A Picture=1,000 Words

Luke had a great time in Rome. We are looking forward to going back there in the spring together. We will also see London and Paris. Anybody else want to come? You can!
The Pope's quarters in Vatican City

We had a great time on our family vacation/family reunion in Brainerd, Minnesota--the home of Paul Bunyan. We drove there with family in the big van you'll see in one of the pictures below. The last picture is where we saw a huge Paul Bunyan. He moved and spoke to us. A little creepy.

This is my rose bush. I am excited about this because all of these flowers are new since I replanted it in a more sunny spot.

I took a picture of my cat Han before we left our house for the final trip of the summer. He is very sick right now. He's lazy, coughing, and sneezing all day long. He's been this way for about a week and a half. If he is still like that when we get home August 3rd we'll take him to the vet ASAP. I took this final picture just in case he was dead when we get back. I told him to "hang in there" before I left. Morbid? Yeah.

On July 27th my sister Paige had a bridal shower. She is getting married August 2nd. What a beautiful girl and a great time with old and new family.

My mom and me.

Amanda, Paige, Liz, and Deb

Liz, Amy, Paige, Amanda, Molly, Deb, and Mom

A large shower after our shower for Paige.

After the shower in Marshalltown we drove to UNI to visit Luke's brother Gabe and his wife Terri. We walked around the UNI campus on Monday and got lots of pictures. Lunch at the Union was so great.

Nostalgic= a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.

Oh the PL. Hopefully you are more clean these days.

What does Rome have that I don't? or Luke's big adventure

Today was a big day!

Luke and I laid our home and cats and plants in the very capable hands of Dustin Graham, a family friend, and drove to Des Moines. Our mission was to send Luke off to Rome, Italy.

Last year at this same time I went to Alaska and had one heck of a time. It provided me with amazing memories and pictures. I went with Luke's blessing. He stayed home and worked at Gamestop.

This summer it's Luke's turn. He wins. He has a bigger time change, different language, different money, use of a passport is required, and arguably better scenery--that's highly debatable, however.

It was hard to say goodbye. I cried a little. Let's put this in perspective. Luke and I have spent the last month and a half together every day. The first time we are separated is to send him off to Rome. Not Sioux Falls....Rome. I will be glad to see him come home.

For those of you wondering...a brief explanation. Luke will be leading a senior trip to Europe next year, so this is his orientation trip. It is 5 days long, and completely free. Awesome! He will go again next March and the plan is for me to go with him...along with kids/other adults.

Here is the picture that I made Luke stand still for. I think he resents cameras. As I was taking this picture he was disgusted and said, "First day of school."

I'm hoping he takes lots of pictures of his European adventure. I'll share some if he lets me.

On another note...

On the way to Des Moines we stopped at the cemetary to take some pictures. I've been wanting to get pictures to share with you and my family. Here are some that we took...for no other reason than to let you in.

On the 4th

Some pictures of what we did on the 4th:

Finished our deck

Played Badminton

Fished things out from under the deck

Enjoyed the finished deck

Played on the roof

Grilled

Enjoyed Micah's home-made fireworks show

Saw fireworks at the Floyd Monument

And enjoyed each other

Incidently, I missed Grace today. It was just Luke and me at the end of the night, watching the bursts of color in the dark sky. Our own two-person family. Really there's three of us. I wished with all my might while sitting there that we had some proof. All this summer, every single day, I can't help but think about what that day would be like had she arrived when the doctors said she would.

....I am not apart from God's best for me....