As if it couldn't get any better . . .

It was the first day of school today for my girls.

As much as I anticipate the new beat in my home

during school, it still catches me a bit off guard.

Anyways, to take my mind to a happy spot 

I thought I'd visit a perfect day that happened not too long ago.

This will continue and conclude the writings of

the weekend getaway that Mat and I shared 

to New England in August.

Our last day away, after the delightfully 

enchanted wedding the night before,

we breakfasted with family 

(my parents, cousin, and Aunt and Uncle).

After chatting with my cousin Kate about 

the long, laid back, slow and jolly atmosphere

of our breakfast she helped me see that

it was just like when we are on vacation with one another.

And so it was.

We sat, chatted, shared stories and pictures,

 and ate for at least 

an hour and a half around the table

of Holiday Inn as if we had no place to go,

as if we weren't among the public.

I do hope it blessed others to see

us having such a great time with one another.

Then it was time to start our very last adventure of

the weekend.

Off to Boston we drove.

We parked in the Boston Commons

and started the Freedom Trail through the city.

As simple as following as red line on a sidewalk

and as inexpensive as a map from the Visitor's Center, 

it was as if it was made for us.

The weather was sunny and clear,

as was our outlook on the day.

We toured a graveyard, church and walked past 

the town hall too.

The marketplace was fun, so much to see and do.

So very many people to watch, street performers,

business people on lunch breaks, and the vendors.

And the smells of the many restaurants, ahhh.

We saw many sights but my very favorite part came after

we saw Paul Revere's home. 

At the Visitor's Center, Paul, the cashier who

answered our questions also recommended

a few places to eat in the Italian district of the city.

We assessed our halfway mark on the Freedom

Trail and decided not to finish the tour, but

rather, we would stop at a restaurant on the 

way back to our car.

So as we walked to the recommended eatery we passed

an Italian Grocer of which I had to enter because of the

display window and it's contents.

Do you see the bread in that window?

How could I resist?  I just had to go in and see what other

delights called my name.

As I was enjoying all the sights of European chocolate

Mat stood behind me and said, "It stinks in here."

"Aaah, cheese!," said I and I meandered a little 

quicker to the cheese counter.

I became as giddy as a school girl as I gave Mat

my newest idea.

"How about we buy some yummy cheeses, salami, and a loaf

of bread to make our own picnic on the Commons?

We have our own tomatoes and a cheese knife in the car

along with the picnic blanket"

He agreed, wise man that he is, and I 

tasted cheese from a tall, and dark man.

So this is me being SOOOO EXCITED just in case you haven't seen

this face in a while.

We took in the sights on the way to the car and enjoyed the 

cobblestone streets and the joy of knowing our way 

back from whence we came.

So above you will see a very relaxed and content me with slurpee in hand

(purchased at 7 Eleven, not the Italian Grocer).

Our delightful buys at the Italian Grocer with

our very own home grown tomatoes.

And the opened paper packages to reveal the delightful

contents within.

There is just something very old world about paper wrapped

meats and cheeses that I thoroughly enjoy.

Here is the tower of delight.

That cheese was divine, wonderfully aged and all gone when we left.

The bread, crusty on the outside, super soft inside.

And this my friends is a very at ease Mat.

Now, mind you at this point life cannot get any better

for me, or so I think.

I need to preface the next part of the story with a rather

quirky part of me.  I got to spend nearly one year living in

Europe and there are just a few smells that 

tickle me pink.  They would be 

1.) diesel bus exhaust,

2.) the smoke of Marlboro cigarettes, and 

3.) cigar and pipe smoke.

Don't judge me for these likes, they simply take me back

to one of the very best years of my life when I lived a tad

more independently and got to explore the urban life more often.

As we were enjoying the beauty of God there in the green 

grass with the blue sky and a calm breeze something happened.

The man who was sitting down wind of us with his two little

yappy dogs lit a cigar.  And yes, yes, the smoke wafted 

to our little piece of perfectness and made me smile.

That, be still my soul, was my wink from God.

The entire day was me delighting in the love that 

Christ has for me in all the little things, and the 

lit cigar was the cherry on top.

Favorite thing

simply remembering this day

and the joy it brought Mat and I

experiencing it together.