Where Trevi Fountain Wishes, Duckie Brigades & a Little GiGi Love Made Memories to Last a Lifetime! 🥰❣️

Oh, Roma! 🇮🇹⛲️❤️ What a magnificent final stop on our Italy Girls Adventure!

But to tell you why Roma was so special, I have to take you back one year…to June 2025. 🥰❣️

When GiGi traveled to Italy with sister Shawna and niece Blue for the very first time, we had a magnificent adventure! 🇮🇹❣️

But before I ever left home, I told my granddaughter Tyla that I was going to Italy, and she immediately exclaimed…

“GiGi! You HAVE to go to the Trevi Fountain ⛲️ and you HAVE to send me pictures!” 🤩❣️



Well, truth be told, GiGi didn’t even know what the Trevi Fountain WAS! 😂❣️

But I promised my sweet Tyla I would certainly try! 👍🥰❣️

One evening during that first trip, our private driver asked if we would like to visit the famous Trevi Fountain.

And OF COURSE GiGi’s answer was…

YES! YES! YES! 👍👏❣️

After all, my Tyla had given me a very important mission! ⛲️💕❣️

I was so excited to see this magnificent fountain, and even more excited to send Tyla the pictures she had requested! 📸🥰❣️

So you can imagine how special it was when, exactly one year later, GiGi and Tyla were finally standing together in ROMA! 🇮🇹❤️❣️

And there was one place we absolutely HAD to visit…

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN! ⛲️🤩❣️

GiGi secretly videoed Tyla’s very first look as she walked toward this magnificent fountain.

And OH MY GOODNESS…

The look on her face was PURE JOY! 🥹😍🥰❣️



It was one of those priceless GiGi moments I will treasure forever in my heart. 💕💓💕

In fact, Tyla loved it SO much that we simply HAD to return on our very last day to see the Trevi Fountain in the beautiful daylight! ⛲️☀️🤩❣️



One year earlier, I had visited because Tyla asked me to.

And now, here we were, experiencing it TOGETHER! 🥰❤️❣️

Sometimes the most beautiful adventures begin with a grandchild’s simple wish. 💕❣️

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🛍️💕 WHEN IN ROMA… SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP!

Well, of course, no Italy Girls Adventure would be complete without a LITTLE shopping! 😂🛍️❣️

And when I say a little shopping, I might be stretching the truth just a bit! 😉😂❣️

One of our MUST-VISIT destinations in Roma was the famous Brandy Melville clothing store! 🛍️👗❣️

And I must apologize to anyone who planned to shop there after we left because…

YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THEY RESTOCK! 😂😂❣️

Oh, it was SO much fun watching Tyla and Blue shop until they dropped! 🛍️🥰❣️

There is something very special about watching these girls enjoy being young, being together, and finding their own treasures in a beautiful city halfway around the world! 🌎💕❣️

But while those girls were busy shopping for clothes…

GiGi discovered a store that was practically MADE FOR ME! 🤩❣️

A store filled EXCLUSIVELY with…

DUCKIES! 🦆🦆🦆❣️

Every shape, every size, every color, and every design imaginable!

Now, before I tell you what GiGi purchased, I must take you on a little Duckie Brigade sideline! 😉🦆❣️

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🦆🚙❣️ THE DUCKIE BRIGADE… AND A LITTLE GRUMPA WISDOM!

Have you noticed that so many Jeeps driving around these days have little rubber duckies lined up across their dashboards? 🦆🚙❣️

Well, GiGi certainly noticed!

And after seeing duckie after duckie after duckie, my curiosity finally got the best of me! 😂❣️

So one day, I asked a member of the Duckie Brigade…

“WHAT is with all these DUCKIES on your dashboards?” 🦆🤔❣️

And I was told a wonderful story!

During the COVID shutdowns, when people couldn’t gather and socialize as they normally would, Jeep owners began sharing little duckies as a way of reaching out, spreading kindness, and saying…

“HI! 👋 We’re still here, and we’re still thinking of YOU!” 💕🦆❣️

Well, GiGi thought that was just the most wonderful idea! 🥰❣️

After all, who doesn’t need a little extra love, kindness, and a friendly HELLO now and then? 💓💗💓

And even though GiGi doesn’t drive a Jeep…

I decided right then and there that I was joining the DUCKIE BRIGADE TOO! 😂👍🦆❣️

And I still have my duckies riding along with me to this very day!

So when I discovered an entire store dedicated to duckies in Roma, I was in DUCKIE HEAVEN! 🦆🇮🇹🤩❣️

Of course, GiGi couldn’t leave empty-handed!

I purchased…

🦆🇮🇹 An ITALY DUCKIE to remember our adventure!

🦆🧖‍♀️ A SPA DUCKIE, because even duckies deserve a little pampering!



🦆👛 And a PURSE DUCKIE to dangle from my purse and accompany GiGi on future adventures!



Oh, the JOY of finding unexpected little treasures! 😂🥰❣️

BUT WAIT… HERE COMES GRUMPA WISDOM! 😎🦆❣️

When I first told Grumpa about my decision to join the Duckie Brigade, he asked me a very interesting question…

“Have you ever noticed that some people have their duckies facing IN toward the driver, while other people have their duckies facing OUT toward the world?”

Huh??? 🤔🦆❣️

Well, NO, Grumpa, GiGi had never noticed such a thing!

But Grumpa had a theory! 😎❣️

He explained that…

The people with their duckies facing INWARD must be the ones needing a little extra love, comfort, and support from their duckies. 🥰🦆❣️

While…

The people whose duckies face OUTWARD are the friendly, outgoing people who want to share their joy and love with the WORLD! 🌎💕🦆❣️

OH, GRUMPA! 😂😂😂❣️

Well, naturally, GiGi had to go check the duckies I had placed on my dashboard months earlier.

And wouldn’t you know it…

ALL MY DUCKIES WERE FACING OUT! 🦆🦆🦆🤣❣️



Guess I’m the FRIENDLY TYPE! 😉🥰❣️

Oh, that Grumpa wisdom is simply priceless! 😎❤️❣️



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🏛️🇮🇹❣️ ANCIENT ROMA… THE COLOSSEUM & VATICAN CITY!

Of course, we didn’t spend ALL our time shopping and collecting duckies! 😂❣️

Tyla and GiGi had some magnificent history to explore!

And that meant visiting two of the most extraordinary places in Roma…

THE COLOSSEUM! 🏛️🇮🇹❣️



And…

VATICAN CITY! 🇻🇦😇❣️



We were blessed with wonderful guides who shared stories about the history and people of this ancient part of our world. 🌎🥰❣️

The Colosseum was absolutely AWESOME!

Just imagine standing in a place that has witnessed nearly 2,000 years of history! 🤯🏛️❣️



But I think our favorite experience was visiting Vatican City! 🇻🇦❤️❣️

We learned so many fascinating things!

Did you know Vatican City is actually its very own COUNTRY? 🇻🇦🤩❣️

People really are citizens of Vatican City, and they have their own passports!

There are only around 800 residents living within this tiny independent country! 😅❣️

They even have their very own post office, license plates, and other official services!



Well, GiGi thought that was absolutely fascinating!

So, of course, we HAD to send ourselves postcards from Vatican City! 💌🏤❣️

And wouldn’t you know it…

When we returned home from our Italian adventure, our postcards arrived, officially stamped by the VATICAN CITY POST OFFICE! 🇻🇦💌🥰❣️



What a wonderful little souvenir from such a special place!

But one of the most meaningful experiences of our entire visit was walking into the beautiful Sistine Chapel. 😇🙏❣️

Oh, my…

To stand beneath Michelangelo’s magnificent ceiling, surrounded by such extraordinary beauty and centuries of religious history, was truly humbling.

There are moments in life when words simply cannot describe what your heart is feeling.

And this was one of those moments for GiGi. 💕🙏❣️

Sharing that experience with my precious granddaughter made it even more special.

A beautiful reminder of faith, history, and the incredible gifts of beauty and creativity God has given His children. 😇❤️🙏❣️

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🍔🍟🍝❣️ A LITTLE TASTE OF HOME IN ROMA!

Well, after all our wonderful Italian adventures, our final evening in Roma arrived!

And guess where we decided to have dinner?

THE HARD ROCK CAFE! 🎸🍔🇮🇹❣️

Now, I must admit something…

GiGi is really NOT much of a pasta 🍝 or pizza 🍕 girl!

I know, I know…

How can someone LOVE Italy so much and not be crazy about pasta and pizza? 😂🇮🇹❣️

But after enjoying all those wonderful Italian experiences, it was rather nice to have some food that reminded us of HOME! 🏠🥰❣️

And Tyla?

SHE WAS IN HEAVEN! 😍🥰❣️

What a fun way to spend our last evening together in this beautiful city!

But our adventures weren’t quite finished…

Because there was still one more VERY IMPORTANT Italian tradition to enjoy…

GELATO! 🍨🍦🇮🇹❣️

And OH, do we have a story about THAT! 😂❣️



For our final night’s adventure, be sure to read our special story about GELATO IN ITALY on my Joyful GiGi Adventures posts page! 🍨🤩❣️

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💕🇮🇹❣️ ITALY IS FOR LOVERS… AND FOR GiGi & TYLA!

