Summer Part II
by alyssasmith
Once the painting workshop was over, I traveled from Massachusetts to Trumbull, Connecticut where I visited family. My Aunt Grace and cousins are there and it was a great time to reconnect. We went to the Mystic Aquarium with the kids and there’s even a Curious George book whose illustrations were based off of that particular Aquarium. Way cool (check it out… http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/curious-george-at-the-aquarium-h-a-rey/1100295763). Mystic is also home of the Julia Roberts film Mystic Pizza in case you were wondering. I saw the pizza parlor as we drove past.
From Connecticut, I made my way to Birmingham, Alabama and saw some very dear friends. Jonas is a fellow Taylor grad and Delicianna and I met at an MK ski retreat in France in middle school and then ended up roommates not too long after I arrived in Germany three years ago. It was a much needed reunion and I also got to meet the new addition to their family. How sweet!
I headed to Chicago and picked up a car that Becky’s (my roommate) brother and sister in law let me borrow. Katie made me up a mix CD which probably ended up saving my sanity through hundreds of miles in the car. In Wheaton, I met up with two favorite alumni art students from BFA. They are such talented people and am so proud to have been their teacher.
Following my itinerary, I made my way to past green and golden fields to Indiana. Indianapolis and Upland were the main stops where I got to catch up with such wonderfully inspiring people. Friends from my Taylor days, fellow artists…such beautiful lives and hearts!
The view from the car looked like this most of the time….
I’ve realized that I really enjoy driving in the middle of no-where…now obviously once you’ve been driving for 9 hours, this isn’t always the case. In general, however, I find it a great time to think and just soak in the scenery. Next stop Ohio to see my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins! Again…no pictures. I don’t know what I was thinking. Such a fun time, experimenting with recipes with Aunt Dee, hiking in the forest, getting wet under a waterfall, the most giant pancakes you ever saw, launching rockets and catching fireflies. That sounds pretty epic, if you ask me.
My journey took me back up through Chicago and then to Milwaukee where I spent a week catching up with amazing friends and supporters. I’ve found that the Lord has given me family wherever I go and it is truly a blessing. I was also able to do an artist evening where I showed/sold some of my work and was able to share a bit about my ministry in Germany. It was a wonderful evening and I’ll be writing more about that hopefully in another post.
I ended my trip in Traverse City with my sisters, brother in law, niece and nephew. So good to be with my own family! Levi turned one and is just about the most adorable one year old you’ll ever see.
More pics and stories to come!
Fun! Great photos of your trip! So glad you were able to connect with good friends!
I love love love the picture of you at the Aquarium =) What a summer hey? SO happy you got to come see us for a bit! It was so much fun! Too short as always =( Love you!