That’s why I was drawn to Crossroads. It’s the plethora of motorcycles in the lot.  It’s my bearded, pierced, tattoed friend that sits back a couple of rows and to the left . . . the one that loves his Droid.

It’s my girlfriend who is married to a drug addict and keeps believing.

Messy. Broken. Beautiful. Real.

Our annual baptism service at Holbrook Hollow is my favorite of the year. This year there were more people being baptized than were at our first church service eight years ago. That’s when we met in a garage. That pre-dates the plastic wrapped pavilion, tattoo parlor mall, cheesy banquet hall, elementary school locations. We’ve graduated to a former roller skating rink. And my pastor is the boy that I sat next to in 4th grade math class at William Winchester Elementary.

I guess you could say we’re a family that keeps the main thing, the main thing. Jesus. My Carl puts it best. “The truth is not a weapon. It just IS.”

Dana. Teacher. Espana-phile. Newleywed.

Rhoten Family. Arms of Jesus. All the time.

Stacie. Brilliant. Artistic. Nurturer.

Reid. Poolside teachin’. Meat.

And TONS of the young and the young at heart.

Keepin’ it real. Are you searching? Just come. 10 am. Sunday. Red warehouse behind the Wawa on 140.

p.s. here’s the gallery, set up for you to snag the pics.

Reserve your tickets here.

Art is the great unifier uniquely eqpipped to inspire, encourage and restore healthy relationships within a community. That’s why I LOVE September Song, attend their show every year and take every chance I can to gush about them.

I think I told you last year that Septmenber Song’s Sound of Music was the very first play that I saw when I was eleven years old. I fell in love with those seven Von Trappes that night, and with the whole experience of theatre. I even tried for my own cast of Von Trappes, but we overshot and got Oliver.  (classical “Brady” allusion)

So these days, I grab a whole block of fifteen or so tickets . . . and I look for kids that I know that would not otherwise get that taste of live theatre . . . and I pile them into a couple of cars . . . and we go fall in love. Because we all know that if you don’t keep those appetites fed, you lose them.

Life does get packed really quickly. But I purpose to make room for museums, Howard Pyle read alouds, live music of any genre, and live theatre. If you find your internal monologue  complaining, “yea, but I can’t afford all that . . . ” you need to contact me, because SOO much of it can be had for free. I’ll tell you how:)

The delight of watching Sarah Snead and Erica Claire create their June and Louise characters was so much fun. Once again, producer Joan Eichorn, in conjunction with director Allen Cross, musical director, Zayna Null and choreographer Amy Hyde have created a priceless experience . . . completely family friendly (’cause I asked, and I know that Joan shares this love with her own grandkids!)

So really. The proceeds go right back into our community, it’s a taste the live theatre experience, and you never know who you”ll  bump into that you’ve not seen for way too long. Just do it.

Whaaa?

So. it’s true. I did that post last week on my favorite things from Boston, and one of my “kisses” went out to Larabar, a meal consisting of 100% raw fruit and nuts- no sugar, gluten, soy- just straight up raw food. Best part?? Flavors like cinnamon roll, apple pie, and my favorite, cherry pie. So, I mentioned that I had ordered three boxes (I bought mine on Amazon from Potential Dynamix LLC- best price I could find) and I’m going to tuck them away for when we pack lunches for co-op this year. {I already have a bin labeled and waiting!} That and a glass of milk for protein- I’d be a happy mamma, and the kids would get their full recess time.

But the crazy part is that I really was selected as “fan of the day” on the Larabar blog.  And this is what they said . . . seriously.

Discovering a new blog can be very rewarding, particularly when that blog reflects the principles of a talented and respected professional. Take, for instance, Kathy Freundel: A photographer and writer, Kathy uses the medium of photography to achieve artistic excellence. Her pictures are colorful, original and beautiful. And yes, she is fan of LARABAR.

(Don’t tell that I’m just a girl with a camera.)

Urban jib. Did we have the guts? Because the stone inclines on campus were tempting . . . and he had his snowboard. . . . and Raven’s training camp was filtering out. Did we? or did we follow the rules?

Rob’s a fascinating mix of urban funk and intellectualism that makes him a study. His dream is to be a Hokie engineer. I have no doubt that guy is full of all sorts of hopes and dreams. He plays his cards kinda’ close, but I got a little glimpse. And he’s going places.

Nice, nice guy, that Rob.

He has a freak flag. A big one that’s constantly whipping around him wherever he goes. That’s why he’s one that I’m drawn to in a whole room of people. He always has a kind word. He’s always game for a new adventure. He’s always coloring outside the lines . . . in a beautiful way.

Jono is a breath of fresh air.  You’ll see why.

Serious musical chops. No kiddin.

Notice diving board. You can guess where this one went!

Jono’s also a photographer. He’s really good- out there on FB all the time with the coolest shots.

Thanks, Jono, for letting me do your senior shots. You ROCK. Really.

Our trip home from Boston on Sunday was a dilly. I spent most of the drive wondering why road tolls aren’t just wrapped into taxes . . . and cursing myself that I don’t have an EZPass, although EZPass doesn’t stop  the bickering of restless sojourners in the back seat.

But my travel pain was water under the bridge the moment I got home. My Dad . . . best guy in the whole, wide world . . . is one of those people that listens really carefully, looks for an opportunity to give and seizes it every single time. He is the BEST gift giver. So guess what I had in my hand late Sunday night??? YES.

I grabbed about five hours of sleep, and was in the car at half past dark on my way to Walmart to find my plastic organizers. And while I shoulda been unpacking and doing laundry yesterday, I was taking inventory of my life. Do you know what it costs to be unorganized? Add up my five tubes of triple antibiotic cream and do the math! I’m turning over a new leaf . . . and if you want to see it, come now, cause I can’t promise how long it will last. But it IS beautiful, don’t you think?

