Is this the reason I have the travel-bug?

 Why do I want to travel?

Why do feel an urge to explore different countries?

Why does my heart skip a beat when I hear people talk about Paris and London?

Why does the thought of a car trip to a new destination excite me?

Why do I daydream of Irish castles and Scottish hills?

Why can't I just be happy with where I am?

^^^^^These questions have been bugging me for a while. At first, I didn't really have an answer. Then, I truly thought about it......and came to this conclusion: it's because of Mom-mom.

For those of you who don't know, Mom-mom was my dad's mom. She died of cancer on January 1st, 2010. She was an amazing woman, full of love for her family and Jesus. Her laugh was contagious, her smile warm and gentle. She was funny, too, and always had a new story to tell.

She also loved to travel.

When I was little and before she got sick, Mom-mom and Pop {my step-grandpa} would take vacations to all sorts of places. And no matter where she went, Mom-mom always made sure to bring something back for me.

Russia: Matryoshka nesting dolls and a necklace
Hawaii: shell necklace and hula outfit
London: A little doll that looks like a guard at Buckingham palace
Holland: A wee pair of wooden clogs on a keychain
Jamaica: A soft little doll
Germany: A necklace that has German lace in it
France: A minature replica of the Eiffel Tower

All these items have a special place in my heart. And not just because they were brought back from different countries......because Mom-mom picked each item out speficically for me.

As she started to get more sick, my family spent a lot of time at her house. She recounted each vacation she and Pop took. Finally, I asked her to write down all the places she had been around the world. She smiled and said that she would have a list in a few days.

Sure enough, by our next visit, Mom-mom had written down every country she had traveled too. As I ran my finger down all the names, I made a promise to myself: Someday, I would walk in Mom-mom's footsteps and go everywhere she had gone.

A few months later, Mom-mom had gone to join Jesus. For quite a while, the things I missed most were her laugh and hugs. Then, in the back of my mind, I remembered something:

Whenever she returned from a trip, Mom-mom would say to me, "I cannot wait until you are older and you can join me and Pop on a trip!" I would get so excited and be like, "Yeah, me neither! I wonder where we'll go?"

This is what I miss most about Mom-mom: the chance to travel the world with her, to experience all sorts of new sights with her. I'll never eat with her in a Parisian cafe, or take pictures of Big Ben, or look at the beauty of Ireland together.

So I think that is why I have such an urge to travel: because of what Mom-mom and I never got to do together. And because of that promise I made that night, that I would indeed walk in her footsteps.

Maybe in the new Heaven and the new earth, we'll have different countries. I hope so, for I really don't want to miss out on an adventure with Mom-mom......an adventure we never got to take here on earth.

Day 26: You're not seriously asking me this?!?

I would definitely say I had {and am having} a happy childhood. With caring friends and family, I was never far from love or fun. Ah, there are so many things that come to mind for today!!!

Day Twenty-Six: A childhood memory

When I was little, one of my favorite places to be was Mom-mom's house. It was always an adventure going there, for you never knew what snacks Mom-mom would have or what new toys would 'magically' appear in the basement. The best times there, though, would have to be with the rest of our family.



Pictured, from left to right: Chris, me, Owen, and Emma

 Ah....such good times were had at that creek, right behind Mom-mom's house. Even in the winter and fall we would trundle down there just to see if it was frozen or not. And in the summer and spring the wading was fantastic!!! Of course, there was poison ivy......but somehow we managed to avoid it. (:

I don't know if this memory is of the creek, Mom-mom's house in general, or just times spent with my family. But I do know that I would give anything to have those moments back again, just being a little kid.
Isn't it funny how, looking back, we realize how special those simple times were? Wading in the creek, watching cartoons in the basement, playing on the carport----at age nine, I never would have thought those seemingly normal moments would make such an impact on my life.

I hope that, in Heaven, we'll have something that gives us a good look back at memories....'cause I don't ever want to lose the pictures I have in my mind and in my heart.

Day 14: I wanna go there!!!!!!!!!

Wow....today is a definite challenge!!!!!! I dream of traveling the world, and visiting so many different places...but I promise I'll just choose one.

Day Fourteen: A vacation you'd like to take

I love to travel to different places, see new things, and expereince new and cool stuff. So, if I could take a vacation anywhere, it would definitely be to England and the British Isles.

I want to visit Big Ben,

the Parliment building,

one of these sweet telephone booths,

and Old Trafford.

Oh yeah, and driving along an Irish road,

and by a Scottish castle wouldn't be so bad either.

So, um, if any of my beautiful, dear, wonderful followers would like to send me on a vacation to the British Isles.....you know where to find me. *wink wink*

Love always,

Lily? Who is she? Do I know a blogger by that name?

Uh, well, I certainly hope you weren't thinking the same as my title says!!!! After all, I've only been 'gone' for a roughly a week! But oh, how it feels to be back at blogging again! I have to say, being away from my blog and bloggy buddies has certainly been trying. But at the same time, it was rather nice to just step away from the computer and......chill. I got some quality reading in {post on that coming soon}, watched a few movies, and prayed my way through the Pittsburgh Steelers game {VERY tense post on that coming ;)}.

