July 3 - Back in Texas

We love how we're spending this portion of our life, exploring new places, meeting new people and spending so much time on the water. But it comes with a price that seems impossible to pay sometimes...we're missing things at home and precious time with our family. We definitely feel like we're pulled in two directions.

This week we are home catching up with all our loved ones. Hopefully absorbing all the love we can...so we won't miss them as much when we return to the boat.

Our first stop, after landing in Austin on Monday, was Temple. Kyle, our oldest son, had a few days off, so we spent yesterday just hanging out and catching up. Unfortunately Bryt had to work, but we did get to enjoy a wonderful evening with her. Her energy and enthusiasm for life rejuvenates me. We love spending time with both of them.

We will head home today. We have a lot more people to catch up with...parents, siblings and friends. As wonderful as they are, we really are looking forward to seeing Eric, Courtney and our precious granddaughter. Tomorrow is baby-squeezing time! Our little one will be a year old next week...to us this year has flown by and it seems impossible that she has grown so quickly. Saturday she'll be the center of attention as we all celebrate her birth. Children are wonderful, but you're too busy being parents to absorb the true wonder of these little beings. As grandparents you have time to be amazed at how "grand" the truly are.

Kyle has become a wonderful cook...dinner was great.