ooh la la!

and oh so Sarah! This is the new Cosmopolitan, crystal everywhere! You need to stay here next time Sar!

Beautiful, love it!

Breaking 'em out!

Yep, breaking out the Keens! Lots of walking to be done today!

Are these dork shoes??

Vegas!

Arrived in Vegas today...so nice not to feel rushed and can just truly enjoy our time together. We were excited to drive on the new bridge over the Hoover Dam, but it was pretty much a non-event, truly more awesome on the old route, looking up! You really couldn't see anything from the new bridge, much to my surprise...had the camera ready and everything!

A little detour on the way into town...had some problems with the Sprinter so having it looked at. They were nice enough to give us a ride to our hotel.

Let the games begin!!!

Arizona!

It's great to be back in Arizona, wonderful to spend time with family, great hospitality, feeling the love!

Had a great show in Tempe, our thanks to Joye for helping us and keeping us organized, you are the best Joye, employee of the year!!!

Thanks to Kelley for a fantastic dinner Saturday night, such a treat for us, and seeing the kids was wonderful! Missed Patrick, who was off having fun in Maryland and missed Ryan and Julie who were off seeing Lady Gaga!

Nolan, our should I say mini Patrick? What a doll! I could kiss and hug him all day!!!

And full of energy Logan and Jake! Love these two and all of their activities, they are non-stop fun, until they crash!

sabbatical:

“A sabbatical year is a prolonged hiatus, typically one year (i wish...), 

in the career of an otherwise successful individual taken in

order to fulfill some dream, e.g. writing a book or travelling

extensively. Some universities and other institutional 

employers of scientists, physicians, and/or academics 

offer a paid sabbatical as an employee benefit (Wikepedia, 2005).”

“It is estimated that 14-24% of corporations in America have 

established sabbatical programs…Leadership in the 

establishment of such programs has come from companies 

that by virtue of their product are particularly sensitive to the

costs of employee burn-out. In high tech companies, law firms, 

consulting agencies and other high-stress industries, sabbaticals 

have been recognized as a useful management tool in countering 

burn-out. Teaching is a notoriously high burn-out profession…

Many corporations consider the benefits of sabbaticals so 

self-evident that they forego the expense of documenting 

them (University of Illinois Office of the Vice President for 

Academic Affairs, 1996).”

ok, ok, so you get it...for me it's FREEDOM!!!!

Stay tuned...

I hope to be blogging on a regular basis all of our adventures on our 5 week sabbatical! Starting in 6 more days! 1 more week of work!!!

Thanking God for this wonderful blessing in our lives!