tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89055203875636170342024-02-19T07:58:24.028-05:00Traveling With Mercy...and lots of coffeemama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-84024102559451409842020-10-17T17:41:00.002-04:002020-10-17T17:51:06.603-04:00on work and identity <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gE7uQWf9JitlWXxf2NhvIjlNhP1SC633ySR49rsEEBDGEsrjUihWP-ovQN6psNtaandtLWXSSKzKJxiQZllwDhuNm3ndl1kABxNL2UQ5-_XkYW2fLdM7_ClDc_8ez3p4d94fEXxLLA/s960/IMG_0376.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gE7uQWf9JitlWXxf2NhvIjlNhP1SC633ySR49rsEEBDGEsrjUihWP-ovQN6psNtaandtLWXSSKzKJxiQZllwDhuNm3ndl1kABxNL2UQ5-_XkYW2fLdM7_ClDc_8ez3p4d94fEXxLLA/s320/IMG_0376.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> "If our core personality is up for critique, we've truly lost our central anchor. The human craving to be loved for <i>who we are </i>outside of <i>what we do</i> is so primal. It is densely bound with ideas of worth, value, and belonging. We assign great meaning to how much we are accepted, which is, of course, a function of how truly we are actually known." -- Jen Hatmaker, from her book Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire </p><p>At first I guarded my news like a secret, because I winced at the thought of how I would be judged and who would judge me. This last few months have not been easy. I have stood up and spoken out, and in a family and cultural system where calling others to the carpet for hurtful behavior isn't taken well, we tend to shrink back and tuck ourselves into the box from which we came. But with covid and 5 kids, hard choices had to be made, and the news had to come out. </p><p>Why do we (I... maybe others don't do this) place so much of our worth on what we do/know/study/make? One thing I've been working on is knowing my value just because I exist. I don't have value because my parents approve of my life, or because I studied nursing, or because I am a parent, or because I have certain friends. Although, now that I mention friends... </p><p>My closest of friends, including my husband, helped me to feel so known and seen when I quietly announced my plans to quit my job. Instead of saying "yay! that's great!", every single close friend stated "oh. that is big news and I know that was hard for you. Are you okay?"... to be known is to be loved. </p><p>Those who valued my work more than my being responded with anger and judgment (initially). I've noticed with myself and others that any reaction outside of caring for a person's internal struggle is self-centered. Caring more about a person's role/work in our lives and less about how they are coping means that we aren't centered on another's well being, and are only centered on what that person's actions mean for our own lives. I felt that sting during several circumstances over the past few months, seeing that only <i>what I do for them </i>matters. This sting has and will continue to teach me to decenter myself when someone shares their heart with me, and to really lean into their needs. </p><p>Anyway, I quit my job. For me this was disorienting and heartbreaking. I have always been affiliated with some organization since right after college graduation (and of course jobs during college as well). I worked for an adoption agency both full time and part time until I went back to nursing school. To make extra money to send my husband back to school, I worked at the Y. I always found extra jobs, like working as the secretary for my kids' school board and writing articles for local magazines. When I decided almost 10 years ago to go back to school and be a nurse, it was empowering and life-giving. I loved every second of nursing school, even the terribly hard days of balancing school and parenting. When I landed my dream job in the ER, I chose to quit a year later and take a job as a school nurse for more stability for my son who was going through a hard time- I needed a more traditional schedule. Being a school nurse was not my favorite job- I did not love it, but it loved me. I was good at it. I made a difference. I served many, many people in an underserved community. I earned more mental health education and my national certification. Both ER nursing and then school nursing, being immersed in a completely different culture of employees and yet another different culture (majority) of students and their families completely changed my life. It changed every single perspective life had ever given me. I am a better person for having had my career. </p><p>Covid stripped it away from me, for now. With five kids at home, and choosing to homeschool my most delicate little birds, I simply could not do my job properly. I tried. I fought against the tide of knowing I would need to quit. I pressed on and on and on until the ground beneath me gave way and I gave up. </p><p>What is most important to me? My family and my calling to be a mother and a foster/adoptive mother. My husband's career pays four times what I was paid. I was gifted with the traditional parenting talents and patience. It makes sense that if one of us was to step down to become the full-time family manager during an unprecedented pandemic, it would be me. This was my choice and my spouse would have supported me either way. But the grief has been deep and thick. </p><p>It is hard to give up something I worked so hard for. And while we try to not allow our work to be our identity, sometimes it just is. I have had to untangle the two, and I believe this emotional work is just as hard and time consuming as becoming a nurse. When we zoom in and look at our priorities, the lives in closest proximity to ours, the little lives God has gifted to us, should take center stage. My countless students and patients needed me for an hour, a school day, or a few years. My kids need me for now and for life, acutely and chronically. This is not to say others cannot successfully work and raise kids. Of course they can, of course I can, of course I did. But for some reason, right now, in my personal circumstances, I can't. </p><p>This has caused me to swallow my pride and simply take the step to stay home. I acknowledge my extreme privilege in having this choice. I have felt guilt and shame. My coworkers who were initially very upset with me probably enjoyed that I felt guilty. After inviting them into my thinking, however, they turned their anger over to compassion and our friendships were restored. While confiding in one supportive colleague, she stated "Becca, there are many who will be jealous of those who find favor in this life. It is your job to ignore the jealousy and embrace the favor you've been shown. Celebrate it." This wisdom was so affirming and uplifting as it pulled me up and out of self-hatred and despair after announcing my resignation. </p><p>So here I am, a continual work in progress. I am proud of my choice and remain heartbroken. I will maintain my license and try to work part-time soon, or maybe I will be led to something else. For now I will be firmly planted in raising my newest little loves to know and see their value and worth. I will remind myself daily that my work here is just as valuable as other work. It may not provide health care or a pay check, but it will provide stability and nurturing to five young lives who need me the most right now. I will learn to accept that and be accepting of this life we've been called to. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAv9WWy90pkdqMNdBNYV2svzX5HoytkW7G2B6BenZ86NyAuoazxSP9BXquy6fiYP8RurRtQgreg2tcWuDeCB5HR3oECFryX6ojGMi5e8Tr_lvg3ILgRTlYs8BdLlSyGafzVltbA5Tbg/s745/IMG_0375.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="740" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAv9WWy90pkdqMNdBNYV2svzX5HoytkW7G2B6BenZ86NyAuoazxSP9BXquy6fiYP8RurRtQgreg2tcWuDeCB5HR3oECFryX6ojGMi5e8Tr_lvg3ILgRTlYs8BdLlSyGafzVltbA5Tbg/s320/IMG_0375.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-37407814473537737732020-08-21T11:58:00.000-04:002020-08-21T11:58:06.171-04:00Still certain of nothing: homeschool edition <p> Here's a picture of our cute puppy who is eating my house. He even tried to eat staples the other day. Staples!!!! Why are puppies so weird?!? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg-0sS2R1enCyYlK1IX4CrYriIcdk5NZNjwFmyJ4jIZggqSAUcfjinoDfJloBDKfZJe2SPktgW0RybxKnD6p1AJTu9KrKEEgpTLhWcpSfRY-2E8IWJURvxcuI3Lqb7SCQEFu2QW1Arg/s2048/IMG_2032.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg-0sS2R1enCyYlK1IX4CrYriIcdk5NZNjwFmyJ4jIZggqSAUcfjinoDfJloBDKfZJe2SPktgW0RybxKnD6p1AJTu9KrKEEgpTLhWcpSfRY-2E8IWJURvxcuI3Lqb7SCQEFu2QW1Arg/s640/IMG_2032.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Now that the cute pup has gotten your attention (more on him later and how he has uncovered some pretty deep attachment stuff for some of our kiddos), let us remember what I wrote last week about this week being {probably} a disaster. Well, it wasn't a total disaster- older kids have done beautifully and actually really enjoy their online days. Sometimes life hits you with a brick though, a brick of awakening, and that's what happened with my younger two. This whole online school thing isn't going to work. They zoned out, cried, hid, and regressed for 3 days. The stress on them was tremendous and they do not have the same secure developmental backgrounds as other kids. I will move heaven and earth to make sure my children feel safe and whole. I will abandon any expectation, and way I'm "supposed" to be, in order to help them be successful. They are my number one priority. </p><p>Therefore we have reopened our homeschool for the littles. My friend of many many years, and someone who has homeschooled her kids for a long time, is a teacher, and is familiar with all kinds of learning differences, will help guide us. I will continue to work from home, and if I need to change that situation when the time comes, I will. Because I've done it before and I'll do it again. These young lives are worth every sacrifice. I recognize that I am extremely lucky to be able to make this choice and that I will be judged hard for it by many. And the wonderful thing about the personality God blessed me with is that I don't give a rats ass what anyone else thinks about my choices. My kids are more important than anyone else's opinion. back in 2016 I quit my (awesome) ER job to take a more regular 5-day-a-week job to be with my son who was struggling. We homeschooled him for a few years to help him through his rough patch, and now he is thriving. I know it can work. COVID has forced my hand once again, and it only took three days for me to clearly see what needed to be done. </p><p>Consider this your permission to CHANGE. Do it. Do what's best for you, your kids, your family. You have been given intuition for a reason. Follow it's lead. Take a chance. Be brave. You know what is right. </p><p>"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them- that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." Lao Tzu </p>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-23570591910124882592020-08-14T22:10:00.000-04:002020-08-14T22:10:02.013-04:00I'm certain of nothing <p> How y'all doing? 2020. The year of being sure you have absolutely no idea what's going on. While uncertainty rules our time, and it's hard to trust anyone or anything, faith keeps me going. Plus lots of coffee and limoncello la croix and extra toasty cheezits (as my friends know, off-brand cheezits will send you straight to hell so be careful out there). I'm also way thankful for a good bottle of red wine, yogi super antioxidant green tea, my doggies, and yoga. </p><p>I've just completed my first week back to work after a summer break. I'm a school nurse at one school and my 5 (awesome) kids go to 4 different public schools. I've had countless zoom meetings and virtual open houses and too many schedules to try and coordinate, and I'm afraid next week is going to be a complete disaster but all I can really do is laugh. There is literally nothing we can do about this but just roll with it. Log on to your classes and get it done. I tell my kids every day- we cannot control our circumstances most of the time but we can control our attitudes and our responses. This might be the first bout of global or personal instability you've experienced in your life but it certainly will not be your last. My younger ones have already experienced personal upheaval that not even many adults have experienced. The key things I'm seeing in my kids are resilience and adaptability. I do believe that this generation of kids will change the world for the better. I've never seen such a huge collective attitude shift in my life. These kids are showing up and just DOING it, with very little complaining. I'm so proud of them. </p><p>And the staff. The schools' STAFF!!! These are our modern day heroes. My coworkers- other nurses, social workers, counselors, teachers, administrators, secretaries, janitors, data managers, media coordinators, on and on and on... these people have risen to the challenge with virtually no warning (no one really knows when a whole entire pandemic will hit) and no extra funding. Zero. So your cute local senator is over there chillin on his boat continuing to shoot down funding for education, but my people are over here saying FINE we don't need your damn money (actually we do please send)- we can make magic happen out of thin effing AIR and support these students. We will have a great year despite our challenges and we will celebrate our successes and get through our failures. Together. </p><p>Togetherness is really important here. I work at a school where I'm one of only a few white people. I say that shed light on the learning I've done over the past five years and beyond. My perspective shift has been life-changing and invaluable as I've worked alongside students and faculty from so many different races and cultures. There is not just one way to do life correctly. There are so many ways to live in a beautiful, productive, giving way. I'm so thankful for how my way has been decentered as I listen and learn. Our kids are so good at this. I'm thankful to be taught by so many wonderful souls. So as I sit here and reflect on the week, I soak in the emotion of gratitude for how my life has been deeply enriched by my own kids, my students, and my coworkers. In the midst of feeling hopeless about the horrors of racism, the damaging and far reaching destruction of a pandemic, and the uncertainty of our futures, we can cling to each other and the beauty that each relationship brings. And we can listen to old hymns and be uplifted and encouraged. Press on! We can do this. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Li2hddmy63U" width="320" youtube-src-id="Li2hddmy63U"></iframe></div><p><br /></p>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-92037312179357661312020-07-26T17:24:00.002-04:002020-07-26T17:29:15.763-04:00church Raise your hand if you are a Christian and church is one of the most complicated aspects of your whole life... ME!!! <div><br /></div><div>My church experience growing up was actually much different than the accounts I hear from my friends who have been deeply scarred by what they encountered. I was raised in various churches and denominations around the country because my parents moved. So we mainly were with the Lutheran and United Methodist churches. Women were allowed to be pastors, I was never told to burn secular books or CDs, politics were never mentioned, and I never once heard that someone was "bad" because of their sexuality. However, I was never in anything but a church body made up by 98% white people, and I was always very aware of that. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went into college with a solid understanding of the character of Jesus and that all people were loved. But it was in college that I encountered what I now know are "evangelicals." These friends swept me up into an tidal wave of emotionalism, and I loved it. I loved the more radical way of worship, with eyes closed and hands raised. I loved the genuine prayers and the deeper search for biblical truths. I loved the connection I felt with God and the powerful spiritual lessons I was learning. My experiences were much different from the stiff, more reserved services I was used to. I never doubted that the more traditional Christian churches loved Jesus. I just had a lot more fun learning in this new "evangelical" style I was introduced to. I did miss the liturgy and beauty of the "high church" I had been attending, but it didn't occur to me that this order was important. