Monday, September 17, 2012

Happy Anniversary!

It's 9:46 pm and 3:46am where you are..... So.....

Happy 13th Anniversary!

Although you are 4726km away, you will always be close to my heart and to our beautiful children's hearts! Today is one special day in our lives that bonded us together and allowed us to experience wonderful treasures in life!

As you venture out to your next city on the Camino, I hope your cup refills as the morning sun shines over the hills and the wind lifts away all your burdens throughout the day.

Can you feel the love from across the Atlantic Ocean? Just think that everytime you feel a sudden breeze, it is our love and encouragement for you to complete your Camino!!!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

We love you and we do see you everyday on our Camino wall map :-)

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Children's Wall Map

I'm an idiot... I tried to swap pics to show the whole wall map and it did but it changed the publish date. So if this entry is out of order it is actually from 9/16....

Last night I finally put up the Camino Wall Map for the children to visually see where our Peregrina has traveled.  She started from Saint Jean Pied de Port (on the far right in France).  So as we get more updates from her, the map will eventually be populated with more cities and scenery pics.

Today, she arrived in Ventosa (28 km from Viana).  She had walked further then the group she was with yesterday and had left them to reach Ventosa.  She seemed very exhausted when the kiddos had a brief conversation via FaceTime.

Mamá, descansar bien!
Buenas Noches, peregrina! 


Thursday, September 13, 2012

One Week...

Today is 1 week since we left our Pilgrim (peregrina - in espanol) at RDU for her unknownst long-long trek to her even longer Trek.

I knew this morning was going to an early one for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to get a FaceTime call right after 6am from Neve.  She was in the midst of a Spanish festival in I think Lorca.   From what I saw, she appeared to be in the center of town and we could hear a band playing and people were wearing white outfits and red scarves. (Pretty much like those videos of "Running of the Bulls").   She was excited and called in hopes too see her 2 little girls for the first time in a week.   Fortunately, those little squirrels were getting dressed as I was preparing breakfast and packing their lunches.  They were so excited to actually see and speak to their Mama!  I'm sure the feeling was mutual from the excitement in Neve's voice and her smile.   Although the FaceTime call was short, it made the little girls' day brighter than the rising sun.

After the call, my kitchen resembles a small mess hall as I line up all the food, milk and prep everything for the day.   Then as the kids pile in, one by one, I encourage them to finish everything before packing the dishwasher.  Next was making sure everyone is dressed appropriately for the morning cool air that will burn off later in the afternoon.  Then we piled in the car and stroll to our neighbor's house a couple blocks over so we can all walk to school together.  This is another part of the day that the kids love.

Everything went smoothly and yet I knew in the back of my mind I also had a full plate at work to deal with.  

Work was, well... work...  The same grind different day with a different wrinkle, but somehow easily ironed out after some ingenuity and reasoning.  My work is like a puzzle I need to piece together and I am the cohesion that help keeps it sticking together.... Some days the glue is thick and some days it tethers...  Today was a thick glue day.  (well in my mind)   I feel all is working pretty smoothly and have 1 less task to deal with.   Hooray! 

SO I'm up alone again and about to retire to the East Wing (<-- this one's for you Neve).  I hear the crickets again, Boo (our white Anatalyan Shepard) breathing heavily as he sleeps behind my chair,  and can see some flickering stars in the dark sky.  It's been pleasantly quite and peaceful since tucking the kids in after 9:30-ish. 

I'm sure Neve is about to venture out for breakfast.  Maybe a baguette with some fresh cheese, OJ, and a fruit... that's what I envision based on our past Eurpean travels....  

So Neve: 

I hope your next trek brings you the more excitement and intertwine you with newfound endearing companions (peregrinos y peregrinas).  Just keep in mind that their stories, backgrounds and conversations are just as exciting to you as yours is to them.  Kind of like that Julia Roberts movie we watched prior to you leavig (Eat Pray Love) .....yea yea - it's a chick flick but it does relate how differnt people are interesting yet have common things/interests/etc.. that may bond them closer.

*** And make sure you add their info into your Contacts in either your iPhone or iPad....
Live it up and have fun!
Its' only been 1 week... WOW!