Lisa Lisa Bo Bisa

As I mentioned before, the beginning of our trip to Brazil didn't feel like "vacation" to me.  While we were in a new country and seeing/doing plenty of new things, we were also just being a family.  We were in my sister's home, making tuna sandwiches and chicken dinners, playing dominoes and canasta, checking our email and Facebook, playing Words with Friends and reading books, watching Olympic coverage, taking turns cuddling the baby, telling jokes, taking pictures, being silly...  It was just US, how we would be together in any country or state.  It was refreshing and exactly how I wanted it to be. Oh, I forgot to mention during our first few days that we went to visit the US Embassy that my brother-in-law and sister (used to) work at.  It was my first time in an embassy, and it was really cool to see and experience it.  On the 5th day my parents, Jon and I flew down to Foz do Iguacu.  This started the portion of our trip that I refer to as...

Two mornings ago, I sat in warm, beautiful Brazil, sipping a cup of coffee and watching my 6-week-old nephew kick around on his play mat, visiting with my family.    Now I'm sitting here, at 5am because my body feels like it's at least 8 or 9am, with a fleece blanket and sweatshirt, shaking my head at the forecast for another snowstorm. I want the first morning view back!!!  I honestly woke up expecting to be in N's nursery.  To say I was disappointed to realize I wasn't, and that I have to go back to work after 13 days off, is putting it mildly. Our trip to Brazil felt like a whirlwind, like the days were put in fast forward mode, and yet, oddly enough, it was also a refreshingly long and glorious trip.   I had not given much thought to the snow, the responsibilities, or the schedules back home, until our last morning.   I embraced the moment, being there with my family, and set everything else aside to make the most of it.   It ...