While the newspaper industry is on its way out... Nathan's job is a photojournalist is still awesome. He has has so many opportunities to do some really wonderful things and meet some really wonderful people. Sometimes I think being able to say, "I'm with the Daily News" is like a magic ticket to anything.

Well Nathan had it in his mind that he'd like to shoot Midland from a hot air balloon before the balloon festival this year. So... this evening he said, I'm going to stop by the airport today before I come home and see if I can get a ride. He did. So he called and told me to look out for him in the Remax balloon. It dawned on me... that I should hop in the car with my camera and see if I could find him. I did! Except I look up in the sky and see... probably 25 or so balloons and two Remax balloons. So I started taking pictures of both. As the balloons moved with the wind I thought... well I might as well follow and see if I can figure out which balloon he's in. Long story short... my next job should be as a balloon chaser. I followed and found him... too the street in a neighborhood where they ended up landed.

Some people may be jealous if their husband or wife gets to do something incredible or may feel let out. But I have never once thought... oh I wish it was me. I've always just been so excited and happy for Nathan. I think sometimes I get more joy out of the things he does than he does himself.

Needless to say, Nathan and I both enjoyed his first ride in a hot air balloon!

Here's proof. And I apologize that they are a little bit out of order... but I know you're smart enough to figure it out. :D

A shot of the balloon over a corn field.

This was a picture taken in the corn field right beside our church where many balloons landed.

If you click on this picture... you might be able to see Nathan and how easily he could tip out of the basket as he was taking pictures... he even said... it was a little scary.

This was the unexpected scene as I found Nathan and the many other balloons... and the balloon festival hasn't even started yet! Nathan's in the red, white, and blue Remax balloon at the top.

And he wasn't off the hook for tearing things down either! He even had little ballooning gloves on... it was pretty cute.

This was right after they touched down.

Honestly, I thought they were going to end up on someone's house!

This is when I first spotted Nathan!!