Are you making your summer travel plans yet?
In the Beach vs. Mountains scenario, mountains definitely win at the Chino House. Continue reading
I am so grateful for a wonderful weekend at Castle Bluff with our middle school students from church. It’s been a couple of years since I made it to one of Taido’s camps so I had enough distance that I was able to wonder afresh at the experience. Lots of treasures on my Grateful List today: sweet gal riding shotgun with me to and from camp: Hannah! all six Chinos getting to go this time: Taido speaking, me leading a small group, Cole serving on work crew, MP and Ben as campers, and Simon tagging along. We were never all … Continue reading
Venice was our last stop on our anniversary trip to Italy in 2004. It’s one of those places you see pictures of all your life, but you cannot even believe it is real when you get there. It is decadent and glorious and everything you could imagine. Even in December. December 9, 2004 Venice Italy Where do I even begin? Venice is absolutely breathtaking. The whole city is just oozing elegance. From the very first moments on Vaporetto #1, I have been in awe. Like a great maze, there is a treasure around every corner, a beautiful church, shops … Continue reading
Happy Birthday Taido!! You make my heart beat faster!
A Day in San Gimignano, Italy Taido and I went to Italy for our 10th anniversary in 2004. We were married in December, so we chose to go during that month even though we were taking a chance on the weather. We did have some rainy, cold days, but the lack of crowds at all the major sights more than made up for its being cold. We took a gamble one day while we were in Florence and took a bus to a Tuscan hill town. The sunshine came out that morning and turned our Tuscany tour into a golden … Continue reading
Eight years ago, Taido and I walked hand in hand in the streets of Italy. It was December. We were celebrating being married for 10 years. We fell in love with the Renaissance in Florence, we picnicked in the ruins of a Tuscan hill town, and we succumbed to the charms of Venice. It was a gloriously perfect week, a treasured time that we point back to again and again. Ahh, Remember Italia, we say to one another. I’ll be sharing a few stories and journal excerpts from that dreamy week while I am gone making new European memories with … Continue reading
So we’re pretty excited around the Chino House to have this guy back! He lead a backpacking trip for students in Colorado after we left. Here he is coming down from climbing Mt Wilson. We might have stayed out there with him, but we had to come home early to start school! We now have one week under our belts and are beginning to get back in the swing of a schedule. It’s kind of brutal to start school in July, but it means we get a fall break in less than two months. I’m very much looking forward to … Continue reading
After a few glitches on the road trip out (flat tires and lost keys and such), we had a wonderful two weeks in Colorado and Utah. We saw new beauties and old favorites! Here are a few highlights of our first few days, which we spent in Aspen, Colorado at Difficult Campground. The Aspens and trails right around our campground were gorgeous. Lots of exploring happened right around our camper. Everyone was thrilled to be able to dig out warm clothes after June in Arkansas! Our second day we hiked a familiar Aspen trail, the Maroon Bells. It is breathtaking. … Continue reading
We went to the most lovely wedding in Oklahoma this weekend. I’ve known Taylor (the groom) since before he was born, as his mama is a dear, dear friend of mine. He was the first baby I ever held at the hospital on the day he was born. As a result, I’ve always been especially smitten with him. And I could not be happier for him and his precious bride, Hayley. Their story is beautiful and sugar sweet and everything you want for your babies in a love story. Taido got to perform the wedding, so he told their story … Continue reading
For our anniversary, Taido and I had a chance to get away at the end of December to Hot Springs, courtesy of some really wonderful folks. (Thanks Jim and June for giving us a wonderful place to stay! And thank you to the many many folks who kept kids for us!) We looked out over the lake, read books, ate wonderful food, watched movies and just enjoyed being together. I love that our anniversary falls at the end of the year because if we take a little time to celebrate, we get to spend some of those precious hours alone … Continue reading
I'm usually counting down the days until the next trip, but I try to enjoy every day by being grateful for small things and loving with all my heart! Our next big adventure is a move across the pond to Scotland! Want to come along? Great! Subscribe below!
