Ticket In Hand - Ready to Fly

Morocco here I come!!!

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Laurie/Morocco Update #1

Kids and I dropped Laurie off at O'Hare with no problems - we stayed for awhile, but once they went thru security there's not a lot to do, so we headed out. (Can't even get anything to eat or drink anywhere without a ticket).

They ran into a slight delay while checking luggage and getting boarding passes - one of the girls was not listed on the airline's (Iberian Airlines) records. The group leader (Bill) had her info though, so when they called the airlines main offices they showed record of her flying that matched the group leader's info - so they created a ticket for her. They're not sure why her name wasn't showing up on their computers at check-in, but all ended well. Laurie, the kids and I did great saying good-bye :-)

We're sitting at the O'Hare Oasis having a quick bite from McD's (kids choice) before heading on home. Looks like rain in Bloomington... Hopefully our empty pool will still be in our yard... I emptied it last night to clean it out.

As excited as I am for Laurie to be going on this trip to Morocco, it was a strange feeling leaving the airport without her knowing I won't see her for 12-days. There's going to be a lot of neat experiences over the next two weeks that will possibly change her life, her outlook, her opinions, her views, her values, her goals. I'm excited for her because I look back at my trip to the Amazon three years ago and remember what I experienced. We've both been on missions trips before, so we know the great and awesome things that can happen... For others and for yourself.

Our prayers will be with her constantly over the next 12-days and I'm excitedly looking forward to her return and to hear her "Laurie stories."

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Thoughts from the Front Porch

I don't really spend much time just "writing" on my blog anymore... Seems like it's become more of a photo blog than anything. Some of that is because I've been busier the last couple of months due to work, but also I've noticed that I use Twitter as a "thought communicator" where I use to use blog entries to that more. I'm going to make an attempt at writing more over the next few weeks and not just post photos.

I've been sitting on my front porch for over an hour now while we received a nice rain... Slept in a little but I always like to sit out here in the morning, especially when it's raining. Hearing the rain on the trees and on our front awning always reminds me of Brazil and my Amazon trip in 2006. Hmmmm... A desire to return continues in me.

Laurie leaves for Morocco on Friday... The kids and I are helping to take the group up to O'Hare - that's going to be a day full of mixed emotions. I'm VERY excited for Laurie and the experience that she will have, but will feel empty without her here. No fears or worries or doubts on my part for her... I feel totally awesome about her going and am excited for her - Just sadness of not having her here. Laurie is my best friend, my co-partner, my "other half" and my love. She makes me feel complete... I will feel incomplete until she returns.

The kids and I will have fun. Though... They'll only be here with me until Wednesday, June 24th. On that day I hand them over to my parents for a few days. Then we move them to Laurie's parents on Sunday, June 28th - they'll come home the same day Laurie returns... Wednesday, July 1st.

Andrew has had some concern about Laurie's trip to Morocco... Not the flight (we've kept them from hearing/seeing anything about the recent Air France crash), but her safety in Morocco. We've had a few good talks about it and he's feeling much better. Savannah... Well, she's been just fine with her mommy leaving.... Not sure what that really means, but I'm sure she'll have a few sad moments - especially in the evenings.

Ok... It's stopped raining and I have a full day planned. More tropical plants to install at a house, as well as several shrubs to remove to create another tropical garden by installing 50 bromeliads (Yes, bromeliads). I also have a perennial bed restoration project to work on for a new customer.

The wind is picking up a little, which is not my friend when trying to plant... Hoping for a productive and positive day.

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Gardening With Daddy

Sphagnum Mossing Day

I LOVE making these large hanging containers every year for a customer... I line them with sphagnum moss, thrill (centerpiece) with pink mandevilla, fill with new gold lantana and spill with amythyst scaevola and margarite sweet potato vine. If I may say so myself, it's pretty awesome looking by July :-)

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Elmo t-shirt

I love this t-shirt of Laurie's...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Savannah's 1st grade class at Bent Elementary performed "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" a couple of weeks ago... they did an EXCELLENT job!!! Savannah had the part of the white bunny named "Buck." The last photo is of Savannah and Mrs. Koch, her 1st grade teacher... Savannah has had a wonderful year and owes it all to Mrs. Koch.

Mother's Day Picnic & Fishing

Boys Will Be Boys

Dipping My Toe Into "Girl-Time"

Andrew was a little disturbed when he saw that I joined in "girl-time" with Laurie and Savannah while he was gone last Friday night... can you tell which big toe is mine?

I explained to Andrew that I am comfortable enough with my masculinity that I can allow my feminine side (or toe, in this instance) to show sometimes. :-)

Girl-Time

Laurie and Savannah had some "girl-time" together the other night while Andrew had a sleep-over at a friend's house... can you tell who did whose makeup? 

Mister Tumnus