Refreshing of Seasons

We have been back from Australia for 2.5 weeks now and more has happened in the past 2 weeks then I can recollect in the last 2 years of our marriage. This lent itself to a very slow paced, trial filled uncomfortable transition. One in which we were not prepared for. Nothing life changing/threatening or remotely detrimental. Just change. It has proven to be a change that is within our grasps, yet we have no control over.

We have been going non-stop. All very good things, but skipping out on a whole month of reality is not what most expect it to be. For both Josh and I, although not slave to our routines, find comfort in knowing the day to day, minus those unexpected blessings/trials. The last month was a whirlwind. Traveling nearly every 4th or 5th day was tiresome. Packing and unpacking was a burden, a necessary evil of sorts. We were going full on and had no time to rest, process or reflect. Something I just realized never took place. Even if I consciously sat down to do so. Once we returned we kept the nature of our fast paced lifestyle and continue to go non-stop. We still haven't processed the trip, at least I haven't.

Today is the day. A day in which I have no other plans, no one to hang out with or be any where important. As I sat on the couch this morning, I found myself breathing. Breathing deeply. Needed that oxygen to enter my lungs to expand and feel my life slow. I watched the rain. I watched the clouds roll by, from a dark grey to a lighter tint of the same grey. This season has begun and is in full swing. We didn't ease into it. We were forced into it. As is suppose we always are. Ones heart (my heart) is never happy to see summer leave and winter take a grip on our lives. I just realized that this season forces us to stop and ponder. What else is there to do, really?

Maybe I need to stop. Probably so. The Lord works in our lives so intricately that he knew I needed the rain to keep me from going, moving and becoming distracted from whats important. I will learn to bask in the slowness. It will take time. It will be beautiful once appreciated for what it really is. Thank you, Lord for today.

well travelled.

So we are fresh off of vacation. A trip that began with a wedding and ended with long lasting memories. A trip in which we did not intend to be so hefty, yet the 12 days we were gone went by in a flash. Here is how it went

Fly to Kansas City, MO/KS -> Train to Chicago -> Surprise stop in Phoenix.

12 days of little rest, non-stop, belly satisfied, feet tired travel. It was amazing, to say the very least.

Since we were supposed to travel "light" I didn't take my camera. But you can bet your bottom dollar I had my phone, which is equipped with Instagram. Now, I love Instagram. A little too much Josh would say, but I argued, especially for this trip it documented it quite well. I will share them......now.

In Portland and delayed. 

The travel size bottle did us well, especially when it came to making a non-virgin bloody mary. I have to admit that this idea was from Maggie Groves, my lovely mother. 

No problem...especially in the turbulence we hit in Dallas. Thanks a lot Tex-ass. 

Just a little side photo: damn water bottle blister turned swollen elbow turned purple circle around my elbow thanks to the urgent care doctor. Rude.

The lightening was so fierce in Dallas. It was on every single side of us. Brighter than day. Delay number 2: 4 hours longer in Texas then we wanted to be. When we eventually took of into a " window of fury" the turbulence was so bad Josh was scared. And I might have cried a little :/

2 am Kansas City arrival. $15 taxi ride for 3 miles only to be told that the hotel indeed could have picked us up. Rude. Slept a little. Woke up in Middle America. Thats my handsome husband in Middle America.

What I had been craving every since we booked this trip. Honest to goodness BBQ. The rehearsal dinner was so amazing I couldn't eat it fast enough. I literally had that thought while I was eating it. People kept trying to talk to me. I just hunkered my head low and indulged. Thanks Gate's BBQ for making my belly happy.

The beautiful bride shooting "wedding cake". yum?

A dueling piano bar in Kansas City MO. Really cool part of town that we ended up seeing a lot of that weekend. The groom and his men sang around 2 am. Another late night.

Old fashioned map looker. The GPS really screwed us up. Thats my wonderful Aunt Michele

Tyler Yates. One of my most favorites that I have ever met.

Josh on Josh.

Israel (another favorite) Tyler and my aussie.

Tyler and his dancing feet.

Israel

Aunt Barbara 

Aunt Michele

My beautiful Aunts

T

Steamboat Arabia Museum. Really cool.

Aunt Michele and Aunt Barbara treated us to an amazing day in Kansas.

Kansas City Union Station

Union Station

Didn't realize how tall I was.

Bunk bed sleeper car. Best two naps on a train I have ever had.

The Mighty Mississippi

The train just coming into Chicago.

Josh partook in an 18 oz pork chop. It was called "Da Pork Chop"

Betsy helping us around the city. She did lots of research for us and we were so thankful.

The magnificent mile.

The Chicago River

Da' Bean

Millenium Park

Chicago Institute of Art. We viewed the Liechtenstein Exhibit.

I swore Lake Michigan was an ocean. It boggled my Pacific coast train of thought.

We walked many miles. Our feet were so tired by the end of the trip. Although it was a great counter-balance to all the food we ate. So much pizza. So many hot dogs.

A great pair of hosts. Blessed the socks off of Josh and I.

My first matzo with butter and salt.

Yep, thats a lake.

Waiting to see the Polar bear. The Lincoln Park Zoo was fun. Lots of dirty handed little kids field-tripping all day. It was fun to watch them all. Alas, most of the animals were not available for viewing.

Flamingos!

"You know your in a pickle when your buns bigger than your wiener" Kat Thompson

Navy Pier. 

The view every morning. Beautiful simplicity.

Chicago has amazing history. To wonder what those streets were like 150 years ago was mind boggling.

A present

This was a trip of delays. Everywhere were turned we were being delayed. It just so happened that the delay from Chicago to Phoenix was a hand of God. We nearly met Peter as he came home from work. This allowed us to surprise both Peter and Maria at the same time. It was awesome.

We met the newest addition to the Brine family. Benji and Mitchell. Cute Mitchell was hiding in some brush. We love those Beagles. 

Pool party with Shane Tschida. Long talks and great memories. 

Mitch

Desert. What this picture does not convey is that it probably was over 100 degrees! A dry 100 degrees.

Traveling to the airport in Graham's 1956 Ford pickup truck. No a/c. We nearly melted.

Now that we are back and semi- settled into our routine the grey skies make me miss this photo above.

It was one of the best vacations I have ever been on. We learned so much. Things I hope to never forget. Most importantly I learned what an amazing friend I have in Josh. He is my husband and though at times things seem a little less than perfect, he is my favorite. And always will be.