So yes, my little computer-break was rather fruitful. Though, I must admit: winter is taking a strain on my nerves!!! All this cold, bleak weather, and not a snowflake in sight! I could probably bear it better with some snow or something.....but God does know best. So, I'll just trust in Him and keep wishing and dreaming of spring.

While this may not be my home, it is a beautiful picture of Ireland. And, with that, I bid you all good-day. ;)

Love you all,

~Lily
ps--Have I mentioned how much I missed you, my dear followers, and how much I love you all?!? Well, now you know. (:

30 Days of Me: Day 6 & 7

I missed yesterday, so I'm doubling up today!!!

Day 06 - A picture of someplace I've been and a story behind that picture.

I took this picture in Williamsburg, back in 2009. It is from the gardens behind the Governor's Palace. We chose Historic Williamsburg that day over the beach (the boys weren't too excited about that!).
The walkway in the background is made of crushed seashells, which I thought was really cool. Anyway, there's the little story behind this picture!!

Day 07 - What my favorite book, movie, tv show, and artist are, along with why I like them.

Okay, this is really hard. I have so many favorites from the above categories! So I'm just randomly picking some of my favorites. :)

Favorite book: Witch of Blackbird Pond
I like this book because of how spunky and courageous Kit is, and how everyone ends up happily ever after in the end (oh  yeah, and because Nat is awesome!!!).

Favorite movie: Rear Window and That Thing You Do
I like Rear Window because of the plot/suspense, and because of Grace Kelly's outfits (breathtaking). That Thing You Do is great because of the song (so bouncy) and the character are hilarious.

Favorite TV show: White Collar
I like this show because the plot is really good and the characters are really witty. And no, Mozzie is not dead!

Favorite Music Artist/Band: My favorite artist would be Britt Nicole, and band......Tenth Avenue North, Stellar Kart, and Newsboys.
Britt Nicole has fun, bouncy lyrics and a great sense of style. I cannot really choose a favorite band: Each of the above performs my favorite songs! So, they will just have to stay a tie. :)

Feel free to answer these questions yourselves!

Love,



Friday already?

Goodness, I cannot believe it's almost the weekend! Busy one ahead for us......
 But now, onto my recap!

My Weekly Recap

It's stuck in my head: 'How Many Kings' by downhere

Highlight of my week: Having the weather be in the glorious 70's!

Gotta frame it:

The view from Old Main at Bethany College. One of my favorite photography locations!

My lesson for the week: The term, 'ladies first' isn't always a good rule to live by----especially when you and your brothers have to get blood drawn and you (the lady) have to go first.

This about sums up my week: Interesting and cool

I'll remember it forever: My favorite preschoolers at the gym dancing to some random techno music. I wish I could have gotten a video----they were so cute!

Psalm of the week:

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 84:10-11

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Love,

Williamsburg!!!!!!

I love Williamsburg.
It's one of my favorite places on earth: Right behind Disney World and home. =)

So anyway, it was a fun weekend. We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa at their timeshare, and our cousin Ryan even got to stay!!!!! It was really fun to have him around........the boys are in such awe of him (as am I).

I didn't take that many pictures this weekend, just some random and weird ones. Enjoy!
Oh yeah, and the pictures are slightly out of order. Still trying to figure that out. :)

The stupid, sticky, very annoying blue ball the boys played with all weekend.

Can ya tell where we had lunch on Independence Day?

I was rather bored after the meal.........

As you can tell.


Owen is such a goofball. :D

And a drama king. Don't you love his shirt?

Yes, those are cassete tapes on his shirt. Don't ask.

A funky lamp.

Owen took this one from under the lamp.

What I thought was the quintessential French Fry.

Where the quintessential french fry used to be, until Aiden ate it.

Mom and I love this sign! Wish we had one.

Crayons. I miss Crayola. :(

What did the fork say to the knife?

My, don't you look sharp!

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA.........yeah. Not that funny, I know.

Me and Aiden trying to act out the aforesaid joke.

A delicious looking desert.

I really wanted the Oreo Madness. However, we were all too full.

But doesn't it just look delicious????

What a seasoned couple.

hahahahahahahahhahah............not funny? Humph.

The view from my seat.

Can you see the sign? If not, it says, "Nobody gets in to see the Wizard. Not no one, not no how."

A picture on our menu. I loved the faces these people were making!

Boba Fett and C-3PO. Or, at least, their heads.

Slightly gorish, don't ya think?

Ah----------my brother Aiden drinking with two straws.

Gotta love brothers!

I was trying to take a picture of this lovely ketchup bottle...........and instead got a bright ketchup bottle with two fingers from my brother. Sigh.

This picture really didn't turn out well. It's a potato skin, with sour cream. Hmmm.

Those are about half of the pictures I took. I'll post more tomorrow-----schoolwork calls!

Love,