Camera Pictures

Life has been a little nuts in Cleveland... and well, taking pictures has just been put on the back burner with everything else that has to be done. Here are just a few that were on my phone from the past month. Because I'm not getting out the big camera and I send at least one picture of James to John a day - my phone has filled up with pictures!

Last Saturday, we headed down to Charlotte. James and I in one car, John in another. The whole way down all I kept thinking how the drive would be much better if we were all together, in one car, as a family – talking and laughing and passing the time. Together. But we needed the two cars since John wasn’t coming back to Ohio with us, he was staying to start his new job. It was like this huge cloud over the whole weekend – we played, went to the pool, checked out the area – even though we were treating it like a vacation, it wasn’t. We knew it was coming to an end and we would be parting, the beginning of our family being separated for an undecided amount of time. It was the strangest feeling. John and I have done long distance before, a few times - but this is different. This is three times farther, we have many more responsibilities that we cant just drop to visit each other, and of course there is James. I'm not sure how James will do. But I'm about to find out.

Charlotte was great though, and once James and I are down there and our family is back together – I will know that all of this is worth the distance. This won't be easy. But it will be worth it.

"There's no reward in life without risk."

~Barry J. Farber~

Everyone says you don't just marry someone, you marry their family. When I married John, I lucked out - I became part of a huge, loud, loving family. Usually they do not need a reason to get together, but last week my father-in-law, Steve, retired from the Air Force National Guard. He proudly served for 28 years and we all were fortunate enough to come together and see him land his last flight.

After Steve landed, there were um... traditions that took place. He was soaked by the time he was able to sit down - in a wheelchair.

I cannot even begin to describe how blessed I feel to be so welcomed within the Siefert family, but then to watch the family grow as all of the guard comes together is just something that is indescribable. It was something very special to be apart of - these guys are a family within themselves. They laugh, love, grieve and live together.  Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, everyone needs one.

The celebration continued with more family and friends.

With a bonfire and fireworks ending the night, it was an amazing party filled with lots of celebrating and the telling of many stories.