They say Italy is made for LOVERS. ❤️🇮🇹❣️

And I would certainly agree!

But this year…

ITALY WAS MADE FOR GiGi & TYLA! 💕🥰❣️

Because somewhere between the magnificent Trevi Fountain ⛲️, the ancient streets of Roma 🏛️, the shopping adventures 🛍️, the little duckies 🦆, the beautiful Vatican 🇻🇦, and all those unforgettable moments together…

We learned something very special.

We learned to LOVE Italy! 🇮🇹❤️❣️

But even more importantly…

We learned to love EACH OTHER in a whole new and beautiful way. 💕💓💗💓💕

There is something magical about traveling with a granddaughter.

You begin the adventure as GiGi and granddaughter…

But somewhere along the journey, you discover each other as friends, fellow adventurers, and two people sharing memories that will forever belong to just the two of you. 🥹🥰❣️



What a precious gift!

And now?

Well, we are ALREADY planning our next Italy Girls Adventure for next JUNE! 🇮🇹✈️🤩❣️

Because for GiGi and Tyla…

Life just wouldn’t be complete without a little ITALY ADVENTURE! 🇮🇹💕❣️

🇮🇹💃❣️ TYLA’S VERY IMPORTANT REASONS WHY GIGI & TYLA MUST TRAVEL TOGETHER EVERY SUMMER UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION! ✈️🌎🥰❣️

Well, wouldn’t you know it! 🤪❣️ Miss Tyla has already figured out that our Italy Girls Adventure simply CANNOT be our last big summer adventure together! 🤩🥰❣️

And of course, she has a perfectly wonderful reason for why GiGi and Tyla NEED to take a special trip together EVERY SINGLE SUMMER until she graduates from high school! 😂👏❣️

So here it is, straight from Miss Tyla herself! 💕💓💕

🎓 8TH GRADE – Well, I’m finishing middle school, GiGi! And that’s kind of like a MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATION! So obviously we need to celebrate! 🧑‍🎓🎉❣️

🏫 9TH GRADE – My FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL! That’s a pretty big deal, GiGi! Definitely deserves a summer adventure! 🤩👏❣️

😅 10TH GRADE – Well, GiGi, I’m going to need something special for BEATING THE SOPHOMORE SLUMP! 😂💪❣️

📚 11TH GRADE – My FIRST SAT TEST! And surely all that studying and hard work deserves a wonderful summer vacation! ✏️🤓✈️❣️

🎓 12TH GRADE – Well, OF COURSE, GiGi! MY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TRIP! 🧑‍🎓🎉🥳❣️

And there you have it, folks! 😂❣️

FIVE MORE SUMMERS! FIVE MORE ADVENTURES! AND FIVE MORE YEARS OF MAKING MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME! 🌎✈️💕💓💕

Now how in the world is GiGi supposed to argue with reasoning like THAT?! 🤷‍♀️😂🥰❣️

And you know what? I WOULDN’T WANT TO! ❤️❣️

Because one thing GiGi knows for certain is that the years fly by, little girls grow up, and the greatest treasures we can give our grandchildren aren’t things we buy them, but the TIME we spend together and the MEMORIES we make along the way! 🥹💕💓💕

So, Miss Tyla, GiGi thinks you’ve made a pretty convincing case! 🤗👏❣️

LET THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF GIGI & TYLA ADVENTURES BEGIN! 🌎✈️💃❣️

“Children’s children are the crown of old men…” — Proverbs 17:6 ❤️🙏❣️

Arrivederci, Roma! Until we meet again! 🇮🇹👋❤️❣️

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🛌🙏❣️ OUR ITALY GIRLS ADVENTURE BEDTIME PRAYER

We’re all tucked into our beds tonight, 🛌💕

Our prayers to God we’ve said just right. 🙏😇

We thank Him for the days we’ve shared, ❤️

For every moment, how He’s cared. 🥰🙏

We look forward to the days ahead, 🌅💕

Trusting always where we’re led. 🙏

For wherever life’s adventures go, 🌎✈️

God’s love will guide us, this we know! 😇❤️❣️

CHAO to ITALY🇮🇹❣️



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Until Our Next Adventure… ❤️🇮🇹



To our children, grandchildren, and all who come after us…

May this story remind you that life’s greatest treasures are not found in the souvenirs we bring home, but in the memories we create together.

Dream big.

Travel often.

Laugh loudly.

Take the picture.

Eat the gelato.

Climb the stairs.

Watch the sunsets.

Try something new.

Say “YES!” to the adventure.

Most of all…

Make time for the people you love.

One day, the places we’ve visited may fade from memory, but the love we shared and the stories we created together will live on for generations.

Our prayer is that these pages inspire you to gather your own family and friends, step out in faith, explore God’s beautiful world, and create adventures of your own.



Whether your journey takes you across the ocean or just across town, remember that every adventure is made extraordinary by the people you share it with.

The world is a gift.

Time together is priceless.

Love is the greatest souvenir of all.

Thank You, Lord, for blessing us with sixteen unforgettable days of laughter, friendship, safe travels, and memories we will treasure forever. May we never stop noticing the beauty You have created or the joy that comes from sharing it with those we love.

Until our next adventure…

❤️ The Italy Girls

June 12–28, 2026



“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

— Psalm 19:1

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18❣️

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 🙏❤️❣️

Living Joy-Filled GiGi Adventures with Grumpa & Grands! 💕💓💕❣️

THE END… UNTIL OUR NEXT ITALY GIRLS ADVENTURE! 🇮🇹✈️🥰❣️

After three wonderful days on the island of Capri—and finally being reunited with our five missing suitcases—it was time for the next stop on our Italy Girls Adventure:

Five glorious days in Positano on the Amalfi Coast! 🇮🇹☀️❣️

We boarded the ferry and headed toward one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen.

What I didn’t know yet was that there was one little detail about our beautiful hotel…

211 steps.

That’s right.

There were 211 steps from the village up to our hotel. 😳



Thank goodness for Italian porters!

Our wonderful porters took care of getting those suitcases up all 211 steps.

Unfortunately, there were no porters for GiGi and Tyla. 😂❣️

211 Steps Somehow Became 411!

On our very first day, Tyla and I started climbing toward our hotel.

Up we went.

And up.

And up.

And UP.

At some point, we apparently missed a turn.

But we didn’t know that yet.

We just kept climbing.

And climbing.

And climbing.

I don’t know exactly how many steps we climbed that afternoon, but I’m pretty sure our 211 steps turned into about 411! 😂

By the time we reached the top of the mountain, we were dripping with sweat from head to toe.

And poor Tyla kept saying over and over:

“GiGi, if our hotel is way up here, I am NOT staying here!” 😅❣️

I couldn’t exactly disagree with her!

Finally, we reached a restaurant at the top of the mountain and asked a waiter where our hotel might be.

You guessed it.

Down.

Wayyyyy down.

Somehow we had walked right past it!

So Tyla and I turned around and slowly made our way back down the mountain until we finally found our hotel.

And then we walked into our room.



Oh my.

Suddenly those steps didn’t seem quite so terrible.

Sometimes the View Is Worth the Climb 💕



The view from our room absolutely took our breath away.

Below us was the beautiful Positano harbor filled with yachts, ferries, and tour boats. The colorful buildings seemed to tumble down the mountainside toward that brilliant blue Mediterranean water.



It was magnificent.

And as I stood there looking out over it all, I couldn’t help thinking how often life is like those Positano steps.

Sometimes we climb much farther than we expected.

Sometimes we miss a turn.

Sometimes we are tired, sweaty, frustrated, and wondering if we are ever going to get where we’re trying to go.

And sometimes we even have to turn around and go back.

But God can still give us something beautiful along the way.

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” — Psalm 121:8

Even when GiGi and Tyla apparently don’t know where they’re going! 😉❣️

GiGi Makes a New Rule

After our first little mountain-climbing adventure, I had only one thing to say to Tyla:

“We will only be going down those steps twice a day, girl, so we need to be VERY strategic about remembering everything we need!” 😂❣️

Because 211 steps down meant 211 steps back up.

Twice a day meant…

844 steps!

And that was plenty for this GiGi! 😉

No running back to the room because someone forgot sunglasses.

No quick trip back for a different pair of shoes.

No “GiGi, I forgot my…”

Nope.

Once we were down…

WE WERE DOWN! 😂

The Shower With a View 🚿😳

There was one other little feature in our beautiful hotel room that Tyla wasn’t quite sure about.

The shower.

More specifically…

The full-length window in the shower! 🚿😂



We were eight stories high with this incredible view overlooking Positano.

And Tyla was convinced that if we could see them, they could see us!

Oh dear. 🤩❣️

We had several conversations about this.

“Tyla, we’re eight stories up.”

“But GiGi…”

“They cannot see us.”

“But WE can see THEM!”

