...a much needed visit...

my sister came for a visit last week.

i love my sister. she is beautiful and hilarious and would give you the shirt off her back...so long as you don't annoy the crap out of her.

i hadn't seen my sister in four years. the last time she came this way was a couple of months before my grandmother passed away. and...even though that trip was anchored in sadness, we still found ourselves cracking each other up.
that's just how we roll.

she couldn't have come at a better time. school was closed for the week because of the conference in kirksville, mo, so we had all day, every day to spend together. i did have two extra little ones with me (d & b went to the conference and only took miles) but they were as good as gold and so excited to be getting the chance to spend so much time with nicole.

it was a great 3 and 1/2 days. but...it was only 3 and 1/2 days.
3 and 1/2 days is not enough time to cover 4 years.
we reminisced. told new stories. recounted old memories. made new ones.
it still wasn't enough time together.
not even close.

when it was time to say good-bye, ethan hugged my sister and cried. bawled really. he was not ready to see his new friend go. audrey, who was also not coping with nicole's impending departure, sat on the stoop next to my mother, chin in her hands and cried, quietly.

this expression of love was almost too much for nicole and i to handle. we, too, sobbed as we held each other and said good-bye.

i'm tired of always having to say good-bye.
so is she.

audrey is praying for nicole and bob to come here and live with us. of course, she won't settle for just living in the same town. she's trying to pray them into our house. because "if nikki lives at my house then she can play with me all the day".

how precious is that girl?
too...and very.

so...if you're looking for something to pray about, you can put that at the top of your list - a way for my sister and brother-in-law to be able to move out here. jobs. a home. whatever it takes.

things i'm grateful for today:

#41 - family

#42 - nicole marinelli-dunham
#43 - bob dunham
#44 - sharing old memories
#45 - making new memories
#46 - autumn is officially here - yay!
#47 - the return of long sleeve shirts, jackets and hoodies
#48 - comfy new shoes - i bought this grey pair last week and have worn them every day since

#49 - afternoons spent outside

...that turn into evenings spent outside...

#50 - hanging out under a shade tree


seriously....new best friends