I had a wonderful week at home. I tried not to make too many plans in advance so that I would have time to relax and so that when things came up I could say yes. And that's what happened, things came up!
Saturday I was able to have breakfast with my Neufeld grandparents who generously allowed me to borrow their car while I was home and then I spent the day getting ready for the bridal shower and catching up on some sleep. (The overnight bus ride was not as luxurious as I was hoping. It was
packed and also at some point the bus driver kicked a passenger off the bus and I couldn't sleep through that). The shower was a success though! We had a great time celebrating Malorie and her future with Zack!
Sunday was almost like a day in the life of Jared day. We went to his church together and had lunch with his parents and in the evening attended "Encounter" which was a worship night Jared was playing guitar for. After singing, Jared and I met up with a couple of his friends at The Upper Deck which is a restaurant they go to frequently. While they talked music, I was content just to be there having heard so often via skype, "and then Keith and Sathiya and I went to The Upper Deck...". Jared has amazing friends and it was such a pleasure to spend time with them.
During the days while most of you are hard at work I was able to catch up with a few friends. Kinsey and I were able to reconnect which was so wonderful and Malorie and I were able to spend more time together as well. Dad and Jared were able to take long lunch breaks so I was able to have a few lunches with each of them and grandma and grandpa-next door had me in for a birthday lunch too! I was also able to make it to Cambridge to visit my camp friend Beth-Anne. When I wasn't meeting someone for coffee or lunch I was lounging on the back deck reading a book, napping or writing and I did go for a run occasionally (afterall, the montreal half marathon is only
6 weeks away!).
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| Jared took a long lunch and we had a picnic on the parkway. This is us enjoying the swings :) |
For my birthday Dad and Andrea had some family over for dessert which was delicious and then the next day mum prepared an amazing dinner and grandma T brought over my favourite raspberry pie. I also received the most beautiful bouquet I've ever seen from Jared on my birthday day which was such a splendid surprise. Now I think it's becoming a birthday bouquet tradition and it's my favourite. :)
My evenings were full of family dinners: at dad's or mom's or grandma N's. On Saturday grandma outdid herself. When she rattled off the menu to me my jaw dropped. I thought she was joking. She wasn't. It was spectacular.
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| Just some of grandma's kitchen creations. |
I was also able to meet baby Summer finally! She is so precious.
I think my favourite day was Saturday though, the day before I left. Mom and I had some quality mother-daughter time consisting of breakfast and pedicures and then Jared and I spent the day by the pool. It was so relaxing and refreshing and exactly what I needed. I read, I snacked, I swam, I slept. Jared played guitar beside me. It just doesn't get better than that. We finished the day with grandma N's outstanding cooking creations as well as her and grandpa and dad's fine company and then out to see Despicable Me 2 in 3D.
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| My view. |
So, it was a wonderful week and I have another one to look forward to in less than a month! 3 more weeks of work here in the lab and then I'll be back just before Malorie and Zack tie the knot at the end of the month! I have lots to look forward to then including Fiddler on the Roof in Stratford with mom, and all sorts of wedding shenanigans! In the meantime Katie Culp is coming to visit me and Katelyn Moyer is making her return to Montreal and my new roomies too! So many blessings!
Thank you to everyone for the warm birthday wishes and a special thanks to those who were able to celebrate with me! It was so wonderful to be home vacationing in Vineland. Love you, miss you, see you again soon!
