Dear Blog,

We haven't met in a while!  The busyness of life I guess.  Def have once again run myself into the ground before taking a step back.  This time I have learned, ha really!!  Last week I went back to Illinois to visit my family.  Dad has been going through a health battle with kidney cancer.  Being so far has been harder than I realised.  At first I wanted to tune all that out and go about life as usual.  I will 'feel' later, right now I have stuff to do.  You might know how that goes!?  At any rate, I'm so so grateful for the chance to stop and spend some much needed time. 

In the midst of spending hours at the hospital it was shockingly restful and I actually had some fun!  Of course taking pictures along the way :) 
Before chemo started we took a trip to the zoo.  My sis had to leave the next day to work her biggest event of the year, River Fest.  She is a trip, I just adore my little sister to peices.  Even though she is loud and yells at me sometimes haha!!

Cheeky, Daddy, and Me at the zoo

 Bears

Penguins

Mom and I went to see cheeks do her thing.  They gave her a golf cart and she was for sure in charge and running the show like a star.

St. Charles River

So then we watched these dogs dive!  yeah!  Strangest thing, Dock Dogs they are called.  They measure what dog can dive the farthest.  

DOT DOG

Mama and I at river fest

That was cool.  Now I had a bit of a wait in the airport trying to get back to Texas.  Spending a whole day waiting to fly stand by and not getting on was worth it.  I got to see my BFF and spend one more night on valley!

Ian and I at the airport

Basically I have the coolest, sweetest aunt ever!  She met me at the airport the next morning, at 4am, to fly with me back to Texas.  We couldn't get on to houston so we got to fly FIRST CLASS to DENVER!  I was freaking out!  And so wishing I would have done my hair for the occasion :/

Aunt Whitney and I sitting first class :D

That was short lived.  Got to see the rockies only from the plane window.  Right back on another plane.  I was so hoping to get out and explore.  Gods timing is perfect.  I will wait on that one.

Thats the end of my photo journey back to the home base.  I love you family and I miss you more than you know!!!