Ok, so I know you've already seen these pictures below.... but I entered them into a National Geographic Student Photo Contest! The judging has begun and the finalists will be notified by Feb. 8.  I had to write a description describing adventure and what it means to you. :)

In her eyes one can see adventure.  Mischievousness. The love of life.  Spunk.  This describes adventure itself!  Adventure does not have to be  risky or gallant, it can be as simple as discovering the little things in life and enjoying every moment.

Standing in the middle of a colorful layered mirage was this fiscal cliff.  The contrast between the sandstone crag and the glorious seemingly never-ending Grand Canyon struck me as my camera’s lens captured the scene.  The panoramic view instilled in me the same adventurous craving I’m sure the early Spanish explorers felt as well.  A longing to to meet head on with unknown perils, sights, beauty, and to discover yourself!

My breath was taken by the exhilarating sun bursting through the clouds which shed a glorious light onto the Grand Canyon 2,000 feet below.  Modern aviation allows adventurers to see the vastness of the Canyon from a new vantage point: that of like an eagle’s.  Indeed I did feel like an eagle flying over the Grand  Canyon; adrenalin coursed through my veins as I was literally shocked into an awed silence at the celestial view.  Time seemed to stop as the moment was engraved into my mind and heart for forever.  

The Pritchard family descends deeper into the Grand Canyon’s very core, beholding the stunning colors of layered rock right before their eyes.  The sight of the misty purple Canyon before me, combined with the hiker’s audacious spirit, left me pondering true adventure.  Adventure is truly a sense of awe, an essence of the soul which sparks an enthusiastic spunk brought out by an exciting experience.  This experience in particular stirred in me a realization that we are just a small part of this extraordinary creation!

In the busy whirlwind of our lives, ones eyes can just pass quickly over a great deal of true, hidden beauty.  The delicate, unique, floating butterfly, sparkling water droplets on a flower, and the trills of a songbird.  In this picture, the mysterious playing of shadows on the velvet tulip petals adds a sense of magical enchantment.  Adventure does not need to be searched for methodically, it can be found right in our backyard!

Hope you enjoyed that!!!!!! I really enjoyed writing flowery writing instead of like essays and all that boring stuff... :)