I'm A Cliff Diver!

Well... okay maybe not a cliff diver but definitely a jumper and I have pictures to prove it.

We took Todd's family to Negril. While we were there we took them to see the cliff divers and eat supper at Rick's Cafe. That night we watched the divers and Todd took the boys to jump while we paid the dinner bill. We returned the next day for more fun. Jacob and Tripp were thrilled and ready to go but Bubby and I were leery. Todd was indifferent. Grammy and Pappy simply watched and took pictures and videos.

I must confess I didn't actually jump from a cliff but I did jump from two of the platforms. We had a good time.

Here is a view of the platforms from the very top. The lower level by the ladder in the water is only about 2 feet high. The next level is about 8 feet and then the highest one was about 11 feet high. Those are Todd's measurements. I think they were higher. I know they seemed higher when you are looking down at the water.

First jump!

Bubby kept telling me that if I would do it, he would do it, but he never did. I think the huge belly flop he did last time pretty much convinced him he didn't want to jump from too high. We all tried to convince him, but I was really okay with him not jumping. I don't want him to become a daredevil. I figure that will be fewer trips to the hospital for stitches or casts.

Sinuses completely cleaned out!

Higher level!

No turning back now!

It really helped to scream.

It was hard to time my breathing. I would exhale as soon as I jumped and by the time I hit the water I had no more air to exhale so lots of salt water flooded my nasal passages. It was a wonderful cleansing!

Here's the proof:

Rick's Cafe

When we went to Negril a few weeks ago, one of the MKs was celebrating her sixteenth birthday. Her parents wanted to take her the the world famous Rick's Cafe. My two "cliff jumpers" wouldn't be outdone by the Jamaicans. Okay, maybe there were by a few feet, but they still jumped.

View from Rick's along with two jumpers in the upper left quadrant.

This man climbed the dead tree to jump.

From the very top of the tree.

He not only jumped, he did a backwards swan dive.

Then there was Todd.

Todd too, did a swan dive.

By the time Todd got his nerve up it had started to get dark. That is why the pictures aren't real bright. The man in the tree dove from about seventy five feet and Todd dove from about twenty five feet. Todd said his twenty five feet felt like it was seventy five though.

Nathan at the end of the day, after snorkeling, going to the water park and Rick's.

Nathan did not get to jump at night so we promised him that we would return the next day with the other missionaries so he could jump.

Preparing to dive from about fifteen feet.

Perfect form after all these years.

Todd dove for his Plant City High School swim team a few years ago. He said that cliff diving was fun but that his body needs to be in a little better shape before he returns to Rick's.

Nathan wasn't to be outdone by his daddy or the other MKs that were jumping. And once he made up his mind, off he went. I wasn't ready with the camera and all I got was his splash. He ended up doing a belly and face splat, so he only went once. By the look of his red belly the sting was pretty intense. He had that "I want to cry" look on his face but he didn't want to be a baby in front of everybody. You know Mama was still proud of him, though.

Todd moving in for the "grab" after Nathan jumped.

We had a wonderful time in Negril. Anybody that wishes to come see us, we will gladly take you on a guided tour. Bring your suit so you too can be a cliff jumper.

Negril, Jamaica

L to R: Steve Puffpaff, Dale and Patti Coad, (our area directors), Gary and Peggy Pyatt, Stuart and Wendy Brown, and Todd and I. Missing are Tom and Brenda Lantz, and Steve and Pam Livingston.

This past weekend, we were blessed to be able to join the other missionaries on the Island at a retreat in Negril. This was our first time in Negril and it is beautiful just like the rest of the Island. We were able to get a little rest, but not much, because there were so many activities available that Nathan had to experience.

The hotel offered two pools, a jacuzzi, and of course the beach which offers all kinds of water sports. It also had a small restaurant where we were able to eat most of our meals. The main highlights of the weekend were snorkeling, going to the water park, and experiencing the cliff divers at Rick's Cafe.

I took over one hundred pictures, so instead of trying to pick and choose which pictures to use in this one post, I will use them in several posts. Howie and Sherry will appreciate the mileage I can get out of this trip like I did from the trip home for Christmas.