Family

A year from now we'll be in Italy.  Well, actually a year from today we might possibly be in Germany for All Europe Conference.  Or maybe on vacation since absolutely nothing is open in August in Italy (so I hear).  Anyway, the point is, I won't be in the States.

This will be a year of lots of family trips.  I find that we're craving time with family more than ever before.  Being intentionally about dropping by for Sunday afternoons on the porch with Linda & Tim.  Taking the time to travel to Wisconsin even though its inconvenient and often expensive.  Committing to see ALL the family at Christmastime - Missouri, Wisconsin, and Virginia.  Investing the legwork and $$ to plan some 'last hoorah' family vacations (that ones slated for February - we'd love to see you, please come).

Hopefully we'll get tons of family time in this year.  It will take sacrifices (like unpaid time off from work, cash, and LONG car trips).  But it will be so worth it.  There will come a day, very soon, that we won't have that opportunity.  So, for now, to all of our families, we love you.  We miss you.  We're really excited to see you.  And we agree that it stinks a bit that we'll be separated for so long.  BUT.  You're always welcome to crash our flat and get a (cheaper) European vacation.

Come visit.

(Oh - and that goes for all everybody.  Family.  Friends.  Feel free to do a bit of house crashing.)