Caselli Family Prayer

Summer 2014 has come to an end.

I'm back in Jarabacoa

and it is good.

I found myself,

several times over the summer,

standing around a table

in a large circle

holding the hands of people I love.

We would sing,

smile,

laugh at the little ones.

It is something I will hold onto this year.

Please don't think my summer was peachy perfect.

It wasn't.

Nothing is.

But those times around the table were pretty close...

"oh the Lord is good to me"

"and so I thank the Lord"

"for giving me the things I need"

"the sun"

"the rain"

"and the appleseed"

"the Lord is good to me"

"amen"

"amen"

"amen"

"amen"

"amen"

"AAAAAMEN"

Does your family ever say/sing this prayer?

A different one?

What traditions do you have around meals?  

Sonrisa

There has been a lot of smiling this summer… 

We smile as we pedal down neighborhood roads

while we sing, "Sugar sugar, ah, honey honey…"

and while we sit on the curb eating ice cream cones. 

We are smiling as we watch Gilmore Girls 

in the back porch with the twinkle lights on.

We have smiles on our lips while we drink coffee 

and talk about real life.

We smiled while we caught up on life happenings 

and laughed until we cried like always.

We are smiling as we play catch in the driveway 

and cheer from the front porch.

Even Hanalei is all smiles at my 

27th birthday baseball game at the park.

We smile while we tread water at the pool,

roast marshmallows over the fire,

and play games way too late into the night.  

We are smiling as we sit in "our spot" at Coffea

and talk for as long as we possibly can.  

We smiled on an oddly cool walk to meet Kaia for lunch.  

There was SO MUCH smiling as we laid on our backs

in the grass two nights in a row 

enjoying friendship and fireworks.  

We smile as we enjoy our walks to the

Saturday morning Farmers Market 

and chase each other through the playground.  

What is one thing that has made you smile lately?  

[hint: I really actually DO want you to answer]

Gracias a Dios

Sioux Falls seriously rocks my socks.

I just love this city.

I've been romping around this lovely place for 4 weeks now.

It's real good.

Gratitude has come easy.

Thank you Jesus...

for a passport not forgotten.

[I forgot my passport coming home at Christmas…

lots of shaking was involved]

Thank You for friends who send books in the mail,

Delta, and Biscoff cookies.

for Target trips for no good reason 

other than… IT'S TARGET!

also the sky, that's a beautiful thing too.  

I'm grateful for my sleeping two year old nephew.  

[seriously, two year olds are cray cray]

for selfie togetherness.  

Thank You for morning snuggles 

and waking up with my family.

for the opportunity to drink coffee and

watch Liam catch his first fish.

[NOT through an iMessage video]

[although I am grateful for that too…]

Lots of gratitude for T-Pain and 

friends that enjoy spontaneous bridge dance parties.

for candles, quietness, and clean water.

I'm thankful for walks through downtown to the farmers market,

blueberry turnovers,

and friends to enjoy both with.  

What is something you are grateful for this summer?  

[Kayla, this is 2 days late.  

I'm so sorry.

Will you forgive me?]

Adventure Awaits

In about 9 hours I will board an airplane in the DR.

In about 21 hours I will land in Sioux Falls.

Crazy.

The school year has come to a close.

My first year teaching in the Dominican Republic.  

Crazy.

It's difficult to put words to how I'm feeling.

I'll try.

. Excited . Exhausted . Homesick . Sad . Overwhelmed . 

Transition is hard.

Several weeks ago, against my better judgement,

I started a pinterest board titled "Summer 2014".

To say I'm stoked is an understatement.  

I've been excited for many things this summer will bring.

But I've found myself daydreaming about a certain few most often.

[slow walks around my old neighborhood with friends after dinner]

[going to Target for no real reason other then it sounds fun]

[big family dinners filled with fresh food, good stories, and laughter]

[watching Gilmore Girls with friends in the back porch] 

[relaxing in quiet coffee shops with good friends] 

[chasing Liam around and scooping him into my arms] 

I'm excited for the big and small adventures this summer will hold.

I'll be back in the DR in six weeks 

and no doubt there will be more adventures waiting.  

What are you daydreaming about this summer?

Discoveries

Some end-of-the-school-year discoveries… 

Cresly, chinola juice, Emily, dominos, Cindy, and play dough

makes a bomb after school playdate.

Spending the night at the clinic with a sick Hannah

creates countess new memories.  

If I need to be humbled 

I can just have my loved ones put on a gigantic rummage sale

and raise money for my life.

When I'm an ocean away.

Kids go ecstatic when they get a package in the mail.

My family and friends sent THE best mail.

Giving kids their own mini greenhouses makes 

them pretty dang excited to check on their plants progress

and basil grows MUCH faster than cilantro.

This year's YL team rocked it

and next year's YL team is going to carry on the tradition.

A simple porch barbecue makes my heart soar

and "big cookie" tastes just as good in the DR.

Double Stuffed Oreos do exist on this island!

#firstsighting 

Making recipes with 5 year olds will create chaos

…the good kind.  

"Fancy" by Iggy on repeat will never get old 

while driving down the mountain.  

Have you discovered anything lately?  

Last night I discovered that not all parasites are horrible :)  

Gracias a Dios

All thanks goes to You.  

small hands using paint brushes to create beauty

and little voices that repeat everything I say

a butterfly migration during my planning period

and ideas becoming reality in our parking lot

stunning art created by 1st graders 

and teachers that inspire 

relaxing spaces 

and refreshing swimming pools

a day of solitude 

and outrageously generous friends

strong and deep relationships 

that make goodbyes extra hard

little people that can read

and bravery 

friends with tender hearts 

and parties that make silly dreams come true

a little boy that's not a baby anymore

and arms that cannot wait to grab onto him

What have you been thankful for lately?

It's a nice thing to talk about, trust me.