Sweet Summer Week Four, Red-Rock Buttes

 Nestled in the high desert

Five girls from Louisiana walked into the Arizona desert... and immediately started looking for shade, drinks, and a breeze.

Yep, my view from bed.

5:10am sunrise

Look at that paint stroke of colors

Guess the temperature

a) 86

b) 96

c)106

Correct answer 

b)96.....mid morning

Although,

it was 108 in Phoenix when the plane wheels hit the ground.

Meb,

We made it back.

Thank you for the surprise immersion program with a broken-English stranger.

Next time we are at an Italian restaurant, it will be "bueno".

Please never stop making me fish tacos.

I'll charge your crystals any time, any day...not sure why I slept on the Smoky Quartz- but let's go with it.

KT,

Thanks for bringing the joy.  

Life can sometimes shatter and that's okay—especially when those shattered pieces can put back together with peace and be more beautiful than before.

Hillary, 

Thank you for proving that every mile hiked earns at least an hour in the pool with a Long Drink. By our math, we were right on schedule.

Chloe,

Thank you for helping me realize those old, discolored scraps of paper weren't junk—they were just memories waiting for a reunion. And one day, I'll proudly hand over $5 to hear you perform at an RV campground—front row, of course.

And one of my favorite pics from the trip...

We turned the driveway into a five-star observatory—minus the comfort and plus a few pebbles.

Sweet Summer Week Three, Camp NURSE LIFE

 https://andersonuniversity.edu/news/new-camp-introduces-high-schoolers-to-the-world-of-nursing/    (front row, holding sign)

Her highlights from Nursing Camp...

proper PPE techniques, birthing simulator, and wound care

Although nursing turned out to be about as perfect a fit as flip-flops in a snowstorm, the camp was still an awesome opportunity for her to fuel her curiosity and keep exploring all the exciting possibilities in the healthcare field.

Sweet Summer Week Two, Women of Appalachia

 

Jumped on the AT for a bit

Trail name, Fern

Trail name, Kudzu

Kuwohi

 (formerly Clingmans Dome): 

 6,643 feet

Fireflies, extra helping of smores, elk watching, tunnel driving and river floating.

Lisa gave the trip a 10/10.

LDC gave it an 11/10.

Sweet Summer Week One, Cause You Were All Yellow

 

Sliced watermelon, perfect blue sky weekend, and constant smiles.

Missing the 7th cousin

 (...Although Uncle Drew might look like a cousin...) 

Madi was living it up on a high school graduation cruise.

2025 A Year of Calm Progress

 “The most precious jewels you’ll ever have around your neck are the arms of your daughter.” – Cardinal Mermillod

We might have started here

January

Oversized plastic lids, a hilly golf course and no school.

February

March

Table Rock

April

Edisto

May

June

Jekyll Island

July

High School

(LDC pictured with her homeroom teacher...and biology teacher)

Whew, September was a busy one

Happy 15th 

October

Ellicott Rock where SC, NC, and GA meet

(October Bonus)

November into December

But we ended here.

LDC,

Thanks for painting my nails.  

On our kitchen top counter, they look especially perfect.

 Love you.

14th

Pink and Orange 

This year LDC wanted to plan her 14th birthday party alllllll on her own.

Sigh.

Yes, excited for her independence.

Tug on my heartstring though, all the mama' planning is now officially out the window.

(Her pulling together last minute touches)

Tote bags with puffy letters welcomed guests as they arrived

a picnic dinner

and plenty of minute-to-win-it games along with loads of pool fun.

Happy 14th  LDC

Before you even do anything, you already slay.

tripling

First week in the books.

What made the Fri-yay even better was knowing friends were on their way from Charlotte, ready to wind down and play by the pool.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.

Delicious drinks and indulgent sweets were gifted.

AND tripling wearing during the weekend was in full effect.

crumblcookie

athletic brewing

(we even indulged on Crumbl cookies during breakfast.....shhhhhh)

 

Yep, threeling outfits continued.

"Distance means so little, when someone means so much.”

Tom McNeal