Saint Nicholas joy

Some Saint Nicholas Day joy this morning...

Ten years. Ten years since my brother fell from that ladder. St. Nicholas day will always be a bittersweet day, but I love how he still lives on in our conversations, in the songs we hear on the radio, in the books my mom has written, incredible testimonies of faith and love... I'm excited that her second will be available on audiobook, narrated by my sister, sometime in the new year!

We love you Roma and miss you, until we are reunited someday! 💙

Weekending in West Palm Beach {part 1}

This past weekend, Abigail and I were blessed to have the opportunity to travel to Florida with a couple of her school friends, one of her friend's moms and that mom's best friend (and both moms are now my good friends).

Layed over at MSP, stoked to be en route to much warmer temps! West Palm Beach, here we come!

Her friend's mom travels a lot and was able to find some great travel deals through Costco. She took care of booking all arrangements- 10 out of 10- would recommend!

The girls shared this room/bed.

The incredible view from our balcony (the tiny ant people in the hot tub are our girls)

I tried to take advantage of that blissful weather as much as I could and got a warm run in all three mornings we were there.

Absolutely glorious.

They were stuffed after dinner, but there's always room for ice cream!

Feral kitties

I talked with this sweet woman, who fed them every night- God bless her.

These large iguanas were all around our hotel

We took long walks on the beach every day... serene.

I've read all of my mom's new book before in her blog posts and an early manuscript, but I loved reading it again on the beach- I'm touched to tears every time. I never cease to be amazed at how God has worked, at how God continues to work.

In fact, later that afternoon I spotted this boy at our hotel on our way down to the beach and it was like a flashback- he looked JUST like young Roma. Even down to the way he was standing.

I pointed him out to Abigail, and she was wowed as well. I had to go up and ask if he'd mind if I took his picture- and give a little background of why this creeper lady had been staring at and following him. He was apparently named after his uncle, who passed away in his twenties, like Roma. His dad asked how Roma died. I SO wish I'd gotten his name and had more time to talk, but our group was leaving, and I too often feel like I'm bothering people. I sent the picture to my family- my sister's response- "UNCANNY!"

Roma spent a lot of time in Florida. And I felt his presence a lot while there.