Ole west Virginny...

Most of you know that I lived w/ my friend Megan and her family for a month in b/w staying at Nancy's in DC and my new place in Bethesda. I left there this past Saturday morning very early-on my way to move into my new place. Megan had left Friday morning for a weekend w/ her mom and sis-in-law at the Homestead, but my last interaction at her house was a sweet, sweet moment. I was in the bathroom getting ready and I could hear Max outside the door (Max is 7--their oldest son). Finally, I said, "Max, can you use the bathroom downstairs?" He said, "yes, Miss Christy.") Several more minutes of comotion, then I hear, "Miss Christy?" I open the door--and there is Max in his Shrek undies just sitting right in front of the door. "What's up, Max?" I say. He says, "Miss Christy, we are going fishing this morning and my dad wants me to hurry, but I was hoping I could tell you bye before we left." He was sitting outside the door waiting on me. Chucka.

It's strangely hard to write about my time at the Mancuso's. It was far away the sweetest time I've had in a really long time. It was precious and timely and restful and a real blessing. It was just awesome. It was so fun to see Megan every day, to know the boys and Pat better, to have such a nice place to stay, to have dinners and lunches and breakfasts, to be given to so generously. It was overwhelming. I am so sad to leave. So sad. But so glad we had that time. I loved every minute. Every loud, crazy, kid-filled, screaming frenzied minute.

Thank-you, Mrs. Mancuso. And thank the Lord for you.

I think Megan's ready for me to leave...

Stacey has the best teeth EVER.