And around and around we went. 😂

I’m not sure I ever completely convinced her.

But I am pretty sure that shower is something she will remember about Positano forever!

A Day at the Beach ☀️🌊

When you are staying on the Amalfi Coast, there are certain things you simply must do.

And spending an entire day at the beach is definitely one of them. 👍❣️

So that is exactly what we did.



No rushing.

No big itinerary.

Just sunshine, the Mediterranean Sea, and time together.

Those are some of my favorite moments with my Grands.

We can travel halfway around the world and see extraordinary places, but sometimes the memory I treasure most is simply sitting beside one of them with nowhere else we need to be.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

And we certainly did.

Mornings on Our Veranda 🇮🇹☕️

Our Positano mornings were glorious.

We would sit together on our veranda having breakfast and watch the harbor below us come to life.



Yachts and tour boats moved across the water while the morning sun lit up the mountains surrounding us.

There was nowhere we needed to hurry off to.

We could simply sit.

Eat.

Talk.

Look at that incredible view.



And enjoy being together.

I think sometimes we believe the “big” moments are the ones our children and grandchildren will remember.

But I wonder if someday Tyla will remember those quiet mornings just as much.

Sitting on a veranda in Positano with her GiGi.

Talking about life.

Eating breakfast.

And watching the boats go by.

Those ordinary moments together may actually be some of the extraordinary ones. 💕

A Little Amalfi Coast Shopping 🛍️

Of course, our girls’ trip wouldn’t be complete without a little shopping!

We took the ferry over to the actual village of Amalfi, where we discovered something we simply couldn’t pass up.

Brandy Melville clothing with Amalfi Coast printed on it!

And since this was the place where we could actually buy something bearing the name of the beautiful coast we were visiting…

Well…

We obviously needed a few things. 🥳❣️

Those are the kinds of souvenirs I love.

Something Tyla can wear back home that might make her stop for a moment and remember:

“I got this in Amalfi with my GiGi.”

And that is worth far more to me than the shirt itself.

GiGi’s Life Lesson 💕

Our five days in Positano were filled with sunshine, beaches, shopping, ferries, beautiful meals, quiet mornings—and a LOT of steps with our kitty friends always cheering us on💕



But maybe those 211 steps taught us something too.

Sometimes the most beautiful views in life require a little climbing.

We may get tired.

We may take a wrong turn.

We may even climb 200 steps farther than we needed to! 😂

But we keep going.

And when we finally arrive, we stop long enough to appreciate the view God has placed before us.

Because the blessing isn’t always just where we’re going.

Sometimes the blessing is who is climbing those steps beside us.



And I couldn’t have asked for anyone better beside me than my Tyla Lu. 🥰❣️

After five days of relaxing, laughing, shopping, climbing, and having fun in the Italian sun, it was time to pack those suitcases once again.

Thankfully, this time we knew exactly where they were! 😂

We boarded another ferry and said goodbye to beautiful Positano.

Next stop: Napoli for three days—and a reunion with our friend Vinnie from GiGi’s Italian adventure last year! 🇮🇹🥰❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 💝

Our Italy Girls Adventure continued as we sadly said goodbye to our beautiful Amalfi coast Positano and boarded the ferry back to Napoli for three more days of adventure 🇮🇹❣️



We were definitely sad to leave those gorgeous Positano views — although I’m not sure GiGi was quite as sad to leave those 211 steps 🤪 — but we knew there was much more adventure waiting for us in Napoli…and then ROMA❣️

And, of course, our wonderful friend Vinnie was waiting for us in Napoli too 🥰❣️

🇮🇹 Back to Bustling Napoli

Napoli is a busy, bustling, LOUD, lively Italian city, and this time we finally had the SAME hotel as Blue and Great Auntie Shawna 🥳❣️

Not only the same hotel…

THE SAME FLOOR❣️

Oh dear.

Four girls on the same hotel floor for three days?

There were definitely some pranks waiting to happen 😅❣️

But first, Tyla and GiGi had something very important on our list.

We were going to Pompeii.

🌋 Walking Through Pompeii

We booked a private car and tour and were blessed with the most amazing guide.

As we walked those ancient streets, he made Pompeii come alive for us.

This wasn’t just something we had read about in a history book anymore.

These were REAL people.

They had homes.

They had families.

They had businesses.

They ate meals together.

They laughed.

They worked.

They went to sleep at night.

And then, in A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted 🌋.

The city was eventually buried beneath volcanic material, preserving pieces of everyday life for nearly 2,000 years.

We saw things that made us realize just how much these people were like us.

A wall mirror they used…



What looked like an ancient “cash register” system — holes used to help check the size and value of coins when paying for meals…



And a door that had been locked…



But the hardest part was seeing the plaster casts preserving the positions of people who died during the eruption 😢❣️



Suddenly Pompeii wasn’t just ruins.

It was PEOPLE.

People whose ordinary day became their last day.

And standing there with my Grand made me think about something God’s Word reminds us of:

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12

We don’t know how many days God has given us.

But we DO get to decide how we live the one He has given us TODAY❣️

Love your people.

Take the trip.

Say the prayer.

Give the hug.

Make the memory.

And thank God for another day 🤩🙏❣️

💄 And Then…We Got Very Deep and Spiritual at SEPHORA 🤪❣️

Okay, perhaps not EVERY moment of the Italy Girls Adventure was quite as profound as Pompeii 😅❣️

Because we had some very important business to attend to in Napoli.

SHOPPING❣️

You see, on our first trip to Italy, we had accidentally discovered this huge, beautiful Italian-style shopping mall.

We were running up some steps trying to get out of the rain when…

TA-DA❣️

A wonderful mall appeared before us.



So naturally, on this trip, we needed to go back.

And what exotic Italian treasures did these four adventurous American girls spend their time discovering?

SEPHORA AND STARBUCKS. 🤦‍♀️🤣❣️

Yes.

Stores we have AT HOME❣️

Our routine went something like this:

We would all go into Sephora and shop for a while.

Then one or two of us would get tired and wander across the mall walkway to Starbucks for a drink or snack ☕️.

Pretty soon all four of us would be sitting there showing each other what we had purchased.

Then somebody would say…

“Ohhhh! I want that!”

And BACK TO SEPHORA she would go 💄🏃‍♀️❣️

Then someone else would follow.

Then we’d all end up back in Sephora.

Then back to Starbucks.

Then Sephora.

Then Starbucks.

SEPHORA ➡️ STARBUCKS ➡️ SEPHORA ➡️ STARBUCKS 🤪❣️

This pattern was repeated SO MANY TIMES that we finally decided we had probably spent at least 1½ days of our 16-day Italy adventure inside stores WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES! 🤣🤣🤣❣️

Oh dear.



But we sure are BEAUTIFUL now 🤩💄❣️

And obviously our makeup is much more special because…

IT CAME FROM ITALY. 🇮🇹😂❣️

We had so much fun having our eyebrows done, trying lip liners and picking out special perfumes.

I especially loved that each of us chose a fragrance that could remind us of Italy whenever we wore it back home 🥰❣️

Isn’t it funny how a scent can suddenly transport you right back to a place, a person or a wonderful memory?

God gave us so many amazing ways to remember the beautiful moments of our lives❣️

😍 And Then There Was Vinnie…

Next stop…

ROMA❣️🇮🇹

But first we needed our wonderful friend and tour guide from last summer’s Italy trip to make sure these four girls actually got to the train station AND onto the correct train 🤪❣️

His name is Vinnie, and he is truly one of those people God places in your path who becomes part of the story.



Vinnie made our trips to Italy feel like we belonged there.

We knew that if something happened, we could call him and he would do anything he could to help us.

That gave four girls traveling alone in Italy a wonderful sense of security 🥰❣️

And Miss Tyla was VERY excited to finally meet the famous Vinnie she had heard so much about.

Well…

It didn’t take long for that teenage brain of hers to start working 🤔😂❣️

After meeting him one evening in the hotel lobby, Tyla apparently decided that Vinnie and Great Auntie Shawna should become an ITEM 🥰🤣❣️

Watching her teenage mind try to figure out how she could get this relationship “on the books” was quite entertaining❣️



Sorry, Auntie Shawna 😅❣️

Vinnie eventually delivered all four of us safely to the train station.

And in true Vinnie gentlemanly style, he didn’t just drop us off.

He helped get us settled, made sure we understood how to read the train schedule AGAIN, and made sure his four American girls knew exactly what we were doing before he left us 🥰❣️

Thank you, Vinnie…WE ALL LOVE YOU❣️😘🥰😘🥰

What a beautiful reminder of:

“A friend loves at all times.” — Proverbs 17:17

Some people are part of your life for years.

Others God places along your path for a particular season.

Either way…

Good friends are PRICELESS❣️

🍛 Indian Food…In Italy? 🤔

And because apparently we were determined to experience all the traditional Italian culture we possibly could…

We had ONE MORE DINNER at our regular…

INDIAN FOOD RESTAURANT.

In Napoli.

Italy. 🇮🇹

🤣🤣🤣❣️

Sephora.

Starbucks.

