So yes, I have been a slacker. Going to Missouri, and then having friends come visit and stay with us, as well as saying good bye to other friends as their life takes them elsewhere :-( it's been pretty packed. I finally feel like I can breathe a little bit!

me and maddie with our feet in the mississippi, but you can't even see our feet.

Missouri was good. It was nice to see Rick's family. I enjoyed every second of it, even though it was so difficult at the same time. I dislike pain, and I dislike grief, but a phrase I've always held on to is "Pain gives more than it takes" -- sometimes that's hard to grasp, but it's so true.


Last week Daniel came to visit, and I helped my friends Sara and Sean begin to pack for their move to Oregon (they leave today) and we went to birthday parties and a goodbye party for our friend Lexee.

Lexee's goodbye party! It was a surprise... she thought she was coming over to help our friend Jodi with a washing machine flood. Needless to say, she was very surprised to find a flood of friends, rather than water.

a few of the surprise 'flood' of friends. they are hiding...

As for this week... I've been writing a story for the local newspaper (deadline was today - thank goodness, I had forgotten how stressful it can be), and we went to a goodbye party for Sara and Sean and I almost cried a lot when I had to say goodbye for real... but I hugged them and left fast so they wouldn't see. Also, one of the highlights of my week, I must say was lunch with beautiful Jodi -- a friend of mine who i met on my wedding day, she helped Sara Warren fix the girls' hair. Oh and mainly so I can mention Damaris, Jodi mentioned at lunch that she loved my bridesmaids... and laughed when she talked about how funny and joyful my good friend Damaris is. I agreed with her, that girl Damaris, she loves the Lord.

Jodi fixing Naomi's hair for the wedding.

Oh yes, and the basil is so big now (and so is my parsley!) I have a photo, but i'm too lazy to upload it to my mac right now. But I will update soon, I know you are on the edge of your seats!