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were several times during my college years, however, that I was very taken aback by a comment or sentiment shared with me by friends who didn't find my new style of worship very endearing (those examples are easy to report- they thought I was crazy), OR from friends who had been steeped in this style their whole lives. For example, from the latter group, I was sitting around chatting with some of my newfound evangelical friends one evening when I mentioned the death of one of my dear high school friends. She was Jewish, and I was discussing what I had learned from her and her family about what Judaism taught about the afterlife. A girl stopped me in a very condescending manner and said "Oh no, she wasn't saved. there is no way your friend is in heaven." This was a shocking statement to me, as I had never heard someone speak like this before. I sat silently not knowing how to respond, because it sounded so ridiculous. How on earth did this girl know where my friend was? </div><div><br /></div><div>Another example from an evangelical friend occurred during my senior year of college when he revealed he was gay. He was crying and telling me this, and I was thinking (and saying), "so? what's the problem?" and he taught me that many evangelicals see this as a sin. Again I was taken aback, because growing up my parents welcomed gay couples into our home and it was never a thing. I had asked my dad about it once, and he said "I don't care what anyone does in their bedroom- that's none of my business. God loves all His children." So that was that. As I hugged my friend I was genuinely still confused about why he was so upset. He said "Becca. Our other friends are very sad and say I need to repent. But this is who I am." and I said of course- I had always known he was gay. He laughed and laughed. I just never was taught that being gay was a sin. I was taught that promiscuity and acting like a total asshole were sins, but that being gay was just a part of who someone was. Like when did I wake up and decide to be straight? To me this wasn't a choice. </div><div><br /></div><div>As my husband and I moved through married adult life, we also continued to move into evangelical church communities. But my relationship with the church only got more and more complicated as I began to notice that evangelical churches rarely allowed women to preach or be in leadership. Then I noticed that there were definitely no gay people who would stay for more than a few weeks, the racial segregation of the churches I attended was always concerning, and then things started getting really political. I was thinking what the heck is going on here? I remember discussing things like abortion and that there was no way I could judge a woman for having to make that choice. I remember someone telling me that using an IUD was "murder." I remember someone telling me that voting for Obama was very sinful. That's about when my husband and I walked away. </div><div><br /></div><div>We've tried to come back, and we have, but each time I get more and more disappointed and sad about what I see as a complete disregard for the actual Gospel of Christ. With all the recent upheaval in America, particularly with White people starting to finally wake up to the truth of our racist history, as well as "controversial" topics like mask wearing, I keep hearing evangelical leaders asking us to "see things through a gospel lens." And I'm thinking "I don't know what gospel you're looking at" as I see churches continue to look away from the truth that racism is deplorable and mask wearing is loving thy neighbor. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most recently I've had discussions with church leaders around why women aren't allowed to teach and why we can't boldly confront the racists among us. I've been left without any good answers. The bible is clear that racism is a no-go so not sure why we can't get that outta here. The bible doesn't seem to be clear on NOT allowing women to be pastors. I'm no expert but didn't Jesus lean heavily on the wisdom and knowledge of his female mentors while he was on earth? And isn't the Bible clear that we are all one in Christ? That's what I was taught. To not see the church act on those things and many others doesn't seem very Gospel-like to me. When I stand up and see a slew of spiritual orphans, cast out for their debatable "sins" of being gay, but the racists are allowed to stay without an utterance of disapproval, I can't associate with that "gospel lens" anymore. </div><div><br /></div><div>But OH do I love Jesus and all he stood for. The Holy Spirit leads me daily. I count myself as a believer but I'm not sure if many churches agree. Are we only welcomed with conditions? I absolutely adore Jesus and I'm thankful for my faith, my faithful praying friends, and so many in my community who love and care for the downtrodden and each other. I've been taught tremendous love and sacrifice by so many amazing Christian people. But the church as a whole... this is where I am really struggling, just to be completely transparent. We will make it back to somewhere. I know there is a place for us this side of heaven, but I'm just not sure where that is. </div><div><br /></div><div>Taylor Swift is one of our family's favorite artists and she surprised us all with a new album this week. I'm sure she didn't intend for her song "hoax" to be interpreted by me as a song about how the church has broken my heart, but I'm also sure that she wouldn't mind my interpretation. Artists create to help others feel, contemplate, and work through experiences. So I know Taylor would be okay with me using her song to sit in my feelings about the church as a whole and about my church. I'm sad and I'm hurt on behalf of myself and my friends who have been scarred and broken down by institutions that are supposed to represent Love, Mercy, and Grace. Luckily I know that my hope is in Christ alone, and I know that He truly welcomes all, even if the church won't. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ryLGxpjwAhM" width="320" youtube-src-id="ryLGxpjwAhM"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-30962141913245988732020-07-21T15:55:00.003-04:002020-07-21T16:25:36.326-04:00Memories I’ve been wanting to write down our latest adoption journey to try and capture all the details before I forget. Lately things have been, well, hectic. 2 parents, 5 kids, 2 dogs. Ooooh the puppy 😂. He’s a hot mess. <div><div><br /></div><div>We adopted our son Sam when he was 8 months old. He is now rapidly approaching 13. We had always considered foster care and adoption again, but if you’re aware of our history as captured in the archives of this old blog, we went back to school to change careers when sam was 3. So we weren’t in the position to enter back into that world while we raised our three kids and studied. </div><div><br /></div><div>About 4 years ago we were brought through a terribly trying time as a family. For about two years leading up to the fall of 2016, our son Pete had some psychological issues come about that we were baffled by. We think he may have had some rapid changes brought about by a possible neurological infection (sometimes caused by strep). We worked with him daily and helped him through crippling anxiety and sometimes rages. It was hard on all of us but especially him, because he didn’t understand why it was happening. With a dedicated medical team we got through it. Then I got sick with a mystery virus that caused encephalitis (possibly Lyme disease) and Pete was hospitalized with an unexplained illness that caused anaphylaxis. As we all took months to recover and started feeling good again, we felt a thankfulness like never before. God had brought us through the desert. </div><div><br /></div><div>That’s when I started having visions again. My husband loves it when this happens (jk 😂). When we adopted Sam I had had a vision of who this child was and even his name. That’s some weirdness, I know. Try actually having one. </div><div><br /></div><div>This time around I started realizing there would be another daughter in our family. A 10 year old girl named Jordan was available for adoption through foster care and reading about her prompted our whole family to get on board with becoming licensed foster parents. According to her caseworker, she was adopted! I hope someday I can tell that child that her life inspired <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">us to take a leap of faith! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">So we got licensed to be foster parents and did some respite care and waited to be matched with an older child who needed to be adopted. While we told the social workers we could take 1 child, I had another vision one day at a rummage sale of all places. I was at the local high school getting a new table and chairs for our dining room when a lady ran over to me and told me about the family who had donated it. She said “this was such a great table. My friend raised her 5 kids around this table.” I immediately felt my heart stir- and thought “oh crap we will not just adopt one more child- we will be asked to take two.” But it was a GOOD feeling- and I knew God was sending me a message to prepare my heart. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">After a few months had passed, I received an email confirming the stir in my heart. Immediately a picture of two sisters captured my heart and I knew they would be my daughters.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">They were placed in our home and now we are legally theirs. They have been through a rough journey and have endured way too much at such young ages. But they are the light of our lives, completely cherished and valued, and we cannot imagine our lives without them! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Follow those promptings in your hearts because they will lead to goodness and stretch your life beyond what you could ever have hoped for. Hard? Yes. Worth it? Completely.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B7SmNIC65sMqAXWF9KNX_M12vvCvlDMZD1dAagLU1c7BhZLicnBA86YKJ-KrBs29qwf8DtStddDHXOfDDaXwptR0vY-PYgBaUmQrjrYLNPqyUn2iOt0GffZh00cdZmgwWxKihKGY4Q/s960/206004C6-A6E3-46D2-B1EC-21F2140027CC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B7SmNIC65sMqAXWF9KNX_M12vvCvlDMZD1dAagLU1c7BhZLicnBA86YKJ-KrBs29qwf8DtStddDHXOfDDaXwptR0vY-PYgBaUmQrjrYLNPqyUn2iOt0GffZh00cdZmgwWxKihKGY4Q/s320/206004C6-A6E3-46D2-B1EC-21F2140027CC.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-24440256073739109252020-07-04T13:37:00.000-04:002020-07-04T13:37:11.913-04:00We Americans It's proving harder and harder to write. I wish I had more time. <div>This year has brought us some of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. For so many reasons. Finding joy in the smallest of things every day brings clarity and peace. I'm so thankful for where we have landed despite the hardship we have faced, both on a personal and national level. I can feel people beginning to see the truth. Is that hope we see on the horizon? </div><div><br /></div><div>I think the best way to change is to admit what we did wrong, repent, and ask for forgiveness. As a nation we need to continue to do the same. We can only be great when we deal with the truth of our history and move forward with real change and justice for all. I have faith that we can do it. In the end, we cannot worship a place. We must bring honor to so much more. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Avetts write words that I feel are also rattling around in my soul and they somehow extract them and made sense of them. This song to me is nothing less than genius. Listen, reflect, and pray. And if you have time, go watch Hamilton this weekend. Rise Up! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbqAj0-HgrE" width="320" youtube-src-id="qbqAj0-HgrE"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-35434485518177392542020-06-17T23:18:00.001-04:002020-06-17T23:46:13.048-04:00tear it down and start again. <ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sometimes we just have to start over. </li></ul><div><div>So many times in the past few weeks, as I've been listening and watching and grieving along with many in our country, I have been reminded of God's promises throughout scripture. Of course it's fun to remember His promises of protection and love and grace. All good things. </div><div>But if you are Jewish or Christian, you also know He promises to remove anything that is, for lack of better words, making you a complete asshole. Eloquent, I know. </div><div><br /></div><div>Adam and Eve screwed up a very simple rule, so he took away paradise. </div><div>And then people just kept being jerks so he flooded the earth and Noah was the one cool guy who wasn't being an asshole so he and his family got saved via listening to God and building a freakin boat in the middle of the desert. Sure it may just be made up, but it's a pretty rad story. He was seen as completely insane, but in the end the crazy guy comes out on top. This is the beginning of the "upside down" Kingdom that God tries to drill through our thick skulls on a daily basis- that He is here for the crazy people. He doesn't want the nice, tidy, silent, unifying, peaceful voices. He wants the ones who are gonna stir stuff up. Make us think. Make us wonder. Make us reflect on what we know to be true. God wants our hearts because He can make all things new. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's see... What else do we have to tear down in order to save? Well if you're religious or know anything about Jesus, you know that he came to seriously stir the pot. He wanted people to be done with the law. He came to abolish it. To establish a new way of life based on grace and mercy. He didn't want people to have to earn God's love or favor. Out with that crap. </div><div>Jesus has this fantastic reputation for being blonde (wrong) and peaceful (wrong again). All you have to do is read the gospels to see that He made so many people mad. He was HATED by many. Obviously- they killed him. In Mark 3, Jesus was angry with the Pharisees for their hardness of heart towards someone who needed to be healed. Did you read that? He was angry. Pissed off. Mad. These people placed the law above someone's life. And many of us know the story about how he saw some crap going down in the temple. Did he calmly ask people to stop? Nope. He flipped those tables right over and let everyone know how disappointed he was. It's almost like He knew that this might be the only way to get the people's attention. Sound familiar? </div><div><br /></div><div>What are some modern day examples of having to dismantle what we know in order to save it? Marriage is one example that comes to mind. Couples have the potential for a ton of problems. Sometimes the marriage fails- there is simply no way to save it. But sometimes it can be saved. And often, if that is the case, this requires a separation. A tearing apart and starting over. Reassembly. deconstruct what wasn't working and start anew. Let's see... and a computer. What do we do when it isn't working? We shut it down and restart it. Reboot. Start over. </div><div><br /></div><div>In American today there is a great divide. But there shouldn't be. We should all be angry, grieving, amd lamenting over what we have done collectively. Any White church that claims to preach the Gospel of Jesus should be absolutely devastated by the sins of our country and the awakening of many White people (finally) around them. My friend Adrianne posted on facebook a video from a pastor. He said "You can't ignore the sorrow and lament of 12-13 million image bearers in our country. You can't do that. We mourn with those who mourn..." </div></div><div><br /></div><div>The first step here is to realize that we are being given a gift. The gift of starting over and trying to make a better place for Black people in this country. So when we call for defunding police, they aren't saying completely do away with police. They are saying that what we have now isn't working. Tear it down and rebuild it to protect lives. To save those the system is hurting most. Stop. Separate. Restart. With a different lens, a different set of ideals, and different goals in mind. It can be done. It needs to be done. This is our moment of reckoning. And as a Christian I believe God is working mightily in our communities to violently, yes violently, tear down what is hurting his Black children. For those in positions of power, He is breaking hearts for what breaks His. He is going to make all things new but he is going to use us to do it. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I worked in the ER I would have to do some really painful things to people in order to ultimately help them heal. But as I was stabbing them with a needle or resetting a bone, they trusted me. The patient trusted that the nurse and doctor have a final goal and that was to heal them, and there was no way around the pain. The pain had to come in order for the recovery to begin. