Visit to Minnesota.

Wow! What a whirlwind. I left for MN July 4. Nathan wasn't able to get leave from work, so I was travelling on my own, straight from one of the most hectic days at work I have had to date. With my pulse racing and adrenaline rushing, Nathan and I raced across town to get me to the plane on time. After a hurried goodbye, I checked my luggage, and I rushed into catch my plane. Which was delayed by an hour. Still in suit, I started thinking about my comfortable shorts and flip flops sitting somewhere and checked baggage longingly.

Finally boarded the plane, where I was finally able to relax (sort of). After a couple of drinks and a couple of movies, I fell asleep to awake in New Zealand, where I had a 12 hour layover. I took advantage of the day to walk, and walk, and walk around Auckland (still in my suit and dress shoes), arriving back at the plane for our 5 pm take off, I thought about my luggage again. If only I'd had the sense to change out of my SWEATER, I was dying. A girl from MN in the seat next to me, kept my mind off of my overheating by chatting with me about her Australia trip.

I arrived in San Franscisco, caught an airporter to Alan and Masami's house, and finally changed clothes. 38 hours in the same suit...time to find a dry cleaners. After a little nap, and dinner, the boys demonstrated their prowess with the Sony Wi, I was sore from tennis, golf, bowling, and finally 2 bouts of boxing (of which I emerged victorious in the second bout).

Alan's family and I had the same flight to Minneapolis, so Gregory and I played cards all the way from SFO to MSP. War and crazy eights makes the time fly...After arriving we split up, my best friend from high school Connie (Jansen) Kells picked me up for a whirlwind 18 hours together...talking the whole time. We packed an entire year of talking into one day, and we were both exhausted.

The next day Connie drove me to meet up with my parents, who took me the rest of the way to my brother Brian's cabin. We had a great family reunion from Saturday until Tuesday, Julie & Scott brought their camper, Taylor, Emily, and Layla stayed, Brian, Jen, and his kids, Mom and Dad, Alan and his family. 20 of us tubing, waterskiiing (okay some of us only attempt waterskiing), kneeboarding, wakeboarding, jetskiing, fishing, swimming, bonfires, pingpong, cribbage, biking, and LOTS and LOTS of talking. If was so great to be together, I think we've started a new tradition...Sorry Brian, you are hosting!

After the activity of Brian's cabin, we spent a few days recovering. It was really nice to have a couple of quiet days with Mom and Dad. Dad had been in the hospital for 10 days because of a very serious infection. The fever and side effects left him several pounds lighter, and not well rested, so we enjoyed a few more relaxing days together.

On Sunday, I headed to visit Nathan's mom and Grandma (Emily is having surgery on Monday, July 22 say a prayer for her speedy recovery)...It was really nice to visit, even for a little while. She was able to bring me up to date on all the events of each of her grandkids spread across the country.

Sunday night, I drove down for a whirlwind tour of Rochester. I didn't give people very much notice, but was still able to visit with Jaymi, my friends from the Diversity Council, a visit to Curt Britson (who is wrapping up on the house) and Dave & Cheryl Smith. I didn't get a chance to visit church, Larry & Rebekka, Kirk, or so many other great friends we made while we were in Rochester. I saved Rochester too late, and just didn't have enough time.

I fly tomorrow to California, where Nathan and I will get to spend a week together before he flys to MN. It just wasn't enough time. No matter how much time I spent with mom and dad, my siblings it wasn't enough time to catch up on all I had missed. There was so much to say to my good friends like Connie and Jaymi that we were up all night. There were so many people I didn't really get to talk to, or see that I wanted to know more Not enough time.

Why do I get the feeling that I am going to feel like that after every visit?