It’s actually been a crazy busy summer! (When is life not so full?) Last week Robert took Kory camping at Acadia in Maine. He arrived home on Thursday at 12 noon and I left about an hour later to meet my sister Melinda in New York City for a couple of days. She flew there to be in a wedding for a college friend and came in a few days early so we could see each other and hang out in the big city! Here we are in Times Square. We also saw Battery Park, Wall Street and the World Trade Center area, did some shopping and had lunch in Soho at another great gluten friendly restaurant – The Hampton Chutney Co. (they have huge crepes- dosas- made from lentil and rice flour), and went to Rockefeller Center. Later that night we went to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! This was SPECTACULAR! I was about in tears when it was all over – a wonderful show, and now I’m dying to take my kids! At 11pm we participated in an activity which was a stark contrast to the family friendly musical we had just seen – a bar hopping bachelorette party! Melinda insisted that I go along, but I wasn’t sure the other girls would be so happy about this nearing-forty-mother-of-three crashing their evening. It was quite an experience, and I’m pretty sure I was the oldest person at each bar we went to, but I did get carded (out of kindness and respect) and got to ride in a limo for the first time! I saw things that can not be mentioned here, and it was definitely an education in the 20-something bar scene which is very much a lifestyle for some! WOW!

We stayed with some friends of mine from Amherst who now live and work in NYC. Justin and Rebecca were so hospitable with their tiny two room apartment. Our air mattress took up the entire second room which is their living/dining/kitchen/office! They took us to a wonderful gluten free restaurant called Risotteria (GF pizza, panini, desserts, bread sticks and risotto, of course!) They also gave us many great tips for getting around in the city which was made even easier by the fact that they live at 34th and 7th – two blocks from Macy’s, the Empire State Building, and Madison Square Garden!

I arrived home at 1pm on Saturday which happened to be 30 minutes after the much anticipated arrival of Xander – our friends and fellow church staff – Nate and Sarah’s – second baby. We needed to leave for a wedding in Rhode Island about that time, but were able to stop by the hospital on our way. Xander is such a cutie – looking much like sister Kiera – and the delivery went really well.

Our overnight trip to Rhode Island for Justin and Rachel’s wedding doubled as our 16th Wedding Anniversary getaway! The actual date was August 1, but I was in NYC that day! We attended a rehearsal and dinner Saturday evening, and the wedding was Sunday afternoon at 2pm. It was wonderful to see Justin get married – we’ve known him since he was a senior in high school and attending Crosswalk summer camp, and all through his years at UMass. When we weren’t on wedding duty, we had some nice down time at the hotel, and over coffee – it felt like we hadn’t talked in months.

As soon as we arrived home from Rhode Island, I headed to First Baptist to get my room ready for VBS which started today! I got to infect all of my kids with leprosy via red sticky dots and quarantine them with yellow caution tape today, as we learned about the leper who remembered to thank Jesus for healing Him. It was a good lesson for me as well – cultivating a thankful heart – and relying on Jesus’s power to accomplish this in me.

Done with VBS Friday, giving a baby shower Saturday, leaving for Texas Sunday, returning to Amherst the following Saturday, and leaving for Maine the very next day! Whew – If there’s no blogging, you’ll know why! A full life – striving to be thankful for it – even on days of weariness.