Trip to Mississippi



Swimming with Austen, Connor, Abbey, Tess, Bella


Eating Tapas in Chatanooga with Ben, Meri, Mom and Dad


At Destin with Chi Omegas

As you can all tell, Blaine is not much into writing on the blog. But I am back now, so I thought I would send an update about my visit home.
The flight home was very long, about 30 hours of travelling. I have never flown internationally alone and it is much more fun to go with someone else. Although I did meet some interesting people that I sat next to on the plane rides. I was home for the 4th of July but the rain cancelled a lot of our plans. I went to a cook out at Blaine's parents house and got to catch up with a lot of our church friends.
We went to Chatanooga the first weekend I was home to see my brother and his wife Meri. Chatanooga is a great city! We went shopping, ate good food, rented a pontoon boat with a slide on the Tennessee River and walked downtown on the world's longest pedestrian bridge (random fact).
I got to visit a good bit with my grandmother who has been ill lately but is improving day by day. It was great to be home with Mom and Dad, took early morning walks with Belle (the dog), had lots of good home-cooked meals, picking the garden, etc.
The last weekend I drove down to the beach with Kim and met up with 15 friends from college in Destin at Melissa's parents condo! We had great weather (so nice to have a break from our cold winter weather in NZ); laid out on the beach and shopped.
It was the longest Blaine and I had ever been apart so it was really nice to get back and see him. He greeted me at the airport with flowers and balloons!
We will both be home for 3 weeks at Christmas and we look forward to catching up with many friends and family over the holidays!!!