Anthony and I try to get away just the two of us at least once a year — usually to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, or somewhere else nearby. This year, in honor of our 5th wedding anniversary and my 50th birthday, we are going to Paris over spring break…and I’m completely giddy with anticipation.
I found us incredibly inexpensive flights on WOW Air, an airline out of Iceland. I’ve also rented us an adorable studio apartment on AirBnB in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris. Since Anthony and I have both seen all the major touristy spots in Paris, I decided that we’ll stay “local” and experience a true Parisian neighborhood. We haven’t been to Montmartre — and from what I’ve read, it’s quintessential Paris.
Stay tuned to my Instagram mid-March. I’m sure I’ll bombard you with photos pastries and coffee shops.
Today I was thinking back to my trip to Italy with Maya from back in April 2012. I had dreamed of that trip for over a year. It was going to be me, my mom, and Maya going — three generations of McBryde women. But then just a few days before we were to leave, my mom found out that she was going to have heart bypass surgery. It was totally unexpected. Then I had to decide whether to cancel the trip or not. After going back and forth, my sweet mom encouraged us to go without her. And we did. It was a glorious holiday. Maya and I had never had two weeks off just enjoying each other like this. She was a trooper — best three-year-old world traveler ever. Okay, that’s not true, but we did have a blast. And thank the Lord that my mom is doing well now. We’re going to take that trip to Italy with her sometime soon, I hope.
Venice, Italy
Enjoying our daily gelato. Levanto, Italy
Bike riding along the coast. Levanto, Italy
Today, my Timehop app reminded me of this trip. My Instagram has more pics. I’m sure I’ll post Italy photos for the next several days as I reminiscence about that glorious vacation.
Now I’m in the midst of planning a trip to Nicaragua with Madison and Maya for June. Stay tuned — it’s going to be another one for the record books.
I heard on the news that December is the perfect time to book your next trip; that prices on hotels and airfare are best in December. I don’t really have any big travel plans yet for 2016, one health but I do like to dream. Here are some places I’d like to go next year along with links to discounts if any of them sound good to you too.
* This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, symptoms your price will be the same as shopping directly with Viator. However, buy information pills I will receive a small commission. Thank you.
Save 12%: Lisbon Super Saver: Lisbon Sightseeing Tour and Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Coast Day Trip (thru 12/25)
Where do you want to travel to in 2016?
I bet Viator is going there!
*NOTE: This information was compiled from ShareASale where I am an affiliate. I earn a small commission when readers make a purchase after clicking on my link. Find a sponsor for your web site. Get paid for your great content.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, price your cost will be the same but I will automatically receive a small commission.
Do you have someone in your life who is always living out of a suitcase or traveling to a far-away locale? I’m leaving on Sunday for a business trip to Chicago. It got me thinking about my packing list which led to me thinking about the perfect gifts for travelers. Here are a few ideas of things I would like:
Do you have a must have travel item to add to this list? Share it in the comments below (or let me know which of the existing travel goodies you liked best).
Now I better go pack for the Windy City.
*NOTE: This information was compiled from ShareASale where I am an affiliate. I earn a small commission when readers make a purchase after clicking on my link. Find a sponsor for your web site. Get paid for your great content.
New Year’s Day is my favorite holiday. I think it’s because I love fresh starts. It’s like a new notebook the first day of school full of blank pages, page endless possibilities, and ideas yet to be thought. 2014 was a pretty good year for my family. Anthony and I celebrated our first anniversary in April and started foster parenting classes with The CALL. On Mother’s Day, I was honored to be featured in Listen To Your Mother at The Rep. In June, Anthony and I visited England, Belgium, France and Kenya for 16 days. In September, I was in the delivery room when our baby girl that we’re currently fostering was born — I even cut the cord! All our children are healthy and happy and drive us crazy (as they should). We are definitely blessed.
But yet, there’s something magical and mysterious about a new year. It’s not like a do-over — I don’t want to erase the events of 2014. It’s more of the anticipation — how is God gonna top this one kind of thing. I know He has great plans for us in 2015.
Of course I have the usual new year’s resolutions: cut back on my sugar intake, get back into daily walks, and build my Le-Vel Thrive business. But mostly I’m looking forward to possibly adding another child to our family legally and permanently, and spending more quality time with my kids and husband.
