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I've officially packed my bags for the adventure I am about to embark on. I am going to FRANCE and IRELAND!!!!!

We are sooo excited to see two of our greatest friends that are so much fun to be with~Erich and Carolyn. Long story short, Ted played hockey with Erich in New York and reconnected years later when we lived in Boston. He showed us the city of Boston; some of the nicest bars and restaurants you could find. Carolyn is Erich's Wife, they dated for several years when we lived in Boston. They married after we moved to Cincinnati and we attended their beautiful Winter wedding back in Boston. Carolyn and I trained together for our first 1/2 marathon. Now we may take a morning run around the streets of Paris...how cool is that? She is wonderful and caring and SO genuine. I cannot wait to see them both. 

There is so much to see and do that I am almost overwhelmed in a sense. I want to eat French food, drink French wine, eat French pastries, bread and crepes.....I want to SHOP, look at a little art, gaze at the Notre Dame and take pictures of us with only one of the most famous structures in the World, the one and only-Eiffel tower beaming in the backdrop. Oh and we're touring the champagne region in France. Am I dreaming?? I am most excited to experience all of this, though, with our dear friends and my brother-n-law and sister-n-law to be. Truly a vacation of a lifetime. Then there's Ireland- a work trip for Ted- but there's very little work involved in these trips. Nice dinners, cocktail hours, tours of the city and the major attractions.....it will be a great time with all of his co-workers. We're staying at a beautiful hotel in Killarney and then will end the trip in Dublin with plans to tour the Guinness factory. 

With all of this excitement, there is much anxiety. Anxiety of being away from Elle for so long, fearful if something were to happen to my Grandfather and sad for my Aunt for what she is currently facing. I know there are people out there that have it a lot tougher then we do, who have lost even more- maybe their whole family-  but I sometimes can't help but think at times that life has been really tough on my family over the past year and a half. We're waiting for the break. And I guess I almost feel guilty about going on this trip as much as I cannot wait to go. My Sister will be running around Aydan to school, soccer, and hockey, perhaps rescuing an Animal in between, and just being a Mom. A young girl being a great Mom and she is pretty much doing it on her own, with the help of Matt of course but without Mom and Dad. I will buy you something wonderful from France,  Cricket! And there's so many other things I could write about for hours.....Justin is probably struggling with great depression these days. He has no one and probably has no idea we think of him everyday. I am certain he misses Mom and Dad as much as we all do. Maybe Christmas time, I don't know.... 

Watch over us as we travel our way to Europe, I am sad I don't have you here to share all my memories and stories I am sure to have upon our return.  I know how excited you'd be for us. And yes, we'd bring back a ton of stuff for you guys. I'll miss doing that. 

I will try and write a few times while I am there. 

I am so excited to see you Carolyn, Erich, Tommy and Jess! 

We love you Elle Bell, Family and Friends! 

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