saying good bye to stella

Probably the saddest thing about leaving, is saying good-bye to the cutest baby ever: our niece, Stella Bella. Waking up every morning, we run into her room. Catching a smile from her is better than a blue bird day with fresh powder. Better even than a head high wave peeling right.

While it took a little adjusting to be long-term visitors in my sister and brother-in-law's house, we quickly got the groove of living here. We could not be more thankful for Annie and Jeff for letting us live with them and share in the daily bliss of baby-hood.

We leave tomorrow, and a week of Thailand awaits. The country is incredibly important to me. Traveling there during college was transformative. The rich Buddhist culture, the simplicity of every day life, the welcoming people- everything about the country feels right. Almost every year I have taken students there to engage in service learning projects. And each year I have worked with my trusted friends and guides Pim and Anon. I am thrilled to introduce Kelsey to these important friends. Highlights will include hill tribe trekking, elephant riding, and cooking classes.

Tomorrow we will head off with nothing but a backpack each. We are excited, eager, and a little nervous.