home with Daddy

and so happy to see him again!

California family - Emma's first flight

seeing Auntie Julia again - so exciting!

meeting Grampa

meeting Great Gramma Moose

the Moose Clan

(Great) Auntie Leca

(Great) Auntie Kathy & Emma

Emma and I are in CA for a visit. We'll be here for about a week and a half, and are enjoying meeting the West coast family for the first time!

Four Generations

getting ready ....

... to move.

I just wanted to share a picture of our bedroom, because 1: I really like it (found out that I am quite fond of the color gray. John picked it and now I think that everyone should try having a gray bedroom at least once.), 2: I thought you might like it, 3: we have some wonderful memories here and 4: I know that it will never be the same again.

Once you move it never is. You can never really recreate a space in a new home. It just doesn't work that way.

That's a good thing, a very good thing, and I am looking forward to the change. But still, I will miss it.

wedding road trip

A close friend got married in Michigan last weekend, and, since John was unable to go to the wedding, his mom (VERY graciously - thank you!!!!) offered to drive with me and Emma.
So, here are a few pictures from the weekend:

must start with these. of course. because there is an adorable baby in them. and a handsome brother-in-law. and it was the start of the trip.

John drove halfway to Indianapolis and Evan drove halfway to Cincinnati. We met at McD's (which happens to sell a fair iced mocha).

bonding time with Grandpa S.


more brothers-in-law, making sure the van was ready (i.e. pretending to drive)

the bride's family hosted a picnic for all the out of town friends and family on Friday night

a few extra hands on deck never hurts when it comes to getting ready for a wedding! Bobbie Sue had just finished curling and pinning up 12 other heads, and was running low on time ...

all those years of arranging flowers from the yard came in to play here (I stole the pic off of Facebook)

Alanna and her dad

exchanging rings

the ring bearer and flower girls stole the show at the end

so precociously cute

catching up, so much to say and yet so little time

announcing Mr. and Mrs. Jim Soderna

Becca meeting Emma (Emma likes her)

various Romania alumni

the lovely and much adored Stefana "Mama" Copu finally got to meet our Em

a new venture, part 2: the path less traveled market, handmade

A few days ago I mentioned that there were other new ventures to stay tuned for ..... and, here's one of them! We have set up another site called "the path less traveled market", and on it we will be featuring handmades for the home. We are starting with aprons, and plan to add other handmades as time allows. The blog site gives us unlimited space to post pictures of product details, as well as to feature addtitions or changes, and we have set it up to link to a hosting site that allows people to purchase our items through PayPal.

a new venture

John and I have started a new bookshop online, hosted by Amazon.com. We decided that it might be a good way to supplement our income, and at the same time be a nice little home business for me.

It will work two ways: one, we are offering books that we either used or come across at thrift stores, and two, I am recommending books that I have read and enjoyed or profited from. If someone buys a book that we are selling we will obviously profit from it, but additionally, if someone buys a book that I recommend through the online shop, we will receive a commission.

If you are interested in buying one of the books we are offering, Amazon.com will usually offer to sell you a "new" copy. Ours though, are listed in the "used" category, and our seller name is PATHLESSTRAVELEDBOOKS. Other vendors may be offering the same book for a lower price, and if you would rather choose that one, please don't feel obligated to buy from us!

I love the fact that I get to put all my years of recreational reading to use, as well as being able to pass on my favorites to others! We'll still have to see how it turns out, but I am looking forward to it.






p.s. we may be doing a few other little "new ventures", and we will keep you posted. :)

quote to ponder, pictures after the storm

"By praying for our husbands and looking to the Lord rather than to our circumstances, we trust Him to carry both our husband and his burden. Then from the overflow of our hearts, we can give back to and encourage our men." -shaunti feldhahn, For Women Only