Indian food.

Yep.

We were really immersing ourselves in Italian culture 🤪❣️



And just like that, our Napoli adventure was coming to an end.

Next stop…

ROMA 🇮🇹❣️

And FIVE MORE DAYS of GiGi, Grand, Sister & Niece Italian Adventures were waiting for us❣️

🇮🇹 Things We Learned in Napoli

1. Life is precious. 🤩🙏❣️

Pompeii reminded us that tomorrow isn’t promised, so LOVE BIG and treasure TODAY.

2. Apparently US stores are better in Italy. 🫣💄❣️

At least that’s what we’re telling ourselves.

3. Indian food tastes perfectly wonderful in Italy. 🍛🇮🇹🤔❣️

Who knew?

4. Friends like Vinnie are PRICELESS. 😍❣️

God puts special people along our journey exactly when we need them.

And maybe the biggest lesson of all…

The adventure isn’t only about WHERE you go.

It’s about WHO is standing beside you while you’re there❣️

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” — James 1:17

And these girls, these friendships, these memories and these precious days together were most definitely gifts from God 🥰🙏❣️

GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever & Like You for Always❣️

Proverbs 17:6 — “Children’s children are a crown to the aged…” 👑❣️



There would be plane rides ✈️, ferry rides ⛴️, cab rides 🚕, and eventually a winding ride all the way to the top of the beautiful island of Capri.

We arrived in Napoli right on time, excited and ready to begin our Italian adventure.

Except for one tiny little detail…

Our luggage didn’t arrive with us. 😳

All five suitcases had apparently decided to take their own Italian vacation and were delayed in Amsterdam!

But not to worry, we were told. As long as we had our luggage claim tags and gave them our itinerary for the next four days, our luggage would find us.

Really?

Even on the island of Capri?

Apparently so!

GiGi Travel Note: Never, ever throw away your luggage claim tags! I will be keeping mine forever from now on. 😅❣️



With nothing but our backpacks and what we had worn on the plane, we did a little emergency necessities shopping in Napoli and boarded the ferry to Capri with our backpacks and shopping bags in tow.

And that was when our first unexpected lesson of Italy began.

Sometimes you can spend so much time worrying about what you’ve lost that you miss what is right in front of you.

And what was in front of us was Capri! 🇮🇹❣️

When Life Gives You Lost Luggage…Go Shopping! 🛍️😉

Capri was exquisite.

It was also an amazing place to see how native Italians dress, dine, shop, and vacation. We adored every minute of being on this beautiful island.

Each afternoon around 4:30, we would head back to our rooms to get ready for the evening.

As the sun began to set, the streets of Capri came alive. Italians filled the walkways dressed from head to toe in beautiful Italian vacation wear.

And since our lovely evening clothes were somewhere between Amsterdam and Capri…

We had some shopping to do! 😉

Our days became a wonderful combination of exploring, shopping for evening attire, eating delicious Italian food, and simply enjoying being together.

And I began to realize that maybe our missing luggage wasn’t going to ruin our time after all.

Maybe it was simply going to become part of our story.

Something Special for Tyla Lu 💕

There was one thing GiGi especially wanted to do on this trip.

I wanted to find something special for Tyla that she could keep and someday look at and remember:

“GiGi took me to Italy when I became a teenager.”

One day, we stepped into the Louis Vuitton shop on Capri and found just the perfect thing.

A vintage-style LV canvas purse 👛❣️

It was the perfect size, the perfect color, and had just the right strap for Tyla Lu.



Of course, we couldn’t stop there.

We found matching Birkenstocks with the LV logo on the straps. 💕

I could already imagine Tyla years from now pulling out that little purse and remembering Capri.

But I hope what she remembers most isn’t what GiGi bought her.

I hope she remembers how much GiGi loved being there with her.

Things eventually wear out. Styles change. Shoes get too small.

But the time we intentionally give to the people we love becomes part of who they are.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21

My treasure wasn’t really in that little purse.

My treasure was walking beside me. ❣️



The Blue Grotto 💙

Of course, no visit to Capri would be complete without seeing the famous Blue Grotto.

When we arrived at the dock, however, we discovered a two-to-three-hour line just to get on a boat—and then possibly another long wait once we reached the grotto.

Hmmmm…

There had to be another way!

So instead, we arranged a private tour.

What could have taken most of our day became an incredible 90-minute adventure.

And the Blue Grotto was every bit as beautiful as we had imagined. 💙❣️💙

The brilliant blue water seemed almost impossible to describe.

There are moments when I see something so magnificent in God’s creation that I can’t help but think about the Creator.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” — Psalm 19:1



From Idaho mountains to the brilliant blue waters inside a cave on an Italian island, His fingerprints are everywhere.

An Italian Evening We Will Never Forget 🎶🇮🇹

One evening, the owner of a shop where we had purchased a few items—okay, maybe more than a few 😉—treated us to a reservation at an elegant Italian restaurant.

It became one of our favorite meals of the entire trip. 😋💕

But the ending was the best part.

Suddenly the restaurant filled with loud Italian music.

Out came maracas and tambourines!

Before we knew it, everyone was waving their napkins in the air as “Bamboleo” by the Gipsy Kings filled the restaurant. 🎶



We laughed.

We sang.

We waved those napkins.

And for that moment, four girls from Idaho weren’t worrying about lost luggage or tomorrow’s itinerary.

We were simply enjoying exactly where we were.

And Then…Our Luggage Arrived! 🧳❣️

On our fourth morning in Capri, the impossible happened.

Our luggage found us!

All the way from Amsterdam to Napoli, across the water, and up to the island of Capri.

And wouldn’t you know it?

It arrived about one hour before we were scheduled to leave Capri and board another ferry for our next adventure in Positano on the Amalfi Coast. 😍❣️

We had to laugh.

For four days we had wondered:

Where are those suitcases?

And then, just as we were leaving…

There they were!

God doesn’t promise that every inconvenience will disappear when we want it to. But He does teach us that our joy doesn’t have to depend on everything going according to our plans.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We could have spent four days frustrated about what we didn’t have.

Instead, we discovered how much we already had.

We had Capri.

We had beautiful food.

We had the Blue Grotto.

We had Italian music and waving napkins.

We had shopping bags full of emergency Italian attire. 😉

But most importantly…

We had each other.

GiGi’s Life Lesson 💕

Sometimes the adventures we remember most aren’t the ones that go perfectly.

They’re the ones where something goes completely wrong—and we decide to make something wonderful out of it anyway.

Our lost luggage taught us to adapt, laugh, make the most of a tough situation, and enjoy the blessing right in front of us.

We learned how to shop like the natives.

We learned how to vacation like the Italians.

And maybe most importantly, Tyla and I learned something worth remembering long after those suitcases finally made it home:

Don’t let what you’re missing keep you from being grateful for what God has already given you.



And just like that…

Four girls, five suitcases, and four backpacks were off again.

Next stop: Positano and the Amalfi Coast! 🇮🇹❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always

Proverbs 17:6 💝

The Perfect Pinecones 🌲❣️

One of my favorite baskets in our McCall home isn’t filled with expensive decorations.

It’s filled with pinecones.

But these aren’t just any pinecones.

Every single one has a story.



You see, as we walk through our neighborhood to visit the Grumpa Tree, the Grands know they have a very important mission.

Find GiGi a PERFECT pinecone!

The moment we begin our walk, they’re off!

Running into the forest…

Searching under the trees…

Looking behind logs…

Carefully examining every pinecone they can find.

Then they come running back…

“GiGi! I found one!”

Now comes the inspection. 😎

I carefully turn the pinecone in my hands.

Are all the scales there?

Is it nicely shaped?

Has it been chewed on by squirrels?

Is it completely opened?

Most of them don’t make the cut.

“Ohhh…this one is close…”

“But look, this side is broken.”

“This one is beautiful…but not quite perfect.”

The Grands always laugh and head right back into the woods to keep searching.

Those moments have led to some of the sweetest conversations.

We talk about how every one of us wants to do our very best.

We talk about trying to make good choices.

We talk about being kind.

Being honest.

Being loving.

And then we talk about something even more important.

No matter how hard we try…

None of us is perfect.

Only Jesus lived a perfect life.

That’s why we’re so thankful that He loves us, forgives us, and gives us grace every single day.

Somehow…

A basket of pinecones became a lesson about God’s love.

Today that basket sits in our home, filled with years of “perfect” pinecones lovingly gathered by little hands.

But there’s another treasure sitting just above it.

On the shelf is our Pinecone Family. 🌲❤️

Each pinecone represents someone in our family.

Grumpa.

GiGi.

Tyla.

Treyton.

Cruz.

Cleo.

And just last weekend, our oldest grandson, Treyton, walked over holding the tiniest pinecone I’d ever seen.

With the biggest smile he said,

“GiGi…this one should be Honey.” 🍯🥹❣️

And just like that…

Our little Honey Pinecone joined the family.



Every time I walk past that shelf, I don’t just see pinecones.

I see bike rides to the Grumpa Tree.

Little feet running through the forest.

