A beautiful fall day

I love the fall. No matter that a cold winter will follow I love the fall. The cool nights, the crisp air, the crunch of leaves under your feet, the beautiful array of colors brought on by the changing of leaves, pumpkins, apple butter, new crisp apples, and now even football!

My heart is heavy today. I am a lone Mohegan for 10 days. For the first time in my recent memory my family has gathered on the west coast and I am here on the east coast, not with them. A very sad feeling. But I have made commitments and connections that I must honor. Still I am sad and lonely and wishing I could share in the family memories, fun, grins and giggles. Wonder if I am even missed, wonder what everyone is doing, imagine the love and stories I am missing out on. Hope I cam be connected via phone and photos soon.

Tim is on a 3 week break and I am honored, proud and ecstatic to report he once again has attained a 4.o for his 4 classes this semester! Thus he still has a 4.0 at Strayer University! So the pressure deepens for him as he sets forth in October to take 4 more classes this fall. Then 2 classes in the winter and he will finish and start the full time job of finding a job!

My favorite photo of David and Will

A very good Dad, and very sweet Will.

Today is the day!

Now I can see why it has been over a month since we have heard from the Groves! I don't have 4 children and I cannot get to this every day! Imagine the chaos of those who do have 4+ children who manage to entertain us daily. I am beginning to appreciate Bethany more and more.
So I have my 2 books for vacation reading, though when I think I am going to read I don't know cause I'll be with family and don't want to miss out on any juicy gossip, family or otherwise!
I am finally reading the Twilight book (I've seen the movie, actually I bought it, I did not see it in the theater) But wanted to see what the big deal is. I liked the movie, and the books are usually better so thought I'd start, then I won't have to wait till the next movie comes out to see what happens next. Although all I have to do is sign into Holly's blog and there it is first thing how many more days.......till the next movie.
And Holly has a Christmas count down. It's less than 3 months for those of you without children or access to Holly's countdown blog pages.
The other book is the Shack, given to me by Vickie Snider whos brother was killed by the sniper here in DC. Also Tim's best friend. My Mom and Kate have read it, I started it with Tim, but he has lost interest. So, I'll finish it.
I could not get one of Bethany's book club books, so I'll have to read double time upon my return to the east coast.
So I am off to Portland today with Mom, Kate and Karen. There better not be anything wrong with this plane, or we will have many sad families.

It always seems OK to be gone from my husband for 10 days when I am planning a vacation that he is not going on, but the reality of it is not so fun. He makes me laugh and I love him so. I will miss him.

I am not done packing, and I have to squeeze my clothes into my carry on as my whole big suitcase is filled with goodies for the girls (great neices) out there........

Can't wait to see my skinny sister Holly.......and all the Mike Kestner family still in the Vancouver area. WAAAAAAAAA HOOOOOOOO Vacation!