Monday, August 27, 2012

Vegas can't handle us...




To celebrate our friend's 50th our Seneca thr group (target heart rate) headed to
Vegas. What better way to not only celebrate in style, but also kick off a new
school year? Spending four days with some of my favorite people in Vegas has landed
us in a constant state of laughter, crazy pics and just all around good quality girl time.

As we strut the strip in our cheetah gear Vegas has definitely been an experience. 
From riding the mechanical bull at Gilley's pub, doing laps in the quite swanky 
pool at theWynn and walking for what seemed like 50,000 miles along the strip. 
After a full day of walking, chilling and being one wih Vegas the feet were in crisis
mode in desperate need of a few hours by the pool. And there was much 
rejoicing! 
Tonight we hit the strip heading out for a good nosh, lots of laughs and sporting 
some super bedazzled gear. Hands in the air, baby!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

familia up, down & all around


It isn't often that I'm able to get everyone on the farm together to snap pics capturing my visits with the family. I was on power mode getting the crew organized and prepped for a few poses before hopping the train in Richmond. I was multi-living to the fullest with pics, eggs packed and flip flops on. During our photo session (a very improv version) we received a call from the assisted living facility my aunt is staying in informing us that she was unresponsive and had to be transported to the local hospital. My two o'clock train was bumped a few days.

My dad, Jess & the boys trekked to Richmond for the market as my mom and I headed to Farmville Hospital. Judy had to be flown to Lynchburg where they were able to have her stabilized and provide some much needed tests. Her three months in Bayonne hospital did little to provide answers and we now know did more harm then good. As I prep to really, truly head back to Jersey my prayer is for the Doctor's to have the wisdom needed to figure out all that is going on with my aunt. I will continue to pray for my parents and the stress this is causing. Lots of stuff.


Watching my mom ache isn't easy. When your sibling aches, hurts and isn't in a good place there aren't really words to attach to it all. I want to wave a magic wand and remove the sadness in her heart. I'm not sure what the next few days and weeks will hold, but I will continue to pray, hope and do my best to encourage the crew on Faith Farm.
Tomorrow, this chick is north bound and my body and heart are quite ready to return to my familia.  My body and mind are pretty exhausted at this point; it has been an intense week plus. I'm looking forward to hop off the train and hug my husband, see the girls and catch up on the happenings of life.
As one week shifts to another I can't help but think how much love, goodness and hearts that I am truly blessed to have in my life. Even though life can toss some curves, aches and challenges I thank God for the beauty that lies in between the lines and right on the surface. Love is a powerful thing. May that not make me sound like Michael Bolton. No sax or long pony tail....just a crazy chick from Jersey. 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Altered chapters


Life isn't always easy. There's the good and the bad. There's the up and the down. Although we do not have control of all factors in our life there are many aspects in which we do. Sometimes the final destination point and detours along the way are our own doing and attributed to nothing less than negligence and poor decision making. This week was a perfect example of that within my own family. 
My mom and I travelled to Bayonne and transported my aunt, my mom's sister, from Bayonne Hospital to an assisted living facility in Virginia. For as long as I can remember my aunt has neglected to seek medical assistance for even the most basic of things out of fear of knowing the unknown. Basic medical assistance that was neglected over a long period of time snow balled into our present day dilemmas with her. 
She is fifty eight years old and is unable to take care of herself. For years we urged her to attend to the little issues and ultimately pleaded for medical intervention later down the road. It wasn't until we had no other choice but to remove her from the hospital and physically transport her to a facility close to my parents. 
My heart aches for my aunt. It is my prayer that she will one day return, both mentally and physically, to who she once was. It is my hope she will regain a quality of life. On the other hand, I struggle with anger and frustration at how absolutely avoidable all of this heartache, frustration and stress really was. The stress this has caused to my mom, in particular, is unfair. For the unforeseeable future she is saddled with daily treks to visit her sister, monitoring her medical progress, attending to her finances along with a million other tasks that will be on her plate. It isn't fair. The present cannot be altered and we are anticipating a long haul ahead. But I am grateful that Judy is close to my parents and that she knows that we are rooting for her and that we are hoping for the absolute best outcome possible. 

At Judy's new place we have met many friendly residents who have really gone out of their way to try and make her feel at home. Southern charm and hospitality sure does go a long way. But as we are beginning to know some of her neighbors my heart is sad for the many lovely older people who have such minimal contact with their family members. I do not know their stories. I do not know the roads that were taken through their lives, but a sadness overcomes me thinking that so many elderly in our society who have been forgotten or put to the way side. 
As Tristan and Gabe stop in for a short visit I am amazed at the joy and smiles their presence brings to all they come in contact with. I think their visits will not only be good for the older people, but also for Tristan and Gabe to realize how precious life is and that there is no age limit when it comes to touching someone's heart. Blessings and joy can come from bumpy roads and high stress zones. I have confidence that goodness can come out of this as well as some pretty powerful lessons about life. 
As the road leads me back to Jersey late Tuesday I will continue to pray for my aunt and all my familia on Faith Farm....