Tiny hands proudly holding up another “perfect” pinecone.

Conversations about doing our best…

And an even greater reminder that while none of us is perfect…

We are perfectly loved by Jesus.



And somehow, that’s even more beautiful than the most perfect pinecone in the forest.

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6 ❣️

Sometimes the funniest GiGi & Grand memories begin with the very best intentions… and four tiny white Smarties! 😂❣️

So… it was summertime in McCall, and our family was enjoying a much-needed break together. ☀️🌲❣️

There was just one little problem.

Mister Cruzie LOVES school. 🏫🥰❣️

He loves learning, being with his friends, and of course playing every sport imaginable on the playground at recess. 🏈⚾️🏀❣️ He is definitely one very well-rounded—and very busy—guy! 🤩👍❣️

School had just started the previous Wednesday, and his family was planning to stay in McCall for another whole week.

Well… Mister Cruzie wasn’t so sure about THAT plan. 😂❣️

He came to GiGi with an idea.

What if I took him back to Boise so he could go to school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and then after school Thursday we could drive right back up to McCall and join everyone again?

Now THAT sounded like a Grand Plan to me! 🥰❣️

So off GiGi and Mister Cruzie went! 🚙💨❣️

⏰ Life According to Mister Cruzie’s Schedule

Oh my goodness, did this boy have a schedule! 😂❣️

GiGi had alarms programmed into my phone for practically everything:

School drop-off. 🏫

School pickup. 🚙

Activities. ⚾️

Appointments. ⏰

And whatever other important places Mister Cruzie needed to be! 🤣❣️

Our first stop was the grocery store because if GiGi was going to be in charge for the week, we were going to need ALL the right supplies. 🛒😋❣️

We picked out breakfast foods and everything Mister Cruzie might possibly want packed in his school lunches.

And let me tell you… Mister Cruzie had quite the lunch smorgasbord! 😂🥪🍪❣️



Our nighttime routine became:

Lunch packed for the next day. ✅

Clothes laid out for the morning. ✅

Plans made for our after-school adventure. ✅

That way, he could wake up, jump into his clothes, eat breakfast and head right out the door! 🏫👍❣️

🦕 An After-School Adventure

One afternoon we decided to visit the Discovery Center and check out the dinosaur exhibit. 🦕🤩❣️

Of course, with Mister Cruzie, you can’t just LOOK at something.

Oh no.

We have to figure out how it works and WHY it works! 😂🧐❣️

We found this amazing electricity machine where you could actually SEE the electricity moving through the glass toward your hand.



That started a whole discussion.

Why was the electricity blue? ⚡️

Why did it follow your finger? ☝️

How was your hand conducting it through the glass? 🤔

These are the kinds of conversations GiGi absolutely loves having with my Mister Cruzie. 🥰❣️

And then came…

🤮 The Day GiGi Poisoned His Lunch

One morning we were running just a little bit late.

So GiGi said,

“I’ll make your lunch today!” 🥪😉❣️

Now, Mister Cruzie has a very particular favorite sandwich.

Not peanut butter and jelly.

Not peanut butter and honey.

It is a…

PEANUT BUTTER AND PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH! 🥜🥪🥜😂❣️

Yup.

You read that correctly.

Peanut butter on BOTH sides! 😋❣️

I had also recently learned something very important about Mister Cruzie.

His favorite color of Smarties—which happen to be one of GiGi’s favorite candies too—is WHITE! 🤍❣️

And naturally, Mister Cruzie and GiGi had already had one of our very serious intellectual discussions about what flavors all the different Smarties colors actually are. 😂🧐❣️

Red — Cherry 🍒

Purple — Grape 🍇

Orange — Orange 🍊

Green — Strawberry 🍓

Yellow — Pineapple 🍍

White — Orange Cream 🤍🍊❣️

GiGi’s stash….

So while I was making his peanut butter and peanut butter sandwich that morning, I had a brilliant GiGi idea.

Or at least…

I THOUGHT it was brilliant. 😂😂😂❣️

I decided to sneak four little white Smarties between the layers of peanut butter as a surprise! 🤍🤍🤍🤍

Heehee! 😉❣️

Lunch packed.

Backpack ready.

Off to school we went! 🏫❣️

I couldn’t wait for him to discover his little surprise.

😳 “Someone Tried to Poison Me!”

That afternoon I picked Mister Cruzie up from school, and he came bouncing out full of energy and stories about everything that had happened that day. 🥰❣️

Eventually I asked,

“How was your lunch?”

“Good.” 👍

Then I asked,

“Did you like your sandwich?”

He hesitated.

“Well… not really.” 😢❣️

Hmmmmm. 🤔

Then, very seriously, Mister Cruzie explained that…

SOMEONE HAD PUT CAPSULES IN HIS SANDWICH AND TRIED TO POISON HIM! 🤮🫣❣️

WHAT?! 😂

He told me he hadn’t eaten the sandwich because he found these strange little white “capsules” inside it!

I asked him who he thought might have done such a thing.

He wasn’t sure. 😧❣️

I asked him how someone could have gotten into his lunch.

He wasn’t sure about that either.

But one thing was certain…

Mister Cruzie was NOT eating those poison capsules! 😂❣️

Finally I asked,

“Did you look really closely at the capsules?”

He brought me his lunch.

And there, tucked inside his peanut butter and peanut butter sandwich, were…

FOUR WHITE SMARTIES! 🤍🤍🤍🤍😂😂😂❣️



His FAVORITE ones!

Oh my goodness.

GiGi and Mister Cruzie laughed and laughed and laughed! 🤣🤣🤣❣️

The mysterious school-lunch poisoner had been identified.

IT WAS GiGi! 🤮😂❣️

And her weapon of choice?

White Smarties. 🤍😂❣️

💝 The Memories We Never Plan

Sometimes the very best memories aren’t the big trips or carefully planned adventures.

Sometimes they are hiding inside a school lunch. 🥪🥰❣️

A week of grocery shopping, packing lunches, laying out school clothes, setting phone alarms, visiting dinosaurs, talking about electricity—and discovering that GiGi should probably NOT hide mysterious objects inside Mister Cruzie’s sandwiches. 😂❣️

I’m pretty sure Mister Cruzie will never eat another peanut butter and peanut butter sandwich without remembering…

the day GiGi almost poisoned him with four little white Smarties. 🤮🤍🤣❣️

And I’m pretty sure GiGi will never forget it either. 🥰❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always❣️

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged…” — Proverbs 17:6 👑💝

And then there are the ones that make you think, Oh my goodness…am I really going to ask this? 😉❣️

Taking my granddaughter Tyla Lu to Italy was definitely one of those!

Tyla was about to celebrate a very special milestone—becoming a teenager on July 4th 🤩 during the year of our great country’s 250th anniversary. 🇺🇸❣️ And I kept thinking about what an incredible gift it would be to mark this time in her life with something she might remember forever.

Not another present.

An adventure.

And not just any adventure.

Italy! 🇮🇹❣️

Great Auntie Shawna & Blue had been my amazing tour guides on my trip to Italy the year before, and now an idea was beginning to take shape. What if Tyla came with us this time? Great Auntie Shawna, cousin Blue, Tyla Lu, and GiGi.

Four girls.

Suitcases.

Passports.

Italy.

Oh my goodness! This could be quite the Italy Girls Adventure! 🇮🇹❣️



But first, of course, GiGi had to ask Mom and Dad.

I told them that I believed this could be so much more than simply a fun vacation for Tyla. It could be an opportunity for her to experience history, culture, art, food, faith, and another part of the world in a way no classroom could ever quite duplicate.

I also wanted them to know something even more important.

Their daughter would be my first priority.

I promised that we would stay together, that everything would be carefully planned, that I would keep them updated, and that I would honor whatever expectations they wanted us to follow.

And then I waited for their answer.

When it came, I could hardly believe it.

“Tyla is good to go!”

They told me how excited they were for her to have such an amazing adventure. They immediately started talking about passports, documents, and all those important details that suddenly make a dream feel very real.

But tucked inside their message was something that meant even more to me.

They admitted that allowing their daughter to travel so far away from them was very tough.

And then came the words that touched my GiGi heart:

“We trust you very much.”

That meant everything to me.

They were entrusting me with one of the most precious people in their lives, and I knew exactly what a privilege—and responsibility—that was.

Tyla and I had already talked about the expectations. We would stay together. We would look out for one another. We would make good choices.

And, of course, we would have FUN!

The answer was officially YES.

Tyla Lu was going to Italy with GiGi! 🇮🇹❣️

But a GiGi Adventure this big doesn’t begin when the airplane takes off.

Oh no.

The adventure begins the moment you start dreaming about it together.

And we had a whole lot of dreaming, planning, dinners, lunches, packing, shopping and anticipation ahead of us before those four girls ever boarded that plane. ✈️ ❣️

Our Italy Girls Adventure had officially begun. 🇮🇹❣️

⸻

And ohhh did the dreaming begin in the most joyful ways!

