March Madness

March Madness for me isn't about basketball - it is about a last minute flight to the US to spend sometime with AUSTIN...

(and of course Audrey, Toren, David, Mandy & Baby, Laura and Scott.)

Our first big to do thing was to drive to Spokane and meet Toren, who was on business.  Then I was going to do a solo drive to Rexburg to visit the "college" kids.

 Here is how we take a road trip with the AUSTINATOR!!

Nana's Ipad, brushing teeth, listening to some cool tunes and his own little bedroom - the bathroom!!

It truly was a SOLO road trip to Rexburg,not a soul in sight but to me the sight filled my SOUL with awe and wonder.

Talk about injuries during March Madness, Austin had his share...

 His whole tumb nail came off - OUCH!!

Nana came to the rescue and did what all good Nana's do - go to lunch.  I am lucky because Austin loves my favorite place to eat, Chipotle's!

After lunch we headed to Costco so I could bring back to Thailand a tote and a few suitcases full of cereal, books, spices and Easter candy and whatever made it into my cart.  It may not have help Austin's tumb nail to grow any faster but it made for a great way to get the Madness out of March!

Date Night on Boracay Island

Ron and I don't get many date nights, he is either traveling or just coming back from traveling.  But when we do get some time to date we know how to make the most of it.  Our last date night, was actually six beautiful days on Boracay Island in the Philippines.

Ron was there on a business retreat so I spent 2 1/2 months worth of date night money that had gone unused and bought me a companion ticket!

Ron had meeting during the day for four of the days so I decided to keep myself busy...you can only lay on the beach for so long, so I decided to get my Advanced Open Water diver certification.  Read the manual - take test and go on 6 dives.  Not a bad way to spend the time Ron was working.

I certified in deep diving, navigation, current diving (not my favorite), fish identification and night diving.

My favorite dive was my fish identification dive. Dive spot was "Friday's Rock" I was the only diver and the fish were swarming me, it was amazing!  I was in their world.

I had a wonderful instructor, a beautiful sea to dive in, warm sunshine and a white sandy beach for resting and relaxing.  Currently this "I am never going to learn to dive" diver now has 50 dives logged in her book.                                                                                         Iam so glad that I completed my Advanced certificate - Ron was indeed a happy and proud husband.  

Ron and I were able to have a few incredible date nights on White Sand Beach.  The sunsets were stunning, the evening breezes balmy and the food delicious.  We may not have a date night every week - but when we do we do it RIGHT!

White Sand Beach, Boracay Island Philippines

Coca Cola dinner on the beach with Perfect SUNSET!

Faces of Cambodia

Nothing captures the spirit of a nation or country better then it's people.  When I travel I love to photograph the faces of the people because it is their story that I am trying to tell not mine.

Visiting Cambodia was no different.

I was moved by the hard working Cambodians who are poor, living the best they can and yet are friendly and happy especially the children.  I am going to let my photos tell their story.

"The Naked Truth"

"It takes a Village"

Floating Village - Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia

"A SUCKER for a SMILE"

I never leave home with out a treat in my bag

 "Candy Store"

Making Palm Sugar candy

"Behold the little ones"

Look into their face and tell me what you see. 

I see children of GOD