Writing about Kenya is extremely difficult for me. I think it’s because the way I feel when I’m there is indescribable. It’s comforting and heartbreaking at the same time. The people are incredibly kind and welcoming. They are grateful, clinic and yet they have so little. It’s a humbling experience to say the least. Anyway, ampoule I will do my best to tell this tale…
On June 20, 2014, Anthony and I flew out of Paris and arrived in Kenya to meet up with the rest of the Kenya Relief team. We flew over the Swiss Alps and the Sahara Desert — beautiful, vast contrasts in landscape.
I had a bit of a panic attack at the Nairobi airport waiting in line for hours to get through customs. I could see my luggage going round and round on the carousel just on the other side. It was crowded and loud, and I was tired. Of course, the recent violence in the country was always on my mind. But we made it through customs eventually, I got my bags, met team members from Alabama and Michigan, and exchanged my American dollars for Kenyan Shillings. Our drivers picked us up. I was comforted to see the same drivers from my 2010 trip — Francis and Nelson. They escorted us to our hotel, a small, walled compound with heavy security. I think this hotel caters to traveling missionaries. It was safe, but certainly not luxurious. I teased Anthony that I’d seen prison facilities nicer than this. I managed to sleep to prepare for the long journey to Migori the next morning.
The next morning after breakfast, we traveled the long, bumpy road from Nairobi to Migori in the far southwest corner of Kenya. Along the way we stopped at the Great Rift Valley.
We stayed at Brittney Home of Grace, an orphanage started about 12 years ago by Steve James. (story here) The children at the orphanage are precious. We all enjoyed playing with them during our down time. (And they will kick your butt in soccer!) Their carefree innocence in the midst of really hard stuff made my heart smile. One of the highlights of the trip was catching up with Velma, the girl that I met in 2010 and started sponsoring. She calls us Momma Stacey and Daddy Anthony, and she has blossomed into a sweet, beautiful young lady. There are many other kids that need sponsors, so if you would like more information about that, go here. As a sponsor, I help cover the cost of Velma’s room and board at the orphanage. Another sponsor covers her school costs. This trip, we walked to Velma’s grandmother’s house. It was such a thrill to meet her grandmother and her siblings. Unlike the medical team that I did last time, our mission this trip was to hold a Vacation Bible School of sorts in four public schools. Christian education is part of the curriculum in Kenya, so we were welcomed with open arms. Our first school was Kenya Relief Academy where Velma and the other orphans from Brittney’s Home of Grace attend along with kids from around town. It’s a fairly new school and is already the top-performing school in the area.
The other three schools we visited were not as nice, but the children still were adorable and eager to listen to our stories. That Tuesday afternoon, I got to go into town for some shopping. It was unlike any shopping experience I’d ever had. I didn’t want to be an obnoxious “poverty tourist”, so I don’t have photos of it, but picture a farmers market in a shanty town. That’s kind of the feel. I did get permission to take this photo of the beans and grains. I purchased a woven purse, a colorful paper bead necklace and some other things requested by teammates back at the compound. Next we walked to the grocery store to buy toiletries to take the the prison. The grocery store has a “coat check” where all bags must be kept — they are not allowed in the store. I even had to check my purse into a locker. I kept the key as I shopped then retrieved it after I checked out. It was most strange. But the grocery store was pretty close to what you’d expect — shopping carts, aisles of food, soap, etc. — sort of like a large Dollar General.
On that Wednesday afternoon, the entire team visited the local prison in Migori. Anthony preached. It was different. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my story where we go on safari…
On June 13, sickness
Anthony and I left Little Rock for the UK. Anthony’s brother Elijah lives in Mildenhall, about 80 miles north of London. We stayed with Elijah and his wife Gloria for two days. During that time, Elijah led us on a whirlwind tour of Cambridge and London. If you want/need to see all the major sites of London in just four hours, call Elijah. (My legs ached so bad that first night.) Here are the highlights.
Anthony and me in Cambridge, UK
Ring, Ring — The Queen is on the line.
Our super-charged tour guide, Elijah Valley
Big Ben (not so big according to Anthony)
I LOVE BRUGES! It’s beautiful. It’s walkable. And it’s full of chocolate shops. What more could one want?
