For more than a year and a half, we’ve been fundraising and preparing for Julia and Nate to go to Rome – to sing on New Years Day – for the Pope.

This week, they are there with Brian, my father, my brother, my mother-in-law, and my father-in-law. It is absolutely surreal. I’ve been flooding my facebook page with updates. I am so proud of them and so excited for them.

Our church choir director (and our first friends here in Arizona) joined Pueri Cantores,  about 8 years ago. The opportunities that they have had have been amazing, but this is absolutely a once in a lifetime trip. I can’t wait to hear all of their stories. The farthest I’ve traveled is Mexico, so it is fun to think about my kids seeing more of the world and getting to hear it through their eyes.

Mom is here helping me with Riley and Mary Alice. Tonight we are celebrating New Year’s Eve in style – with Gilmore Girls, dark chocolate covered popcorn, and French Berry Lemonade. Sweet Mary Alice is teething, so tonight I’m just praying for sleep!

I hope your New Year is full of joy and peace and that your 2016 has a little adventure in store for you!