This morning at 6:06am a crack of thunder was so insanely loud and long and SO out of the blue (very atypical in DC to have thunderstorms in the morning let alone at sunrise!)  I was jolted awake ... heart was racing; staring out our open window at a yellowish sky- for the shortest of seconds-  I truly thought we had been bombed and 

I was seeing remnants of a massive explosion.  

I lay in bed for an hour marveling the torrent of rain and lighting bolts;

 it was one of those moments I won't soon forget. 

Zara had the pleasure of not moving a muscle til 930am!

I was fortunate enough to receive this pic from Chrissy- 

its a snap of Cherise, who used be work with me at the PALM.  A few weeks ago it was her birthday so i have been thinking of her but had no working email for her.   

Cherise is our guardian angel- she was the ONE who miraculously introduced Christina to us in January of 2007.  Here she is, in Norfolk, VA in her Navy uniform, 

presently she is out to sea for 7 months.

I love this family shot, Tommy is working for Matt and his Dad nowadays and so everyone happened to be in town for a quick visit to see Zaza- as she now calls herself!  School is out and LET the GAMES begin!