What's in a mile?
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 10:04PM A mile is 5280 feet. It's what takes you away from home and what brings you back. It's what a runner strives for and a quadriplegic dreams about. To this momma, a mile represents two areas of my life that I have a deep passion for: travel and running.
Travel has touched my soul by showing me a colorful world outside of small town Texas.
I am truly a proud Texan just so you know! But to go places and gain new experiences that teach me about myself and the world, well that's a real lesson that you just can't put a price on.
2 years ago, my husband and I had dream honeymoon. 2 weeks in Europe: Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Greece. Amazing people, food, and places. Here's a picture of us in Barcelona. 
Returning to Europe this summer was something that I had looked forward to since our honeymoon trip. This time though, we were able to take 2 of our children, our oldest boys Brian and Shea. We also brought Brian's girlfriend and my cousin with us. A group of 6 traveling across Europe for 2.5 weeks. We were definitely the Griswold's at times. Here are the kids at the airport waiting on our flight to Paris.
Taking the kids to Europe started off as just a trip to show them some of the world but it quickly became so much more.
My favorite memory of the trip was in Rome. One night we walked to the Vatican and sat in St. Peter's square. Sitting in the presence of one of the most powerful churches in the world, we started talking about religion and God. There was a point I looked around and thought, now this is a moment you could never plan.
(even for us, the TYPE A planners!!)
Sitting in St. Peter's Square
Here are a few things I learned about Europe through the eyes of my teenagers:
1. 2 words FREE REFILLS
2. A European beach is cool to a 13 year old boy or a 37 year old boy (do boys ever really grow up?)
3. Venice, a city built on water. Sure that's impressive but did you see all the pigeons in St. Mark's square? Now that was cool!
4. Another church?
5. Eurocup games are fun, especially an overtime win with about 1000 drunk Italians! Now that was crazy! Let's hear it for football!
6. America should totally rethink 21 for the drinking age.
7. The Mona Lisa is like an 8 X 10!
8. The Coliseum...bloodbath...gladiators...sweet!
And many, many, more. Taking them made me see every city in a new way. I will be forever grateful for that time with them. No cell phones, no x-boxes. Simply us, a family and lots of laughs for 17 days.
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