Fancy Nancy

Five days after I got back from Washington, Nancy came to visit. We've been planing a trip for awhile, the timing just ended up happening. It made coming back to Boston bearable and then for a most wonderful month of March (and we won't discuss the aftermath, when she left). I didn't take nearly as many pictures as W! (let's be honest, Nancy and I aren't 5 and 2; plus she took a bunch on her phone for Brent, so I didn't take out the camera; and we both prefer to enjoy the moment more than capturing it), but we had WONDERFUL two week together. We discussed wedding plans, did some wedding shopping and planning. Ate tons of delicious things. Visited lots of fun places and dear people. Talked into the wee hours of the night. Prayed together. Biked all over (including a lovely trip to Concord and Walden Pond). Relished the summer days in March (70s and 80s--really?). Got my hair cut. And, for my part, just soaked up being with another person. Life is so much better shared. Something I realized from the past month is how horribly lonely my life is. Yes, I have tons of wonderful friends and I'm really very blessed. But at the end of the day, I was designed to be part of a family. And for a very long time I was part of a family. And nothing can replace that. With both R&S and with Nancy, some of my favorite things were family meals and family prayers, reporting activities at the end (and in the middle) of the day, checking in on the way to meet up, etc. Especially with Nancy, where I was partially in my regular life, I loved, loved, loved it!

And back to Nancy. Nancy is the perfect little sister. I'm sure most people who know her think she's lovely. but for me she's extra great because she thinks I'm wonderful--when I'm completely myself, good and bad. I don't know know how to explain, exactly (especially not without sounding conceited) but both of my "little" sisters think I'm the most wonderful big sister. It's humbling, in so many ways. But it's also sustaining. And I feel it. Nancy also loved Boston! I think I could have convinced her to move here, if there hadn't been a fiance back home. We just had a blast together and I was able to become enamored anew with the lovely area I live in (which was good because it helped a lot when she left). I know this is so generalized, but without spending a few days, I think I just have to sum up the trip with: We had a wonderful time together and it was awesome! I love my Nancy so very, very much and I feel very  blessed that I got this wonderful time with her before she's married. 

Our St. Patrick's day meal (after a RS bball game): Homemade pasta with pesto (homemade) and Sofia's yummy green beans (her recipe).

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Look! It's spring!!

We forgot to take pictures most of this day and I wanted one with our bikes (this was the day we biked some 30+ miles). But my bike lock was (was! I bought a new one, hooray) a very obstinate thing and after I'd already locked it up this day I refused to unlock it. So here we are posing with the bike, locked to my stairwell. :)

I taught Nancy to make pad thai--this is what she "took back" as a souvenir for Brent.

Sometimes I love propaganda.

p.s. Sherilyn, you haunted so much of this trip. So much of what I showed Nancy I had learned from you. Especially true since this was during the exact same dates as when you and I went touring, getting to know Boston. :) So it was "Sherilyn this and Sherilyn that and Sherilyn the other."