Greece

 Long post alert!  On May 19 Mike and I headed to Greece with our church group which just also happened to include my sister, niece and my dearest friends, Mary and Shannon, who are more like family.  It was a trip of a lifetime.  I remember before we left our pastor's wife, Sara, told us that we would spend weeks processing everything that we saw and we'd be overwhelmed by all of it.  She couldn't have been more right.  This post will probably be all over the place b/c I'm still wrapped up in so much emotion from Greece.  It was humbling to walk where the Apostle Paul was.  God used his heart and placed him in Greece where he courageously shared the Gospel.  He was imprisoned, beaten and yet kept on.  He spent 18 mos in Cornith as a tent maker.  I was moved to tears when Pastor Baker and our greek speaking tour guide, Evi, read 1 Corinthians 13 together.  Mike would read a verse in english, Evi a verse in greek.  It reminded me the Gospel is for everyone, everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ.  I am also incredibly thankful that Mike agreed to go on this trip with me.  Had he not he would have worked himself to the bone while I was gone and would have had no idea what I experienced on this trip.  Instead we experienced it together and Mike was his best self.  He was actually a joiner on this trip and had people in gales of laughter for much of the trip.  He loved seeing all the old archaeological sites.  I really can't say enough about this trip.  I loved every second of it.  

Below is a brief run down of our days in Greece

Day 1 - Thessaioniki, a visit to church of St. Demetrius, we traveled to Kavala (where Paul first landed in Europe).  We went to Philippi (where Paul and Silas were arrested, flogged and imprisoned for causing a public nuisance).  We also went to the site where Lydia was baptized.  Lydia was the first person baptized in Europe.  

Day 2 - Archaeological site of Vergina in Central Macedonia.  Visited the Royal tomb of King Phillip. We went to Beria.  We checked into our hotel that night in Kalambaka

Day 3 - This was one of my favorite days.  We visited a monastery and the rock formations were breath taking.  Truly, I can't put into words how beautiful and majestic it was.  All I kept thinking was God is SO big and I am SO small.  

Day 4 - We left Kalambaka and headed to Delphi.  That night we left for Athens

Day 5 - Panathenian Stadium which was quite a hike but worth it.  Mars Hill where Paul taught about the "unknown God" (Acts 17).  A view of the Agora, the ancient marketplace of pubic life.  We visited the Acropolis and the magnificent Parthenon. 

Day 6 - Athens  and Cornith.  I loved Cornith.  Paul was a tentmaker in Cornith for 18 months.  

These pics are in no certain order.  In fact this picture was taken on the last night but I find it fitting that it posted first because these are my people.  I am so blessed by all of them and to vacation with them as a family of believers was wonderful.  We laughed together and grew in our knowledge and love of Christ.  (left to right: John, Mary, Lauren, Kim, Shannon, Shizuko, me and Mike)

                                    John and Mike at the Parthenon in Athens

Plato, our bus driver and Evi, our tour guide.  These two were the absolute best.  I was amazed by all things Greece but Plato's driving abilities came a very close second.  Evi's knowledge and kindness were amazing. 

Lauren, Kim and I at the Meteora Monasteries.  The views were unbelievable.  Just gorgeous.  

Kim turned 47 in Greece. Here she is on her actual birthday. It was a birthday she'll never forget. 

This sweet picture was taken at the Metora Monasteries.  Again, the view.  The pictures don't do it justice. 

These two pictures were taken in Veria (I think) of Paul's tribute.  We got to hear Mike preach which was another blessing.  

Bubbles made the trip too.  We had a lot of laughs from people seeing Bubbles pop out of Mike's back pack.  It wouldn't be a trip without Bubbles. 

                 A view of Kavala.  We also had gorgeous weather the entire week! 

Mary took this picture of me leaning over at the place of Lydia's baptism.  It was surreal to me.  Again it was humbling as a believer to see where she was baptized.  

