VA phone pics

Phone pictures from VA:

rolling hills, antique shops, tree lined roads, beautiful flowers, lights @ the Kennedy Center

...and flying home.

rain

I opened my eyes

And looked up at the rain,

And it dripped in my head

And flowed into my brain,

And all that I hear as I lie in my bed

Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very slowly,

I walk very slow,

I can't do a handstand--

I might overflow,

So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said---

I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.

Shel Silverstien

I feel a bit the way this poem is stating..

slow---with rain in my head.

We have a had a very wet season...and a very wet week.

Our garden (newly planted) is enjoying it I am sure.

I, on the other hand, am hungry for sunshine.

Starved, might be better said!

One highlight has been reading "Where the Sidewalk Ends."

My sister Annie gave us this book (with the cd-which I love) and a few of Mr. Silverstein's others quite a few years ago.

It had been WAY too long since we have read them.

Thank you Annie!

We will be reading them much more often!

the greatest neighbor

As we pulled up Grandma's driveway we saw the bike parked by the door.  "Shane's here!!!"  Shane is often visiting Grandma.  You will find him taking Blossom out (the dog), vacuuming, emptying the trash, collecting the mail, fixing Grandma breakfast and yesterday I saw him replace the water on her oxygen machine.  Shane lives next door to Grandma---he is undoubtedly the greatest neighbor I have ever known.

I met Shane when Danny and I were dating.  As a young child he had a very high fever which caused brain damage.  He is one of the most generous hard working people around.  He works at a local grocery store.  He is very careful with his money.  At our reception he brought a gift.  He gift-wrapped a roll of paper towels with a note that it was from him.  That is one of the most memorable gifts we received that day and we remember it fondly. 

If Shane isn't working or at Grandma's house you will often find him constructing projects with the neighborhood kids.  Yesterday he followed us to Danny's mom's house-- actually we followed him.  He and my girls beat us over there and proudly exclaimed "We're fast!"  They went straight to the garage and found wood, rope, nails and hammers.  They had big plans of building a tree house.  They constructed, hammered, planned and talked.  No tree house was built...but a lot of fun memories.

happy...happy...birthday!

He flew in the night before.  He had been gone for nine days!!!!!!  We missed him and were so glad to have the day to celebrate his birthday.  All he wanted was to stay home THE ENTIRE DAY.  He wanted to work in our yard and in the house.  (Not many other people who genuinely want to work for their birthday!)  I bought plants for flower beds and our garden in preparation.  We also bought an ice cream cake!  We worked and worked and played.  We filled the tires on the bikes and hit the road again.  It was a delightful day...and I am really glad he just wanted to be here.

Happy birthday Love!!!!!!

xoxoxo

elevated...

"Like Alma, we will 'long to be there,' in the 'royal courts on high.'  It is the only destination that really matters.  Resplendent reunion awaits us!  What is more reasonable and more wonderful than children going home?  Especially to a home where the past, the present and the future form an everlasting and eternal now!"  Neal A. Maxwell

Last night as I was elevated over 10,000 ft (didn't the pilot say that?), life seemed to regain some clarity.  Flying up above the clouds; my priorities seemed clearer, relationships more precious, and I couldn't wait to be home.  I thought of those things that have been slacking in my life.  I was filled with a greater desire to look heavenward, feast upon scriptures, hold those I love a little tighter and kneel in prayer.  The beauty of the clouds around me and the earth below filled me with inspiration.  Inspiration to do better.

The Plains, VA

The Plains, VA might be one of the most beautiful spots in the country.

Wide open spaces, vibrant green, and the trees...oh, the tree lined roads...all add to it's charm.

We were there to celebrate Rob & Whitney.

It was a wonderful gathering...and delightful to meet Whitney's family.

Lucketts

My amazingly creative and stylish friend Mi'Chelle told me one evening about a favorite blog of hers...

then she told me about a store...

Cooincedently, I was headed to Virginia!

A favorite stop on my trip for sure.

I would be there most everyday if I lived close by.

We may or may not be revisiting for their AMAZING sale next year!
Who wants to join us!?

feeding turtles

My girls can spot them from a mile away...

they have brought them home from school almost every day...

they have been drug, dropped and squeezed

in my car

house

and

they tried to put them in my purse...

Once they heard there are two tortoises in the neighborhood that enjoy dandelions---

they have been on a serious hunt!

They are sure into feeding turtles---

they have also been enjoying a little bit more sunshine (we wish it was warmer)

good books (we have read Anne of Green Gables and The Hundred Dresses recently)

visiting Grandma at the hospital

EASTER!

playing in Nana Miller's backyard....

cousins...cousins...and more cousins (lucky ducks!)