North Carolina Again

I ran away this week.  I did.  Nothing is wrong, I just get fed up with the day to day and need to get away sometimes.

The kids and I drove down to North Carolina to visit an old friend from Logan.  I really didn't have plans to go but I just did it.  Threw all our stuff in bags and we were on the road a couple hours later.  We all need an occasional crazy in our life. 

We didn't do anything big, we just talked and hung out with the kids.  It was wonderful to talk to her in person.  We talked about Logan and dancing and all that ancient history, about our parenting challenges and brainstormed ideas to be better.  I like my life in Virginia but I do miss talking to my best friends face to face.

I grew up driving a lot.  That's what happens when living in a small town.  We would drive all the time and talk.  Some of my favorite memories are being in the car with my sisters and mom on the way to dance lessons (a 45 minute drive).  There was a lot of life worked out in that car.  Driving is my thinking time. 

 

I came home renewed and filled with ideas to be a better mom and to make our home better too.  One of the many things I'm going to do is to institute a weekly menu plan.  I've never jumped on board of selecting a specific menu because I get to the day and am not in the mood for what I selected.  She instead plans a category for each night, a salad night, a soup night, casserole, family favorites, leftovers and a new recipe night and cooks something in that category.  I swear, I hate getting to 4:30 everyday and standing in front of the pantry trying to decide what to cook.  Now I will only have to decide what kind of salad or soup or whatever that evening's category is.  Awesome and so much easier!  

In St. Peter's Square...

A new pope was elected yesterday.  I have been avidly listening to all of the news about this.  I am excited that they selected a pope from the Americas.

I know what you're thinking already.  No, I'm not Catholic but he is the leader of 1.2 billion followers.  His is a position that has influenced the world for millennium.

Oh, and because of my dad, I've always been interested in Catholicism.  There wasn't a vacation that we didn't take in a mass at a church, just for the experience and to see the beautiful and diverse buildings. There is no denying the huge impact their faith has had on the world.

I remember when Pope Benedict was elected.  I happened to be living in DC at the time and was watching then as the black smoke rose above St. Peters Basilica. 

There was a time that I was in that square.  I looked at the window where the announcement was made and craned my neck to see the paintings that looked down on the Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.  Mom, Loni and I were having a Roman Holiday and it was one of those surreal experiences.  There are moments in my life that I never thought I would have the opportunity to experience.  It's like that moment when you are looking into the Oval Office or seeing Ephesus, it's a once in a lifetime deal.

Me in Saint Peter's Square

In ruins in ancient Rome

For forever, I had wanted to go to Europe and especially Vatican City.  I wanted to see the places and to be there.  My parents always valued travel, for this I am truly grateful.  They thought it was an important part of our development to see new places and I can say that my perspective on the world and on myself has been very deeply impacted by travel.  In my little family now, we have continued this tradition of seeing new places.  And I only hope that it will impact Leo as deeply as it did me.

The Biggest Bag Ever.

Are any of you Gilmore Girls watchers? Well, I just saw an episode recently where Lane's parents sent her to Korea. This is her with her huge bag. I totally felt like that.

I flew home on Tuesday. It was a good thing Heber picked me up at the airport because I had this with me...

Um, yes, that was my checked bag. It weighed in at 50 pounds exactly. It goes up to Heber's hip. It's huge.

It was carrying all of this...


The first thing Heb did when we walked in the door was to take out and examine each item. He loved them all and so did I.

Shower post coming soon.

A Bug

I have the travel bug. I want to go everywhere. I just watched Mama Mia (truly a classic) a few weeks ago and all I want to be is on a Greek Island basking in the blue sky, blue sea and white picturesque buildings. Really, it’s all I can think about. I think it's just summer and I want to get out and see the world. Who wouldn’t want to go there?

Is there somewhere you're dying to go?