Travel Plans 2015

Hi, my name is Carrie and I'm a planner. That's my middle name, my mantra, my own little compulsion. Sure, it's still 11 months 'til Christmas 2015, but I already know where we're headed. It will be a Smoky Mountain holiday for the family since I just put down a deposit on a really pretty lodge. 

In other travel news, we'll be heading to a pretty villa near Orvieto, Italy, for spring break in about six weeks. The Italian countryside should be a fun change of pace since we've done many of the major Italian cities. This is an aerial view of the place. In the distance you can just make out a small olive grove on the property. The 8th grader and kids of the couple traveling with us will no doubt have a blast exploring everything.

That just leaves summer. I've put a deposit on a Mekong River cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam for me and the husband, but we're not fully committed. The college coed is thinking about study abroad in Costa Rica and we've never been there. It seems Spain wasn't too appealing since she has already visited a few times. Plus Costa Rica would give her the opportunity to do some scuba diving, an item on her bucket list. What 20-year-old doesn't want to have pretty beach access in a country where she can buy her own wine for 10 weeks this summer? 

So who knows. Maybe we'll end up in Asia. Or maybe Costa Rica. The 8th grader has expressed interest in a Spanish immersion program in Puerto Rico since her best bud from her former school in England is also considering it. We've all been bitten by the travel bug, it seems. 

Happy 2015

Happy New Year! Where oh where did the last year go… and so danged quickly. At this rate, I'll be dead and buried in the blink of an eye if time doesn't slow down a bit.

We braved the cold, drizzly weather to meet up with the husband's family in Lampasas at the ranch. I spent most of the day parked in a chair near the fireplace in the cook house, alternately watching bowl games and reading my Kindle.

The girls had a chance to visit with their cousins and set off a truckload of fireworks well in advance of midnight that no doubt scared the bejesus out of all the various exotic critters at the ranch. Firecracker couple that we are, the husband and I slept through the end of 2014.

No doubt 2015 will be an interesting year for us. The college coed is headed to a large Texas university when the spring semester begins later this month, moving into the sorority house with what will be her first 40ish friends. The 8th grader will (gasp) register for high school next month. I will find out what my teaching fate will be for next year since campuses are in flux. Sixth grade history? Upper elementary special ed? Only the Lord knows at this point where the path will lead.

I wish all of my family and friends a year full of faith and grace, creating lots of wonderful memories with those you hold near and dear.