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stop trying to avoid the pain. Admit the truth- or learn the truth, if that's what is needed. Our country was not founded to serve people equally. It was stolen from original people and then it was built on the backs of Black people who were taken and used as slaves. Many of us have benefited royally from that stolen labor. Black people have continuously and brilliantly overcome what this country has done to them- proving their absolute resilience over and over again, despite white people refusing to see what we have done. It's finally time, white people. Own what we have done. Tear it down, Feel the pain it may stir up in your heart. Face it. Sit with it. And then help build a new, better place for everyone. Jesus is here for that. </div><div><br /></div>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-74377898700813025142020-05-30T16:37:00.000-04:002020-05-30T16:37:33.512-04:00RawI find myself not wanting to engage with anyone over the recent killings of Black people in our country. I want to stand in solidarity with my grieving Black friends and Black family members. But I do not want to have to "prove" to White people that this shouldn't happen. I don't want to engage in a debate with any of my White family or friends who might want to tell me that Black people are reacting the "wrong way." I can't listen to one more white person say "but this person said... or that leader said..." to justify a killing or to say that the riots shouldn't happen. No. We (white people) don't get to do that. I'm getting a small taste of what Black people have to deal with daily. Not wanting to debate, engage, and prove that their reality is, in fact, real. <div><br /></div><div>I am raising a Black son, and I have learned. Oh have I learned, all in thanks to Black people who have freely given of their emotional labor to teach me. I do everything in my power to learn from my Black friends how to raise this spectacular human being. I want him to be prepared for all that he faces and will face. Most of all I want him to feel his worth. That no matter what racism and racist structures say he is, he will know the opposite- that he is intelligent and strong, that his skin and his hair are beautiful, and that he was made to do great things. I want him to BELIEVE that nothing can stop him. I want him to take on the world despite how some want to keep him down. </div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of years ago I was part of an experience that changed me forever. I placed my white body between the police and my Black neighbor. Someone called the cops on this person after they (and I) begged them not to. I tell you this not to raise myself up but to inform you that the fear in that person's eyes when the police came (for a non-violent, non-issue where there was literally no danger to anyone) was haunting. Someone had called the police on a Black person and that Black person was them. What the White person later claimed to not understand is that this action can and does kill Black people in our country. The terror that happened during and after than incident will never leave me. The trauma was real. And yet I was gaslighted by the caller and their friends. I was left to explain to numerous white people WHY this was so dangerous and that it was, in fact, racist. I was left to bear that burden to teach other white people. ALL BLACK PEOPLE have to deal with this constantly. Having to prove that that they are good and that they belong and that they are people and deserve respect. I had to witness lies and the re-writing of what happened and it was hideous and all too common. Somehow the victim was blamed and I was blamed. Many people stood up for the truth but many did not. Many refused to seek the truth and still refuse to see that the correct version of the story is the victim's version. Period. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a very, very good chance that someday my son will have the police called on him, because of his Blackness. He will be targeted while driving, walking, going to work, being in his own office, going on a jog, and the list goes on. The fear in my heart when I think about the possibility of police brutality or white racist acts against my son, both of which could leave him dead, is crippling. I need my friends and family to see that and believe that. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are white, would you be willing to use your body and your actions as a shield? Would you be willing to protect my son? Would you be willing to change the way you have been taught, and unlearn the wrong history that has been pumped into us, to protect Black people? Would you be willing to enter into conflict to help someone you love, or even a perfect stranger? Would you be willing to recognize your own racism, start to dismantle it, and also help other White people start to recognize and dismantle theirs? Would you be willing to repent of your racism and our collective racism on a daily basis? Would you be willing to teach your children to NOT be silent and to stand up, literally, for others? That's what it takes for change. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am raw. LISTEN to Black people when they tell you about their lived experience, and BELIEVE them. That's where you start, white reader. That's where you start. </div>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-53908946865412193932020-05-26T23:19:00.000-04:002020-05-26T23:19:21.489-04:009 months Maybe it's just me, but have you ever said "I will NEVER________" and then God or whatever you want to call It drops that exact same thing in you lap? One thing I really thought we would never, ever do was willingly sign up to be foster parents. Never will I ever. <div><br /></div><div>The kids placed with us have been here for a little over 9 months. It takes a little over 9 months to grow a child in a womb. The cells divide and multiply, little limbs are formed, personalities are born. I was able to watch and feel two of my children grow inside of me. My third child was placed in our arms at 8 months of age and I didn't put him down for another 9 months. I carried him and we learned each other's heart beats, smells, sounds, and touch. His first mom grew her beautiful boy inside and was unable to grow him more on the outside. So I took over, humbled to be chosen for this holy role. </div><div><br /></div><div>The pain that is just barely raging beneath the surface of a child in foster care can only be contained for so long. The removal from their first family typically happens because of heart wrenching circumstances and events that I won't pretend to understand. And then they enter into foster families who support them and care for them and love them, but for their own reasons cannot keep them forever. We wanted to be the family they landed on... their forever. </div><div><br /></div><div>And they did. They landed here, and so did their pain. The pain of losing their first family and the pain of leaving the family that had taken them in. They didn't understand. They still don't. The anger rages and then pierces my heart and I'm angry for them. On behalf of them. I can't fix it, I can't quiet the storm. They have to feel it. To live it. To be completely torn apart by what life has done to them. I want to scream at every person who has hurt them. I want to punish myself for bringing this pain into my family and my life. And then the storm starts to calm. Little by little the pain is released. It is softly (sometimes) and violently (other times) vaulted back into the universe where God can handle it. </div><div><br /></div><div>And we cheer. We embrace. We hold, we dry tears, we rock, we squeeze, we sing, we talk. We promise we are their forever. We get spontaneous "I love you Mommy" whispers and natural snuggles. The protective shell begins to crack and we get to see glimpses of the kids they are meant to be. I've been holding them for a little over 9 months. It's taken 9 months to grow them a little more on the outside. A little over 9 months. 9 months to unmask the beauty, and this is only the beginning. Never say never. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWkzxDMfFlabgWH0LKjP1UAiPNoBa5ZcTbPhVBT9bJTlRRhnhiHIVPv02gui1bS2alkYIp1malmnJ-LCYX3kk0zkHPtIb6oMivNgxx8TfwlDM3gqrpDYk2AVBj7SfnlU9N5aXSuyR_g/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWkzxDMfFlabgWH0LKjP1UAiPNoBa5ZcTbPhVBT9bJTlRRhnhiHIVPv02gui1bS2alkYIp1malmnJ-LCYX3kk0zkHPtIb6oMivNgxx8TfwlDM3gqrpDYk2AVBj7SfnlU9N5aXSuyR_g/s320/L+pic.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-328638720507949172020-05-24T16:50:00.001-04:002020-05-24T17:00:49.052-04:0041It has been seven years since I sat down to write. Seven years seems like an eternity and the blink of an eye. Seven years ago I was in nursing school, we lived in a different town, and my current teenagers were school aged, vibrant young children. <br />
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I've been longing to create again, to create with words what others are able to create with a camera or a paintbrush or magical vocal cords or bodies. Often I wish I had been gifted some talent, and then I remember I will always have words. Not big fancy words. I'm a common girl with dreams of being a real writer someday, but this feels about as far as I can reach for now. Anne Lamott teaches us just to start. Just write, or feel regretful that you didn't, so here I am. </div>
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I haven't gone down memory lane to see what I've written here before. I'm almost afraid to look. Aren't we all a little embarrassed by our younger selves? How much we thought we knew... What we thought was hard... our bold attempts at being seen and validated. The way aging softens our edges and sharpens our wisdom is a beautiful testament to life lived. The daily grind that slowly but surely washes away pride, arrogance, and knowing. I'm grateful for the time gathered up in the recesses of my body and mind. Inwardly showing as patience and humility. Outwardly showing as wrinkles and lumps. Oh but who would trade it? We are the lucky ones. So lucky to be here. </div>
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Today I am 41. Sometimes longing for the simpler days but never wanting to regret the decisions we've made or the blessings we've received. It has been a wild ride. Many have followed our family journey via other social media outlets, friends and family from near and far. What I hope for this place to write is that I will dig a little deeper, and give a little glimpse into what is flowing just below the surface of the smiles and laughter and good news. Those things will make appearances too, of course. But I long for real, for raw, for expression. Life gives enormously wonderful gifts and also some deep pits we help each other out of, right? </div>
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As I dive deeper into my forties, I want to invite hearts to see what I see while I continue to learn abundantly by seeking out different perspectives. From the view of a mom through birth, adoption, and foster care, a wife, a sister, a friend, a nurse, a writer. A person with big feelings about inequity, racial injustice, children's rights, God, and all the other stuff. Complexities that overlap daily and need to be emotionally managed. And the big, huge acknowledgement that I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be able to take another breath, without the heaping piles of grace and mercy I receive every day. Really, my main hope as you read is that you will feel challenged, encouraged, and laugh a little too. Thanks for coming along for the ride. I have 5 kiddos now, so the frequency with which I will publish is yet to be seen. Oh, and for the record, we are in the middle of a global pandemic! I'm glad to be back and hope to see you here again soon.<br />
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mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-547325486463100562013-12-13T09:11:00.000-05:002013-12-13T09:11:11.854-05:00Oh heeeey! hello internet!<br />
I've missed this little bloggy space! I'm doubting that anyone will come read this, considering I haven't even logged on since August. But anyway, I'll give you a little update.<br />
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LIFE IS GRAND!<br />
Nursing school is incredible. I'm working harder than I've ever worked. My brain feels stretched and challenged and full. Let me give you one piece of advice: never think that nurses are stupid. I can only speak for those with a BSN (the degree I'm working towards), but holy cow, come sit in my pathophysiology class for one second and you'll see. Wow. I really hate that I grew up in a culture thinking that nurses were "lesser" somehow (not by fault of my family, but just society in general- "you should be a doctor, you should be a lawyer, etc… no acknowledgment of what academic prowess it takes to be a nurse). The depth of knowledge gained in nursing school is pretty incredible, and trust me, if you ever end up in the hospital, the NURSE is your soldier on the front lines of whatever you're dealing with. Good doctors and NP's/PA's love the nurses on their team, because without them, nothing gets accomplished. I am SO PROUD of my new career and feel that this is exactly what I was meant to do. I absolutely love being a part of the medical community and nursing specifically. There are many paths for being in health care (I considered PA school for many years) but nursing, and this specific route of education, is a perfect fit for me.<br />
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Going through an accelerated program with 3 kids and a husband who is also a student is definitely challenging, but nothing to cry over. There were weeks that I didn't get much sleep and had a ton of work, but overall a good balance was achieved. I treat school like a job: drop the kids off in the morning, go to class/lab/clinical, use my lunch or other down time to study or work on whatever is due, pick up the kids, forget about school until they go to bed, and then do whatever leftover studying is necessary. It is hard but good- I love to work, so for me it's not too bad. Especially when my husband also has to sit there and study… every night is a study date on the couch! I don't watch TV anymore so I might as well spend my time learning. I know, big nerd alert here!<br />
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The kids are doing great in school this year! All the teachers are fantastic, and each child is excelling and having fun. It's just life as usual, and not as traumatic as I thought it would be with them having to go to a couple hours of after-school care. They thrive in the environment. When we get home, we all just play outside or have some quality time together. They are AWESOME kids and I'm so glad to be their mama! They are the best cheerleaders too, and I've practiced a LOT of physical assessment skills on them ;). I told them not to worry though… I won't practice giving shots on them!<br />
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I miss running a lot and seeing my friends… definitely can't see friends as often, but they've all been very understanding. I've been able to squeeze in a run about 2 times a week, 3 if I'm lucky. But I feel out of shape from sitting in a lecture hall all day, and then exhausted from being on my feet for 8-12 hour clinical shifts, because I'm out of shape! ha! endless cycle… and next semester will be double the work, so I'm preparing for the worst. This too shall pass… sigh…<br />
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Of course not everything is totally perfect around here- the house is dusty, we eat trader joe's pizza a lot, laundry is done less frequently, etc, etc… but it's okay. We've had some highs and lows (lost a dear friend to cancer) this semester, and through it all, we've been sustained. We are very thankful. Now it's Christmas break and time to take some deep breaths. I hope you all are well and living life to the fullest- after all, we only have ONE!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the President giving a speech for the graduate school commencement </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duke Chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQzLXGQCaKszigymFLK5GyEmfQI-Wmeugz1dSdAXQ-HG-73f3etHkqiStr5xM9n-huYJyoYsTg1cWKpqnZ_Nn88A_RAH4LfQQX2p-JA-jHP6pEiS0ajdV36-RKeLMNs5jFnTJn8Uh3g/s1600/IMG_5912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQzLXGQCaKszigymFLK5GyEmfQI-Wmeugz1dSdAXQ-HG-73f3etHkqiStr5xM9n-huYJyoYsTg1cWKpqnZ_Nn88A_RAH4LfQQX2p-JA-jHP6pEiS0ajdV36-RKeLMNs5jFnTJn8Uh3g/s400/IMG_5912.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duke provides beer/wine during orientation. Good move, Duke. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HISLxM76LkPwx6g-1FO9Qcs6JAqNY1ezzKbqEar_rbzu32mSTU5RycdFZnJ3PWyDFi3vMob37JJY6U2TcWrHQDnS4Ktev2AB3_LOtX-r-jX892Hd9QtqTvWwhKcB1mKt8ePqiB6LRA/s1600/IMG_5919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HISLxM76LkPwx6g-1FO9Qcs6JAqNY1ezzKbqEar_rbzu32mSTU5RycdFZnJ3PWyDFi3vMob37JJY6U2TcWrHQDnS4Ktev2AB3_LOtX-r-jX892Hd9QtqTvWwhKcB1mKt8ePqiB6LRA/s400/IMG_5919.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after the professional schools' convocation </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb02Es9X4rh9Tg2uC_HXkJVG7v3CyY1LyhWPZOBIIn6Un9tmdkDvrEktoVV0gMvEyhn1HIJnn5TLuxd7PvUY_bbGJ6oxX8DjqVizfFcVXDOwUmYGvDPvj3f0w2TnxZZdviQzvCiE6Cfg/s1600/IMG_5923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb02Es9X4rh9Tg2uC_HXkJVG7v3CyY1LyhWPZOBIIn6Un9tmdkDvrEktoVV0gMvEyhn1HIJnn5TLuxd7PvUY_bbGJ6oxX8DjqVizfFcVXDOwUmYGvDPvj3f0w2TnxZZdviQzvCiE6Cfg/s400/IMG_5923.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">random pic of the kids breaking rules on an early fall day (it's SO cold here now!!) </td></tr>
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mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-2900958915120893462013-08-25T10:38:00.001-04:002013-08-25T10:38:46.514-04:00Maine, etcThis is my last weekend "off" for 16 months. That's nuts! I am in an accelerated program so it will go fast. I'm preparing myself to study ALL the time. This semester I'll be taking stats, fundamentals of nursing, foundations, physical examination/assessment, and pathophysiology. Technically I have 4 classes plus labs (so some combo of the above- still trying to figure out where i'll learn what), and clinicals. I am SO EXCITED. Also already tired just from orientation, so this should be interesting... coffee coffee coffee!<br />
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So this blog will be about remembering the glory days of summer, where we just traveled as a family and had FUN without having to memorize/study/go to class every day. Have I told you that Zach has NINE classes this semester plus clinicals? DUDE. That's why he'll have "Dr." in front of his name... and I won't... I'm FINE with that :).<br />