Thank you Lord for this trip.  Thank you for your hand of protection over us.  Thank you for the Apostle Paul.  Thank you that you are so much bigger than  my human mind can comprend.  Thank you for everything that I saw and experienced.  

Arizona!

Five years ago my company "moved" me from IL to AZ - not physically but work wise.  I started handling claims within the state of AZ.  The huge blessing of that is every so often I get to go to AZ and this trip just happened to fall on Faith's 25th birthday.  I was able to spend the afternoon with her.  We got pedicures and went to a cocktail bar.  We had a great time together and it was such a blessing for both of us.    

 When I go on these work trips I get to stay at Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.  It is hands down the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in.  It was designed by the late Frank Lloyd Wright and it is elegant and unique and just a wonderful experience.  Although I wouldn't want to live in AZ, I sure like to visit!  

51

Family is truly one of God's greatest blessings.  May is the month where the weather improves and the sun shines.  It's the month where I start to shed the long sleeved shirts and jeans.  It's also Mother's Day and my birthday.  On Friday night Mike and I hosted John and Judy and family.  The picture above isn't great but we had 13 people for dinner.  After dinner we retreated to the patio where we laughed together some more.  I truly love hosting a big crowd in my home.  My boys were there, along with their girlfriends.  Kim and family also came with John's brother, Steve.  It was a great night.  

John is back from another winter in Florida and when he came home he brought his fiancee, Judy.  John met Judy at the dog park and Judy has taking a liking to not only John but his deranged dog, Morgan.  I say that with kindness.  John's dog is just not very friendly - just saying.  Anyway I am very happy for John and I really like Judy.  She is full of energy and I truly believe John's very best years are ahead of him.  I am looking forward to spending more time with them as the years go by.   

Meet Hannah.  Jay has been seeing Hannah since early March.  In fact their first date was on my mom's birthday, March 2.  They are a sweet couple and Jay is really happy.  

Rylan brought me flowers for Mother's Day.  She recently moved into her own apartment.  

 Speaking of Mother's Day.  Jay and Hannah got me a basket of goodies - a bouquet of flowers, chocolate, a new mug and a candle.  It was so thoughtful.  As I told Hannah I appreciated not only the gifts but the display of how it was wrapped up.  Usually the boys just throw my gifts at me in the amazon package it came in.  It's wonderful having these young women in our family.  

For my birthday I had lunch with mom and Kim and Mike and I went out for pizza that evening.  It was a nice, relaxing day - just the way I like it.  Physically I'm 5 lbs heavier this year and menopause is not a fun experience.  My most annoying symptoms is the brain fog.  I can remember nothing.  If I don't write it down, forget about it.  The other symptom that is really bad is the night sweats.  Poor Mike.  He is sleeping in a wind tunnel.  Every night I put my cooling pad on full blast.  I also sleep with the windows open this time of year and some nights I even have the ceiling fan on.  By morning our room can feel like a frozen tundra.  I still wake up with a sweaty night shirt and Mike has icicles hanging from his nose.  What I love about this season of my life is the relationship I have with my adult sons.  Sure there are challenges with trying to detach myself from them in terms of the fact that they are both adults but still live with us.  They are both good decision makers so for the most part I try to stay in my lane and only offer them input when they ask.  I'm not perfect but I try.  I am looking forward to having more time with Mike, traveling more and hopefully as the years go by the boys will expand our family.  What is hard right now is my body.  Nothing looks or feels the same.  The 5 lbs I've put on feels like 15 lbs.  Even my hair (my greatest feature in my opinion) doesn't look the same.  It's unruly.  Eating protein is my 2nd full time job these days and heaven forbid if I step out and eat too many carbs (like I did this weekend).  I will put weight on just thinking about cards.  My friend, Laura, got me a weighted vest for my birthday which I love but that's where I am at this point in my life - religiously eating protein, trying to tame my hair, washing my pillows and night shirts on a daily basis and walking with a weighted vest to help with muscle and bone density.  The struggle is real.