T minus Sixty Minutes...

Until we leave for the Hyderbad airport! MAN was this day a long-time coming! I am looking forward to seeing what Italy is all about.

As I reflect on my time here, having this time to focus on the kids has been fantastic. I have had to take breaks in the evenings and Natalie has been so keen to want to give me them after she gets home, which is awesome. Overall we have enjoyed a wonderful and well-balanced family time here, which is nothing short of being God-breathed and it is to his credit.

Natalie has also really benefitted professionally. She told me earlier that she really has a feeling of accomplishment as a result of her time here.

We are a stronger family because of this trip.

I was walking out by the pool earlier with Lillian and I was explaining to her that I would miss swimming with her and Delaney here. It's true. They will not be this small for long and it has been such a gift to have had this time. One of my favorite things to do during the day is to just lay down and have Delaney crawl over me. We could play like that for what seems like hours. I definitely think my heart is bigger, which again is to God's credit.

Well, after writing this I am definitely feeling more melancholy about leaving because I know I won't have this kind of time again... BUT a little tuscan vino will rub that right out!! Just kidding.

So I am going to close down the computer now and start the process of continent-hopping. In a few hours I am going to plunk my butt down in a business class seat and hopefully catch some Z's. The time is 11:15PM.

Tax Da Panty

Booyakasha! Chiggity-check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Good morning everyone! Mark, great photos! I am really looking forward to getting you guys back home. You and your family are WAY too close to Pakistan right now and need to come back home now. What a God-awful mess that place is.

Jennifer, I really enjoyed seeing you, Enrique and the girls last weekend. You all look wonderful. And I really enjoyed your last post and, as you could tell from Courtney, who's busily turning into a young woman before my eyes, I can also relate to your angst about the kids growing up. The mental "photo" I keep in my heart is one of Courtney at about 4 years-old. Well, being that she'll be a teenager in another half year, she ain't a little girl any more. Oh well, I may have to accept that but nobody says I have to like it.

But just remember this; no matter how big your little jellybeans get, they will always have their silly Tio Jaime around to holler "no me dices no!" at them!

I have not tried your soup recipe yet but probably will this weekend. This past weekend I made a chicken & andoille sausage gumbo that, even though I was afraid would come out horrible, actually turned out pretty well. It was a real complex recipe though, especially for me.

In your missive to Mikey, are you talking about Polly Esther's or Club Antro?

West side . . . .

-J