Some of our very favorite planning nights were when we would all gather together and watch YouTube videos of the different hotels we would be staying in across Italy. 🇮🇹❣️ It made everything feel so real and exciting—like we were already walking through the lobbies, opening the windows, and imagining the views we would wake up to.



Capri 🇮🇹 ❣️

We would sit there together saying things like, “That’s OUR hotel!” and “Look at that view!” and the excitement just kept building and building.



Positano 🇮🇹❣️

Then one evening, we turned our planning into a full-on Italy fashion show! 💃✨





We put on fun runway music, rolled out our suitcases, and packed them like we were already leaving the next day. One by one, we modeled what we were planning to wear in Italy—twirling, laughing, and showing off our outfits like we were on a real runway. It was absolutely hilarious and so special at the same time. 🇮🇹❣️

Another beautiful memory was a special lunch we shared where each of us received matching travel surprises—shirts, bags, jewelry boxes, and shoes all coordinated for our Italy adventure. 🥰❣️ It felt like we were already part of a little travel team, getting ready to explore the world together in style and unity.

And yes…there was even a very special “beauty prep” moment too—Tyla Lu and I got our nails done especially for Italy! 💅🇮🇹❣️ It felt like one more little way to get ready for something magical, and we laughed the whole time imagining all the photos we would take with our “Italy-ready” hands and 💕





And then there was something very meaningful that tied both of our Italy trips together.

On my previous trip, I had found a book that I thought would be perfect for us to read during our travels. So on this trip, I wanted to do something similar for Tyla Lu.

At the airport, I went searching through a newsstand, hoping to find something special we could all share together on the journey.

And there it was.



A book I had never seen before… and sitting right there on the shelf were exactly four copies. 📚❣️

One for each of us.

It felt like one of those little “GiGi God moments” where everything just lines up perfectly.

It was perfect. 👌😍❣️

And just like that, our Italy Girls Adventure felt even more connected—four girls, four books, one unforgettable journey ahead. 🇮🇹❣️



GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
Proverbs 17:6❣️

When Tyla Lu and I first arrived in Italy, on the beautiful island of Capri, we were up early one morning and decided to head out and explore together. 🇮🇹❣️

We wandered toward the ocean along a little cobblestone trail, taking pictures and discovering hidden treasures along the way. We found an authentic Italian perfume shop, a beautiful flower garden, and even a museum to explore.

And then we happened upon something even better…

GELATO! 🍧❣️

There was a little gelato shop already open for business at that early morning hour, and Tyla LOVES gelato.

So, of course, we stopped!

Tyla ordered her favorite flavor—mango gelato. 🥭🍧

And that was pretty much the beginning of a new Italy tradition.

Gelato after lunch.

Gelato after dinner.

Gelato while exploring.

Gelato just because we happened to walk past a gelato shop.

And sometimes gelato simply because it seemed like the perfect way to end another wonderful day in Italy. 🍧🇮🇹❣️

Now, you should know that we were in Italy for 16 days.

That can add up to a LOT of gelato. 😂

But the very best gelato adventure happened on our last night in Italy.

Tyla and I were in our hotel room playing our nightly games of Gin and King on the Corner when we remembered that room service ended at 10:30.

It was about 9:00 when I looked over at Tyla and said,

“You know, I think we need to have some gelato on this, our final night in Italy.”

Of course, Tyla completely agreed! 😂❣️

So she called room service and ordered our favorite flavor at that hotel…

Strawberry gelato. 🍓🍧

It arrived, and it was DELICIOUS!

About 30 minutes later, I looked over at Tyla.

“You know…I think I might enjoy a vanilla gelato.”

Tyla agreed.

So she called room service AGAIN. 🥰❣️

Another handsome young Italian man arrived at our door carrying more gelato.

We ate that one too.

Then about 30 minutes later, I looked at Tyla again.

“Do you think we should try some OTHER flavors of gelato?”

Haha! 😂

Of course she agreed.

So Tyla called down AGAIN and asked what other flavors they had.

This time we decided on pistachio and lemon—because, after all, Italy is famous for its beautiful lemons! 🍋🇮🇹❣️

Those were yummy too!

By now it was about 10:25 p.m.

Room service ended at 10:30.

I looked at Tyla one more time.

“I really think we need to end our last night in Italy with our favorite strawberry gelato…but you need to call RIGHT NOW before room service closes!” 😂🍓🍧

So she called!

We got our final order in just in the nick of time.

And I must say, it was also pretty fun seeing each of those handsome young men arrive at our door carrying our gelato orders all evening. 🤩❣️

I don’t think they minded making so many trips to our room!

But our gelato story still wasn’t quite finished.

Since we were leaving early the next morning, we needed breakfast delivered before heading to the airport.

As Tyla filled out our breakfast order form, I had one final idea.

I said,

“Why don’t you just write at the bottom that we would really like some strawberry gelato with our breakfast?” 💕🍓🍧

And she DID!

Because really…

What better way could there possibly be to say goodbye to Italy?

💕🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧🍧💕

GiGi’s Little Life Lesson

Life gives us plenty of days to follow the rules, watch the clock, eat our vegetables, and do all the things we are supposed to do.

But every once in a while, God gives us a moment that simply begs to be enjoyed.

So order the gelato.

Then maybe order another.

Try the pistachio.

Definitely try the lemon.

And if you are spending your last morning in Italy with your granddaughter…

Go ahead and order strawberry gelato for breakfast. 🍓🍧❣️

Because someday you probably won’t remember exactly what you ate for breakfast in Italy.

But you WILL remember sitting in a hotel room together, laughing until bedtime, playing cards, ordering way too much gelato, and making one of those wonderfully silly memories that becomes part of your family story forever.

💝 GiGi’s Faith Corner

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

—Psalm 118:24

I believe God wants us to notice and enjoy the sweet little gifts He places throughout our lives.

Sometimes they are big and important.

And sometimes they look a lot like a granddaughter, an Italian hotel room, a game of cards, lots of laughter…

and one more bowl of strawberry gelato. 🍓🍧💕

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always❣️

Proverbs 17:6 💝

Not someone remembered for what she accomplished, but for how she loved.

May my Grands always know they have a GiGi who delights in them, points them to Jesus, and reminds them that they are treasured beyond measure.

That is a beautiful life.

In fact…just last week we had our TnT 🧨 (Treyton & Tyla) Dynamite Grands with us in McCall for an entire week of adventures. There is just something so special about having your Grands all to yourself for a few days. The laughter seems louder…the hugs seem tighter…and every little moment becomes another memory tucked away in GiGi’s heart. 🥹💝

All week long Grumpa was busy in his shop creating wonderful treasures on his 3D printer just for the Grands to play with and take home. 🤩❣️

The favorites were definitely the little octopus 🐙, dragons 🐉, snakes 🐍 and of course…dinosaurs! 🦖

Treyton especially loved playing dinosaurs with GiGi…and every once in awhile we could even convince Grumpa to join in for a little dinosaur adventure too. 😉❣️

Every morning started much the same way.

We would do our morning routines and then sit down together for one of Grumpa’s gourmet breakfasts. 🍳🥓🥞☕

Soon enough someone would always say…

“Hey…it’s time for our morning walk…or bike ride…to the Grumpa Tree!” 🌲❣️

And off we’d go.

I don’t know if it was the walk…the bike ride…or simply being together that made those mornings so special.

Maybe it was all three. 💝

During the week we filled every day with adventures.

One day we rode the chairlift all the way to the top of the ski hill and looked out over God’s beautiful creation. 🚠⛰️❣️

Another day we spent the entire day on the lake making memories that will hopefully last a lifetime. 🚤💙

Of course there was delicious food too!

We enjoyed meals at Shore Lodge and My Father’s Place. They couldn’t be much more different from one another, but somehow they were both absolutely delicious.

Not because of the food…

But because of the people sitting around the table.

After all…

When you’re surrounded by the people you love, almost any meal becomes a feast. ❤️

Then, as always, it was time to head back home.

As we drove, we decided to take the Longest Way Home…because why rush when you’re making memories? 😍❣️

One of our favorite stops is at the 45th Parallel sign.

There we stood together…

Exactly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. 🌎❣️

Treyton could barely fathom how this could possibly be true.

His mind worked so hard trying to picture the whole Earth…

“How can we be halfway?” 🤔

Watching him try to understand this huge idea was almost as much fun as standing there ourselves. 😅❣️

Those are some of GiGi’s favorite moments…

When a simple roadside stop becomes a wonderful conversation about God’s amazing world.

Then came one of those moments I’ll never forget.

As we climbed back into the car I asked,

“Which way should we head home?”

Without hesitation it was a resounding…

“Let’s take the Longest Way Home, GiGi!” 👍❣️

Oh my heart. 🥹💝

I don’t think they were really talking about the road.

I think they were talking about the adventure.

Because sometimes the very best part of life isn’t getting somewhere quickly…

It’s slowing down enough to notice God’s beautiful world…

Playing dinosaurs…

Walking to the Grumpa Tree…

Riding chairlifts…

Boating on the lake…

Sharing meals together…

Stopping at interesting places…

Asking big questions…

Laughing until your cheeks hurt…

And simply enjoying the people God has given you to love.

