Sienna and Assisi.....

Stop number two of this incredible journey and two of the most beautiful places I have ever been were Sienna, the home of St. Catherine and Assisi, the home of St. Francis.

The weather did not dampen our spirits as we climber hundreds of steps and walked hills that were at 45 degree inclines for three days.  

Mass was in aa beautiful chapel at the Basilica of Saint Francis.  

What a joy to be in a place when so much of Christianity grew.

The story of St. Francis is an amazing one and to walk where he walked and so many pilgrims since is why I came...and none of this disappointed.

St. Francis and the cell he was help in for so many years.

And the most incredible thing we probably saw here....a consecrated host that began bleeding during mass hundreds of years ago when a priest doubted the reality of transubstantiation.

The host still intact after all of this time in a monstrance in the chapel.

A miracle right in front of our eyes.

The one drawback of our trip...the food!

Oh my, Italian food has such a great reputation and it totally disappointed.

Granted we did not choose our meals...they were planned but they seemed typical of what we saw everywhere.

More steps, why not???

Suset in Assisi from our hotel room window.  It would not be too hard to wake up to this view everyday even on the most overcast days.

Dinner in a typical Assisi restaurant. 

Just more of what we saw each day.

And another mass in a chapel in Assisi.

What a beautiful part of our pilgrimage.

And now off to Rome!

Italy....What a Trip!......

Loading the bus on November 1st for another trip I never dreamed I would make.

I am/was that person who never had any desire to travel abroad.  Pictures in a magazine would be sufficient.  Now I am hooked.  I love it.  Going with a group on a Pilgrimage is in my opinion the gift of a lifetime.  It is a spiritual journey, a way to connect with God, and with the 35 companions you travel with.  It has taken me over a month to really reflect on what I found on that trip.  My first thoughts were not so positive.  It was grueling, long, a test of our endurance...but now I am beginning to see the purpose.  It was a test of sorts.  I was pushed beyond what I ever thought was physically possible so soon after back surgery.  I grumbled about the miles we walked, but I survived and so did the rest of our group...some much older than I.  I am glad I went.  I knew I am capable of much more than I thought possible.  I saw sights I will never see again and each spot holds a special memory for me....so here it is.

First stop VENICE!!!!

Yes, it was everything I had anticipated.

Absolute beauty everywhere.

St. Mark's Square.

Only in Europe can you find architecture that is this amazing.  

We did not ride a gondola but they were exactly as I pictured in my mind.

Venice is known for it's glassware which is handblown at local shops.

We were lucky enough to visit one of these merchants and watch a artisan at work.

I did not, however, purchase any of this!  $$$$$$

Every spot was postcard perfect.

And Venice is where I met Gelato!

My goal...to have one gelato a day for the whole trip....

maybe two!!!

High!.....

It literally was a day of extreme highs!

Drew took off with the Jack Links stunt plane on an adventure of a lifetime.

Who ever gets the opportunity to cruise (at a very high speed) the skies over Alliance airport in the front seat of a plane where the canopy comes down millimeters above your head?

My son does and I know he will not soon forget it. 

Oh Adeline, if you only knew how nervous your dad was and how hard he was trying to hide the fact that maybe this was not the best idea he ever had!

Buckled in, given instructions on how to operate the parachute (YIKES!) and headed to the runway!

Yes, all of this was made possible by the airshows support of CARRY THE LOAD and the fact that they needed willing supporters of the CTL mission to tag along for a ride...and even take some time to take over the controls.  Yes, Drew did a few barrel rolls and other unnamed maneuvers while he was up there.

Thanks for the ride Sir, and the safe landing.

Nothing was as much fun and nothing feels much better than having your feet back on the ground.

What an experience!

Seven.....

Wow...when you turn SEVEN it is time to go back to the 60's and a little Saturday Night Fever!!!

The parents were all about it...though only the grandparents actually lived it!  Bring on John Travolta!

 A disco party calls for a disco bounce house with black lights and two party ready  young ladies...

 Just waiting on the guests to arrive!!

 Clever momma even created some disco themed cupcakes for the little party animals.

Stayin' Alive!

 My sweet little seven year old has just over the line from childhood.  Yes, she is still a kid but that year from 6 to seven brings big changes.  She is so much more independent, spunky, and ready to burst forth on her own.  Holding hands with Gramma is not quite as cool anymore...though sleepovers are still in!

 Not to be over looked...Fabulous Finley!

 And my littlest love, Adeline.  

Always a joy, forever smiling, hater of bows, always on the move Adeline!!

Cannot even sit still for a picture.   

 Happy birthday sweet Brooklynn! 

May you forever think I am special...because you will always be so very special to me!!

Well....

Well....it has been a month since my last post.  I have obviously either overbooked my life or spend too much time looking at Facebook and have totally ignored this blog.  

I knew the day would come when my creativity would wane and this would slide to the bottom of my list.  

BUT 

I had an opportunity have these two little babies spend the day today and how much fun we had!!! 

Cousins....three months apart and oh do they amaze me.  

Matthew is 10 months and Adeline not quite 7 months....actually playing together!

Real interaction!

And guess who the aggressive one is...little Miss Adeline!

Little Mattie only felt comfortable reaching out when she was not looking.  I think she inherited her dad's aggressive nature!

They are a gift. 

 What fun playmates they will be...and already are.  

I sat in amazement watching how they interacted.  

I do not know how they went from newborns to this so quickly but watching them grow has been so much fun!

More babies please!!!

So ready for this rollover to the "BER" months!

Football

State Fair

Back to School

Lots of fun things ahead!