Look where I've been!

I found this website that let's you make a map of the world that highlights the countries you've visited. It says that I've been to 23 countries, that's 10%. I'm thankful for the 10%, and ready to see the next 90%, well, maybe only the next 85%. There are some countries I think I'd like to skip. :)

Here's my list:

USA!, Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Vatican City, Romania, Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and Australia.

What's next? Maybe Africa? Eric?

Squealing!

Last night Eric, Parker, and I went to Atlantic Station. It has your typical Christmas decorations for an outdoor mall: snowflake lights hanging over the streets and a large Christmas tree in the center square. All of the families start to gather in the square around 7pm to wait for the snow. Atlantic Station provides fake snow during the holidays. We waited in anticipation for the "big snow" to fall on our heads. At 7:30pm we heard the machines cranking up and then... these little bubbles started to barely puff over us. I was SO disappointed! It didn't even look like snow. But, then I looked down at Parker. He was standing with his arms wide open, face to the sky, squealing with delight. Taking a cue from him, I opened my arms, turned my face to the sky, and squealed too. We danced and danced in the snow.

It makes me think about those things that have made me squeal in the past. :) I think about walking on the Vaci in Budapest, seeing the Roman Coliseum, watching my parents leave as they dropped me off at college, and waiting to walk down the aisle to marry Eric. (Just to name a few.) Last night at Atlantic Station was Parker's Budapest and Parker's Coliseum.

I hope to continue to squeal with my son and husband, and daughter one day. I hope to give them experiences, not so that they can hang on to the past, but so that they can look forward to the future.

Just curious, what makes you squeal? Please leave a comment.

Stop And Smell The Roses

I was shopping at the mall alone on Tuesday. As I was walking down the mall corridor, I realized that I hadn't been in any stores in over 20 minutes. Think about it. When you go to the mall, you go from store to store without taking a break, unless you're buying that coffee or diet coke to get you through the rest of your shopping outing. I thought to myself, "What have I been doing for 20 minutes?" I had stared at the ornaments on the big tree, watched the kids line up to see Santa, played with the helicopter that the man in the center of the mall was trying to sell to me, and had to run to the bathroom from laughing so hard when someone walked into the display in front of me. That's when I realized that THIS is what I've been missing.

I feel like the last several years of my life have just been "go, go, go..." I have many things to write on my work resume, community service resume, and travel resume from the past few years. But, when did I stop and ENJOY the world around me?

I quit my job in October. I LOVED my job. I still LOVE my old job, and most days wish that I could get it back or that it somehow would've worked out for me. I quit because I needed to quit. Eric kept saying that things with me needed to change. I wasn't having fun, or being fun. And, I knew it too.

And, so, I wonder today, if I might be getting back a little more of myself. I wonder how spending all day with a one year old is making life more purposeful and more enjoyable. I wonder how my day was fulfilled by watching the sparking lights on the Christmas tree in the mall. I wonder what made me dance around with Parker when he through cheerios all over the carpet. I wonder what the future holds...

This week I saw a glimpse of the old me. And, I think I'm going to be enjoying a little more of the world around me.


"Taste and see that the Lord is good."

The Pink Pig

Everyone in or around Atlanta must ride The Pink Pig at some point in their lives. Preferably, at a point when you are small, because the ride itself is small. We took Parker to ride the PP last week. I was so excited to ride it with him. I remember as a child, going to the top of Rich's downtown to ride the pig. I don't think Parker will remember. Yet. Here's a pic of Eric and Parker's first ride. Are they enjoying it?