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So... MAINE! It was beautiful and cool (temperature) and invigorating. Zach's dad and stepmom have a wonderful house up there, and we got to hang out with them and their awesome kids. it was a blast!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF5A8jgop5do916X66eS5J3emeOtjO2-6L2tBSwUen5qQRllpghk4NogmQxexAHLC85hHH2AOX8qT9GFm8ngL0Zbbgd_ZB0v1Vdq6HuS-K9yNEg_his_m3UGb0UYv21aJERFI39RoWQ/s1600/IMG_5683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF5A8jgop5do916X66eS5J3emeOtjO2-6L2tBSwUen5qQRllpghk4NogmQxexAHLC85hHH2AOX8qT9GFm8ngL0Zbbgd_ZB0v1Vdq6HuS-K9yNEg_his_m3UGb0UYv21aJERFI39RoWQ/s400/IMG_5683.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we arrived in Boston, got our rental car, and headed for Maine! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-JScbwq-wlHoLS4j2MVITjz9PRQ1EOZEieo-yvLKxM0omZe3q-T9l26D_aHlFPNflgHwqNIP-2GOD74nU8lhFYwlFGf4D1IAlEPJQ94VnYjSDBDllbRHVSQ9-pX65QTEC0Q2rUn_HA/s1600/IMG_5685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-JScbwq-wlHoLS4j2MVITjz9PRQ1EOZEieo-yvLKxM0omZe3q-T9l26D_aHlFPNflgHwqNIP-2GOD74nU8lhFYwlFGf4D1IAlEPJQ94VnYjSDBDllbRHVSQ9-pX65QTEC0Q2rUn_HA/s400/IMG_5685.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">woot woot! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aalmVC0uzP2AUdM8ojxceSX1oRCaCGwhlXFcfjWxMcc9dcGyZpReBwpAfACrnDlV3WWjlQbeAjliEEbMlF-RNlAtwffFjccb0q1CqEBx9GGKh-B-Xs_iEjF0ZWpNfGPbW1JZSs4mhQ/s1600/IMG_5689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aalmVC0uzP2AUdM8ojxceSX1oRCaCGwhlXFcfjWxMcc9dcGyZpReBwpAfACrnDlV3WWjlQbeAjliEEbMlF-RNlAtwffFjccb0q1CqEBx9GGKh-B-Xs_iEjF0ZWpNfGPbW1JZSs4mhQ/s400/IMG_5689.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for our first hike! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6aK2gQrbALIixo41t43_2i5hrLsCPa0rWywCgIT4wsOdwkhTfB1w5kgcjI6RZE1HvilzVWNou3ylHLpiqOl_FnPpu1d6eoeA9dXm8V2FE45xE8scJfxmeDGvRFS-xTACDvC23FSQwQ/s1600/IMG_5693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6aK2gQrbALIixo41t43_2i5hrLsCPa0rWywCgIT4wsOdwkhTfB1w5kgcjI6RZE1HvilzVWNou3ylHLpiqOl_FnPpu1d6eoeA9dXm8V2FE45xE8scJfxmeDGvRFS-xTACDvC23FSQwQ/s400/IMG_5693.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we could walk to a lot of places from the house, so we went through town to the trailhead </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CayFgYq5LR8aFAwpPyU7YZuP4o_DRr-KUCtaUgfEZ0k8xZy09ZWvncDiWy6j3Bn8aw0FP8CuTIzK0g6eR4YdOBA8Ax_Av-gOUckne6FQbmqsc7oaUKb1v3lUhJemiGVrPX8t_XRKQw/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CayFgYq5LR8aFAwpPyU7YZuP4o_DRr-KUCtaUgfEZ0k8xZy09ZWvncDiWy6j3Bn8aw0FP8CuTIzK0g6eR4YdOBA8Ax_Av-gOUckne6FQbmqsc7oaUKb1v3lUhJemiGVrPX8t_XRKQw/s400/IMG_5705.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">headed for the top! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sf5azBMwJ8wAb81bzA7Gy15rfGO7sd1lFHxKPg02KXj7-Dg0wC9XN_CoSAFeD4hv2VIQp-m6L_LmeW4NKoXg6vUcsSxQ_uGbJZOeqCJ-IUGLm7LR3oHBRiSvkMt9A6_LGXgGGO5OUg/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sf5azBMwJ8wAb81bzA7Gy15rfGO7sd1lFHxKPg02KXj7-Dg0wC9XN_CoSAFeD4hv2VIQp-m6L_LmeW4NKoXg6vUcsSxQ_uGbJZOeqCJ-IUGLm7LR3oHBRiSvkMt9A6_LGXgGGO5OUg/s400/IMG_5706.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blueberry picking! </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUvZLFGHOfOXCtb302m9ObUl1yU3tRY_6FxjHIOsBjqn7qprq7gmpzVOH_mDP3-4Bw1qs5EWcJD1vrUeVKjNIn6SJG96Ph5H3omj12_yR7OHwvJrH-pyM2asc3mEpzNsvcMUgJ9pRfA/s1600/IMG_5717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUvZLFGHOfOXCtb302m9ObUl1yU3tRY_6FxjHIOsBjqn7qprq7gmpzVOH_mDP3-4Bw1qs5EWcJD1vrUeVKjNIn6SJG96Ph5H3omj12_yR7OHwvJrH-pyM2asc3mEpzNsvcMUgJ9pRfA/s400/IMG_5717.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Aoxb9A9wKDBZ1f8Fu2Gar0lpi-D-RN63Ow1QA4vpsGQTU-IPPLNLSmOBDkxiV7aStYopYazphqCs8KfYtAcmrxXwe5hs7ai4I4N6NG14QTEukN3D1V0AMpo9jUYvUAYP4NcJQShQ-g/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Aoxb9A9wKDBZ1f8Fu2Gar0lpi-D-RN63Ow1QA4vpsGQTU-IPPLNLSmOBDkxiV7aStYopYazphqCs8KfYtAcmrxXwe5hs7ai4I4N6NG14QTEukN3D1V0AMpo9jUYvUAYP4NcJQShQ-g/s400/IMG_5727.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this was a public beach just a short walk from the house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, those are the kids swimming in the collld water! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lobsta</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">loved hiking on the beaches</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there was a great co-op where we could get cheap lobster and bring our own bread/wine/etc</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALjO8bMNYOx52OF1zxxH77sax-drsCUxKK460EXlCqwn-VU8RQJWP72yeW4_qtKLwGC5kKIvCgeQCPLJI1ABRUx9saBerW8nJu24t9VNHazC1xX_5yp6zfcaTht9C1lOW6RNuY1ut-g/s1600/IMG_5791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALjO8bMNYOx52OF1zxxH77sax-drsCUxKK460EXlCqwn-VU8RQJWP72yeW4_qtKLwGC5kKIvCgeQCPLJI1ABRUx9saBerW8nJu24t9VNHazC1xX_5yp6zfcaTht9C1lOW6RNuY1ut-g/s400/IMG_5791.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and check out the docks</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2omo8YLuSufsDQzUGG5SUzXLx3ceboGpgO04yvf9N-02R3Z4kPaO2VhhkOZKpYrQ8M4csD5JxhXe0KfIySz6GwI85XxQXmiInthfNEuVzCtweAFp1Q1fpjwKSKGR2TOyHg_hbbn3JQ/s1600/IMG_5804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2omo8YLuSufsDQzUGG5SUzXLx3ceboGpgO04yvf9N-02R3Z4kPaO2VhhkOZKpYrQ8M4csD5JxhXe0KfIySz6GwI85XxQXmiInthfNEuVzCtweAFp1Q1fpjwKSKGR2TOyHg_hbbn3JQ/s400/IMG_5804.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we loved hiking around the tide pools</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another hike overlooking a huge lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLynvCL8bt1BIwEqyAPDGfd6LU8cMK5MEnfPzNOCEWCgt5gyWnpR82yk7pluhDt8XVkB-I1d6AE1mVjLusGbkCm5ct3eZjDrj1KTKecgHYnw7wkr_olRC4md4JKczXT8cAwlys_G-Y8A/s1600/IMG_5829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLynvCL8bt1BIwEqyAPDGfd6LU8cMK5MEnfPzNOCEWCgt5gyWnpR82yk7pluhDt8XVkB-I1d6AE1mVjLusGbkCm5ct3eZjDrj1KTKecgHYnw7wkr_olRC4md4JKczXT8cAwlys_G-Y8A/s400/IMG_5829.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">of course we bribed Sam to keep hiking... with fake nasty cheez wiz! I haven't seen that stuff in years... hilarious! </td></tr>
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The end... Maine was fabulous! We came home and went straight to the beach for our final week of summer. I took a break from the camera and have zero pictures from that- only good, relaxing memories. I will rely on those memories to bring me sanity for the next year :). I'll update here as often as I can... I covet your prayers and good juju as I launch into this new and crazy journey!mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-563162038385278782013-08-07T09:22:00.000-04:002013-08-07T09:22:37.917-04:00we're backWe've been home for a few days now, but no rest for the weary (happy) travelers... kids started school already! Here is a little (big) post to recap our travels. Next summer we will go to zero places (well, maybe a weekend trip or two, and my kids will beach it with my parents), so this summer was super special. Next summer I will be in class or at a hospital every day, all day. Almost. Anyway, we savored this time away. It was fantastic! I'm considering what to do with this blog. As you probably know, I have a whole lot more to say than what I've said here lately. I love to write, and I love to write honestly. Sometimes, though, it's good to be quiet. Sometimes I don't want to invite the criticism or even the praise. So we'll see. It could become my "therapy" as I work my way through school over the next 16 months. Is anyone still reading? I know I have 3 friends reading and some parents and grandparents. So that's good. :)<br />
<br />
Moving along to the trip recap:<br />
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#1: Nags Head, OBX, NC, with our dearies, the Duncans.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WhAdWxuiuEp6KoHbOMxb9Na6BZCFHI0beWvigDQMwLzSO4Az59AhJy9MTdZGYwCVVQa9Rf1AL_ETMYePNeXezgKZo-joyzPk-imF2TK1vQQgQwdizIe6_Pb-FXW_yDzbVJWdFuD1bA/s1600/IMG_5425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WhAdWxuiuEp6KoHbOMxb9Na6BZCFHI0beWvigDQMwLzSO4Az59AhJy9MTdZGYwCVVQa9Rf1AL_ETMYePNeXezgKZo-joyzPk-imF2TK1vQQgQwdizIe6_Pb-FXW_yDzbVJWdFuD1bA/s400/IMG_5425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of the sound, from Manteo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XsFa_bFygvkff_2N_VVEV4PH1_9b2YWegdMqO8DkoWSKSgT-TfcZzsr0NSnnQTq346QslS_2kWA1BVwkasrm5r2AdG1h8dosfTiQOazGRqWrV0P17G6Onpiq3e3G_6r2Q03hKchQpw/s1600/IMG_5439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XsFa_bFygvkff_2N_VVEV4PH1_9b2YWegdMqO8DkoWSKSgT-TfcZzsr0NSnnQTq346QslS_2kWA1BVwkasrm5r2AdG1h8dosfTiQOazGRqWrV0P17G6Onpiq3e3G_6r2Q03hKchQpw/s400/IMG_5439.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">silly boys on our deck. Fearing the storm! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WDGmBEHHqcgrZaSG2ALJeiwjlzczDRAzBtz3htf7tK2oDhh0kF-E9GUc5-M29B6U2YxjHaJfSjclB-fvSRDzoyy7uNL4h2bdkau5FplGF9SMv4ylyz1YhlG2JPGDcXs1Xg2pBZRHNw/s1600/IMG_5446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WDGmBEHHqcgrZaSG2ALJeiwjlzczDRAzBtz3htf7tK2oDhh0kF-E9GUc5-M29B6U2YxjHaJfSjclB-fvSRDzoyy7uNL4h2bdkau5FplGF9SMv4ylyz1YhlG2JPGDcXs1Xg2pBZRHNw/s400/IMG_5446.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful mornings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_keOCfD3AbEYzv3TajhTmQXzXmKEnLxPw4OzVmUS0rG9bDKrpEW1Ech7O8_36iqOzePp4QEoLkEzJsVotAJcgMEIXGwdSwWPgZ0afZ4amjvNVReUXgWKlNx38srKybKDQB7br2O_3PA/s1600/IMG_5464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_keOCfD3AbEYzv3TajhTmQXzXmKEnLxPw4OzVmUS0rG9bDKrpEW1Ech7O8_36iqOzePp4QEoLkEzJsVotAJcgMEIXGwdSwWPgZ0afZ4amjvNVReUXgWKlNx38srKybKDQB7br2O_3PA/s400/IMG_5464.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gorgeous afternoons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCKanUEPUPV2fk_Vw-GaOmKjneZOwiUQo8iVNZkbLINrgM1cpclCowjulLxqmBiUGAS_YdjOuUB4ivMSvYVhG8NTecBMUGJfw64UrSJ-NSFkWO5OmV2Flmdq1tmJzL1LbeTKgJJ_10w/s1600/IMG_5469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCKanUEPUPV2fk_Vw-GaOmKjneZOwiUQo8iVNZkbLINrgM1cpclCowjulLxqmBiUGAS_YdjOuUB4ivMSvYVhG8NTecBMUGJfw64UrSJ-NSFkWO5OmV2Flmdq1tmJzL1LbeTKgJJ_10w/s400/IMG_5469.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing evenings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCsHOHbi8VydamPveVp3kQ-af7fCoPOo9gVcUDkHu80wH8yNB79rupY9vWn7dKnQ7EOLTzbH18-hXfXpjXTCRmktybBvzNPIVJtc_zxSok4kexbzThKEYSfNdYFuU1dW2Y57DyqzySA/s1600/IMG_5476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCsHOHbi8VydamPveVp3kQ-af7fCoPOo9gVcUDkHu80wH8yNB79rupY9vWn7dKnQ7EOLTzbH18-hXfXpjXTCRmktybBvzNPIVJtc_zxSok4kexbzThKEYSfNdYFuU1dW2Y57DyqzySA/s400/IMG_5476.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and so much fishing. ALL the time. They loved it! </td></tr>
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#2: After five glorious days on the OBX, we drove up to see my sister Em who lives outside of DC. She's not really my sister but mostly is. Anyway, her kids and my kids are "fake cousins" and we couldn't love them more... they are the best!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh348TZXmGqM2aKbIwCPgS1zJ08o4t3zEqvSdl2H40lNgHDlvtE4vwzoUY3ACEqHh7Aqja_SHzqCi4zyZLI2vHG8AgcVD334DNB32vE80dEkjq_7R1l-rnCA_n9H6RWz8d7LpH0dKXHHA/s1600/IMG_5482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh348TZXmGqM2aKbIwCPgS1zJ08o4t3zEqvSdl2H40lNgHDlvtE4vwzoUY3ACEqHh7Aqja_SHzqCi4zyZLI2vHG8AgcVD334DNB32vE80dEkjq_7R1l-rnCA_n9H6RWz8d7LpH0dKXHHA/s400/IMG_5482.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Em had to work, so Zach and I took her three kids and our 3 kids into the city. Because we are brave, and insane. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ghZwFvraeVhwIX_ab3-1vthRAQY-A1VGwoTy9R1zP4DMEHvCH-uRdGJxGaOvKYcroSKeWBhohhkmCpvuBUyXxyJzMQJX3vJUgwTsC9qPrtt8Zj78mMvFHBDduW9W1yA13ANd3uH5jA/s1600/IMG_5483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ghZwFvraeVhwIX_ab3-1vthRAQY-A1VGwoTy9R1zP4DMEHvCH-uRdGJxGaOvKYcroSKeWBhohhkmCpvuBUyXxyJzMQJX3vJUgwTsC9qPrtt8Zj78mMvFHBDduW9W1yA13ANd3uH5jA/s400/IMG_5483.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was already 10000 degrees</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIja393bkMWBBnWeb1CJydZYl6dppDwo80FFtRThAMsKG4z5yfFYWcNtjZv6AUEwrOBXedpGBLOdZcNnxsTHYAjU02DU_gSexi05YzmPN-BFjQrNn9Ev2R7dQHiySJSYKoz09K7z8vg/s1600/IMG_5486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIja393bkMWBBnWeb1CJydZYl6dppDwo80FFtRThAMsKG4z5yfFYWcNtjZv6AUEwrOBXedpGBLOdZcNnxsTHYAjU02DU_gSexi05YzmPN-BFjQrNn9Ev2R7dQHiySJSYKoz09K7z8vg/s400/IMG_5486.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These kids are awesome. It was so hot and they were so willing to walk and see all the cool sites. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H2jD2nweAVeDljpKVjRiAON1bogZjs3hgKDmQJFspevDRxuby151niKU4riNuPdBzvy2-apa4oAxcH6UpuZ929Q1nWGtgaGIdrgqWNuythwb7jj5h9EWbUGpvLmi0ggWIl1G3k1MvA/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8H2jD2nweAVeDljpKVjRiAON1bogZjs3hgKDmQJFspevDRxuby151niKU4riNuPdBzvy2-apa4oAxcH6UpuZ929Q1nWGtgaGIdrgqWNuythwb7jj5h9EWbUGpvLmi0ggWIl1G3k1MvA/s400/IMG_5487.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in awe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC7l0ag_PrN0VvCKxWq6yx8UbpgiMwcN_m6CpzNR9T9OlYOpkVGBLfgUp841MXKBlguGmIZLDWusSLWBISDE5EZAcpO_SwMa0nyIeMt9lLN87_yn9gaRtHP3QbW-ExaWZOhnc3di2kw/s1600/IMG_5488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC7l0ag_PrN0VvCKxWq6yx8UbpgiMwcN_m6CpzNR9T9OlYOpkVGBLfgUp841MXKBlguGmIZLDWusSLWBISDE5EZAcpO_SwMa0nyIeMt9lLN87_yn9gaRtHP3QbW-ExaWZOhnc3di2kw/s400/IMG_5488.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the dude himself</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPWvGaIzRTjKJPW_DNSm8HbMo4MYIKP6u_T2UxsTD51pHRn1CAeGLKIq_iGsppLiaEM-kn5snoD_o3gr72_eD99cRrbkcVe8toth3rJ9jz4G2zt5xituBZmfW-IWSN6AsJoNO9rMbmA/s1600/IMG_5494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPWvGaIzRTjKJPW_DNSm8HbMo4MYIKP6u_T2UxsTD51pHRn1CAeGLKIq_iGsppLiaEM-kn5snoD_o3gr72_eD99cRrbkcVe8toth3rJ9jz4G2zt5xituBZmfW-IWSN6AsJoNO9rMbmA/s400/IMG_5494.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute kids, grand memorial (WWII)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeMQxLe0Tk0rrFvWfxG74LQk_96cLFPc_hGWhFJYUdOXWdME9L_L1GRCLX0NSpY2p-1pCKI3K7C1JESM_Mqeis6azhUf5OpHqx7rloQ224zch3qOet0nyd7kjZHGRPPJNwtG8Bpn9uA/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYeMQxLe0Tk0rrFvWfxG74LQk_96cLFPc_hGWhFJYUdOXWdME9L_L1GRCLX0NSpY2p-1pCKI3K7C1JESM_Mqeis6azhUf5OpHqx7rloQ224zch3qOet0nyd7kjZHGRPPJNwtG8Bpn9uA/s400/IMG_5502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After another massive walk in 1000 degree heat, we arrived to see Mr. Jefferson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-49rWQbCKHMcfFW4BeDjJuSdgV4qviB42TIWOxVdgZBb1M_z_UME5TNvgAcLJ6kPjKefP6-p5Llb7SmFq_a1wpjcwHKonSYqf0REMWvQXEUv4IWHvJF7I052ptTx2P3hJsdE09R_eQ/s1600/IMG_5506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-49rWQbCKHMcfFW4BeDjJuSdgV4qviB42TIWOxVdgZBb1M_z_UME5TNvgAcLJ6kPjKefP6-p5Llb7SmFq_a1wpjcwHKonSYqf0REMWvQXEUv4IWHvJF7I052ptTx2P3hJsdE09R_eQ/s400/IMG_5506.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84duR8oRsMsQWryUxVd_QsnNF4N5XTQNvk9Ma3N66Uat4X118dz29iV1U1dQhpcFMcF6ztzleZD4hiKFbEMZqErZxeJI_1GwZFpDhDPmeDCga7YrZbYujfN0f7HwEyW-x8TUeWBcATA/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84duR8oRsMsQWryUxVd_QsnNF4N5XTQNvk9Ma3N66Uat4X118dz29iV1U1dQhpcFMcF6ztzleZD4hiKFbEMZqErZxeJI_1GwZFpDhDPmeDCga7YrZbYujfN0f7HwEyW-x8TUeWBcATA/s400/IMG_5518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBSzHb5KbI8LGc7GwYOTf50jXxTOD3KPDihgeUEV5LOl7YhdzgRcAnwICtr9TyBUe5RESQM2XxzvHhhH9AUT5Amcjgkjv5MWvuitz1qHXu0KDdi8uV0VrxA8iV06sHxTo0quXojFFZw/s1600/IMG_5519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBSzHb5KbI8LGc7GwYOTf50jXxTOD3KPDihgeUEV5LOl7YhdzgRcAnwICtr9TyBUe5RESQM2XxzvHhhH9AUT5Amcjgkjv5MWvuitz1qHXu0KDdi8uV0VrxA8iV06sHxTo0quXojFFZw/s400/IMG_5519.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">amen sister</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnXCaqCrpS23x9Ud5gauveApJXED6eQFCdob5TUDBmBM5siEvGIwQfzJ8Oo50oLKhRAaOOQ3M0ZQO_0Tg0CfosLub7cBBcBI5wWYVlxVmrj_2ouyTpm595jXFa3v4SOTDHXcE5U3t3Q/s1600/IMG_5532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnXCaqCrpS23x9Ud5gauveApJXED6eQFCdob5TUDBmBM5siEvGIwQfzJ8Oo50oLKhRAaOOQ3M0ZQO_0Tg0CfosLub7cBBcBI5wWYVlxVmrj_2ouyTpm595jXFa3v4SOTDHXcE5U3t3Q/s400/IMG_5532.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was special. I have one African child and two white children. Emily's three children are biracial (she is biracial and her husband is white). Our families would have a MUCH harder time existing if not for our powerful civil rights leaders. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPphg-c8Qy2n5JRCJ4pAvDVHtsY6ife8xVydgz-w-jg1B9WEWTgDmLdR2r7XvNdF-v1fxU7qLhLbGS3i6z3D4fSC6bz1eNpzu3lnSl7jNkb8iN4vyx1QQqDppv8raL40-MwLSSsE4pg/s1600/IMG_5559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPphg-c8Qy2n5JRCJ4pAvDVHtsY6ife8xVydgz-w-jg1B9WEWTgDmLdR2r7XvNdF-v1fxU7qLhLbGS3i6z3D4fSC6bz1eNpzu3lnSl7jNkb8iN4vyx1QQqDppv8raL40-MwLSSsE4pg/s400/IMG_5559.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the one pic I took of Em's pool (out the bathroom window). Thank the dear lord baby jesus for this pool after our long hot days... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_ABvEpz7ki9yC4TrIlh5aGXyNH7VwwpEMkt4HBDsspcMiwTIiPlObLh5gumvtR8s-rGO_Vm03iW0FXqOO7cwCV5Qe8THrP1n9N2sYdWISgH0J8ZYrIMUFpd9-Sm0q20MRvoc_vAAAw/s1600/IMG_5540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_ABvEpz7ki9yC4TrIlh5aGXyNH7VwwpEMkt4HBDsspcMiwTIiPlObLh5gumvtR8s-rGO_Vm03iW0FXqOO7cwCV5Qe8THrP1n9N2sYdWISgH0J8ZYrIMUFpd9-Sm0q20MRvoc_vAAAw/s400/IMG_5540.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAM :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl11b04s6QoDIOzFMUf3LWIMPLWFOXwaH68-S8qjNLAIthW0fAahdXz5gxKI4H250oPkH7UJGzGeRljI6TXew_aqJabnZCXLoZeLdV00MZgUZlWgJZNh3COVBsvEktLhT8lg6aa83Rw/s1600/IMG_5567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl11b04s6QoDIOzFMUf3LWIMPLWFOXwaH68-S8qjNLAIthW0fAahdXz5gxKI4H250oPkH7UJGzGeRljI6TXew_aqJabnZCXLoZeLdV00MZgUZlWgJZNh3COVBsvEktLhT8lg6aa83Rw/s400/IMG_5567.