Up, Up, Up and Away

This past Sunday, we were killing time waiting for our pizza to be ready for pick-up as they had no delivery drivers.  Fortunately enough, our route included West Broadway where we saw two hot air balloons preparing for take off in Hy-Vee's {grocery store} front yard.  It was so exciting!

We, along with many others, pulled right up and watched them float up, up, up and away... it was so neat!  We've seen a few balloons flying near our house over the past few weeks, and to be honest, Lawson has been so excited over them that we we've been kicking the idea around on going to St. Louis this weekend for the balloon race, but after seeing this, we believe we're going to the football game instead... I'm sure if given the choice, that's what Lawson would choose, too. : ) 

It was a beautiful evening and the sun and sky were beautiful... We had just gotten back from TN so the camera was in the back, thank goodness!

Dad and Lawson watching the first one float up, up, up and away...

{You can click on the pictures to see them larger and up close}

It's almost ready...

And there goes the second one...  Dad with the boys...

Lawson must have really good eyes... aren't they beautifully hanging in the sky?

Many of the cars in this picture were also watching and taking pictures... we noticed two more balloons in the distance... We were wondering if they are preparing for this weekend's race...  I've noted them in the picture, and our church building is on the right.

So pretty!

An unexpected reason for excitement!

And I would like to add that later that night I began to think about the "big picture" of these balloons taking off... the "big picture" of Hy-Vee's parking lot on that lovely Sunday night.  The weather was beautiful and crisp... the sky was a beautiful blue... two balloons were taking off into the sky... people were standing around watching, looking up into the sky... the date was September 11. 

What a contrast.  Ten years ago on that very day, in New York City, the weather was beautiful and crisp, the morning sky a beautiful blue, people standing around watching and looking up into the sky, the date September 11.  For some reason, later that night, my mind kept saying, "Wow... what a contrast those hot air balloons are in comparison to the frightful and heartbreaking sight that took place ten years before...".  May we never forget.  May we never lose sight of the freedom we have in this great nation because so many gave all.

It was a beautiful evening... an uplifting sight, indeed!