. (Well, I'm sure falling in love with her boyfriend was a reason, too.)

A few weeks after Bryan was released from the hospital, Jeanne invited Barry, Sydney, my dad, and me to crew and receive a free flight. Of course we accepted! We rode in Cool Beans! the first. We enjoyed seeing the mountains and colors of the desert and Rio Grande valley from the air. Since then we've tried to attend relatively local balloon festivals and have developed a great appreciation of all the work that goes into ballooning.

After Cool Beans! died earlier this year, Jeanne and Barney (Jeanne's boyfriend) started the process of designing and purchasing another balloon. We were able to see the artist's rendition of the new balloon, but until tonight hadn't seen the actual thing. Work schedules, vacations, and monsoon season interrupted a few launch attempts. So I was thrilled when Jeanne called and asked us to come see Cool Beans!! the second's local debut. She was taking up a woman for her 90th birthday--a present from this brave woman's family. They wanted to be flying over the mountains as the sun set. What a present! We were at Rebecca's house swimming, so Rebecca and I dried off the kids and headed to the launch site. (Rebecca & the kids moved back last week--and their house has an in-ground pool!)

Watching a crew work together to assemble and inflate a balloon is incredible. The kids loved seeing the colored beans rise from the ground, and Jeanne enjoyed explaining how balloons work with wind currents, temperatures, and fuel burners. (Yea! Balloons and science--perfect spontaneous field trip opportunity!) Bryce told me he's ready for his first balloon flight. I think he needs to grow a few more inches, but we may have to work something out for his next birthday.

We are very thankful for the wonderful people God's placed in our lives. Jeanne's one of them. She took great care of Bryan in the PICU and has become a close family friend. If we hadn't met her, we couldn't truly appreciate the desert scenery that surrounds us. Thank you, Jeanne & Barney--and Cool Beans!!