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next day we tried to be inside for a longer time. YAY air and space museum! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK6TStq6h4iGLOXk2AyHU2zpamiA7KKL4eUaHQbs6gj5PJJSndOm-47w22l-AV6eOxDedofkiX3lCOZY8rU2VHtljFScYiuWG6Mip0OyUbr-ebelhzKyoUE7bS7p0s4ZO2Jrhazi84w/s1600/IMG_5569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK6TStq6h4iGLOXk2AyHU2zpamiA7KKL4eUaHQbs6gj5PJJSndOm-47w22l-AV6eOxDedofkiX3lCOZY8rU2VHtljFScYiuWG6Mip0OyUbr-ebelhzKyoUE7bS7p0s4ZO2Jrhazi84w/s400/IMG_5569.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we got to see my good childhood friend, Jordon! He's a big shot in the Government... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z3Wgy9p2W-Bx8VNHrM5WlQ3nVWYVhvUYDa5uSU3lKhCfL2NcH2ooSo80TcFv8KGCbZkeU9qonEhAUEcfIrcJ7ay6ncjdw5QKbZs1Gtb7GanXKmdu_5v0BL1d8GnXgEBZaNlnEELSjg/s1600/IMG_5578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z3Wgy9p2W-Bx8VNHrM5WlQ3nVWYVhvUYDa5uSU3lKhCfL2NcH2ooSo80TcFv8KGCbZkeU9qonEhAUEcfIrcJ7ay6ncjdw5QKbZs1Gtb7GanXKmdu_5v0BL1d8GnXgEBZaNlnEELSjg/s400/IMG_5578.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And he works right across the street from the Prez. So he walked us over to see the residence. Not to shabby. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0ksDo8cpTQV-4w02v8rt75Z2lStARz1t6yPWSa00lDts30W6o6PfHxcgTltbQMi4RoBlVmOMMXia8dvruBxMfXYkJ3USMzif7e_nZRyW8EE2wUf1QgGWXXb-zxVKtjihuI5EIcP7Nw/s1600/IMG_5589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0ksDo8cpTQV-4w02v8rt75Z2lStARz1t6yPWSa00lDts30W6o6PfHxcgTltbQMi4RoBlVmOMMXia8dvruBxMfXYkJ3USMzif7e_nZRyW8EE2wUf1QgGWXXb-zxVKtjihuI5EIcP7Nw/s400/IMG_5589.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next morning we went to see this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0sZxcVeK_tYBYAP1zNXbtBgT-rBALi48JWCZIM6iFtQqquMsglX92tmn2bQ4aCaBpB7MGAyhboHj9rzDgCR-IcBKJ7MG-JqGtI2tiI3vJxYUaBfryeKPCuGw57aUi5wJH2rCtl_jag/s1600/IMG_5628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0sZxcVeK_tYBYAP1zNXbtBgT-rBALi48JWCZIM6iFtQqquMsglX92tmn2bQ4aCaBpB7MGAyhboHj9rzDgCR-IcBKJ7MG-JqGtI2tiI3vJxYUaBfryeKPCuGw57aUi5wJH2rCtl_jag/s400/IMG_5628.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the new Air Force memorial, which is my favorite, because I grew up at the Air Force Academy. And this was designed to look like it. LOVED it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WBlz6elzPXStiMC_ins73ABSwsclH55a-284moug6ruYHgvWYYA6VcTLckMwaYDclIsUKx-LHjQPR9Fp7lCtUcChyAs_oRcwEe7nKgsOXmXhiFBsSTvcg8pw3xlMY8zIKN_KnULasw/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WBlz6elzPXStiMC_ins73ABSwsclH55a-284moug6ruYHgvWYYA6VcTLckMwaYDclIsUKx-LHjQPR9Fp7lCtUcChyAs_oRcwEe7nKgsOXmXhiFBsSTvcg8pw3xlMY8zIKN_KnULasw/s400/IMG_5603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">good kids! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGbKmzEVSbG8eW-kUoCVDpGmFfUkhP7MI8cIw0AC0NAM0LdeX2vOWxEJFpla3pRhuYr-Yj14whxs8b0VSlNqwvn8FSztGQwq-p5w2ncGI0BF2FwrAIe4eOJyNeBhyphenhyphenhD97D5SCPHMazw/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGbKmzEVSbG8eW-kUoCVDpGmFfUkhP7MI8cIw0AC0NAM0LdeX2vOWxEJFpla3pRhuYr-Yj14whxs8b0VSlNqwvn8FSztGQwq-p5w2ncGI0BF2FwrAIe4eOJyNeBhyphenhyphenhD97D5SCPHMazw/s400/IMG_5606.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saluting lessons with Aunt Emily. Who is a badass Colonel in the USAF</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTxKQoTnlrRYCZtBn0uubtChAw97QkgNRXwZqmdODVDRkMByYHI-xDMRIppjwo0rE_1IvqliQTpeAJmccg4s9zi41E7L6KfP1RUSXt5lMsr8YjPZ7Q1t5rfzm6qHMnfU8xSJfw9gIZA/s1600/IMG_5631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTxKQoTnlrRYCZtBn0uubtChAw97QkgNRXwZqmdODVDRkMByYHI-xDMRIppjwo0rE_1IvqliQTpeAJmccg4s9zi41E7L6KfP1RUSXt5lMsr8YjPZ7Q1t5rfzm6qHMnfU8xSJfw9gIZA/s400/IMG_5631.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then we went to Old Town and had lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fwp9-Xxr-yoglMDSmWAhlh6e8f1PN5bm9GYoeJGM6FMC3sCbixiK7xsKQITtzgnIcNox41ph_d4V-lCWdrIoMPLUuEkdhk9Mb1XU2mNH2TsgXk_1d6BPqk4pCMNBHqIXU9PdCIryjA/s1600/IMG_5635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fwp9-Xxr-yoglMDSmWAhlh6e8f1PN5bm9GYoeJGM6FMC3sCbixiK7xsKQITtzgnIcNox41ph_d4V-lCWdrIoMPLUuEkdhk9Mb1XU2mNH2TsgXk_1d6BPqk4pCMNBHqIXU9PdCIryjA/s400/IMG_5635.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrLwDEkcVwjNSZQeg1Byj5yTjlBDCSrNMq5YHXwIO98XEmE0dobjoGhQ8Ufb7qIsZg6mJqgbaeMI4Nzpyg579fbGqXWCFfUGB6b7T9NHD9wAOIkefA2uWKX6dsHOpKKcxYesHmJO0bA/s1600/IMG_5636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrLwDEkcVwjNSZQeg1Byj5yTjlBDCSrNMq5YHXwIO98XEmE0dobjoGhQ8Ufb7qIsZg6mJqgbaeMI4Nzpyg579fbGqXWCFfUGB6b7T9NHD9wAOIkefA2uWKX6dsHOpKKcxYesHmJO0bA/s400/IMG_5636.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may be okay with having 6 kids, but only if I got to add those specific kids to my brood. Love them :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgdiLNfNxNBRw1QT3-f4V3mV4B_erBazMQ_xJNK_hR-oHgtC04bda5DHlcSwRdtaX8KHtviKbcNJmqCzzxQ9JDBJiMeoab9MrtBd62b7PO1_O0OC_wgtuHMdlD5SBEneirKj5dgOvyg/s1600/IMG_5637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgdiLNfNxNBRw1QT3-f4V3mV4B_erBazMQ_xJNK_hR-oHgtC04bda5DHlcSwRdtaX8KHtviKbcNJmqCzzxQ9JDBJiMeoab9MrtBd62b7PO1_O0OC_wgtuHMdlD5SBEneirKj5dgOvyg/s400/IMG_5637.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then my friend Sally from college stopped by to say hi! Hooray! She is a teacher in DC. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q2lAUoJeVbUJFkbth8bLbZ-HvYleHh3wmNeu0iU5YtciNl6fywwOsTHUNnCw0PmjC-xkmhVbaF8MaydR1v50GW5BVkxEQgcLS0nFK6ReqS2E7PN-OUgzhBxLL2-SVyuqEbavtzDJ1g/s1600/IMG_5582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q2lAUoJeVbUJFkbth8bLbZ-HvYleHh3wmNeu0iU5YtciNl6fywwOsTHUNnCw0PmjC-xkmhVbaF8MaydR1v50GW5BVkxEQgcLS0nFK6ReqS2E7PN-OUgzhBxLL2-SVyuqEbavtzDJ1g/s400/IMG_5582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah! And I forgot to mention... saw one of my college roomies and my co-maid of honor in our wedding, Susan! She lives up there too. We both have three kids. WHAT??? :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeSosyv4wH8CYOPz9_A6xVcFCVOq8RM0K6DVG29-mYJHVwSeYMMSZj0eu8_RxLrNf9R021x91dn7AA9mThw6LwOGLAYvUKvkEqhxzU4vuy_YEbtGsi_zO200U3bIqfh__eqHfZ5Lxw/s1600/IMG_5639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeSosyv4wH8CYOPz9_A6xVcFCVOq8RM0K6DVG29-mYJHVwSeYMMSZj0eu8_RxLrNf9R021x91dn7AA9mThw6LwOGLAYvUKvkEqhxzU4vuy_YEbtGsi_zO200U3bIqfh__eqHfZ5Lxw/s400/IMG_5639.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That night Zach and I got to go have fantastic Ethiopian food in the city. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERxpALrLzTQC_dWmg4T8xgQ6-fNpaNDYuIy4AcZON9jEuMklYmZG-VFGS_azQ_i-lSYBGo_SRsTSEpjQY3i_qgQBHK9n7iF2GRf_WSpEeqFLWVDKlRfkOYSz0CR_CpzTycMqIrZv7Pw/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERxpALrLzTQC_dWmg4T8xgQ6-fNpaNDYuIy4AcZON9jEuMklYmZG-VFGS_azQ_i-lSYBGo_SRsTSEpjQY3i_qgQBHK9n7iF2GRf_WSpEeqFLWVDKlRfkOYSz0CR_CpzTycMqIrZv7Pw/s400/IMG_5645.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WITH my cousin John and his lovely wife Flo. What an amazing evening! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIerBAjUTB0yjqwhirukkAWzkgeqXo7HLmxF8glfDOonexKl0x7Onmem4BNu9QcEl_Nm6aVbw9gMxtbRMnF3AKWlEG4gjToERodb9Pm-2gzTqLo5S0Mzpc8AnofYOWwH8Tkl-ItPnzEA/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIerBAjUTB0yjqwhirukkAWzkgeqXo7HLmxF8glfDOonexKl0x7Onmem4BNu9QcEl_Nm6aVbw9gMxtbRMnF3AKWlEG4gjToERodb9Pm-2gzTqLo5S0Mzpc8AnofYOWwH8Tkl-ItPnzEA/s400/IMG_5646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the next day we had to leave. We may have cried a bit. It was the BEST four days. The best. We love our DC family and friends!!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay this post is getting too long... next destinations will be documented soon. Hope you all are well! Happy Wednesday...mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-44624322427186031042013-07-20T19:32:00.002-04:002013-07-20T19:32:45.354-04:00itinerary. it's travel season...<br />
"I have a gypsy soul and was born for leavin'..."<br />
It's true.<br />
This is my favorite, favorite time. A rare time in life when we get to take off for awhile.<br />
Sorry if you don't know me on FB. That's where my pictures are. I'll dump them here and tell stories later.<br />
For now we're on the move, chasing rainbows and new roads and different air. This is like water to my being. Priceless.<br />
itinerary (some already completed):<br />
Outer Banks of North Carolina<br />
Washington DC<br />
West Virginia mountains<br />
coast of Maine<br />
coast of South Carolina<br />
(desperately missing: Colorado)<br />
<br />
...then, home. School. reality.<br />
<br />
ciao! see you soon!mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-51195345440891017232013-06-30T10:13:00.000-04:002013-06-30T10:13:13.190-04:00All Things Wedding: Part 2Summer really messes up blogging. The kids are at ages of full-swing busy-ness... they need to be moving ALL the time. So we move. All the time. Pool, park, hiking, constant. So posts will happen soon, documenting this beautiful summer. But we still have wedding territory to cover!<br />
<br />
After the rehearsal we gathered for a wonderful rehearsal dinner. So far I don't have many pictures from that, but my sister Sophie got a few.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2p5JPBnS-IaKWMfNsi0_mzkvLL0lP8jb07RddhGvCDAgsIz5F_KeQQniJQ8xxTqFgrJexrIn1OaBrmRzucWakIDabGpQdGw1trSMiAoTN3F8YSzMzk4ZHX6rD-ohwlczCtl-VFqmeA/s960/996711_4353623577219_421251934_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2p5JPBnS-IaKWMfNsi0_mzkvLL0lP8jb07RddhGvCDAgsIz5F_KeQQniJQ8xxTqFgrJexrIn1OaBrmRzucWakIDabGpQdGw1trSMiAoTN3F8YSzMzk4ZHX6rD-ohwlczCtl-VFqmeA/s400/996711_4353623577219_421251934_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me speaking. And looking like a complete psycho. I was saying something funny (possibly the part about getting a sister instead of a horse. whatever.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MYMuP8KWAnmf0EOw0epSb-KB8YZKBYXcwbku5d3Santf1MflhzmlQ4AnkgKVb8GHclSOxOv0kpXUonxzaIi_xJpGXbz7SfTKLmSdrG6fdEapW-Tz1tQ-eiWe0yj5-WT1CittVKCeEA/s960/999309_4353622737198_1762119674_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MYMuP8KWAnmf0EOw0epSb-KB8YZKBYXcwbku5d3Santf1MflhzmlQ4AnkgKVb8GHclSOxOv0kpXUonxzaIi_xJpGXbz7SfTKLmSdrG6fdEapW-Tz1tQ-eiWe0yj5-WT1CittVKCeEA/s400/999309_4353622737198_1762119674_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother Kyle looking way more professional as a public speaker. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DJbg1bEcxUhio_Zm8NpQIssHZK89e05XlrTl-cqZim9BBGNmw0U9d-deRGkdCsWxy7AZbviEBwQxpJ6948uw6Px_cLHFLonxDrhnBRPNcgpIwiOxKtjoOQx4eg-4CWR88fvMn5PWZg/s960/1016135_4353624337238_844393601_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DJbg1bEcxUhio_Zm8NpQIssHZK89e05XlrTl-cqZim9BBGNmw0U9d-deRGkdCsWxy7AZbviEBwQxpJ6948uw6Px_cLHFLonxDrhnBRPNcgpIwiOxKtjoOQx4eg-4CWR88fvMn5PWZg/s400/1016135_4353624337238_844393601_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister's bestie and maid of honor... looking sweet, and not psycho. What's their secret?? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EU2CD75BSa6MPeoN1RMa5cfhhGvzjBvZTVUwGFJEjJK4A9gr5mc9FGNpYcYZw9JJtO0JrLtE_j7mNUzRpkUJxBHNjILfD8WxxnuJp4IEH6NDDbIElZc0ULQ7FaZwiqjw6Nc3FOnM7A/s960/1045061_4353623337213_1235840338_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EU2CD75BSa6MPeoN1RMa5cfhhGvzjBvZTVUwGFJEjJK4A9gr5mc9FGNpYcYZw9JJtO0JrLtE_j7mNUzRpkUJxBHNjILfD8WxxnuJp4IEH6NDDbIElZc0ULQ7FaZwiqjw6Nc3FOnM7A/s400/1045061_4353623337213_1235840338_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">highlight of the evening... my deployed brother Tyler sending a video toast. SO AWESOME. Hilarious and sweet. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My dad also read one of his famous (infamous?) poems honoring Hannah and Chase. It was fantastic as usual! The next day we rested and prepped for the ceremony:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWH8HORKMcT1lr-o-ymqdYcEHZRq8_z2Jn_5L3QCDs2vKezmW14g5yvv6voEuHtyPJpfykFLS-zSE6eel-jv3Tp6C8GuRniGXjI1h0gx445auRfspOIBs2irGp1-lfRhUBfv1_OGZLg/s1600/IMG_5304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWH8HORKMcT1lr-o-ymqdYcEHZRq8_z2Jn_5L3QCDs2vKezmW14g5yvv6voEuHtyPJpfykFLS-zSE6eel-jv3Tp6C8GuRniGXjI1h0gx445auRfspOIBs2irGp1-lfRhUBfv1_OGZLg/s400/IMG_5304.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">makeuppppp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFatIbIpKUXtS29bKNmJUtloufoLPf2E8XFgNv9Z4V0YcptHiw-FGy_KqDHXimteR9wBbnCzlrC1t06cx8wCgr__Axv1hD_QkHtJvPq4xGfmWfFW1NNwzFiMfmV_O1zM-tzF4psBbmNw/s1600/IMG_5307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFatIbIpKUXtS29bKNmJUtloufoLPf2E8XFgNv9Z4V0YcptHiw-FGy_KqDHXimteR9wBbnCzlrC1t06cx8wCgr__Axv1hD_QkHtJvPq4xGfmWfFW1NNwzFiMfmV_O1zM-tzF4psBbmNw/s400/IMG_5307.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bearded Annie! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKdWwuKAK9OyeSp484xK23q6MZQmz1m4ME7QpjJgqD8EdI2qIntM4iHLNHnE0_b8qBSoZZjvwzKT7zpDTm8oPXOopbd5p5hLm4pmm_7hiOFOGRlq2hZ1tvxb42V_ETj6CAcFBK33gSQ/s1600/IMG_5310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKdWwuKAK9OyeSp484xK23q6MZQmz1m4ME7QpjJgqD8EdI2qIntM4iHLNHnE0_b8qBSoZZjvwzKT7zpDTm8oPXOopbd5p5hLm4pmm_7hiOFOGRlq2hZ1tvxb42V_ETj6CAcFBK33gSQ/s400/IMG_5310.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my mama and her bestie, Teri! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKF_8C2KLhvfCcofEfoRNbgflhFT0_Eru7E5fpizEmWvyjjwnjorRJrL20xwdg-A6LH8sH_4Ufz0yyeZ3k4QBgKLXYiogHRSG-PPGBtGJXrmLmTP054TotoksLfHgZjEOvpnUKtX53A/s1600/IMG_5312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKF_8C2KLhvfCcofEfoRNbgflhFT0_Eru7E5fpizEmWvyjjwnjorRJrL20xwdg-A6LH8sH_4Ufz0yyeZ3k4QBgKLXYiogHRSG-PPGBtGJXrmLmTP054TotoksLfHgZjEOvpnUKtX53A/s400/IMG_5312.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my babies looking all fancy! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JbpUr8olwjEHU7hzPTlE-607KmEqsf5mlJZmoBu157BYLQzCq30wLYWpfxXwHkWyNftL3TBFK__3ycB2w8YOpPEKVF0PhTrWvBCdvoSR4R2rnRo8b4KtyRwVlHJPzSaIbBvpAecLNw/s1600/IMG_5314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JbpUr8olwjEHU7hzPTlE-607KmEqsf5mlJZmoBu157BYLQzCq30wLYWpfxXwHkWyNftL3TBFK__3ycB2w8YOpPEKVF0PhTrWvBCdvoSR4R2rnRo8b4KtyRwVlHJPzSaIbBvpAecLNw/s400/IMG_5314.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walking the dress in... time to get the bride ready! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF7tsox6W3Y3p4G0O_ywFphoXkPsVuOiJrr-evfHiQFy12mCysOhiDUiyFD6H8NpLhFqQbNHVdhyphenhyphensxJh1dvqEDbrV4dJiqne8hOrWEr-QRqOThsu93i8x2V06wVGCJeuJx5ANsafGnw/s1600/IMG_5319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF7tsox6W3Y3p4G0O_ywFphoXkPsVuOiJrr-evfHiQFy12mCysOhiDUiyFD6H8NpLhFqQbNHVdhyphenhyphensxJh1dvqEDbrV4dJiqne8hOrWEr-QRqOThsu93i8x2V06wVGCJeuJx5ANsafGnw/s400/IMG_5319.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teri and SB doing the hard work </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiF4kcLyzaE0yrc1yf6OKbfjAX4uq_DCqKeiMBHamFZik_IpG_VbeO48d_GsPlwj-MifWWFuUHWm76Qi-xyQnaiHw8Y9vJxrA4jq_PuW2Et7DXvIvppoBvMtJCQp_tZ4Ygd-TGFziEg/s1600/IMG_5322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiF4kcLyzaE0yrc1yf6OKbfjAX4uq_DCqKeiMBHamFZik_IpG_VbeO48d_GsPlwj-MifWWFuUHWm76Qi-xyQnaiHw8Y9vJxrA4jq_PuW2Et7DXvIvppoBvMtJCQp_tZ4Ygd-TGFziEg/s400/IMG_5322.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here comes the bride! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oqkM4ybfpmQrnLAyCTj6-9Phzuz5ou2mBtIg-CFvbYK8DUIA_hrtQi53OOtL0lraEZT2WyPAU56mBU0ka-FzOpjCugy8sHMYsrVgnpRDpO-k2VQKYzdt9QdSzeDnXHCMZiDYdUN3gw/s1600/IMG_5323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oqkM4ybfpmQrnLAyCTj6-9Phzuz5ou2mBtIg-CFvbYK8DUIA_hrtQi53OOtL0lraEZT2WyPAU56mBU0ka-FzOpjCugy8sHMYsrVgnpRDpO-k2VQKYzdt9QdSzeDnXHCMZiDYdUN3gw/s400/IMG_5323.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pretty girl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldZp6NKtGGp3LncA7yE-yp7kkzzi1YJz6cqDJZVO-6zzfOhhJlNvVfcvbByPTwBw84Ioo_28R1q90tMvpdotsrkRg_iwXJU5OMkv-_hnXqC8SxuXH8_dy4u-lQR6PqN7wmh64DilLAQ/s1600/IMG_5324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldZp6NKtGGp3LncA7yE-yp7kkzzi1YJz6cqDJZVO-6zzfOhhJlNvVfcvbByPTwBw84Ioo_28R1q90tMvpdotsrkRg_iwXJU5OMkv-_hnXqC8SxuXH8_dy4u-lQR6PqN7wmh64DilLAQ/s400/IMG_5324.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leah and my youngest sister Sophie</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoR1_jbFd0NBoU12QU8O13zwbw_JFqHIu_wQFO0mKGSHLD2s3-0nDQHrCOCIbwZ3BrZH2zeLzhRl2UEU8HtnRg76ziAiNhrrUqX07VBMKW9Qd2TBiWd6Tas-vGGW061Ce3S3iiQJl6w/s960/1010034_4353626737298_1957930746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoR1_jbFd0NBoU12QU8O13zwbw_JFqHIu_wQFO0mKGSHLD2s3-0nDQHrCOCIbwZ3BrZH2zeLzhRl2UEU8HtnRg76ziAiNhrrUqX07VBMKW9Qd2TBiWd6Tas-vGGW061Ce3S3iiQJl6w/s400/1010034_4353626737298_1957930746_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dressed and ready! so pretty! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU36aEzRVyPNGJcLBRsdeta-xZiPzN8w-xga5mvAtmx4TPPSEbrfXghg0G3yO6_SjCmI7CHuVzsyajCYoqJ7HAf-GOmE0GjUTjgOV-tZLj2fr3X4tbPxsDDuqzTdxsXY8B1WGjFbE_Q/s960/1044906_4353627777324_1767909211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrU36aEzRVyPNGJcLBRsdeta-xZiPzN8w-xga5mvAtmx4TPPSEbrfXghg0G3yO6_SjCmI7CHuVzsyajCYoqJ7HAf-GOmE0GjUTjgOV-tZLj2fr3X4tbPxsDDuqzTdxsXY8B1WGjFbE_Q/s400/1044906_4353627777324_1767909211_n.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah chatting with Leah before heading out to get MARRIED! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAn7jD1FT9OUQ6hnRUXxe1LlbZPN8oA2BevNpCIeYBScHYKP9QwlX7Ill_59BMsoL5GU2Y3YH3qwcYutusm-WkTXYVKefgdicHVEgeFKIZpuIb8TYvsOtoX7Gc748SjqH65n0AfR3S1Q/s1600/IMG_5329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAn7jD1FT9OUQ6hnRUXxe1LlbZPN8oA2BevNpCIeYBScHYKP9QwlX7Ill_59BMsoL5GU2Y3YH3qwcYutusm-WkTXYVKefgdicHVEgeFKIZpuIb8TYvsOtoX7Gc748SjqH65n0AfR3S1Q/s400/IMG_5329.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family after the ceremony. We clean up good, sometimes...</td></tr>
