We just got back from a Fall Break trip to Nashville to visit my sister Jenny and family
…PLUS sister Katie and family were able to come too.
We had about 40 hours together, the 14 of us, which was short, but deeply cherished.
Here is a quick glimpse. I had a lot of time on the plane ride home so I went a little collage-crazy here...
Cousin time was totally priceless. Jenny brought us to an amazing pumpkin patch that has officially ruined all pumpkin patches, ever. I wished I was a kid. It was a joy to watch our 8 play together.
And little Lydia…all I can say is, she fits like a glove, just one of the gang. We are blessed to call her family, blessed she belongs to this crew. It is almost impossible to imagine that a year ago she was a cute mystery on a tiny photo. We love you Liddy Lou! We can't imagine our family without you!
We enjoyed spending time in Jenny and John's huge backyard and wonderful home, which they (mostly John) have transformed one room at a time over the past couple years. HGTV should have filmed it.
Perhaps my favorite memory from the trip was sitting on Jenny's screened porch one night with my sisters, bundled in blankets, and reading Tina Fey's Bossypants out loud, laughing until we cried.
We had San Diego daytime temperatures, and some beautiful Fall color was just starting.
THE TREES! Oh, how I love the trees! The little taste of Fall filled me up.
More cousin pictures.
I am certain that the sibling affection between us sisters trickles directly down to our kiddos. Feel the love.
Lenny and Jenny Designs got a last minute spot at the
Franklin Pumpkin Fest so we had the bonding experience of helping them set up their stuff (late at night) and visiting them in their tent (all day). They sold lots, made great money, and learned that people really LOVE Nashville (because the Nashville signs were the big sellers of the day). Click the link above for their Etsy shop.
After Katie and fam headed home we had an extra day and half with the Leiningers.
We enjoyed a neighborhood walk, a beautiful drive (where I almost hit a deer), a trip to the Nashville Zoo (where you can pet kangaroos - how cool is that!?!), and got to celebrate John and Micah's birthdays.
For years I have focused on how sad I am that I don't live by my sisters, and all that we could be experiencing if we lived closer and could live daily life together. But recently I realized I needed to change my focus and instead be simply, and profoundly, THANKFUL. Thankful that I have not one, but two sisters who are my best friends, who married awesome men, who are wonderful mommies, who are women I admire and look up to and so thoroughly enjoy. I try to just stop there now. All is a gift. Truly.
Maybe our relationships are so good because we miss each other and can't see each other enough. Maybe if we lived near each other we would have calendars filled with family events and little time or need for friends. Maybe the depth of each of our local and church communities and friendships in IL, TN, and CA is a special byproduct of NOT living near family. Who knows? But maybe.
Like a friend of mine says, "I choose thankful."
Yes, I do.
