Visiting the Cliffs

July 9, 2010 Alamosa is the home of our friends, Tom and Jennifer Cliff and their three sons, Michael, Jordan, and Isaac. Tom was Ben’s first Classics soccer coach when Ben was 12 years old. At the time, Tom and Jennifer were not married and Charlcie and I were the team parents. We have kept in touch over the years and are fortunate to be able to spend some time with them on our journey. Tom is now the head women’s soccer coach at Adams State University here and Jennifer is the devoted coach’s wife. Their boys are involved in all kinds of activities and so they are very busy – but hey, they are still young and have the energy to do it right. We are very impressed with their family – Tom and Jennifer are super parents and it is obvious from the way the kids conduct themselves. They have been delightful to be around. And Jennifer knows how to fix a terrific meal – while Tom serves as the grill master. This morning, we all went to Zapata Falls, a very beautiful spot near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Mount Blanca. After a half-mile walk we were able wade up through the stream to the falls. The boys were much braver and actually climbed up to the base of the falls and did the “polar bear plunge” in the pool at the base.