Our family participated in a “field to table” cooking class at Spannocchia. 9 AM found us gathering with four other guests and Sarah, the Guest Services Intern, and Sara, who took us on a detailed tour of the gardens....
Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth
The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth is one of my favorite churches! In and around the church are art installations from around the world, honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. I could spend hours considering the symbolism and artistic...
The Dead Sea: The Lowest Point of our Edventure
Well, it happened. Our World Edventure has reached it’s lowest point. Literally. In fact, the lowest point on the Earth: the Dead Sea in Israel! Check out our first YouTube video with footage from the Dead Sea! After reading...
Footsteps of Jesus: Let’s start in Jerusalem
For the next couple weeks we will be pilgrims through Israel and Palestine on a Footsteps of Jesus tour with our dear friends and mentors, Bob and Pam Rognlien. After years of saying, “Next year in Jerusalem,” we are...
Around Northern Europe in 80 days
In preparation for our trip, the girls and I read/ listened to Jules Verne’s classic “Around the World in 80 days.” So it seems fitting to post as we reach our 80th day of Our World Edventure. In listening...
Kylemore Abbey, Ireland
There is something so beautiful about Kylemore Abbey! When Ryan and I first saw it 16 years ago, I was awed by the pastoral setting, the gorgeous architecture, and the glassy lake reflecting the whole thing perfectly. I knew...
John Thomas Henry Warne: From Cornwall to California 1887
A brief discourse on how the Warne-McGraw family is connected to the Cornwall region of England. For a much more robust read on earlier Warne family history, see “A Cornish Story” written by Mary Ellen Warne in the early...
Rolling with the Waves of Panic
Waves of panic roll over me at the weirdest times. While driving. While sharing precious time with friends. While watching my girls live out their “normal life” in our “normal, everyday routines.” And then a wave of panic...
Multiple Sclerosis Can Kiss My Dust
In 2005, I (Nicole) was diagnosed with a chronic, incurable, auto-immune disease called Multiple Sclerosis. I was a 30-something, over scheduled, perfectionist, rock-star, “Sure, I can be there and help with that,” mom to a 3 year old and...