(note to all you evolved people) . . . I know you’re saying, “hmm. she must have control issues.”  You should try living in my brain for a day- sometimes I want to pop my head off like a Barbie and put it on the nightstand to get some quiet. That’s me- super task oriented. Good thing my family laughs with and not at. I’m evolved enough to know iyamwhatiyam.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you one more thing that I fell in LOVE with at Katy’s. Her Simple Human trash can. Kinda oxymoronic, but I LOVE that trash can.

One of the most fun things about living in a friend’s home {for me} is to see how a fellow sojourner keep the wheels on the cart. So, here are a couple of nuggets that I stole from Katy and my week as a Needham-ite.

1. My Citizen’s Eco Drive watch. I actually bought mine last time I was with Katy. I was notorious for killing my watch batteries- but this one is powered by light. It hasn’t failed me yet.

2. Garmin e-Trex GPS. I also bought this last time I was with Katy, and heard all about the Dirks’ geo-caching adventures. That’s when our family experienced this great FREE family hobby. We love it because we can ALL participate.

3.  Larabars. Where have you been my whole life?? 100% fruits and nuts. I’m on a quest to get a case for school lunches. Cherry pie wins the gold star.

4. I know what I want for Christmas. Usually, I’m fantasizing about a new mop or vacuum.  {i know, it’s that “thing” i inherited from my parents} But NOW, I want a label maker. I’m trying really hard not to label some things in my life, but I DO want to exert total labeling on my closets. My heart beats faster when I see a closet like this:)

p.s. this summer I did fall in love. It’s a Simplicity. I got my used, refurbished, and I’m totally smitten!! vacuum love.

It’s magic just to be in her circle of loved ones. I can tell by the way her kids look at her.

Carl played “Pied Piper” all afternoon, kayaking the kids around in shifts and playing “don’t rock the boat,” with the crew so that Katy and I could sit in our beach chairs and reminisce. We met several of Katy’s “Plum Island” circle including Ty Buckman, a Shakespeare professor from Wittenburg University- he and Carl had exciting things to talk about.

Isabel and Kristiana knew they would be fast friends. After all, Kristiana has been sleeping in Izzy’s bed, reading her books, and sewing on her machine all week. I heard talk of “pen pal-ing” as we were leaving.

How do you impress upon your daughters that “being a loyal ya-ya” is one of the biggest gifts a girl can give and receive? I can’t tell you how many times Katy and I have had conversations about our experiences growing into women that ended with, “we’ve gotta be sure to teach our daughters about THAT.”

Claire has graciously given her room to Lily and Caroline for the week. The girls have loved being frog and  hermit crab care takers.

And Sam finally got to meet Henry. No problem connecting there.

Katy’s one of those special ones . . .  more concerned about people than things, experiences than places; she made us feel like we were the most welcomed guests ever to cross her threshold. Our only sadness was that we missed her David, by one day.

Plum Island . . . place of magical childhood memories. New England bliss.

My sister. The beautiful Nancy, who has raised up this gaggle of laughter and affection, is the most deliberate mother I know . . . pouring into her daughters’ lives, and building a house of love and authenticity that will weather the storms. She’s on her knees daily for these captivating young ladies.

I’ve seen it. They talk about it all . . . and her girls’ hearts are bound together like nobody’s business. I keep asking Nancy when she’s going to write her book {cause that girl can WRITE} . . .  or go on the retreat circuit sharing her journey {she’s had a dilly of a journey}.  No time for that yet- she’s still raisin’ up her girls, full force.

You want this? There’s no secret . . . it’s being authentic, it’s saying “I’m sorry,” a whole lot, it’s looking for the good in every day, and it’s keeping your eyes fixed on the Author of Love. Not easy, but so good.

*** this is a sistahood post, and my failure to mention the partnership that makes this possible (Chris and Jake!) is solely my attempt to keep this post about the chicas. oxox

The Freundel ten are enjoying half a house swap. We are pretending to be the Dirks family this week, from Needham, Mass. Even went to the neighborhood pool on day one and ended up visiting with one of Katy Dirk’s good friends. It is such an adventure to step into another woman’s life, to live in her house, shop at her stores and share the same adventures. Katy’s been my friend for years and years, and she’s always been the most laid back, yet purposeful woman I know. We get to see her on Plum Island later this week . . . can’t wait!

Caroline and Lily discover the “secret passage door” in Claire’s bedroom. This is the perfect “hide-and-seek” house. Reminds me so much of my Gi-Gi’s home in River Edge, NJ, I half expected to see a Beechnut gum plastic swing hanging from the rafters in the scary, red basement.

And the boys are happy to discover that it really was the right choice to travel light . . . Sam has been answering to the name of “Henry” all week. He’s learned to ride Henry’s two wheeler on bumpy sidewalks, and awakens to Henry’s train yard every morning.

Katy has ceramic tiles all over the house . . . made by her three beautiful children. I wish I had done this- so Katy.

Big adventure for the Freundel girls was our first excursion to the American Girl Store in Boston. It was a once in a lifetime for us, so we got the milkshakes, hairdo’s and everything.

Dan caught up on his rest in his own private loft room. First time the guy’s ever had his own room, and I think it agreed with him. He had a pile of letters from Chrysalis (his agape) that he savored . . . and then, it was college visitation time.

We’ve visited two universities so far, and Dan really LOVED one of them. We’ve still got a couple more on our list, but I’m so happy that he’s dreaming big dreams.

And I’d never survive without my Carl, who always knows by the look on my face that he needs to send me an encouraging text. Don’t know what I did to deserve him, but I’m sure glad that he’s on my side.