Homecoming

I think most travel bloggers have a folder of photos to use in those random posts when you're not sharing a place but maybe something else.  Something that doesn't lend itself to the perfect photograph.  These gorgeous peonies came from that folder of random photos.  Because how do you photograph the end of a marriage?  That's probably way too blunt, but I just need to write this post. I need to put it out there so that I can move on with this blog.  And with life. 

My Sweet Boys

So much has been going on since I last posted in early May.  I don't want to get into the details today, but a lot of changes have been happening. I feel like I'm now on the other side (literally and figuratively) so it's time to start blogging again! First things first, I want to show you my grandbabies.  I was in Texas in May for two giggle-filled weeks.  Of course, I took a gajillion photos because just look at those faces!

Christmas with the Grandbabies

Yep, I'm going to be one of those grandmas.  Because the  39 photos that you saw in my last post just weren't enough, I have a whole bunch more.  I realize that most of you might have little interest, so I promise to get back to more bloggy stuff next week.  But, for today it's Christmas with the grandbabies. 

Those Grandbabies of mine!

Like most bloggers, I'm trying to get this blog buzzin' again for the new year.  I still have several trips to write about so I've been editing photos and planning posts.  Of course, I'm working on one of those What We Did last Year and What We Wanna Do This Year posts.  It just has to be done.  But, first I just have to tell you about my two sweet grandbabies!  I was so excited to become a grandma (or Gigi as I'm called) but I mean... I had no idea the piercing love that I would have for these little nuggets.  It's indescribable, really.  So let me show off some photos from my recent visit and tell you just a little bit about them both. 

Happy 1st Birthday, Michael!!!

Look who's turning one year old today!!  My sweet grandson Michael is.  I can't believe it has been a year already.  He is the most gorgeous thing ever.  My sweet Booboo just melts my heart.  We chat on FaceTime and he always gives me the most beautiful smile.  

I can't even put into words what it feels like to be a grandma.  It's like my child Jessica is the most perfect prism.  My pure white love shines straight into her.  My love for Michael is the bright multi-colored light that shines from that prism.   It's all brightness and light and I feel it in my core. 

Sorry to get all deep, but it's just the most precious gift.  Thank you, Sugar Bear, for making me a Gigi.  Happy Birthday, Michael!  I love you both more than words can say.  And to think there is another sweet little boy in our future!!

Happy Birthday, Michael!  I love you!!!

Love, 

Gigi

Life Lately

I'm back.  No, really.  This time I really am back.  I'm finally done with that crazy, daily 4 hour commute to London!  If you follow me on social media, I apologize for all of the ranting.  I can't even tell you how happy I am to be done with that.  My coworkers, I will miss.  That commute, not so much.  Here's a quick little update on what we've been up to lately.

Bring on the New Year!

I've never been one to wrap up a year in a little box and label it before I put it away.  I'll do a quick recap as any a blogger must but I don't look back on my life by years.  My past is catalogued by events and memories, the years just seem to run together.  But for 2015, I have the strong urge to put parenthesis around it, take a good, hard look at it and give it a firm send off. 

Happy Thanksgiving from Texas

I'm in Texas for the first Thanksgiving in four years!  I'm only here for a week but I thought it was time for a family holiday and I needed to get my hands on that grandbaby of mine. I spent two days in Austin with my mom and step-dad, two days in New Braunfels with my dad and brother and the rest of the family.  Then I drove the six hours to Odessa in East Texas to visit Jessica, Johnny and Michael.  They just moved here a month ago for work and they're getting all settled into their new home.  

Welcome, Sweet Grandson!!

I'm back in London and if you follow along on Instagram you know that I'm now Gigi to the most beautiful little boy that ever was!  Welcome to the world, Michael!

Garden Beauties and a Life Update

You'll never guess where I'm writing this.  Well, actually you probably will.  I'm in Texas!  I was supposed to fly home on August 8th and stay for three weeks.  But as the birth of my first grand baby approached, the possibility of not being here for the birth took over my thoughts.  All signs point to this baby coming early and I had to get here.

Our Family Road Trip Wrap Up

I can't tell you the number of road trips I've taken with this guy.   Philip is younger than me by four years.  We would pile into the car and spend the next 8 hours playing "Mom, he's looking at me!", "Her foots on my side!", "Dad, are we there yet?", "I have to pee!" and that old classic "She's touching me!"   We were always pretty adept at tormenting each other.

Our road trip from the UK to Ireland, Scotland and back last year was much of the same.  This time I got smart and claimed car sickness which meant I got the front seat!  It brought back so many memories of traveling together as children.  It was so great to spend a whole week with my brother, my dad and my husband.  My three favorite guys.  Im certain they all still love me, in spite of putting them through that road trip.

