I'm back!

Oh my gosh, I have never been so glad to pull into my driveway! In the last month I have been in the car for over FIVE THOUSAND MILES! Can you believe that?? This summer has been the best-worst-happiest-saddest-craziest-most boring summer of my life!! I have seen some of the coolest things of my life (visited NYC, Seaside in Oregon, Portland, Seattle, Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore) and done some amazing things (concert in Carnegie Hall, Harbor Lights Cruise past the Statue of Liberty, Ric-shaw ride through Central Park, open casting call for "The Biggest Loser", played in the Columbia River, ate Clam Chowder at Mo's, played in the Pacific Ocean with my girls, hiked through geysers, hung out with a Bison, pressed a penny at Fort Hays, SD, walked through the set of "Dances with Wolves", ate "all you can eat Cowboy Pancakes for $.99, sat on a "jack-a-lope", mined for gem stones, checked out the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD and so much more!). What an amazing adventure this summer has been!

But it has also been completely heartbreaking. Loosing my mom is indescribable. Planning and "hosting" her memorial service was... numbing. The day before I left for home I went into her room (something I had been avoiding) and said goodbye to her things. To the physical part of her that is left. I bawled and laughed... then bawled some more! I was able to bring home several things that were especially representative of her. I am so thankful to have had such an amazing mom. I am so sad to have her leave us so early but grateful that she is no longer sick or hurting and is now with our Lord. I hope to be the kind of mom that she was....

So on that note, I'm home!! Wooo hooo! The girls' school starts Monday (wow, right?) and my classes start Thursday. But I am sooo excited to start scrapping again! I have three DT assignments due and a big announcement on Sept 1st. So keep watching!! No more sparatic blog posts, promise!!