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Hopefully I'll get some photos of the actual ceremony from other family members/friends soon... it was spectacular! Especially for NC in the summer... we got so lucky. Low humidity, cool temps... for an outdoor wedding it was beyond perfect.<br />
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Anyway, hope all you readers out there are well. More summer blogging to come, hopefully. I'm loving every day of "freedom" before fall semester starts for all of us. We have some great adventures coming up! I will try to document those experiences here as we go. Traveling is our very favorite thing to do as a family, so we're all beyond ready to GO! Soon, soon...<br />
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Ciao for now!mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-82869497417313804612013-06-22T13:41:00.002-04:002013-06-22T15:48:09.663-04:00all things wedding: part 1My sister Hannah got married last weekend. It was beautiful and fun and lovely. We celebrated and partied and did what my family does best... put on a BIG party! My parents adopted Hannah from Romania when she was a baby. She married an awesome dude named Chase, also adopted from Romania. Is that amazing? Why yes, yes it is. They have an incredible bond and a wonderful love story, and it was FUN to watch their lives start together!<br />
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Zach was able to take some pictures during the rehearsal so we'll start there. Other than that, I'll mostly have to steal pictures from family members to share the story here. Behold... the rehearsal!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1v3ciVtq0JEFMTqxCwis0hbEKI6yxv3zBPyzTCRx-Kqm5dgi87W9U53goA2ui_TYQ431hyphenhyphenAkO3KsjYaZjH64joTk8Hb9CNBvtEO3EJyS_3RcqKMTA2nfy0AlP7GL4hm728wZ_xlqSXg/s1600/IMG_5250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1v3ciVtq0JEFMTqxCwis0hbEKI6yxv3zBPyzTCRx-Kqm5dgi87W9U53goA2ui_TYQ431hyphenhyphenAkO3KsjYaZjH64joTk8Hb9CNBvtEO3EJyS_3RcqKMTA2nfy0AlP7GL4hm728wZ_xlqSXg/s400/IMG_5250.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">okay I lied... we'll start with the bridesmaid luncheon. Hannah and Leah wearing their lily dresses ;)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg05iXEP6QZDkopC5sivk2YXChq0ZEDXZMHchq_fDrOHF9JoSDbbs1LtWfZtxZ_0T24kuM5W4AE3j5igZf6XrKx-5MxXqxnap_8TxmBFRzRc95fpuwK4YvU0shjTXmL7HDW0XwygjBA/s1600/IMG_5255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg05iXEP6QZDkopC5sivk2YXChq0ZEDXZMHchq_fDrOHF9JoSDbbs1LtWfZtxZ_0T24kuM5W4AE3j5igZf6XrKx-5MxXqxnap_8TxmBFRzRc95fpuwK4YvU0shjTXmL7HDW0XwygjBA/s400/IMG_5255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VZ sisters ((yes- all of us! plus my Leah!) </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicINIkHiIf01mgTUnjqFAzf3fr9MPCXTQdnrcyhpX53YQJAk5ChXspym4xneyOQ2TWWp9enYgHSaA-nbT80cfLL4bpbOB_bX8XhxzvdsPHi_wxNDbEjTrvyJTly-IckLBUTs56poqwcg/s1600/IMG_5257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicINIkHiIf01mgTUnjqFAzf3fr9MPCXTQdnrcyhpX53YQJAk5ChXspym4xneyOQ2TWWp9enYgHSaA-nbT80cfLL4bpbOB_bX8XhxzvdsPHi_wxNDbEjTrvyJTly-IckLBUTs56poqwcg/s400/IMG_5257.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MUSIC! we love Ryan and Whitney :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfo6dvPqlvWSB2ROnx669s5F9tY5k_Q-ckYmF8cntEpSBAYoK6jj0m0JRKvZH3BFY79ZYCIG7mAqdVgeQTDGfzbOedQhvNeu0gWbPxEXbVwlJBmsMM7PUw8nMXsEbqZec3tsji_Cqfw/s1600/IMG_5259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfo6dvPqlvWSB2ROnx669s5F9tY5k_Q-ckYmF8cntEpSBAYoK6jj0m0JRKvZH3BFY79ZYCIG7mAqdVgeQTDGfzbOedQhvNeu0gWbPxEXbVwlJBmsMM7PUw8nMXsEbqZec3tsji_Cqfw/s400/IMG_5259.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More music practicing from my brother Kyle... a man of many talents! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1V-8FItLTRUKP4KI6oWkXXkDlnnoZdEiSEPtUzq2Xr9hd2zdGnXrpvbCf-njt5_914wZvbwykyPRQQo9-eJ3omPth_hymQaNDwpti4DQhqODG9n_cthzqByRK_WZr8Q9b0N1bueodsQ/s1600/IMG_5260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1V-8FItLTRUKP4KI6oWkXXkDlnnoZdEiSEPtUzq2Xr9hd2zdGnXrpvbCf-njt5_914wZvbwykyPRQQo9-eJ3omPth_hymQaNDwpti4DQhqODG9n_cthzqByRK_WZr8Q9b0N1bueodsQ/s400/IMG_5260.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gathering to start ... Hannah and Chase got married in a meadow next to Salem Tavern in Winston-Salem</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmkIAhXPi2xjH2UdDa1-ommb3C6NwHnkS3sEscEuk1rKss6RgB4g9Uk95kdRFNZvRZs9uMX45XLClH_99H8jQMJ9y0GmiWUEaKOxTPBu0wzauVHgFtnrypw_0iq9-7Mc0lyHV7RAVFQ/s1600/IMG_5262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmkIAhXPi2xjH2UdDa1-ommb3C6NwHnkS3sEscEuk1rKss6RgB4g9Uk95kdRFNZvRZs9uMX45XLClH_99H8jQMJ9y0GmiWUEaKOxTPBu0wzauVHgFtnrypw_0iq9-7Mc0lyHV7RAVFQ/s400/IMG_5262.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting organized... </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHiOMU5HHdKlf1bQwYwBhr67fLq_vmQTOJftBkzMfGI3A3FatSz5uS4YWbm2w1BA28jBxmC_GKwXDT85g4Lkm6KCFGa97i6rtBFF3UE8Az4_uiLKtk7YikhdFyROHlbPmnnaCDXBhlg/s1600/IMG_5263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHiOMU5HHdKlf1bQwYwBhr67fLq_vmQTOJftBkzMfGI3A3FatSz5uS4YWbm2w1BA28jBxmC_GKwXDT85g4Lkm6KCFGa97i6rtBFF3UE8Az4_uiLKtk7YikhdFyROHlbPmnnaCDXBhlg/s400/IMG_5263.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zach taking selfies</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDhE46dH9KTZX6fDvYN-ILxNjKZOLIi_mV4F42kE69_01ZPwm_iGFdfL3j3HPYDqc6Mo2yr_feEUXaVURiXVm9PXMk3ZhRs2DLPQC77Af8k-TwC7ZgIHymQy-80ARhdtDQQdhwYL8YQ/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDhE46dH9KTZX6fDvYN-ILxNjKZOLIi_mV4F42kE69_01ZPwm_iGFdfL3j3HPYDqc6Mo2yr_feEUXaVURiXVm9PXMk3ZhRs2DLPQC77Af8k-TwC7ZgIHymQy-80ARhdtDQQdhwYL8YQ/s400/IMG_5264.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">men! plus wedding coordinator</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPj4I99KXyg_NUxU54RKyOzE8n1SPLhB0NvgRxbQZxSM17iZf3ww7f5M10bU0374BdnC9iDYbHcSd-ako4PMEsaWgGLsTU0m6xBaHKt4OcuGbejPXGnf813RcAm0BPXfs-__7l7dM-FQ/s1600/IMG_5265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPj4I99KXyg_NUxU54RKyOzE8n1SPLhB0NvgRxbQZxSM17iZf3ww7f5M10bU0374BdnC9iDYbHcSd-ako4PMEsaWgGLsTU0m6xBaHKt4OcuGbejPXGnf813RcAm0BPXfs-__7l7dM-FQ/s400/IMG_5265.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leah trying to get my nieces to walk down the "aisle"... went much better on the actual day! so so cute... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMNSLpOjXB4SSdO1ZkNyYwNOj9ORGWjslhyphenhyphenCZB0QJuM7hfcgg5atO3T-CxeFF5cIVQnxW8JwcvTaK9WNL8TwoC0N83VFwCTvTqLmiYC8_v9uBHDCfxOPYdA4hChhdCmnYMieS14rY2w/s1600/IMG_5266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMNSLpOjXB4SSdO1ZkNyYwNOj9ORGWjslhyphenhyphenCZB0QJuM7hfcgg5atO3T-CxeFF5cIVQnxW8JwcvTaK9WNL8TwoC0N83VFwCTvTqLmiYC8_v9uBHDCfxOPYdA4hChhdCmnYMieS14rY2w/s400/IMG_5266.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laela saying "no way mom!" ;)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVNB7L4oIRJVwiQYJOCSReo9_Ouabb1-Z_-xXwxTJ_qQVzIlMv2C_uJnyEbH3girvMwGeiSPFLaUR-cNmsBHzwyTXp4rA3D5jILb66WsJ2f5WST7K-bm5Nfh0KifZrFzKx_nv1vOKzw/s1600/IMG_5268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVNB7L4oIRJVwiQYJOCSReo9_Ouabb1-Z_-xXwxTJ_qQVzIlMv2C_uJnyEbH3girvMwGeiSPFLaUR-cNmsBHzwyTXp4rA3D5jILb66WsJ2f5WST7K-bm5Nfh0KifZrFzKx_nv1vOKzw/s400/IMG_5268.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline did fine as long as she had her water. SO DARN ADORABLE</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoovl1n-ZUpKabRuRqnCYgtb5MiRkhHnPxRM4z-fsNqjYm22L2yE_3v7lQ_UOjKmyhyoNhTNySNu3dYIVnLPBdDfukYA9omzmvNvmqwC16g232bhOBdKWzvhQQXGstH4jCXeBPdyxkg/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoovl1n-ZUpKabRuRqnCYgtb5MiRkhHnPxRM4z-fsNqjYm22L2yE_3v7lQ_UOjKmyhyoNhTNySNu3dYIVnLPBdDfukYA9omzmvNvmqwC16g232bhOBdKWzvhQQXGstH4jCXeBPdyxkg/s400/IMG_5270.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all lined up (Kyle in the middle... he officiated the wedding because he's all badass like that)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ks2aShFGKYNeixNRh0FhvFDE_NASoVbLGR2Wxusj4VgLqFObvOWN4CvdzA63VXTtX0fX_enfRaPXpGX_lLnAOvq9HXoSGXuDn95dp1Kv2k7jFuGKIp2w1wv_YSaFvWA6MoX2TVadww/s1600/IMG_5272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ks2aShFGKYNeixNRh0FhvFDE_NASoVbLGR2Wxusj4VgLqFObvOWN4CvdzA63VXTtX0fX_enfRaPXpGX_lLnAOvq9HXoSGXuDn95dp1Kv2k7jFuGKIp2w1wv_YSaFvWA6MoX2TVadww/s400/IMG_5272.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here comes the bride! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRkk9e_gCL-JKBvPeCe77uqJj6xPIqEelu2gHm8r4DGYTuqfaZj2KXb2T-dJCWl4XWKOAiShLb09n2hRhPnDVozhF9fl8P9W8mD1taL3N0mq7-SGOQNw6im5aEcr4NmGTYgy-ED5Xgg/s1600/IMG_5274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRkk9e_gCL-JKBvPeCe77uqJj6xPIqEelu2gHm8r4DGYTuqfaZj2KXb2T-dJCWl4XWKOAiShLb09n2hRhPnDVozhF9fl8P9W8mD1taL3N0mq7-SGOQNw6im5aEcr4NmGTYgy-ED5Xgg/s400/IMG_5274.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awwwww</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL-3mj2X1fv6AFfQxPMfuanI4bsydnCakmQdQ5EydVTsr3Tak3JDUc73gXj_UYlOzmjS5PWbgY3jd0j2xARgOgdA_AK3-ppFDKbMlIixHO-XPDYQb5u6Oqfh3T-XenSqIIPY9U-xQeA/s1600/IMG_5276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL-3mj2X1fv6AFfQxPMfuanI4bsydnCakmQdQ5EydVTsr3Tak3JDUc73gXj_UYlOzmjS5PWbgY3jd0j2xARgOgdA_AK3-ppFDKbMlIixHO-XPDYQb5u6Oqfh3T-XenSqIIPY9U-xQeA/s400/IMG_5276.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cry babies :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3e4h6cZ5xP6lYmTZ3s-FQ-oKQtwFTBCxm4SF4waeaKt0SkCjyQ_Q9ESF5KKA1yqVVeIP9yYLXs3kPUYoqogi0q3lZy38gUuN0ik2QoRqmJEOj8ZWlKJVcP7Nm-PvDNKVfsRmXc8LsMQ/s1600/IMG_5280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3e4h6cZ5xP6lYmTZ3s-FQ-oKQtwFTBCxm4SF4waeaKt0SkCjyQ_Q9ESF5KKA1yqVVeIP9yYLXs3kPUYoqogi0q3lZy38gUuN0ik2QoRqmJEOj8ZWlKJVcP7Nm-PvDNKVfsRmXc8LsMQ/s400/IMG_5280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the practice hand-off... Hannah removing the sunglasses I handed her to pull herself together. You got this Hannah! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdocY9WMAyaiedWaAiznee9YLYPDGQqtHwJm_2Z5nbzbs4Enxchoyqevo6fX3yZ6HdytJ8qGQ7TqnISsPU-Z3qSNEr9Bh_LAf0XXvdk6FzON2sexQu6dCjHhvdHm75NCJB8dUaX1AMoQ/s1600/IMG_5282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdocY9WMAyaiedWaAiznee9YLYPDGQqtHwJm_2Z5nbzbs4Enxchoyqevo6fX3yZ6HdytJ8qGQ7TqnISsPU-Z3qSNEr9Bh_LAf0XXvdk6FzON2sexQu6dCjHhvdHm75NCJB8dUaX1AMoQ/s400/IMG_5282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mascara check! "Becca how's my face?!?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEfB9Mqt0WQRpM7MO9CUXjDI5mqC3dfqphHPImxt5n_3QBc-Bh9aY4NiFgkdpBTZzNEp0KCT-073gbtXlWQCiUBAD2_FNdGMVQeS-FjP8lY7RCDxd82wLBxpYIAviZIxYYSAWoByeqg/s1600/IMG_5283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEfB9Mqt0WQRpM7MO9CUXjDI5mqC3dfqphHPImxt5n_3QBc-Bh9aY4NiFgkdpBTZzNEp0KCT-073gbtXlWQCiUBAD2_FNdGMVQeS-FjP8lY7RCDxd82wLBxpYIAviZIxYYSAWoByeqg/s400/IMG_5283.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty sunbeam pic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RHdPDzLTz_Syov1iODEfpwA9wPV3pvhsRXtaql3A97zUw8D9VoRJzENJNFz3Xjw2qZjyBWibudYykekldRT3K4hcQy3M_h19p8ai0cLm_ngn_Yg9PRZSzt99Ei90saPwM0jJ6Ku3wQ/s1600/IMG_5286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RHdPDzLTz_Syov1iODEfpwA9wPV3pvhsRXtaql3A97zUw8D9VoRJzENJNFz3Xjw2qZjyBWibudYykekldRT3K4hcQy3M_h19p8ai0cLm_ngn_Yg9PRZSzt99Ei90saPwM0jJ6Ku3wQ/s400/IMG_5286.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boys hangin out with mama dede and papa doc</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDvpEW7R-dO1SwKQsqq-wdydrAb26Qg526UqOLGJM5P7_8bPBZ1GtfKMdw99L-Z_5PMG9gSqYDrv70ld6V-uasSeBtsREKf9nvFhkqOv1MKm7o-_rvdv3xgTlIQss8rarGcGE9pEitA/s1600/IMG_5287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDvpEW7R-dO1SwKQsqq-wdydrAb26Qg526UqOLGJM5P7_8bPBZ1GtfKMdw99L-Z_5PMG9gSqYDrv70ld6V-uasSeBtsREKf9nvFhkqOv1MKm7o-_rvdv3xgTlIQss8rarGcGE9pEitA/s400/IMG_5287.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ladies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbJUoJJOlKHimVfmQA7I10D0X9CkmxnCOOFFrABjmaGsLMvDVv1a9mK-VaYGOHY-dO4VCVvYSJuw_4ScYJRHQG4uV6wBMrj5K8QwFhQQfISz23jrbICa8MOOIDeRFT6ypIc_uUfMm-A/s1600/IMG_5289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbJUoJJOlKHimVfmQA7I10D0X9CkmxnCOOFFrABjmaGsLMvDVv1a9mK-VaYGOHY-dO4VCVvYSJuw_4ScYJRHQG4uV6wBMrj5K8QwFhQQfISz23jrbICa8MOOIDeRFT6ypIc_uUfMm-A/s400/IMG_5289.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fathers of the groom soak it all in :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6E9tuLnxbU2wE4H6FJMyi3XovQ1nKRYeD8j_Jkp1YqpMYw52GHEmkUfWPbEWPtLMe-3fpbJ2TLu0vWAFMt1MQMFr6MdIVkdxTStv3sv4m9-7hmcAGwvvRHkwF6udB6sYegdS11M6kA/s1600/IMG_5296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6E9tuLnxbU2wE4H6FJMyi3XovQ1nKRYeD8j_Jkp1YqpMYw52GHEmkUfWPbEWPtLMe-3fpbJ2TLu0vWAFMt1MQMFr6MdIVkdxTStv3sv4m9-7hmcAGwvvRHkwF6udB6sYegdS11M6kA/s400/IMG_5296.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perfect pair, ready to move on to their big day... </td></tr>
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We left the rehearsal and went to celebrate at the rehearsal dinner. We had toasts and a wonderful surprise video from my brother Tyler, deployed to Afghanistan. It was such a bittersweet moment! I said a few words too, which I really suck at (the whole public speaking thing is not my jam), but I wanted to honor them somehow. I joked a little about how instead of getting a horse, I got a sister (obviously that turned out fabulously ;)). But what I really wanted to convey was how overjoyed I was that each of them had found their partner, and feel so <i>beloved. </i>When I was thinking of what I would say, it struck me that I could recite a short, but meaningful poem that I had read many times in one of my favorite books of poetry. It perfectly captures what I could not so eloquently say:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Late Fragment </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Raymond Carver </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>And did you get what </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>you wanted from this life, even so? </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>I did. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>And what did you want? </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>To call myself beloved, to feel myself </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>beloved on the earth. </i></b></div>
mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-52009744279497417682013-06-10T09:38:00.000-04:002013-06-10T09:38:04.032-04:00life is too short... .... to not be excited about the massive student loan I just got. So what? I'll be working until I'm 85 to pay it off. Following dreams here people!<br />
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Since I will have zero summer time next year, we are already livin' it up this year. The kids all made us proud with awards as their school years ended (Leah got the top 3rd grade student award, holy cow! Pete got a presidential fitness award, no surprise there, and Sam graduated from preschool. They grow up fast!).<br />