Anthony and I stayed in a lovely B&B called Guesthouse Abiente. Our room was simply decorated and very relaxing. One peaceful moment was lying in bed with the windows open listening to church bells ring. Our hostess make us feel so welcome and prepared a breakfast feast for us in the morning. I had a bucket list of things to do and (mostly) eat in Bruges:
* Eat chocolate. Now I got into this assignment. And it was easy to do with chocolate shops every few feet. And the chocolate did not disappoint. * Eat a waffle. I had several — some where light and delicious; others were heavy and gross. But check.
* Take Anthony to the concert hall for their interactive museum. He really enjoyed himself. And the view from the top of the concert hall was spectacular. * Eat mussels. I had to do this one alone since Anthony doesn’t eat seafood. They were very good, buy
but not something I want to eat often. I’m good for a year or so. * Drink Belgium beer. I’m not a beer drinker, but I heard that the beer there was really good, so I had to try one. (I’m still not a beer fan.) * Eat street fries. Frites, as they call them, are served hot with a big dollop of mayonnaise. OMG. They are so amazing. I could eat them every meal. But then I’d weigh 300 lbs before year’s end. One thing that I didn’t expect was a World Cup game between Belgium and Algeria taking place while we were there. The city of Bruges set up a giant movie screen in one of the town squares to broadcast the game. People came out in droves dressed in Belgium colors to watch the game. And Belgium won! So then a dance party broke out with a DJ spinning tunes (including a lot of 80’s American pop). Anthony and I joined in the festivities.
Another delightful surprise was a moonlit walk after a light rain. The city sparkled like diamonds and the sky was an intense blue.
So yes, we loved Bruges and will definitely try to return one day.
On June 13, sickness
Anthony and I left Little Rock for the UK. Anthony’s brother Elijah lives in Mildenhall, about 80 miles north of London. We stayed with Elijah and his wife Gloria for two days. During that time, Elijah led us on a whirlwind tour of Cambridge and London. If you want/need to see all the major sites of London in just four hours, call Elijah. (My legs ached so bad that first night.) Here are the highlights.
Flash back to July 2012: M and I were living in Washington, check DC, area, and since I worked for the US Public Health Service, we were able to fly “Space A” (military stand by) for almost free. Our good friends Juliette and Hamet, also officers in the USPHS, invited us to join them and Hamet’s French family in the south of France for a week. Hamet’s entire family (Mom, Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins) get together for two weeks every summer in a large home in Nyons in the Provence region of France. It was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. Now if M and I could just get on a flight! With just two weeks to plan, I decided that trying to catch a flight out of McGuire Air Force Base would be our best chance. It was a three hour drive from our house to McGuire. The flight we hoped to get on was in the middle of the night, so I put our names on the list, and we camped out in the cold airport lobby. Luckily, we were successful in getting seats on the plane. We boarded in the wee hours of the morning and were given ear plugs and blankets. These military planes are not insulated, so it gets very loud and very cold. Even though it was July, we dressed in layers including fleece jackets. Three-year-old M was a trooper — watched movies whenever she wasn’t sleeping. We flew to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Luckily, my friend Jeana and her husband live there, so they picked us up at the airport and let us spend the night with them. The next morning, we did a little site seeing around Ramstein, then rented a car (a sweet Audi) and drove eight hours to southern France. After getting the GPS switched from German to English, it was an easy and beautiful drive. We arrived in Nyons late Sunday night. Hamet’s Grandma lives in Nyons, but the family went together to rent a large home with a pool. It was beautiful.
Juliette and Hamet have two boys just a bit older than M, plus the French cousins were there too, so it was heaven on earth for M. Juliette and I took day trips to nearby wineries and markets.
We walked all over Nyons visiting museums, a lavender factory and ice creams shops.
But I think my favorite part of the trip was hanging out with the family back at the house. We’d go get freshly-baked croissants each morning. Meals were a group effort with everyone sitting down and unhurriedly dining together. And there were nightly games of poker while sipping hot mint tea.
After several (lost count) lovely days in Nyons, it was time for M and I to drive back to Germany and (fingers crossed) hopefully get on the next flight back to the US. It was a nail-biter, but in the end, we got seats 7 and 8 of only nine available seats open on a flight back to McGuire along with lots of cargo and a few sleeping soldiers.
On June 13, 
Anthony and me in Cambridge, UK
Our super-charged tour guide, Elijah Valley