That’s what GiGi hopes these trips will always teach my precious Grands.

Life isn’t meant to be rushed.

Sometimes the sweetest memories are found on…

The Longest Way Home. 🚗💝🌲

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever & LIKE You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6 💝

Holding one of his favorites, he asked, “GiGi, did this dinosaur ever really exist?”

I’ll admit…I didn’t know!

So together we looked it up. Sure enough, this spiky creature—the Kentrosaurus—actually walked the earth about 150 million years ago. It wasn’t something someone imagined. God created it!

The more I thought about it, the more I smiled.

Children are naturally curious. They ask questions that adults often stop asking. And when we don’t know the answer, we get the opportunity to discover something together.

Being a GiGi isn’t about always having the answers. Sometimes it’s simply saying,

“Let’s find out together.”

As we were playing dinosaurs, Treyton quietly said something that tugged at my heart.

“GiGi…I asked Grumpa to play, but he didn’t want to. He just sat there.”

I could tell he was disappointed.

Later that day, Treyton and I watched a little video of our dinosaur adventure. As we watched, something wonderful dawned on both of us.

Maybe Grumpa isn’t really a player…

Maybe Grumpa is a builder.

God has gifted Grumpa with the incredible ability to build things that most people only dream about. Over the years, he’s built beautiful cars, cabins, self-storage facilities, and countless other amazing projects. He sees possibilities where others see empty space. Creating and building is how God wired him.

That’s his playground.

And suddenly Treyton smiled.

“Grumpa plays in his own way.”

Exactly.

What a beautiful reminder that not everyone shows love the same way. Some of us build forts with blocks. Others build businesses. Some play on the floor with dinosaurs. Others build a life that gives their family a place to gather and make memories.

Neither is better.

They’re simply different gifts from the same Creator.

Today, a little dinosaur reminded me that learning never gets old. Wonder never has an age limit. And sometimes our greatest discoveries aren’t about dinosaurs at all—they’re about understanding the people we love a little better.

One little dinosaur…

One thoughtful grandson…

One wise Grumpa…

One joyful GiGi…

…and one lesson we’ll remember for a very long time.

What unique gift has someone in your family been given? Sometimes when we understand how God designed each other, we discover a whole new way to appreciate those we love.

💝 GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever & Like You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6

I Will Pursue Goodness & Kindness today in an Active Way👍❣️

John 13:35❣️

You are the Source of ALL Truth and I Know this is Your Will for me today😉❣️

2 Corinthians 13:8❣️

Let me be more like You today😇❣️

Mark 9:23❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
Proverbs 17:6

If I had to match these facial features to a dog, I’d say a Beagle puppy.

Why:

• Bright, cheerful smile — Beagles always look like they’re in on the fun, just like this expression

• Slightly rounded cheeks + expressive eyes — gives that friendly, approachable, “come play with me” vibe

• Playful, upbeat energy — the thumbs-up pose totally matches a Beagle’s enthusiastic, social personality

There’s a real sense of joy + curiosity + confidence here, which is classic Beagle energy 🐶

That’s a cute question 😊 — and what an adorable little one!

If I had to pick a dog resemblance purely based on facial features, I’d say something like a French Bulldog puppy.

Why:

• Big, round, expressive eyes — very similar to how Frenchie puppies look at you with that slightly serious, soulful expression

• Soft, rounded cheeks and face shape — gives that same “squishy” baby/pup look

• Calm, slightly serious expression — like they’re quietly observing everything going on around them

It’s that mix of sweet + thoughtful + a little bit serious that gives off the French Bulldog vibe 🐶

That’s a fun question 😊 — I can definitely see a few dog breeds that his features remind me of (not a perfect match, just similar vibes):

That’s a fun question 😊 — I can definitely see a few dog breeds that his features remind me of (not a perfect match, just similar vibes):

🐶 1. Golden Retriever (puppy)

Why:

• Warm, friendly expression

• Soft eyes with a kind, approachable look

• Slight smile that feels relaxed and happy

👉 He gives off that same “easygoing, everyone’s friend” energy.

🐶 2. Labrador Retriever

Why:

• Open, confident face

• Balanced features (nothing too sharp or exaggerated)

• Calm but playful look

👉 Labs have that “trustworthy and outdoorsy” feel—very similar here, especially sitting in nature.

🐶 3. Border Collie (softer expression type)

Why:

• Bright, attentive eyes

• Slight tilt of the head gives a thoughtful look

• Alert but gentle presence

👉 That mix of intelligence + sweetness comes through.

🐶 Overall vibe

He has a friendly, outdoorsy, kind-hearted look—the kind of face you’d associate with loyal, smart, and approachable dogs rather than intense or aggressive breeds.

Fun one again 😊 — this face gives a slightly different vibe than the last, a little more intense + expressive, so here are the closest dog “lookalike vibes” I see:

🐶 1. Siberian Husky (softer expression type)

Why:

• Strong, focused eyes that feel a bit intense

• Slight squint from the sun gives that classic Husky “what are you thinking?” look

• A mix of independence + curiosity

👉 Huskies often have that expressive, almost human-like look.

🐶 2. Australian Shepherd

Why:

• Bright, alert gaze

• Lively, outdoorsy energy

• A bit of a “thinking” or questioning expression

👉 Aussies always look like they’re processing everything around them—very similar feel here.

🐶 3. Collie (especially Rough Collie)

Why:

• Longer facial lines and softer features

• Gentle but slightly serious expression

• A calm, observant presence

👉 That mix of softness + awareness really matches.

🐶 Overall vibe

This one leans more toward:

✨ Smart, observant, a little serious, and very expressive

Less “goofy friendly lab” and more “I’m watching everything and thinking about it” energy.

This one has such a playful, mischievous, and bright look 😄 — here are the closest dog “vibes” I see:

🐶 1. Jack Russell Terrier

Why:

• Sparkly, alert eyes

• Slight smirk = playful troublemaker energy

• Compact, expressive face

👉 Jack Russells always look like they’re about to say, “Wanna see something funny?”

🐶 2. Beagle

Why:

• Warm, friendly expression

• Soft features with a happy, approachable vibe

• A little bit of curiosity mixed with sweetness

👉 Beagles have that “I’m sweet… but also curious about everything” look.

🐶 3. Boston Terrier

Why:

• Bright, animated eyes

• Fun, slightly cheeky expression

• Social, people-loving energy

👉 That little grin totally matches Boston Terrier personality.

🐶 Overall vibe

✨ Playful + curious + a little mischievous + super lovable

This one feels like the kind of kid (and dog!) who:

• Asks a lot of questions

• Has a great sense of humor

• Keeps everyone entertained

If I had to pick just one?

👉 Jack Russell Terrier energy all the way 🐕

Such a fun way to talk about Grands personality types and watch them giggle and laugh about what dog they might look like and act like 👍 ❣️

It’s all about helping Grands to Be the Person God Created them to Be in fun and lasting ways😉❣️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,

Proverbs 17:6❣️

One thing we always try to do each year is spend Spring Break with our Grands and their parents ❣️

Most years we head to Palm Springs with our 5th wheel and get the parents a hotel room nearby while the Grands stay with us. Those are some of our sweetest memories…little pajamas running through the RV, late night snacks, golf cart rides, sunshine, swimming pools, and endless stories before bedtime 💝

But this year we decided to change things up a little 😉⚾️❣️

Because of our Grand Cruzie’s great love for baseball, we packed everyone up and headed to Phoenix, Arizona for Spring Training ⚾️☀️❣️

And honestly…there may not be anyone in our family who currently loves baseball more than Mister Cruzie ⚾️❣️

Have you ever watched a child fall completely in love with something?

That is Cruzie and baseball.

He is only 9 years old and already pitches curveballs, which I am told is pretty unusual for someone his age ⚾️❣️ He practices almost every day after school for about two hours and on weekends too. But the cutest part is not even how talented he is…

It is how much he truly LOVES the game 💝

He knows current players, old players, statistics, teams, and random baseball trivia that leaves all of us laughing in amazement 😂⚾️❣️

His favorite teams are the Mariners, the Padres, and of course…the Dodgers 😉⚾️❣️

Next weekend he even gets to go to a Mariners game, and I think he may already be counting down the hours 🤩❣️

One of my favorite things is watching him pitch.