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To celebrate we went to our soda shop, and have been spending our days playing outside, mostly at the pool. We just returned from a great weekend at the beach... we only live about 2.75 hours away from the coast, so it's easy and fun to go down throughout the summer. More on that soon... here are some pics of summer so far...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-IAZfz_zf4yO01Vv4MOoWMAz8C7pKRbQxQbVGGb_Tt8Hax24T1JWaCy6IuOIL6oBOPph2XE_d3q9Lhyujhtw9J8Ki4TfZj_OYWT0cBedotY5leNmZcG3e3CfMYn8vyBOAFlcsFlMaA/s1600/IMG_5043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-IAZfz_zf4yO01Vv4MOoWMAz8C7pKRbQxQbVGGb_Tt8Hax24T1JWaCy6IuOIL6oBOPph2XE_d3q9Lhyujhtw9J8Ki4TfZj_OYWT0cBedotY5leNmZcG3e3CfMYn8vyBOAFlcsFlMaA/s400/IMG_5043.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leah after the award ceremony with her amazing teacher! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qaHKJ3MjNkqFS19R5m4ee85Amwu28srmAjKO62IM8AyMXrY6-SiZCoTyGijGfr_Mx9RMwtQ4_p6HCBJWaBIWc2bnQUqGM-qy02fAAjKXO3INJG9O9OrCzOUgnjVZObyY4Xy1GiTVNQ/s1600/IMG_5017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qaHKJ3MjNkqFS19R5m4ee85Amwu28srmAjKO62IM8AyMXrY6-SiZCoTyGijGfr_Mx9RMwtQ4_p6HCBJWaBIWc2bnQUqGM-qy02fAAjKXO3INJG9O9OrCzOUgnjVZObyY4Xy1GiTVNQ/s400/IMG_5017.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter somewhere down there getting his award</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyd347_XQXUYDrByAGxunRrg2x2E9nQ-Ls9Jh1pYcwsPTWT0xh50QC98KOco6cDtCJH2i9qbSUV9pGriSI1jmW5Pq3HAkibYazC9sbesb5CBpuzuQIAUEJ1sKzo-6o0e2LPqHCoEPwA/s1600/IMG_5095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyd347_XQXUYDrByAGxunRrg2x2E9nQ-Ls9Jh1pYcwsPTWT0xh50QC98KOco6cDtCJH2i9qbSUV9pGriSI1jmW5Pq3HAkibYazC9sbesb5CBpuzuQIAUEJ1sKzo-6o0e2LPqHCoEPwA/s400/IMG_5095.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam the graduate! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3Esa_C2UU2LIDGVp5bngamNL9d4NxD_qynleeEBebIrPUlTQ2ZxBhHcHUf6anhAc32ExBVgv7EwpjH4_4LVu4O2gb_dpVhSzBE_3T6V7B7eKwYEts2wIsGMwm7XFfim6MMEI0fQ0uw/s1600/IMG_4988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3Esa_C2UU2LIDGVp5bngamNL9d4NxD_qynleeEBebIrPUlTQ2ZxBhHcHUf6anhAc32ExBVgv7EwpjH4_4LVu4O2gb_dpVhSzBE_3T6V7B7eKwYEts2wIsGMwm7XFfim6MMEI0fQ0uw/s400/IMG_4988.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also headed to Roanoke for my sister's college graduation! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87_J39YA3lcVzACPP-YNvfe0hI-dR8WxajGLYSjsFHlhfoF4SK7m4agBzsoKCADktCmb2uvyvK8JyqglAocrw-ZZfdXRTLpBOr07itur7y4nf1JqGzumKy_w5BpVpb5PUeLoxGntr3Q/s1600/IMG_4998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87_J39YA3lcVzACPP-YNvfe0hI-dR8WxajGLYSjsFHlhfoF4SK7m4agBzsoKCADktCmb2uvyvK8JyqglAocrw-ZZfdXRTLpBOr07itur7y4nf1JqGzumKy_w5BpVpb5PUeLoxGntr3Q/s400/IMG_4998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and scooted over to Blacksburg to see cutie cousins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdBg44_F_kr_RDXsdSJm8DTwNm7TCVLAubStSEiC6xncC4_F5XWiHalmW7SL_1fWKbhUR387pLpRb51trfwrxLu0f9UZE1JHXSc7PSWuD2NgZ23Gj2jNovnBJjCQ-cDBWOPP6oun4qw/s1600/IMG_5052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdBg44_F_kr_RDXsdSJm8DTwNm7TCVLAubStSEiC6xncC4_F5XWiHalmW7SL_1fWKbhUR387pLpRb51trfwrxLu0f9UZE1JHXSc7PSWuD2NgZ23Gj2jNovnBJjCQ-cDBWOPP6oun4qw/s400/IMG_5052.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete went to Hawaii for his class party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRvJbYOfZYpwAE-2CiVyRPUJC230NMLnTY0jxBlkipcQglQbkfXYd0Nlp7_lWs255zhW_Pc-zlMsdFA8GdL4gtKVZj9hoNZH93BqIDETbObNIzYmUc18JxjCgsHHAULyANL3And_nNQ/s1600/IMG_5101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRvJbYOfZYpwAE-2CiVyRPUJC230NMLnTY0jxBlkipcQglQbkfXYd0Nlp7_lWs255zhW_Pc-zlMsdFA8GdL4gtKVZj9hoNZH93BqIDETbObNIzYmUc18JxjCgsHHAULyANL3And_nNQ/s400/IMG_5101.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soda shop! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOVt8nwoAly4ZntrwaMrHvuyz2DaHw5c_XN8yT6EX540F8rvhaHCs9dAMK6rTp-jNhxPt3dL3oAgP9QKU4ry4ZU40gjmP6WWe0_odiKzfxJt_YDy7YLIJqmeCK5lDtt1CN1TwJ_P8A/s1600/IMG_5102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOVt8nwoAly4ZntrwaMrHvuyz2DaHw5c_XN8yT6EX540F8rvhaHCs9dAMK6rTp-jNhxPt3dL3oAgP9QKU4ry4ZU40gjmP6WWe0_odiKzfxJt_YDy7YLIJqmeCK5lDtt1CN1TwJ_P8A/s400/IMG_5102.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">root beer floats... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJmWMP7ZhIP6gfN-iGrKkjv5y8bYlF0xWjBWhRMlVthWFNncAnrkVnc3rmcu63WQyaFaVECBLhkZwxoBwo-nHDOQZtLyLClhT3DcatC6BLDkaLm-X3iGMIoVbeSw3NFAKBrUBq77DeA/s1600/IMG_5110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJmWMP7ZhIP6gfN-iGrKkjv5y8bYlF0xWjBWhRMlVthWFNncAnrkVnc3rmcu63WQyaFaVECBLhkZwxoBwo-nHDOQZtLyLClhT3DcatC6BLDkaLm-X3iGMIoVbeSw3NFAKBrUBq77DeA/s400/IMG_5110.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my view for many hours every day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbQsokutkvygRVc4rjiV07yn8RKmshP1mvr2yCT4L0arpmXhLjn6ODlCWjBcV4NFvEuOiivHDczkvs3TPe8SEIcNmpY6XyO3klIvxttmySUIV58vkYjFKXczVVBivVnJDuXvvZpIf8A/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbQsokutkvygRVc4rjiV07yn8RKmshP1mvr2yCT4L0arpmXhLjn6ODlCWjBcV4NFvEuOiivHDczkvs3TPe8SEIcNmpY6XyO3klIvxttmySUIV58vkYjFKXczVVBivVnJDuXvvZpIf8A/s400/image.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my view for the weekend... tropical storm Andrea had just left and we hit the beach! </td></tr>
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More soon. A major family event is happening this coming the weekend... Woohoo!mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-50291142519545323042013-05-30T09:44:00.001-04:002013-05-30T09:44:21.722-04:00school's out fo' summamy kids have been out of school since the beginning of last week, which means zero bloggin' time for mama. We've had a packed few weeks... I'll try to document here over the next few days! Competing for my time: online student loan applications for school. Scary!!!<br />
<br />
So let's focus on happy thoughts. Today I'll share some pictures from Leah's class picnic, at her classmate's farm. Living in the country means the kids do country things, like go to farms for class picnics. I'm telling you, it's gorgeous around here! I miss our old, more urban neighborhood and city a lot sometimes, but this is a great experience for all of us... so pretty around here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C4YauG7z2AQ57sd9DdczKGYEPy4HmywHJkwXUqljVGM5Syfx1OSoLn_y1OQq53nu7FEj833hObN1ZJWhDVqbNgqcEEr2aw2jO9pDaeSgraIWb3u5DA9__ToLJmcLU8T8v4aE8DTuvQ/s1600/IMG_4961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5C4YauG7z2AQ57sd9DdczKGYEPy4HmywHJkwXUqljVGM5Syfx1OSoLn_y1OQq53nu7FEj833hObN1ZJWhDVqbNgqcEEr2aw2jO9pDaeSgraIWb3u5DA9__ToLJmcLU8T8v4aE8DTuvQ/s400/IMG_4961.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">see the crowd under the trees on the right? Such a wonderful picnic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JIKayfx9y49LKAPHBkcHqFediteBFtjGhJR1vAljFhJyhKJ2gEu8QTMAlajss5DHWfCxQYu4NungEUHOv41TRRHqDDOVEO7CPfw0BdyaChBZhMRpMMgWPPKCpq1T1Eahe0USF2KS6w/s1600/IMG_4963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JIKayfx9y49LKAPHBkcHqFediteBFtjGhJR1vAljFhJyhKJ2gEu8QTMAlajss5DHWfCxQYu4NungEUHOv41TRRHqDDOVEO7CPfw0BdyaChBZhMRpMMgWPPKCpq1T1Eahe0USF2KS6w/s400/IMG_4963.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the barns (cows, goats, chickens)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEe0IePtblPlocb6TaoZzuuRtAh4P1BVJxs7DnMI5KYG-APWoCNcrI3hfzVRhAw2J06Tep_ZNGoiOLJacedmCV5QW_EZrh4MtafQoLJl_LIZmX4sC99NQIECu9eMTFlNf2jFQWG-zTQ/s1600/IMG_4964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEe0IePtblPlocb6TaoZzuuRtAh4P1BVJxs7DnMI5KYG-APWoCNcrI3hfzVRhAw2J06Tep_ZNGoiOLJacedmCV5QW_EZrh4MtafQoLJl_LIZmX4sC99NQIECu9eMTFlNf2jFQWG-zTQ/s400/IMG_4964.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tractor rides for the third graders :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLU7hXoO6aDGlEL6G70S73_wBppTT13bwlzjLjsWOgVRK8oLWUcu-uZdFIfb6CZ4YF3wEkCd9o6lAcH2YMvJXljl39WanJodp5FLxye1lwClBcVruCzEMrZDeCDE4h2kAc5cW7bzKWQ/s1600/IMG_4968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLU7hXoO6aDGlEL6G70S73_wBppTT13bwlzjLjsWOgVRK8oLWUcu-uZdFIfb6CZ4YF3wEkCd9o6lAcH2YMvJXljl39WanJodp5FLxye1lwClBcVruCzEMrZDeCDE4h2kAc5cW7bzKWQ/s400/IMG_4968.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then then all wrote wishes in lanterns... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglInoLrxR358wcfWKVwqp67RaV7kG-EjkuBps9KpmXLnkkMj6fXOWH79qg9_FKvOZQ8CnV-b8AsUElkJXdXWe6pd_K_YFnZvfT2n8nmjqrQoZH-AI1fYmjBXsJ-ZAGtciFMefkbx5v8A/s1600/IMG_4967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglInoLrxR358wcfWKVwqp67RaV7kG-EjkuBps9KpmXLnkkMj6fXOWH79qg9_FKvOZQ8CnV-b8AsUElkJXdXWe6pd_K_YFnZvfT2n8nmjqrQoZH-AI1fYmjBXsJ-ZAGtciFMefkbx5v8A/s400/IMG_4967.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and sent them to the heavens! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtfRDGnEqqRPX_twh51W8M5d4o7qswRZCS4hZX-afhWbRgPMuknKeUAteBVy89nlI3t2xFAyvvaYRdh5BzpCU8gR0aTCqKbUT269yMD3HvfyqWwQ50zpqRpVQZTDowsilWNZS-ShMNQ/s1600/IMG_4972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtfRDGnEqqRPX_twh51W8M5d4o7qswRZCS4hZX-afhWbRgPMuknKeUAteBVy89nlI3t2xFAyvvaYRdh5BzpCU8gR0aTCqKbUT269yMD3HvfyqWwQ50zpqRpVQZTDowsilWNZS-ShMNQ/s400/IMG_4972.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaEErp6-bDFsYrvMnSjX1LrVn2rUsRkRvtcF2QrWBafceitx6y8SYr0Sp9hHEDwGQoUT0OKOczzo5iczC3_4zp0GL3ufpJZc7jowCemUZbgPSj_vVatjtwtv6ODJCIAqc4rjrdGe6Zw/s1600/IMG_4973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaEErp6-bDFsYrvMnSjX1LrVn2rUsRkRvtcF2QrWBafceitx6y8SYr0Sp9hHEDwGQoUT0OKOczzo5iczC3_4zp0GL3ufpJZc7jowCemUZbgPSj_vVatjtwtv6ODJCIAqc4rjrdGe6Zw/s400/IMG_4973.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red barn... love it</td></tr>
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Once I get my student loans applied for, I'll add more stories from the past two weeks. My kids got big awards in school, Sam graduated from preschool, my sister graduated from college... big times! Oh... and the pool is OPEN... thank goodness! </div>
mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-71722359185455069012013-05-20T21:38:00.002-04:002013-05-20T21:38:20.277-04:00field dayAs a kid, this was my least favorite day. I never felt all that athletic and really didn't want to put my lack of talent on display for my peers to mock (I rode horses and danced and ran. that's it... anything involving moving round objects or obstacles never worked out too well). Also, during a relay race in first grade, a girl broke her arm right in front of me. I remember it so clearly. I didn't bother me (bodes well for my future in nursing), but it certainly shocked me. I remember my dad running over, and she looked up and said, calmly, "I broke my arm." And my dad said "yup. you did." And I just stood there shocked that the kid wasn't crying.<br />
<br />
Anyway, my kids had field day and I totally loved watching them. Leah felt more like I did as a kid... not that interested, but she was still brave and did some of the games (and hid behind a tree or a parent for the games she didn't want to play). As you may have guessed, Pete was PSYCHED about the entire thing and claims to have "won" field day. Trying to get my kid to be LESS confident sometimes...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q0NlYfUFr-pHdEgbiWKgKkGVwX6OLCAkGV78g70x9oI5agdccv71LwnMJOZ1kHpItYqHkhfBpjFJ7SltWJ6lyTU6XpENFqrK_VskEdZxTHloy4zg7Q7z9u_6SRAhjykhB1H_qUU48A/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q0NlYfUFr-pHdEgbiWKgKkGVwX6OLCAkGV78g70x9oI5agdccv71LwnMJOZ1kHpItYqHkhfBpjFJ7SltWJ6lyTU6XpENFqrK_VskEdZxTHloy4zg7Q7z9u_6SRAhjykhB1H_qUU48A/s400/IMG_4943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to launch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUQvqqrLirs2LPed6m5nvxVYy0WXQqHCBTpjOT6387GcPPVr_IpBpKqstmZjpVEhNo0XzqFuHJEe3BbrUkkuFs1uD4C1IlJ8lV8rxKQITLSCh5J1QEtKozSCXyNkdbbOdCXUWzzBaKQ/s1600/IMG_4946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUQvqqrLirs2LPed6m5nvxVYy0WXQqHCBTpjOT6387GcPPVr_IpBpKqstmZjpVEhNo0XzqFuHJEe3BbrUkkuFs1uD4C1IlJ8lV8rxKQITLSCh5J1QEtKozSCXyNkdbbOdCXUWzzBaKQ/s400/IMG_4946.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">according to him, he is winning field day! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkF8ehXtiMVegjZcu7GeNutm040lDn3zmRJjO9YxkEo4n0Rtf4NtvVbVGWiUeN4fsPsslQ0R7lPwk4FcxnOkYk9PK4VmoidjZdSeLYlBUMHJEhVSWP6GT1qvDEpPvnn_mdxMFnHkS4A/s1600/IMG_4947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkF8ehXtiMVegjZcu7GeNutm040lDn3zmRJjO9YxkEo4n0Rtf4NtvVbVGWiUeN4fsPsslQ0R7lPwk4FcxnOkYk9PK4VmoidjZdSeLYlBUMHJEhVSWP6GT1qvDEpPvnn_mdxMFnHkS4A/s400/IMG_4947.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boundless energy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4SkHHWBEyLPjzz7bV0zHBoqBOrAjztf1kF_mASglmfeUE8Yi1haYQGlu6TIax6kHYqAB2ZzI-DOIrqNfWrTmC4U1xPJ-h5T2q-_gtlzLgL_zb-pyIeKsVDibp8ABmIIfd84uCqrklw/s1600/IMG_4953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4SkHHWBEyLPjzz7bV0zHBoqBOrAjztf1kF_mASglmfeUE8Yi1haYQGlu6TIax6kHYqAB2ZzI-DOIrqNfWrTmC4U1xPJ-h5T2q-_gtlzLgL_zb-pyIeKsVDibp8ABmIIfd84uCqrklw/s400/IMG_4953.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chasing something</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zi0NuEcuNqm9zziNTuYXIRXg8hQm1CX98PGsBZuSQZMBxDVQcqraHal18ZVWvpUF1MOO0iIa5pxfoP6v1_EKJnZJMxhVTseiN8b3UGQo6-XSYgtYtQSJU-TePdgKiSWoKr1Cxheecg/s1600/IMG_4957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zi0NuEcuNqm9zziNTuYXIRXg8hQm1CX98PGsBZuSQZMBxDVQcqraHal18ZVWvpUF1MOO0iIa5pxfoP6v1_EKJnZJMxhVTseiN8b3UGQo6-XSYgtYtQSJU-TePdgKiSWoKr1Cxheecg/s400/IMG_4957.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">aaaand there's leah, hiding by my friend (her bff's mama), Miss K :)</td></tr>
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The weather was sunny and cool and perfect... a rare occurrence in May, when it's usually getting hot and unbearably humid... it was a fun day to spend with my big kids, even if I had a little PTSD from my past field days... ;)</div>
mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-85374926207698107812013-05-17T15:14:00.001-04:002013-05-17T15:17:06.051-04:00May for the win! May is crazy. CRAZY. But so chock full of fun that I haven't been here. Sorry to my dad and grandparents and three other friends who look at this blog. Here are a bunch of photos from my phone!<br />
(I'm done with school! woohoo! and ready for the big nursing school this August. Kids done next week- summer is here!)<br />
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I've lost track of time... let's see... a couple weeks ago we celebrated at my sister's wedding shower on a very un-May day! It was 65 and raining. So so cold, but that didn't dampen the fun! The day before that we ran the Race for the Cure in honor of my survivor mom. It was freeeezing and I didn't run fast. Oh well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygLHte7fpUePJjCPHbPPpdEGt3nhCB1rOuiWFkjSDN4Oa-rl2Um0m9pnzg1UYNt8B4Wpl25nd9H5eDvID70QXauMjLFyq0IyFVSAYBcPPLBZ78yuQXfhFWRqrZWAtgqKtsuqx8UacAw/s1600/IMG_4878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygLHte7fpUePJjCPHbPPpdEGt3nhCB1rOuiWFkjSDN4Oa-rl2Um0m9pnzg1UYNt8B4Wpl25nd9H5eDvID70QXauMjLFyq0IyFVSAYBcPPLBZ78yuQXfhFWRqrZWAtgqKtsuqx8UacAw/s400/IMG_4878.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">race day... COLD! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRUb-1Ndiy1jJvV2kHiHvzJ8CGaa-hHqwN5xX-UjH_ZzZ1DORBX6nAM0EbchyphenhyphenjrDsTSnPmieik1qcsSevLmMDWTEomjMdH2WW1zpwIEqi8AMlvyl-i6l0W9IUpTghPiUj0bJ7vrfqMA/s1600/IMG_4860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRUb-1Ndiy1jJvV2kHiHvzJ8CGaa-hHqwN5xX-UjH_ZzZ1DORBX6nAM0EbchyphenhyphenjrDsTSnPmieik1qcsSevLmMDWTEomjMdH2WW1zpwIEqi8AMlvyl-i6l0W9IUpTghPiUj0bJ7vrfqMA/s400/IMG_4860.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leah got my phone... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdyjVZysGe1QX5csZ77ExQ-gauwW7U0cRtJ34jltK075LbvhDxQjcrOn-ohPIu_MAG4TUqI2Ayx701Xl6jr2zjwz20vDqJ7WjphHn068oDcIIQN3uCicdmWiiirekY2YdhQugXNFZFg/s1600/IMG_4881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdyjVZysGe1QX5csZ77ExQ-gauwW7U0cRtJ34jltK075LbvhDxQjcrOn-ohPIu_MAG4TUqI2Ayx701Xl6jr2zjwz20vDqJ7WjphHn068oDcIIQN3uCicdmWiiirekY2YdhQugXNFZFg/s400/IMG_4881.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam and his rainbow :)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K64iBRit7ND7myakQuXMYJt6KHWEPxzs1-7rEfCF0Py9YVuihPX4JQ342vf6pR2aTI7QOd8jGfmC4doEpwiRzDHV5Sjb2N1bTN-LPTdY5NsllDu25EsfU2XBbA_xsYtlxMhm5w983Q/s1600/IMG_4889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6K64iBRit7ND7myakQuXMYJt6KHWEPxzs1-7rEfCF0Py9YVuihPX4JQ342vf6pR2aTI7QOd8jGfmC4doEpwiRzDHV5Sjb2N1bTN-LPTdY5NsllDu25EsfU2XBbA_xsYtlxMhm5w983Q/s400/IMG_4889.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete took pics of Bella, my dog-niece :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZDkAG-pHmI5VRSR_2gbsy0K2O5LFs8jJInu-0y-NJ_bPZexL8JoQFtkYwYOkn_83GsuJrYaelfxJijbZa_Q_-hstunJbjG8Lq7-2suu0dSuQFpsBihohnJP75S67m_tbCwdTRd02LA/s1600/IMG_4892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZDkAG-pHmI5VRSR_2gbsy0K2O5LFs8jJInu-0y-NJ_bPZexL8JoQFtkYwYOkn_83GsuJrYaelfxJijbZa_Q_-hstunJbjG8Lq7-2suu0dSuQFpsBihohnJP75S67m_tbCwdTRd02LA/s400/IMG_4892.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah, me, and Ginna trying to stay warm!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAr-6uRtwNL9hSL9oUEp-hGJJ6b_6jeNC5V1hjMwDLxD7sXXwZbIZMKJasz0vTjX_g43tU-lCzEKvpetMNc0Bl8UzWkOyJSnf6xRLUokqZIp3J0GiXemmXEAnpVzpNCUswfibRgcBkA/s1600/IMG_4896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAr-6uRtwNL9hSL9oUEp-hGJJ6b_6jeNC5V1hjMwDLxD7sXXwZbIZMKJasz0vTjX_g43tU-lCzEKvpetMNc0Bl8UzWkOyJSnf6xRLUokqZIp3J0GiXemmXEAnpVzpNCUswfibRgcBkA/s400/IMG_4896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gift time! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFglxNTkPspaw-t-0bJXyZzoqXzFl17wsBXvI0ocsBjbnD4s5o32n5XxuFTxGPrrkrZXTJRxGeJJ5yZcerB7_wontCA5pP5HF4_BODR_sckysCU3F6_Mfjj_Df_ObAciezl-bjqZCFPQ/s1600/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFglxNTkPspaw-t-0bJXyZzoqXzFl17wsBXvI0ocsBjbnD4s5o32n5XxuFTxGPrrkrZXTJRxGeJJ5yZcerB7_wontCA5pP5HF4_BODR_sckysCU3F6_Mfjj_Df_ObAciezl-bjqZCFPQ/s400/IMG_4898.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uFgaRfZlLzQS4OWysPUC0iZSym7-wDu0p-tIv3kvfjaQb_K3B_ZAvAVqpH8Nhfy4QWpYr29qBDoNxaEC6Kn6YF_7y-FsttzznFH5wgdsuXUAiITOn0bL2mFsmtZX-zsA0rg8alJbgQ/s1600/IMG_4897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uFgaRfZlLzQS4OWysPUC0iZSym7-wDu0p-tIv3kvfjaQb_K3B_ZAvAVqpH8Nhfy4QWpYr29qBDoNxaEC6Kn6YF_7y-FsttzznFH5wgdsuXUAiITOn0bL2mFsmtZX-zsA0rg8alJbgQ/s400/IMG_4897.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more sweet friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibaRo2vvCwCwPCV4w-ODNjT9XCfql8RJrgOIMReEKPs5u_Nb2l0cSEYKAyrdW-x6xou3w1hjE82EUO0snrxunZbzcVFK-1nkaPjRrdkgmOvglXDpkOUBsphj3DQljCwkUGnhcHxrUvw/s1600/IMG_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibaRo2vvCwCwPCV4w-ODNjT9XCfql8RJrgOIMReEKPs5u_Nb2l0cSEYKAyrdW-x6xou3w1hjE82EUO0snrxunZbzcVFK-1nkaPjRrdkgmOvglXDpkOUBsphj3DQljCwkUGnhcHxrUvw/s400/IMG_4899.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family! and friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7hkhZDtTF7YgQB2QcJbpa_0fnvJuf4uuMhC1gg4BJ3HPzhv0o2M-o-L5BXPzpaO2IzMdhEzR16Prb0gcjU837txQt_P7SzXbIUNylZHDvgcUNi-CHAy43mRiCU7JLOrs9pGgJnE4WA/s1600/IMG_4900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7hkhZDtTF7YgQB2QcJbpa_0fnvJuf4uuMhC1gg4BJ3HPzhv0o2M-o-L5BXPzpaO2IzMdhEzR16Prb0gcjU837txQt_P7SzXbIUNylZHDvgcUNi-CHAy43mRiCU7JLOrs9pGgJnE4WA/s400/IMG_4900.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cousins :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oDpEhu2zY-J1LSSTWi_Zi11df2R-24sSz6eJcEm1DtWk92_gJdWGTSYZus_Ep-4z43z9yzJbvepdJktX528hLASkNQqDs64XDs-87Dbxl-GwJ2nfITF6mkx4vbIGw9ntRUGu0di9LQ/s1600/IMG_4901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oDpEhu2zY-J1LSSTWi_Zi11df2R-24sSz6eJcEm1DtWk92_gJdWGTSYZus_Ep-4z43z9yzJbvepdJktX528hLASkNQqDs64XDs-87Dbxl-GwJ2nfITF6mkx4vbIGw9ntRUGu0di9LQ/s400/IMG_4901.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">haha! gift in diaper box... her future? </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGIrqyc0Oa4YjXCfVWjCyeY0dWAOPFd-1Uq_o_fp3-hS8ynKppI3DQ2VQlD2Lox8fVUd5etXlR2elZ38oMcM8Q3xHDYCORLG4o2_3XKpASIJ44w3WOI0Io3vvZLlwC_Sf0HyT75rjew/s1600/IMG_4925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGIrqyc0Oa4YjXCfVWjCyeY0dWAOPFd-1Uq_o_fp3-hS8ynKppI3DQ2VQlD2Lox8fVUd5etXlR2elZ38oMcM8Q3xHDYCORLG4o2_3XKpASIJ44w3WOI0Io3vvZLlwC_Sf0HyT75rjew/s400/IMG_4925.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">And then we threw Leah's dance recital in there a few days later, just to keep things interesting (she did fabulously well, of course).<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">More soon... my sister graduates from College this weekend, kids are done mid-week... and bam! Time for doctors appointments, pool time, wedding, travel... YAAAY summer! </span></td></tr>