I don't have my UK drivers license, so Matt had to do all of the driving.  It was a lot of driving.  (What was I thinking?)  Matt loves my family, but we're a pretty odd bunch which I'll be the first to admit.  After a week in the car with the three of us, he took on this stunned expression. 

I'm sad this is my last post about our epic Too Much Road Trip with stops in Dublin and the Great Mounds in Ireland,  Belfast and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, then over to Scotland and the Trossachs, the Highlands, and Balmoral Castle. 

Of course we had to visit Loch Ness, we grew up on those legends. The freshwater loch extends for about 23 miles so we drove along it for quite awhile.  We were in search of the perfect place for my brother to jump in.  He really wanted to swim in the loch, but it was a cold, rainy day.  He was easily talked out of taking a dip. Alas, no sign of Nessie.

As we were driving along, I shouted "Castle!"  Matt knows it's futile to resist.  I can't pass up a castle.  This one was the Urquhart Castle in Drumnadrochit.  It was built between the 13th through 16th centuries and the ruins are now one of the most visited in Scotland. 

We bypassed Inverness and turned South towards the Cairngorms National Park.  We spent a memorable night in Aviemore at the charming Cairngorm Hotel.  There were bagpipes, live Scottish music, whisky and a ton of laughter.  The next day we continued south driving through the Cairngorm National Park which spans over 1,500 square miles in central Scotland.  Hours and hours of spectacular views, although there may have been a few naps that day.

Scotland is breathtaking.  I just sat back and took it all in.  There is no chance that I was going to capture it with a camera.  But all I have to do is close my eyes and I can see it.  The clouds move slowly across the landscape changing the light which reflects off patches of color.  It's like looking through a kaleidoscope.

I'm just dying to know the stories behind this house with the star shaped wall surrounding it. You get the sense that Scotland is just full of stories.  You can almost feel them swirling around you, stories of heroes and battles, intrigue and love.  I've obviously spent too much time reading the Outlander series.   

In the afternoon, we came across a guy paragliding.  Or he attempting to paraglide but things were not going his way and he had to keep starting over.  We drove a little further along the valley, pulled over for a stretch and to see if he would make it.  (He didn't.)

Somehow one of us saw some deer hiding in the brush on the other side of the valley.  Can you spot two of them in the photo above?  It was taken with the telephoto lens, I can't believe we spotted them.  Matt took the camera over to the ledge to get a few more photos when he gestured for us to come look.  We had almost missed these beautiful creatures down in the valley. 

They were a distance away and not too disturbed by us.  I think they are red deer.  There is something so exciting about spotting and photographing animals in the wild.  Oh, to be a wildlife photographer.  I could have watched them for hours. 

Our last night on the road was spent in one of my favorite cities, Edinburgh.  Matt and Philip went to explore the castle, while dad and I took a bus tour of the city.  My dad fell in love with Edinburgh, too.  He could quickly imagine himself living there. 

I love the feel of Edinburgh and the people are so open and friendly.  There is a lightness to the city that is a nice change from London. 

Dad then went in search of a nap and I went in search of the guys who were on their way to a whisky tasting. 

I think Philip loved Scotland. The chance to travel with him again like we did when we were kids was a highlight of my time in the UK.  From the day that I arrived on this side of the pond, I've been dying to share some of this with him.  I'm ready for them to come back. 

The next morning it was time to head back to London.  But not before we fulfilled one of Philip's bucket list requests. He wanted to drink a beer on Hadrian's Wall.  So that's exactly what we did.  Cheers, Bubba.

I'm so incredibly thankful to have had that week with my three favorite guys doing what we all love to do... explore.  It was a week of moments that I will treasure for the rest of my life, peppered along with moments of "Dad, he's looking at me!!!"

Who are your favorite road trip companions?

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Jessica & John's Wedding Day

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

I can confirm that after three years it's still the hardest to get through as an expat.

And that's about all I can say about that through this turkey-sized lump in my throat.

Instead, I'm going to show you some photos from the girl-child's wedding day.

It may seem from the photos that there were only a few people there.

That's not the case, there were probably 80 people there.  It was a lovely crowd.

These are not professional or posed photographs.

These were taken by me, Matt and some by my mom.

There were professional photographers there and I can't wait to see what they came up with.

But, this is the wedding through my eyes and the last thing I was worried about

was capturing that perfect shot.

I simply wanted to experience this beautiful day.  Every sweet moment of it.

And like now, these faces were all usually seen through the blur of tears.

But, aren't they beautiful?

There are few things as precious as seeing your daughter in a wedding dress.

Jessica has only ever wanted to be a wife and mother.

For 18 years I tried to convince her of her calling...

to be a teacher, a nurse, a chef.

She will make a wonderful teacher, nurse or cook.