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sweet 16 and Old 3 Skool SACs


It's mid-August and my mind is spinning with disbelief that school is just around the corner. Summer has no sign of slowing down. Closing my eyes and holding my breathe doesn't really do the trick so I'll do my best to just enjoy the remaining weeks of a pretty fabulous summer. 
Last week we officially celebrated Taylor's 'Post-Birthday'. She turned 16 in April, but we held off until  now to kick off the festivities. Fourteen teenagers, fondue and the beach (with a sleep over thrown somewhere in there) made for a very fun, sleep deprived, two days. I flipped a heap of pancakes, schlepped towels and snacks to the beach and was catatonic by the end of the whirlwind 48 hours. Can I get an oy vey? I think they all had a great time and it was a supervised, 'super good decision making' event of goodness that had me much less stressed and enjoying watching the kids have fun just being kids.


Two of my most favorite SACs in the UNIVERSE broke some bread with me and allowed ample time for catching up and some serious carb consumption. Sue, who was until recently the SAC at Cherokee, is back visiting for a short time from England. I think until my last breathe, Sue and I will remain friends. That's just how it rolls after being through thick and thin over the past nine years. Patrick, a SAC at Bishop Eustace and GCIT, is pretty much the coolest dude you could meet. From riding motor cycles, rappelling and hiking all over the place he's an old soul with more energy than most twenty year olds. Patrick and Sue have taught me some pretty powerful lessons about life, friendship and the reality that age is relative. Each of us have hearts for young people and strive to make an impact in a way that can take a whole lot out of you. It's moments like these, where coffee, carbs and some serious laughs accentuate the beauty of life. 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Moab to Colorado



The past two weeks have been quick, but pretty amazing. From Phoenix, Tuscon, Sedona, the Moab and onto Grand Junction we took in a whole lot of the South West. The further we delved into our travels it continued to reinforce how little I have seen of my own country. There were so many moments that left me in awe. Pictures that we had taken that when you viewed them actually looked fake. From the gaping chasm of the Grand Canyon to the breath taking red rocks of the Moab it has all been one life size moving photo album.
Sitting in the airport in Phoenix and looking forward to getting settled back home, but I will really miss all the amazing things we have taken in. 

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Keith and the Duke having a chat

Ragin' in Utah

As night has fallen upon the Moab desert the moon casts a glow along the base of the massive rock formations that surround us. Its radiant light creates an almost reflective effect along the waters of the Colorado that rushes along the shore line. Before the moon made its presence known the sky was darker, the stars glowed as Keith and I watched as shooting stars streaked the canvas above us. As I lay on the grass scanning the sky two shooting stars shot across the blackened canvas and within moments exploded created a flash of red, yellow and orange flames. It was unreal and literally had me pointing, letting out a few yells and in awe of what I had just seen. Bam, baby! A picture, even if the camera was ready and clicking it would not due justice to the absolute awesomeness of what my eyes had witnessed. 
The Moab has been nothing short of amazing. Hot, desolate and teeming with creatures of nature that can leave you on the edge of your seat being here is a cross between landing on mars and being transported back into the days of stage coaches and mid-day gunfights. How can you go wrong with that? 
Tomorrow we head out and I'm not sure if there were enough pics taken to do this place justice, but we did try. Before the bus rolls out and the sun rises I'll be making a hike to the top of one of the large, steep rock formations smack dab in the middle of the desert. There is really nothing like a sunrise to start the day off right.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Grand Canyon left this couch surfer speechless

Williams, Arizona

Monument Valley - Arch with the girls

Two days ago we were at the rim of the Grand Canyon with patchy Internet service. This morning as the sun rises over the Moab it's pretty much non existent. Being away from it all isn't always a bad thing. There are perks to being detached from reality.

Two days ago we were at the rim of the Grand Canyon with patchy Internet service. This morning as the sun rises over the Moab it's pretty much non existent. Being away from it all isn't always a bad thing. There are perks to being detached from reality.
We are staying at Red Canyon Lodge smack dab in the middle of the Moab desert. In the past week I have been constantly in awe of the landscape in the south west. Every angle is its own picture with ranging hues of color, rock formations and just stellar beauty.
Sitting on our back porch this morning listening to the rush of the Colorado and being adjacent to a vineyard and a horse pasture all is well with the world.
Hiking through the Moab was nothing short of jaw dropping. Nature is a direct connection to our Creator and brings a sense of peace and comfort that recharges my heart and mind. No couch surfing this time around, but sometimes a little switch up isn't such a bad thing.


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