His teammates all cheer him on from the field when he is on the mound and he very consistently pitches “3 up and 3 out.” It is honestly amazing to watch such confidence and focus in someone so little ⚾️❣️

But even more than that…

I love all his little baseball rituals 😂❣️

He digs his toe into the dirt…
licks his fingers…
adjusts his hat…
winds up dramatically…
and swings his leg at the very end of the pitch like he is already pitching in the major leagues 🤩⚾️❣️

At least he doesn’t take after his Dad 😂

When Marshall played T-Ball as a little boy he would get so bored in the outfield that he would literally SIT DOWN and eat grass 🌱😂❣️

Now before you judge him too harshly…

I may have taught both my kids how to slowly pull the grass out and only eat the tender white part by sliding it through your teeth 😳😂❣️

And honestly…grass whistles were always pretty entertaining too 👍😉⚾️❣️

Watching Cruzie love baseball so deeply also makes me think of my Mom, Great Grandma Gini 💝

She and her Dad both absolutely loved baseball ⚾️

Sometimes while watching Cruzie on the pitcher’s mound I catch myself wishing they were still here to see this sweet little Grand who inherited that same love for the game ❣️

There is just something beautiful about seeing pieces of the generations before us living on inside the generations after us 💝⚾️

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18



When I was between the ages of 5–8 years old, my Grandma Allen lived straight down the road—just four stop signs from my house 🏠

Every Friday afternoon, I would rush home from school and call my grandma to ask if I could spend the night.

My call would go something like this…

Dial 342-0824 ☎️
“Hello Grandma… can you call my mom and ask if I can come spend the night tonight? Can you call her right now? Ok!”

Then I would wait…

And if the answer was yes—I would jump on my purple Huffy bike (with the white banana seat my Grandpa Crowell made for me) and pedal down past those four stop signs straight to Grandma’s house 💜

When I got there, she would be waiting in the kitchen, and we would plan our time together.

I don’t ever remember my grandma saying I couldn’t come.

And I don’t remember us ever doing something that wasn’t what I wanted to do.

It was a time in my life where I felt:
I was important
I was smart
I had good ideas

And I was completely and unconditionally loved by my Grandma Allen 💛

Grandma Allen was very crafty and always had a project going.

She was also incredibly talented—she played the piano, organ, and accordion… and she was a wonderful whistler 😊

She had many nicknames—Birdie, Mammie, Kitty—and her given name was Verla Marie ❣️

She was my friend.

And through her words and actions, she showed me what Jesus’s unconditional love looks like.

Every time we were together, we would make little crafts for me to take home and share with my family.

We would also go shopping in her little black-and-white convertible Metropolitan car.

She would let me pull the choke to start the engine, and we would each wear a beautiful scarf to keep our hair from getting windblown.

And the best part?

We never, ever had to stop for gas ⛽️

Because Grandma would say…

“This car doesn’t need gas—it runs on love 💝”

One afternoon, we were out shopping a little later than usual.

When Grandma noticed the time, she said,
“Oh dear—we need to head home and make Grandpa his lunch.”

To which I said…
“Can’t he just make his own lunch today? We’re not done shopping!”

Grandma smiled and said,
“Oh no… I like to make his lunch for him.”

So I tried again…
“Could we just get him something and bring it home?”

She said,
“No… I like his lunch to be hot for him to enjoy at home.”

Still determined, I said…
“Ok… can we go home, make his lunch, and then come back shopping?”

And she gently replied…
“No… I think we need to be done shopping for today so we can go home and make Grandpa lunch.”

As you can probably tell… I was trying every angle known to a 7-year-old 😄

But the lesson I learned that day has stayed with me my entire life:

The people you love are more important than anything you are doing.

And it’s important to know what they like, how they like it…
and then do those things for them—no matter what you would rather be doing.

So thank you, Grandma Allen, for teaching me:

That I am worthy of being loved 💛
That I have good ideas and can create beautiful things to share that love
That people are the most important part of life

Near the end of her 100.4 years of life, she said something to me I will never forget…

“You know Kathy… I wake up each morning and say to Jesus—
Oh dear Lord, I guess I am here for another day…
So I will go about my business, and if You want me to do anything for You, just let me know—and I will be ready.” 🥰❣️

And that… is the story—and the heart—of how I learned to be, at least for me…

“The BEST GiGi Ever”🧡

GiGi Will L💝VE You Forever &

LIKE You for Always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18❣️

If you ask any one of my grands what their favorite bedtime story is… it’s not a book.

It’s the story of how Gigi met Grumpa 💛

No matter how many times I’ve told it—and trust me, it’s been a lot—they still ask for it every single time they spend the night. Even my oldest, now 12, still says, “Gigi…tell us your story.”

So I thought…what better way to introduce myself than to share the very story that means the most to our family.

This is the story of how it all began…

When I was in junior high, I used to ride the bus to school. I would ride all the way to the end of the line, and every morning there was this boy…

He would come running out of his house, jump over the hedge, run across the street, and hop on the bus—then go sit right next to the most popular girl in the whole school.

They would laugh and giggle and tease each other all the way to school.

And me? I would always hope he would sit somewhere in front of me… so I could watch his wet hair bounce and flow as the bus traveled along 😊

One day I had to go to the library at school, and there he was—sitting at a desk reading the paper.

As I walked by, he looked up and said,
“What are you doing in here?”

I put my hand on the desk, looked right at him, and said—
“I came in here just to see you!!!”

And just like that… he was gone.

(I always stop right here when I tell my grands and say—I have NO idea why I said that! I was not that kind of girl at all! Heehee 😊)

A couple of days later, I was walking across our driveway when a big green muscle car pulled in.

There was a girl driving—and that same boy sitting in the passenger seat.

He rolled down the window and said, “Hi.”

I said, “Hi.”

Then he said, “There’s a Borah High School dance on Friday… would you want to go with me? We could double date with your friend Julie and my cousin Terry.”

I said, “I’ll have to check with my mom.”

So I went inside and found my mom downstairs ironing.

“Mom… there’s a boy outside asking if I can go to a dance with him Friday night.”

She looked at me and said,
“Well… you have to start sometime.”

So I went back upstairs, stood there with my hand on the door handle, trying to decide what to say…

And finally I went outside and said,
“Sure… that sounds fun 🤩”

He smiled and said, “Great—we’ll pick you up at 7:00.”

Friday night came, and I’ll be honest… I was a little disappointed.

He showed up wearing his big clodhoppers and his hash jeans 😄

So when we got to the dance, he couldn’t really dance in those big boots! We mostly sat in the bleachers watching everyone else.

But… we did share a few slow dances 💛

At the end of the night, he opened the car door for me and gave me a little kiss…

It was the most tickly kiss I had ever had (more on that another time… Ha! 😄)

On the way home, my friend Julie suddenly announced,
“I don’t want to ride—I want to walk!”

Since she was staying the night at my house… I had to walk too.

So there we were, walking home in the dark—while the boys followed us in the car, shining their headlights so we could see our way.

The next day was Saturday, and then Sunday after church, the phone rang.

It was him.

He said,
“I’m going to the elementary school to fly a kite today… do you want to come?”

I said yes, jumped on my bike, and met him there.

We spent the whole afternoon flying kites 🪁

Around 5:00, Great Grandma Gini drove by and called out,
“It’s time for dinner! You have homework—it’s a school night! Time to come home!”

The next morning, I got on the bus… rode all the way to the end…

And there he was.

Running out the door.
Jumping the hedge.
Crossing the street.

But this time…

He got on the bus…

And sat by me.

I wasn’t sure what he would do. We were only in junior high, and we had gone to a high school dance… maybe he didn’t want anyone to know.

But the whole bus started whispering—

“Why is Scott sitting by Kathy?”
“Why is Scott sitting by Kathy?”

We just sat there… looking out the window… smiling… not saying a word 😊

Later that day, I was at my locker when one of my friends came up and said,
“Scott Weber is standing right behind you.”

I was so nervous to turn around.

But finally, I closed my locker and turned…

He smiled and said,
“Hi.”

I said, “Hi.”

Then he said,
“Can I take your books and walk you to class?”

I said yes.

And as we walked down the hallway… he reached over and took my hand.

Everyone stopped.

Everyone stared.

And all you could hear was whispering—

“Are Scott Weber and Kathy Allen a couple?”
“Are Scott Weber and Kathy Allen a couple?”

And that… was the beginning of that 🥰❣️

This February 12th marks 48 years since our very first date 😎😍❣️

And now, our greatest joy is the life and memories we’re building with our grands—one joyful adventure at a time 💛

~ GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever, Like You for Always,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I’ve always believed that the very first grandchild should have the honor of naming their grandma. So I waited patiently for my first grand—who just so happens to have been born on the 4th of July 🧨 (I always tell her she is my little firecracker 🎆❣️).

As my grands and I travel together—especially on our trips up the canyon to McCall, Idaho where Grumpa lives (about 2 hours from Boise…more on that later 😉)—we love to sing songs, play 21 Questions, and I Spy.

One of my favorite things to do is sing Jesus Loves Me with them… but instead of “me,” I put in each grand’s name.

It goes like this—

Jesus loves Tyla, this I know ❣️
For the Bible tells me so ❣️
Little ones to Him belong ❣️
They are weak, but He is strong 💪❣️

Yes, Jesus loves Tyla ❣️
Yes, Jesus loves Tyla ❣️
Yes, Jesus loves Tyla ❣️
The Bible tells me so ❣️

But what she heard was something a little different…

“Gigi loves Tyla, this I know ❣️”

And from that moment on…
I became Gigi—the joyful lover of my grands ❣️

And this blog is where I’ll share all of our joyful adventures ❣️

~ GiGi Will L💝ve You Forever, Like You for Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18