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mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-90328867719971881612013-05-09T13:50:00.001-04:002013-05-09T13:50:25.486-04:00sunshine on my shouldersI just realized I can't live in the PNW. So sad. I'll just visit. But lordy, it's been raining here for days and days and days and NOW it's SUNNY!<br />
This past weekend was awesome. We ran the the Race for the Cure in honor of my breast-cancer-crushing mom (even though I ran sloow at 28 minutes for a 5k which for me is ridiculous but remember that whole thing about being sick for months? so I guess that's not so bad), AND got a pedicure with my sis-in-law and sister, AND celebrated at my sister's wedding shower!!! It was a wonderful weekend, one during which I should have studied more...<br />
because...<br />
tomorrow at 8am is my FINAL for Anatomy and Physiology. I'm not ready at all, but I can get a 17 and still get an A for the class. That is bad for motivation, y'all.<br />
I'll post pictures of the weekend once this pesky little test is out of the way.<br />
I can't believe I'm done with pre-req's and heading to nursing school! I bought some used scrubs from graduating student yesterday (we have to wear scrubs issued by the university), so it's feeling REAL now. What a journey it's been! I'm really excited to start.<br />
Here's a perfect sunshiney song for you... Thanks form showing up, Spring!<br />
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<br />mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-74298858798414595282013-05-02T08:22:00.001-04:002013-05-02T08:22:29.440-04:00MerlefestMerlefest is a big ol' music festival here in NC started by the late Doc Watson in honor of his son Merle. We here in NC love bluegrass, and country or alternative or any kind of musicians raised in NC usually have a bit of bluegrass/folk influence in their writing. To me, this sounds like "home." We couldn't make it up to Wilksboro this year... we live a bit too far east and we're in the midst of tests (well, I am. I have a lab practical, my FINAL one, in an hour. I should be studying and not putting this video up on my blog. Whatevs).<br />
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So to mark this missing of the Avett Brothers (born and raised outside of Charlotte), I will post this incredible, signature NC spring-rain-soaked concert video that someone posted on FB that made me so very happy... at least I could experience it through the internet :).<br />
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Happy May! And happy birthday to my awesome dad!!mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-38108863839764177442013-04-30T19:36:00.002-04:002013-04-30T19:36:21.590-04:00searching<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;">I have many friends at different points of a spiritual spectrum. Some say "no thanks- not for me" and they've really thought that through, and continue to think about spirituality while saying that God, or a God-like figure doesn't fit in to their view of the world. And that's okay, because that's where their journey has led them. Others are searching, searching, searching, and feel very unsettled and like they will never find a place in any kind of spiritual practice or religion. I think this is actually a great place to be, because, while it's a struggle, it means a person is really thinking, really assessing their own convictions, and really wondering about an aspect of life that is often ignored. This leads to growth and a more understanding world view. Many are very content with where they are spiritually, with the knowing and the not-knowing, and just sitting with whatever comes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;">What I respect the most about people is when they are fluid. When they say "never say never" and have solid ideas about what they believe, but are completely open to learning new things. I think that's beautiful, because there is just no way we can live in a box of "this is right and this is wrong" (I say this in terms of spirituality, not in terms of philosophy where rights and wrongs can be clearly debated and defined, as in "it is right to feed a hungry child" or "it is wrong to murder another person") It's healthiest to stay in a place of openness to what life will teach you, I think. I can have solid convictions of what I believe, and also be excited to learn from others' experiences and paths. I may not change what I believe, but I can certainly be blessed and my views enhanced by what others believe.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;">One thing that I NEED spiritually is nature. I feel the most content, the most joyful, the most settled, when I'm outside. Hiking a mountain or walking on a beach or running through a park brings me closest to Peace. I do believe in God, and I believe I'm closest to God when I'm outside. I can't remember a time when I haven't felt this way.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;">This is a no-point post, spurred on by a friend. Here's what she posted. It so perfectly speaks to my heart: </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.796875px;" /><br />
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;">I don't know who God is exactly.<br />But I'll tell you this.<br />I was sitting in the river named Clarion, on a<br />water splashed stone<br />and all afternoon I listened to the voices<br /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">of the river talking....<br /><br />And slowly, very slowly, it became clear to me<br />what they were saying.<br />Said the river I am part of holiness.<br />And I too, said the stone. And I too, whispered<br />the moss beneath the water.<br /><br />{Mary Oliver}</span></span></h5>
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mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-55347029458364791072013-04-28T18:07:00.003-04:002013-04-28T18:07:53.208-04:00busy busythis poor neglected blog.<br />
we ARE running around and hanging out and living life to the fullest, which makes me completely forget about this little old space. Zach finished his semester and will begin the next in a week. We dealt with ANOTHER round of illness that involved high fevers and puke. Awesome. I have never been more ready for the hot summer sun and chlorine and the beach. Can't wait!!! School is almost over for me, thank goodness. The kids have just a few weeks left (they're on a bit of a different schedule). We have end-of-grade tests coming up, dance rehearsal/recital, exams, wedding showers, a little 5k, and good family/friend time coming up. We've had a blast the last few weeks (in between feeling like crap) going out with friends and grilling out in the spring weather. Here's a photo dump. Cheers!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8Hd-oX4WdbiXrMxGjVG7ztqcqvNGAkjWe9kHorS51KQM8hgWZUqJUDnC7no1pGY1rqqQ5rYffad99MF95XBLujuK04fjrsK0FH-7CXqDmna6dINO1H2_W_GAln0t7kuskUqMSepUsQ/s1600/IMG_4761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8Hd-oX4WdbiXrMxGjVG7ztqcqvNGAkjWe9kHorS51KQM8hgWZUqJUDnC7no1pGY1rqqQ5rYffad99MF95XBLujuK04fjrsK0FH-7CXqDmna6dINO1H2_W_GAln0t7kuskUqMSepUsQ/s400/IMG_4761.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evidence of yummy grilling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_WwsXf3X0V8j-0YnHKXhta67UO5gnhzWh_AzwfPSIGSZfsSBZZ9n_rkWaJbvf2HzeCxDi4Pn6a6soSr5gDh5HfNTXNyfXZpNHxTHVbnI__MpI9h-lJ8M5csCuOamzz11_3Qer8VE9w/s1600/IMG_4767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_WwsXf3X0V8j-0YnHKXhta67UO5gnhzWh_AzwfPSIGSZfsSBZZ9n_rkWaJbvf2HzeCxDi4Pn6a6soSr5gDh5HfNTXNyfXZpNHxTHVbnI__MpI9h-lJ8M5csCuOamzz11_3Qer8VE9w/s400/IMG_4767.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">visiting dear friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-36DRGqUjOLtl7QUeDlEGQMQwKRYpGABDcRJuvOhcAV36NpKI7ZZePejEOyUBuvYwoP4RMC6m0DgvPc41BMu1DCkTgXf6dZwKCjwz-nNuJbHjHAOALZBjznETjCi0ljDZxns3f-nhmw/s1600/IMG_4771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-36DRGqUjOLtl7QUeDlEGQMQwKRYpGABDcRJuvOhcAV36NpKI7ZZePejEOyUBuvYwoP4RMC6m0DgvPc41BMu1DCkTgXf6dZwKCjwz-nNuJbHjHAOALZBjznETjCi0ljDZxns3f-nhmw/s400/IMG_4771.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">miss living near this mama</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCkGRaCfsLewXZR7jAd92jB3wJsiHkUQMM4DBhNT79fWLPywkGzni163_CLIFgAWn9ex1EWLbYsiNO6HqM8RHcRD0mIi1SGTM2xgwFWSw8wqG4Mnoc1LD8UFddgUsvL33_D0VnUyRjg/s1600/IMG_4774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCkGRaCfsLewXZR7jAd92jB3wJsiHkUQMM4DBhNT79fWLPywkGzni163_CLIFgAWn9ex1EWLbYsiNO6HqM8RHcRD0mIi1SGTM2xgwFWSw8wqG4Mnoc1LD8UFddgUsvL33_D0VnUyRjg/s400/IMG_4774.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset over saxapahaw and the haw river- at the eddie, an awesome place down the road from us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp08qjMShOzVLhnlGisE_TcGUWRoIgJvb59KJI1p1VZDbEV7eaCAUXFfYIIpR0SoFb8YXkCK1X78-uSOrRaSoMa9KcwlyWQ_V1omWAeGj-uxLUX-PGgBQjnt6tyCKqbf3pzGZwFP0fcA/s1600/IMG_4777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp08qjMShOzVLhnlGisE_TcGUWRoIgJvb59KJI1p1VZDbEV7eaCAUXFfYIIpR0SoFb8YXkCK1X78-uSOrRaSoMa9KcwlyWQ_V1omWAeGj-uxLUX-PGgBQjnt6tyCKqbf3pzGZwFP0fcA/s400/IMG_4777.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dining at the eddie (I do not have a gray streak in my hair. not sure why the picture looks like that. I have massive amounts of brown hair dye to prevent that...)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pTRJSbJI4R0wFKgNMYFeuvGCXNHmJ24D9sHJGEiF2DLSAo39svo7Xn-VdQnQeD00fvAl1Jg_kEmxvvvQl0lVQ4Fanne3HKUSIbD3v7S2IgcxkQRAduN_d3bTielO0IurawXIlZHkcg/s1600/IMG_4778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pTRJSbJI4R0wFKgNMYFeuvGCXNHmJ24D9sHJGEiF2DLSAo39svo7Xn-VdQnQeD00fvAl1Jg_kEmxvvvQl0lVQ4Fanne3HKUSIbD3v7S2IgcxkQRAduN_d3bTielO0IurawXIlZHkcg/s400/IMG_4778.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">having a coffee ceremony with friends </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKTPFgWzYUIe-SNPLiXhAvtikJ5o4HxXGf-qNHq-C1bhejlUwPSL16MIuuSvbo_XbLMVLijrgV9IWe_NCfkIyReQCDjrAVPyAbxNW8m6ouMizcUcyK-c7yoESaPBbPGjlLyP4gjoyBA/s1600/IMG_4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKTPFgWzYUIe-SNPLiXhAvtikJ5o4HxXGf-qNHq-C1bhejlUwPSL16MIuuSvbo_XbLMVLijrgV9IWe_NCfkIyReQCDjrAVPyAbxNW8m6ouMizcUcyK-c7yoESaPBbPGjlLyP4gjoyBA/s400/IMG_4787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leah at a cheerleading camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU3shBVo06XWQV2JFpfr1QsdSm1RgVJF-Is_1mG6l0j-_VrsHksH-hMWioitzwA2r69FuBR69ilmCmSP8m5y-nUXfBepmwayuUIRGmz8IcyXfomqQ56D0f8oI3fYRR5xGiATjjNjmdw/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU3shBVo06XWQV2JFpfr1QsdSm1RgVJF-Is_1mG6l0j-_VrsHksH-hMWioitzwA2r69FuBR69ilmCmSP8m5y-nUXfBepmwayuUIRGmz8IcyXfomqQ56D0f8oI3fYRR5xGiATjjNjmdw/s400/IMG_4793.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lots of ballet rehearsal! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEopjbh4uwVMN5iz_4K1yaZjv80M5Y-KlxuIPQS-iWUOzIfNk_20zhV4Ku7BR9Ok3u-aue6kRioy2QIAX4zzm4c8QqTQ_2OOGpfUqmYw2JL7PQ8QX2-_BkoAOJQBBDN6BPYrsp0H-d-A/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEopjbh4uwVMN5iz_4K1yaZjv80M5Y-KlxuIPQS-iWUOzIfNk_20zhV4Ku7BR9Ok3u-aue6kRioy2QIAX4zzm4c8QqTQ_2OOGpfUqmYw2JL7PQ8QX2-_BkoAOJQBBDN6BPYrsp0H-d-A/s400/IMG_4799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hangin' with our people</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu0oprFjTw9MXVNieMtF7CDAU94_rzopxOjG1aw7bqx5-2ySJf37HuvO5kIZpPQ5QQ5B2M0FwSrABUXSqPF4bDi7d1HpWCNSKkfHAMiVgdGYYw4Sxcay-hibkCwerRNOGir9b39dktQ/s1600/IMG_4814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu0oprFjTw9MXVNieMtF7CDAU94_rzopxOjG1aw7bqx5-2ySJf37HuvO5kIZpPQ5QQ5B2M0FwSrABUXSqPF4bDi7d1HpWCNSKkfHAMiVgdGYYw4Sxcay-hibkCwerRNOGir9b39dktQ/s400/IMG_4814.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my cuties in ET clothing! Pete only had underwear on for some odd reason... so he couldn't be in the picture... crazy kid :)</td></tr>
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<br />mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8905520387563617034.post-34173617060708586842013-04-20T13:14:00.003-04:002013-04-20T13:14:58.041-04:00what to say?The last week has been personally hard and globally harrowing. It may sound trite, but I've been really sick on and off for the last four months, and I'm about to lose my mind dealing with it. I've kept everything going here- kids happy, fed, house sorta clean, classes attended, projects done, etc, etc, but in the background this illness of mine ebbs and flows. Some days I feel great, others I can't breath and deal with pain and fever and fatigue. Bloodwork fine, fourth round of antibiotics on board, and wishing I was on an episode of "House" so that they could find the infection site, zero in on what is making me sick, and neutralize it.<br />
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That leads me to what I haven't been able to do as much as I like: Run. Remember last year when I ran my first race, a half-marathon? And how I came to love running so much? It's hard when I feel so weak that running is placed on the back-burner- and turns into something my body simply cannot tolerate as I rest and get well. Unfortunately the not-running affects a lot. I'm already feeling yucky, and then not-running leads me to feeling depressed, which creates this cycle of blah.<br />
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So now you know that I've been sitting on my ass, feeling sorry for myself, waiting for meds to work, not running, AND: watching runners and their families and friends get attacked at the most beloved race in the world. Close to where many of my family members live, and exactly where several friends were running on Monday. Perfect emotional storm.<br />
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The reactions are many, but I think it's safe to say that most of us, especially runners, are 100% completely shocked and terrified by what just transpired. At the same time, it's just one more example of darkness to add to the pile of darkness that we continually fold up and put in our pockets, carrying around our collection, wondering when it will stop growing.<br />
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I was so relieved to find out that everyone I personally know up in Boston was safe and okay, although emotionally shaken up. But as the reports came in of the carnage and the three dead, and now a young officer dead, it was hard to find any relief at all. Oh the suffering!<br />
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And the kids responsible. Yes, kids. Their brains hijacked by evil. Its source? doesn't matter. The talk of this religion or that ethnicity... doesn't matter. Two humans made the choice to hurt and maim and kill a group of other humans. It happens rarely on US soil compared to, say, Syria. Have you seen the picture of a group of Syrians sending condolences to the people of Boston, and letting them know that they truly understand, because it happens to them Every. Single. Day? The point is, it shouldn't happen. It sucks. It's pointless. It shouldn't happen in Boston, and it shouldn't happen in Syria.<br />
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Evil is evil no matter how it's dressed. My kids and I were talking, once again, about how we do not have the ability to stop it, but we do have the ability to control how we react to it and how we act on a daily basis. All we can do is claim goodness and grace and be light every day to every person we encounter for as long as we live. We can all take part it <a href="http://www.travelingwithmercy.blogspot.com/2013/01/fighting-shadow.html">fighting the shadow</a>.<br />
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Watching the crowds in Boston last night as they cheered for the cops and firefighters was evidence enough that we're in this for the long-haul. Humanity will not surrender to evil and, by the grace of God, will never have to- we will always have a way to fight the shadow.<br />
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Today I think I've turned a corner- I'm incredibly thankful for those in Boston who did everything they could to help- what heros! And I'm thankful for this latest round of medicine that will hopefully restore my health. <br />
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Holding up a candle for all the lives lost this week- in Boston, in Texas, in China, after so many tragic events. Keep looking for the helpers. Thank you, helpers.mama becca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08043250825863649224noreply@blogger.com2