Dear Sarah,

Whether you are feeling alone

or not alone enough

Remember to 

AND

But most important,

 remember Mom and the Moon is overhead

watching over you

and we agree when you get through this journey

one thing is for sure......

So when you feel your load is too heavy 

remember you will be flying home soon

 

and each day you are packing a little something to take back with you

so choose wisely what stays and what gets left behind.

So remember two things:

First

and secondly

Hugs and Kisses, MOM

Make this a goal each day and I will too!  Think of one thing we are thankful for in our current situation.  Yours may be as simple as being thankful for witnessing the incredible mountains or seeing one of your students smile because of you.  

Happy Thanksgiving

Even so you're across there world, you're right here in our hearts

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I am the cook this Thanksgiving so we are going to make two turkeys.  One in the electric roaster and one in the oven.  We will see how it all turns out.  

Smora and bear have compromised and now they both sleep on my lap

Brrr Continued

Weather records continue to fall, yesterday's low of 6 broke the previous record of 14 (the wind chill was in the minus).  Also the most consecutive days 32 degrees or lower was broken as well.  Good news is we will have high in the low 50's on Saturday...can you say motorcycle?

On a different note, article in the paper today about a fad in Bolivia and Peru...frog juice!  Apparently they believe it cures all kinds of illnesses...yipes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/11/18/people-in-peru-are-drinking-an-endangered-species-frog-juice-for-the-supposed-health-benefits/

Cheers!

It's freezing outside, but nice and warm inside.  Dad's hanging out on the couch with Bear and I am getting Matthew's Christmas present together.  If you look carefully you can see who is helping me!

If you were to miss a winter, this one would be the one to miss.  I think it's going to be a doozy!  I can't remember it ever being this cold so early. 

Great room with a view of the Bellagio fountains and of Paris Paris in the background.

Nice night with the Soules.  Leave it to Diane to have us ride in a limo for 5 blocks.  Then Mike paid and ended up to be 85 bucks!  The taxi home cost 7.  Geez.

Went to see Cirque De Solei's KA.  I must have you see it.  It's a visual extravaganza.

Today's news!

Juan Pablo and Nikki call it quits!!!

Sorry Sarah ;(

Yes It Snowed Last Night

Not much, but as you can see on your car, it is there.  27 degrees @ 1045AM with windchill of 15 degrees, hate to admit it but winter is here...early in my view.

Brrrrr!

Remember last winter and the cold streak we had because of the "Polar Vortex"?  Believe it or not it arrives again this week here in Kansas City...and most of the US west of Colorado this week.  Today high of 68 in KC...nice right?  Tomorrow a low of 26 and high of 37, lows in the 20's the rest of the week and highs in the 30's...yikes!  I have a meeting in Las Vegas (Mom is coming along) starting Wednesday, fortunately the weather there will be nice.

Sports update:  Chiefs beat Buffalo and are now 6 wins 3 losses (good), Packers beat Bears and your Park Hill Trojans are 11-0 beating Liberty North in the playoffs.  PH plays Fort Osage (also 11-0) this Friday for the District Championship, that hasn't happened in some time. Go Trojans!

Related articles

• Bracing for next week's polar vortex
• NOAA Says Don't Expect a Sequel of Last Winter's Polar Vortex

visitors

Ashley and Cody texted me around 6pm this evening asking if they could come and say hello.  Flo was with them.  We talked around the table eating fresh cookies.  They shared with me there ups and downs and we laughed at my scolding of Ashley's "bad drug" involvement.  She said she didn't even like it and she's not sure why she did.  I told her she needed to keep good for her buddy's return.  Then Michael arrived and I told them to feel free to stay and go down and sit by the fire and chill with you in spirit.  At first they weren't sure it was really ok to do, but within a short time they were loving it.  Alex showed up.  Ashley said it was still surreal for her that you were gone and sometimes it feels like its been forever and other times can't believe its already November and you aren't even gone.  Cody says he's still crossing his fingers that you pick Boulder and he is almost ready to go to Denver.  Flo said she was kind of lonely at school but then later on said she maybe was liking more than she thought and it was nice to talk about it.  Ashely said she had only seen her parents twice since she's been at school and only for a short while.

They all packed up and headed out at 10:30.  They gave me hugs and Alex said we have the best smelling house in the world and he instantly felt so comfortable and cozy when he came.  Ashey added the Moratz' all have the best smells.  Ha Ha.  She said she thought she would head home and crash at her parents for a change.  

I could tell they all just really needed a night just to be together and chill at a place they felt at home with a good buddy there in spirit.

  

  

Moon Over WL

Almost a full moon over the lake tonight, fairly warm, rode the bike to Home Depot, to pick up stuff.

The big news in the US today were the results of the election yesterday across the US.  The Democrats suffered a substantial defeat, losing control of the US Senate while the House of Repesentatives added to their majority...leaving President Obama without much legislative support...we shall see exactly what that means.  A number of governorships went to Republicans too, it was quite a spanking for the Democrats.

Decent fall weather right now, but...next Tuesday it will be a high of 41 and low of 22...yipes.  Speaking of Tuesday, next Tuesday is Veterans Day.  Park Hill invited me to attend, not sure I will go.   I will have to say I was very proud when you and Matthew played in the band during  the ceremony and I stood for the Army song, Caissons Going Rolling Along...hope you weren't embarrassed...I loved it.

We are adjusting to the time change...just don't care for the darkness @ 6PM, oh well.  Ironically the time changes back on March 8th (spring forward) just in time for you to arrive back in the US the following week...cool.

We got your letter:  Dated Sept 27th

I love my keychain.  We can't wait to read another blog of yours.  I know its hard, but everyone loves them.  Don't worry about it being perfect....just write!

Smora and Bear decided to take advantage of the last of a warm sunny day today.  By dinner it was cold and rainy.  Daylight Savings Time came to an end so we set our clocks back one hour.  It was dark by 6:30.  

It's beginning to feel like India!

Sarah, Have a wonderful first week in your new country.  It's hard to believe you are in India,  you just left South Africa behind and breathtaking Thailand awaits you for Christmas.

I take back what I said about South Africa better being last.  I think it worked out just the way it was supposed to work out.  Got a chunk of the inevitable group dynamic B.S. out of the way while staying in a place that is "kind of" like the US.  I think India will be your true gateway to the rest of your adventure and you've paved the way by already have moved through some of your own issues and feelings. You hard work and struggle has rewarded you to now be more calm and confident with your place in this adventure;  now its time to focus on filling your senses with the sights, sounds, tastes, smells  of the people and majestic land of India; a place you only dreamed of going for so long

You get the opportunity to have a new family for a short time. It doesn't matter what others kids you are rooming with.   Enjoy the new family as much as you can!  You will be the first home stay group in Palampur for TBB, so every thing will be new.
 
Yes it will be exhausting.  Give in to the fact, and perhaps it can also be energizing.  Yes,  it will continue to be hard to be around 20 other people all the time.  How can it not and that's OK! It would be for anyone. This trip was always meant to be a personal journey and it was always meant to push you on many levels.

Dad's favorite line comes to mind,
 "Life is difficult.  When we finally accept that fact, life instantly becomes less difficult."


Love Mom and the man in the moon who followed you all the away to Palampur.
FULL MOON: Thursday November 6

This is too cool!