Catching up with Fiona on Skype

She has been traveling between school terms and has been catching us up about her travels to Bath, Oxford and Stratford-on-Avon. She told us all about the Jane Austen walking tour she took in Bath.

Fiona: "...and I got to try some of the Bath mineral waters!"

Me: "Is it as nasty as they say it is?"

Fiona: "I've tasted things that are much worse. After all, you made me drink milk, growing up."

She also saw the graves of Shakespeare, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis within a 24 hour period, which was just mind-bendingly brilliant.

A year ago today

My sister Betsy wrote this to commemorate the importance of this day to our family:

Today we are marking one year since Dad passed away. We miss him tremendously, but are grateful for the gift he was in so many lives. Mom is doing well — Dad would be so proud of all the adventures she planned last year, and the few she is already arranging for 2014. We are all gathering and marking this first anniversary with a special service at Fort Snelling cemetery on Friday where we will bury Dad's ashes in a special service for military veterans. Thanks again to all for your love and support this past year!