I See London, I See France

Jonah and I have made plans to go to London and Paris this September, and I'm so excited! We've never been to either place, aside from an 8-hour layover I once had at Heathrow Airport. I can't wait to eat and shop and explore for two whole weeks. Recommendations are much appreciated as I've quickly realized planning a trip like this is overwhelming. Any London or Paris tips?

[photos by: Irene Suchocki]

Southern Haul

There's nothing like a southern produce stand loaded with peaches, watermelons and red and green tomatoes. This one is about 3 minutes from the house I grew up in and is the perfect place to pick up watermelon and boiled peanuts before a trip to the beach.

Grandad Hazel

I'm back from Savannah after remembering my Grandad with laughter, tears, photos, stories and songs. Thank you for all your sweet words and prayers. They meant so much to me. He left a beautiful legacy, a life's worth of lessons and many precious memories. He really loved music, so I thought a few songs were in order.

Heaven Welcomes Another

My sweet, wonderful Grandad passed away last night. He was 94. He lived a long, incredible life and was a blessing to all who knew him. Hardworking, tough, generous, kind, funny and sharp as a tack. Here he is with my grandma, who is also 94 (although she would never want that fact broadcast). The two of them were always an amazing pair. But Gran's weary body needed rest, and the Lord called him home. I'll be heading to Savannah this week to celebrate his beautiful life. My family and I would be grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Philippians 3:20-21 -- But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.

Weekend in Photos

It was one of those weekends where it feels too hot to move. We stayed inside on Saturday, eating the perfect egg sandwich, cleaning and making travel plans. Sunday, we got up the nerve to face the heat for a yummy brunch at Le Barricou with friends and their sweet baby girl. Afterwards, we lasted about five minutes at the flea market before seeking out some shade and a cranberry limeade.

Sightseeing

During his travels, photographer Michael Hughes places cheap souvenirs in front of famous landmarks and attractions. The results are a lot of fun, and in some cases, pretty seamless. You can see more of his photos on flickr, and he's released a book of favorites. Makes me want to hop on a plane right now!

[photos courtesy of: Michael Hughes]

A Fine Fourth

Hope you had a Happy Fourth of July! Jonah and I tried to cool off with a ride around Manhattan on the East River Ferry, but what really did the trick was a strawberry milkshake from Shake Shack. The cheeseburgers and fries were our little way of saying, "We love you, America."