David and I finally got ourselves out the door and on a (mini) vacation.

It was everything I needed it to be.

We left for Washington D.C. last week looking forward to seeing some sights and catching up (slash meeting) lots of family.

I could get really sappy and long winded about my Grandparents, and how much they mean to me despite only seeing them maybe once a year for most of my life. I'm going to try really hard not to go on and on about how much I love them. How blessed I know I am to be their granddaughter, and to be a part of their family. So I'll have to move on quickly before I get stuck here raving about the wonderful people they are.


I expected the trip to be great. David had a lot of people to meet and I was bringing my pride and joy of a peanut to show off, so I knew it would be fun. I expected to feel loved and welcome like you only can when you're with family. I expected good card games and silly yard games with cousins. I expected pestering Uncles and so sweet Aunts.

But this trip (even though it was a mini one) was more than that for me.

Maybe it is because I had pushed real life out of my mind. So on my mental break from reality and responsibility I could really SEE some things.

I learned a lot. Maybe I was just reminded of a lot.

1. Every baby should think they are the center of the universe. Babies can do no wrong. My family reveres babies. Can you imagine if every baby got that kind of love.

2. So many of us- no matter how different we are- want the same things. To be safe and happy with our families. It's that simple.

3. You can ALWAYS be learning.

4. People need people. The human soul is not meant to be alone. We need different things from each other. But every one needs some kind of companionship.

5. Family really makes the best friends.

I love my family. A lot.

Even if I can't see them every day (year).

I'm sure we'll try and sneak back again sometime soon.

Did you know....

The Cummer Museum is free on Tuesday evenings?

I have a new vision for my backyard.

Happy Birthday to Me

White cabinets make me happy.

It's just one of my things.

Mother

The holiest words my tongue can frame,
The noblest thoughts my soul can claim,
Unworthy are to praise the name
More precious than all other.
An infant, when her love first came,
A man, I find it still the same,
Reverently I breathe her name,
The blessed name of mother.

-George Griffith Fether, “The Name of Mother,”

House Guests

I really do enjoy having guests in our home. I like company. But this guys. Our latest guest is no longer welcome. First of all, he sows up unannounced. Rude. I got over it, because after all his home is SO close to ours. And then there is the space issue. He just doesn't get it. Always trying to get closer and closer to places he should go. And he can't take a hint (note the two shoes and water in the picture below).

And then there is the quiet way he moves. So every time you see him it's a surprise. Not a pleasant surprise. It makes things like watering a terrifying experience.

I'm all for house guests, but this guy.

He is not welcome.

Do you see what I see?

It's right there...... do you see it?

We had to go outside and get a closer look, do you see it now?

How adorable is that?!

I'm seriously surrounded by baby cuteness!

I'm not even a reptile person, but come one. This little turtle is a-dorable! Hopefully he'll visit our porch again.

A leap of faith

Isn't that what it is when we get married. I mean really. You can't really know what someone will be like as your husband until they are. You can't really know what someone will be like as a father until they are. So you take a leap of faith.

I put quite a bit of faith in David. Especially when it came to the kind of father he would be. I'd only seen him in action with children a few times. But that was really just a glimpse of him with kids, nothing else. Being a father to your his own kiddos would be totally different. And so, a leap of faith I took.

And I'm so glad I did. We are two lucky girls.