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2025…A word for the year
January 19, 2025 Happy New Year! Yes, it’s a few weeks into the year, but we are still very much in the introductory chapters of this new season. I did not make any concrete resolutions as we started the year…I chose to savor how it ended and reflect on what is ahead, and I have…
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Everybody loves Jelly…
November 7, 2024 My earliest memories include him…my Grandpa Bevard (we used the last name to differentiate between our two sets of grandparents–the “Bevards” were my dad’s family and the “Thomas” grandparents were my mom’s family–both sets wonderful, but they could not have been more different). He was always “grandpa” to me, but my cousin,…
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And the adventure continues…
October 15, 2024 It is a cool, sunny day here in central North Carolina, and it finally feels like Autumn–the turning of another season. I’ve been away from these posts for awhile and a few seasons have come and gone. Last I shared, Darrell and I were moving back to North Carolina, and I had…
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December 28, 2023–“I’m Gone (Back) to Carolina…”
In a few days, 2023 will come to an end–for us, it has been a year of immense change, triumphs, heartbreaks, and amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I cannot think of another year in my entire life that taught me more about resilience and fortitude; I learned how to step out in faith and live in uncertainty.…
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November 15, 2023–Beauty for Ashes…
Autumn is the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful – Heather A. Stillufsen On Monday, October 30, Darrell and I landed in Raleigh, North Carolina, after hauling our six, humongous suitcases and two backpacks through packed airports in Bordeaux and Paris and a brief stop in Reykjavik. After traveling for almost 24 hours,…
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October 23, 2023–“It wound up on the cutting room floor…”
One week from today, Darrell and I will be on a one-way Iceland Air flight to Raleigh, NC. He and I will each be loaded down with two giant suitcases, as well as a rolling carry-on and shoulder bag/backpack containing all of our remaining shoes, clothes, toiletries, and a few French souvenirs. (If I never…
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October 15, 2023–These are a few of my favorite things…
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm, woolen mittens…brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are few of my favorite things.” Just reading those words, you probably started to hum that little tune didn’t you? I absolutely loved The Sound of Music growing up and watched it many times–loving…
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October 8, 2023–The Final Weeks…
Last evening, we returned to France after spending a week in the Pacific Northwest with our immediate family, my mom, extended family, and some friends. We even got to dogsit Coco for five days–I got lots of kisses from her! We were treated to especially glorious weather (which can be hit or miss this time…
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September 26, 2023–Two realities can (and often do) exist…
I am well overdue for a blog…it has been exactly a month since I’ve written, and our lives since my last blog are taking a bit of a different direction. First, let me say, we are good; our marriage is good, and we are healthy and clear headed. Now…with that out of the way, let…
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August 26, 2023–Love Where you Live (Part 2)–From the United States of America to France
Almost one year ago today, we sold our house on Bainbridge Island–it was the first major step into realizing this dream of moving to France. For the next few months before we arrived here, American friends (and strangers) would ask, “have you always wanted to live in France?” or “why France?” The focus was often…
A Cariad Life
Living life loved
A Cariad Life 