Expectantly and justly, a lot of my family and friends inquired about my trip when they ran into me during my brother’s wedding this weekend. My response became tailored, “I loved it, had an a amazing time – to be honest, it is really hard to be back. I feel like I left a piece of my heart in each place I visited.”
After having one of the best weekends of my life filled with laughter, lots of dancing, family bonding, happy tears, amazing weather, fairy dust spreading, beach sand, water sports, sun worshiping, more laughter and loving, I reflected on my words. I have not left a piece of my heart anywhere. If anything, the trip and the time I’ve had to be back with the ones I love made me realize that my heart has grown with each step onto new lands and encounters with new people.
“Home is where the heart is” – my home IS my heart. My heart is where all my memories are preciously stored and I can reach down and take them out and replay them over and over again to remind myself that it is not my travels that have helped shape the woman I have become and still growing to be, but it is the people around me (whether from home or my travels), that love me, laugh with me and inspire me and have allowed me to love this life to the absolute core and thirst for more heart filling (or growing) discoveries.
Love and laughter feed the soul and I’m happy and lucky to have a gluttonous soul.
In the summertime when the weather's high, you can stretch right up and touch the sky...
Mohonk Mountain House - where my brother and Alli got married
Wedding Party
One of the many moments of laughter
The boys!
So fun and adorable
Lifting the groom :)
Having a blast
Look at those smiles!!!
Daddy with his girls
Mommy with her girls!
Our family - plus bobby who couldn't be there
Siblings
Beating up our bro!
Matt and I with my dad intently watching in the background haha
Summer
Here we go...
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Merlino!
First dance - Can you see the Merlino women crying our eyes out in the background?