But, from the age of about three, no matter how much I pressed her,

she has only ever wanted to be a wife and mother.
She is now 26 and making her dreams come true.

To see this happen is an absolute joy.

I'm so proud of how she's gone about fulfilling her life's dream.

She waited until she knew she had the perfect partner for her.

We met John just days before the wedding, but we all fell in love with him immediately.

He's easy going with a huge heart and is madly in love with Jessica.

My mom has already claimed him as her grandson.

I'm also proud of the celebration that Jessica and John planned.

It was always about their future together and surrounding themselves with family and friends.

Typical Jessica, honest and straightforward.  No fuss or drama.

They weren't worried about a fancy party.  They just wanted to be married.

The ceremony and reception were at this old general store in Pleasanton, Texas.

Her bridesmaid was her cousin Rebecca, my brother's daughter.

She is as smart as she is beautiful.  You can see she gets it from my sweet sister-in-law Donna.

My momma, Linda.  I have great genes.  You should have seen her and my step-dad Bob on the dance floor.

I guess it was what you'd call a country wedding complete with boots and a branding iron.

Apparently, it's quite the thing.  Michaels and Hobby Lobby both have wedding sections

dedicated to burlap and mason jars.  It was adorable and perfect for Jessie & Johnny.

It's not a Texas wedding without some barbecue and iced tea.

Jessica did all of the flowers herself.  She would also make a fabulous florist.

She gets that skill honestly from her Grandpa Tom, her dad's dad who helped her with the flowers.

The cake was so good.  A friend of the groom's family did a wonderful job.

Jessica tragically lost her aunt Michelle just a few months ago.

Michelle was just 10 when Jess was born and they were always so close.  Unconditional love.

It was so bittersweet for her not to be there in person.  She was so excited for Jessica to get married.

Jessica found several ways to pay tribute to her aunt, including blue toenail polish.
Michelle's daughter, Carissa was at the wedding which was so special.

You'll have to excuse my puffy face, but I think I started crying on Sunday and carried through until the wedding on Wednesday.  But, they were absolutely tears of joy.

I could not have been happier for my sweet baby girl.

She deserves every happiness.

There were a few glitches.   Jessica and I were shopping (for wedding lingerie mind you)

when John texted a photo of his face with a big gash under his eye.

He'd run into some machinery at work.  Those wedding nerves.

Luckily, he was okay.  Then the day before the wedding as we were rushing around

decorating, Jessica dislocated her knee cap!

She's always had wonky joints and it had happened before about 10 years ago.

She spent most of her wedding day on crutches with an ice pack on her knee.

But, she didn't let it slow her down too much.

Her dress was so pretty, lacy and white, knee length so as to show of the boots.

Out behind the general store is this sprawling old live oak tree, which Texas is known for.

Also known as an evergreen oak it's the perfect guardian for sacred vows.

Under this live oak is where Jessica and John pledged to be Mr & Mrs Brymer.

Her dad gave her away, of course.  They've talked about this day since she was just a little thing.

That walk down the aisle was very long, but Jessica was determined not to use crutches.

Then it was all about John and Jessica.

Our family friend, Cassandra, conducted the loveliest wedding ceremony for them.

Simple, sweet and meaningful.  It was exactly what they wanted to say to each other.

As the sun set, Jessica wed John under that big oak tree.

It was one of the most beautiful and moving things I've every experienced.

Later on when we had a quiet minute together, I asked Jessica "What was your favorite moment?"

Her quick and easy answer.  "The ceremony.  Saying our vows."

I only had eyes for her.  She only had eyes for him.

Just as it should be.

You may now kiss your bride and let those dreams start coming true.

Then they danced.  And sang softly to each other.

They kissed again and again.

Family and friends celebrated all of the love.

Momma watched and cried and savored every second.

I was so very thankful to have Matthew there by my side through it all.

Jess even wore penguin socks under her boots because she knows Matt loves 'em.

This is the rest of my brother's family. My wonderful nephew Connor and cuddly niece Morgan.

My dad Gene was there which meant the world to all of us.
My dear friend Leann was there, as well as my sweet friend Paige with her mom, Karen and her boys.
I can't tell you how special it was to see Jess surrounded with such love.

John's family were terrific.  Jessica is an only child and now she's married into this great big family.  She now has three sisters & three brothers in law, six nieces and nephews (with one more on the way) not to mention John's parents and extended family and friends.

I love you, Sugar Bear.  You make the most beautiful bride.
You're going to be an incredible wife.

What's that you ask?  What was my favorite part of the day?

Seeing this look on your face. You've never looked more beautiful, Jessica.

Later in the evening, as everything was being cleared away,

my new son in law asked me to dance.

He said to me "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

All I could think was "me, too."

Happy Thanksgiving.  Cheers to love, light, family and friends.

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