Just got back from a whirlwind Northeast Circle road trip. I promised my friends and family a recap, and since the only way I seem to remember things these days is if I write them down, here's my story...summarized in a dozen "points of interest."
Read MoreWhat is it about the end of an old year and beginning of a new that makes us reevaluate our lives, our homes, our organizational systems, our BMI, our sugar addictions, our finances, our spirituality, our parenting, our marriages, our passions, and everything else under the sun?
Read MoreThe second mission of our New York City trip, and the one that inspired the trip initially, was to pay a visit to our friends. For a little background, Marv and Linda lived in South Bend and were church friends of ours for many years. Their son Morgan is age-wise right between our two boys…
Read MoreOn the morning of January 1st, Tom and I hopped in the car (because with gas prices below $2/gallon, who could resist?), and after about 12 hours on the road, we arrived in New York City! The purpose of our trip was twofold. One: we wanted to have a good time and check some things off the bucket list. Two: we planned to visit our friends who have been half-transplanted to NYC for their son's cancer treatment.
Read MoreA recent visit to Madison made me keenly aware that my role of "mom" is slowly being transformed. While Tom and I have both feet deeply planted in parenting, I can sense movement toward something new.
Read MoreThe holidays are over, the blizzard of '14 has come and gone, the polar vortex has settled in...but we're home, safe and warm, enjoying the first snow day of the year. My mind woke up at 5:30 a.m. today...right on schedule, as if it knew that winter break had ended and it was time to go back to school.
Read MoreOn our last day in Colorado on our great Southwest trip, we finished up our crafts. We were all pleased with how they turned out!
Read MoreToday is the last day we can really spend with Seth, as he goes back to work tomorrow, and we fly home tomorrow night. So we wanted to get in a good family hike.
Read MoreSince Seth is volunteering for ACMNP (A Christian Ministry in the National Parks) this summer, he and his team are responsible for putting on the worship services in the NP campground amphitheaters. Today it was Seth's turn to "preach!"
Read MoreWe had decided that today would be a "kick-back" kind of day, so we awoke at about 8:30, and realized we needed to rush to get breakfast, which ended at 9:00. After that, the girls and I relaxed in the lodge room…
Read MoreWe had a relaxing morning as we enjoyed breakfast out on the restaurant balcony of our hotel. Then the girls and mom walked down the street to do a little souvenir shopping in Moab.
Read MoreWe wanted to get an early start to beat the heat today, so we awoke a little earlier, had breakfast and headed out to Arches National Park, just about 10 minutes from our hotel in Moab. By the time we got there at 9:00 it was already 85 degrees.
Read MoreWe rolled out of bed, a little stiffer and sorer than the day before. But after a little stretching and a decent breakfast at the East Zion Thunderbird Lodge, we were ready to hit the trail again.
Read MoreToday was the day for Zion National Park. We woke up after a fairly short night of sleep, and had breakfast at the East Zion Thunderbird Lodge (it came with our room). We pulled our hiking things together and headed for the park. Zion is an incredible park with a wide variety of marvels and wonders.
Read MoreWe woke this morning, looking forward to our day at the Grand Canyon. After a less-than-thrilling, mediocre breakfast at our Days Inn, we headed toward the park. On the way there we drove through Williams which was plastered with signs for Route 66, on gas stations, cafes and gift shops.
Read MoreWe had just finished our yearly trip to Minnesota for fishing and family time, and rather than going all the way home, stopped at Barb & Fred's house in Tinley Park, Illinois, for a short night of sleep and a ride to Midway airport. We awoke around 3:00 a.m…
Read MoreOur flight left early Sunday morning, and after a quick transfer in Minneapolis, we were home in South Bend (Niles, MI). Since we had just driven by car from home to Minneapolis a few weeks earlier…
Read MoreSaturday, we spent the day driving from Banff back to Helena. On our way, we were able to stop by Gord and Annie's home in Calgary one more time.
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