family vacation: part I

As of two hours ago, Bek, Annie, and I are freshly returned from our family vacation. We left July 30-ish, and today is August 17th, easily making this trip our longest rest time together. And while traveling with an almost one-year old makes even rest time fair game for adventure, it was a blessed adventure, and one for which we're grateful. We shared time with my parents, caught up with dear friends in Durham and Winston-Salem, visited the church at which Beks was confirmed and where we were married, and spent the better part of a week with Rebekah's family at Sunset Beach, NC. There just aren't words enough for the balm these friendships are to us and our delight in sharing extended time with family - by birth and by baptism.

Additionally, I'm thankful that Bek spearheaded a house-cleaning charge before we left, so that we came back to what seems to be someone else's house. That said, we have the usual laundry piles to rescue from their moldering bags before tomorrow and daily routines to set up again, so I'm pacing our posting of pics from the trip. Ideally, a new post a day. This one has us at the trip's beginning, with Mom and Dad. Specifically, the occasion is Annie's receiving a new doll (named 'Maise Baby') that Mom had made for Annie. Annie has never had a doll; immediately, she scooped Maise up, gave her a great big hug, and began patting Maise ("may-zee") on the back as they nuzzled together. Maise was a hit, and the adventure was in full swing. :)