The Sterns Family

So here is a long overdue update... I have a lot of stories to tell, but since I haven’t had a steady internet connection and have been busy with meetings and visiting friends, time has flown even faster than I expected.

So, here is one of my favorite stories (with many more to follow in the coming days):

I spent another night with my dear friends in Merritt island as they invited me to a luau that the base where Pete works was having. Now Rachel and I have been dear friends for 17 years now, but the really fun things is how different we are. I mean... different. She teaches manners and etiquette - she attended the Protocol School of Washington to be certified. When Rachel eats potato chips, she gets a bowl. I keep cutting the bag so I don’t have to reach as far down. At a party, she would get a beautiful glass and fill it with the best of wines. I grab a Corona, slip a slice of lime in the bottle, and swig it till it’s gone. There could be 53 different forks on the table and Rachel (and her children) would know how to use each one - I’m looking for the spork. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture. I just love the fact that we dearly love each other, and take each other as God created us. And do we ever laugh when we get together!


So, we’re getting ready for the luau and Andrew, Rachel’s son, comes out in shorts and a hawaiian shirt, all nice and neat. Rachel looks at him and says, “You know Andrew, it’s beach thing, so you can un-tuck your shirt.” Andrew gives her the strangest look and says “Un-tucked? What’s that?” Of course, Aunt LeAnne gives Rachel a horrified look and then steps up to the plate and says “C’mon on over here boy, I’ll show ya what un-tucked is!” Andrew gets a horrified look that says “Oh Lord what is that crazed woman going to do to me?” But then he suddenly perks up and goes “OOHHH!!! I know what un-tucked is!” He runs to his room and comes back proudly displaying an un-tucked shirt. I loved it. I then proceeded to explain to him what the word “disheveled” meant. He wasn’t getting it - but I’ll keep trying :)




On the way home from the luau, Pete was asking the family which food they liked best. Andrew started and said he liked the one noodle dish. Abigail said how much she enjoyed the pig - I was so proud she used “pig” instead of “pork.” Pete agreed with Abigail that the pig was his favorite. Now thankfully it was dark and no one could see the biggest eye roll EVER that I was about to give to Rachel. Pete asked her, “And so Rachel, what was your favorite part of the meal?” Rachel, the self-proclaimed food snob, responds “You know, I really enjoyed the watercress in my salad...”

I’m sure the Sterns family is still going through Aunt LeAnne detox and therapy, but one thing is for sure. If I ever have kids, they are going to spend a lot of time with Aunt Rachel, Uncle Pete, and Abigail and Andrew. I love you all and can’t wait for next time - oh and, I’ll be watching that shuttle launch today, Lieutenant-Colonel Sterns!