Visits continued . . .

We recently had Chris's eldest sister stay with us. It was absolutely wonderful to be able to spend some extended time together and meet our newest niece, Samantha.

 

Yes, my baby photography needs some work! (I don't get a lot of face time with babies)

We had a wonderful time spending our evenings with Sharon and Samantha. Unfortunately, neither Chris nor I were able to take off much time from work during their visit. We ate in, we ate out, Sharon and Chris went out one night to hear live music and we even had dinner with a few other relatives that live in the bay area. It was a full week!

I really enjoyed their visit. I especially enjoyed getting to know Sharon better. Even though we've known each other for a few years now, we rarely have had time to talk! By the end of the week, it felt like I had an older sister! I loved to watch her interact with her baby and listen to her share about parenting, traveling, and living life. There is much to be admired in this woman. I will cherish this visit for a long time—especially since it will be awhile before we see each other again.

We recently had Chris's eldest sister stay with us. It was absolutely wonderful to be able to spend some extended time together and meet our newest niece, Samantha.

 

Yes, my baby photography needs some work! (I don't get a lot of face time with babies)

We had a wonderful time spending our evenings with Sharon and Samantha. Unfortunately, neither Chris nor I were able to take off much time from work during their visit. We ate in, we ate out, Sharon and Chris went out one night to hear live music and we even had dinner with a few other relatives that live in the bay area. It was a full week!

I really enjoyed their visit. I especially enjoyed getting to know Sharon better. Even though we've known each other for a few years now, we rarely have had time to talk! By the end of the week, it felt like I had an older sister! I loved to watch her interact with her baby and listen to her share about parenting, traveling, and living life. There is much to be admired in this woman. I will cherish this visit for a long time—especially since it will be awhile before we see each other again.

An Adventurous Friend

Please note this was originally written on June 11 but was not posted until the 19th -- sorry to keep you waiting!

If you ever need to cross the Pacific Ocean, I hope you take a day to visit us first. Our good friend Cara did last weekend! Before she started her year-long adventure backpacking overseas she planned a layover in San Francisco. It was just a day, but it was a great day!

I know you have experienced saying goodbye to a good friend before. Chris and I left our very close-knit community when we moved from Colorado -- Cara was part of that group. We aren't always very good at keeping in touch, but when we do have a chance to connect, it's GOOD. It satisfies my soul. I felt that same way when I spent the weekend with friends in Colorado in May. I was blessed to have that experience again so soon with Cara's visit. We picked up right where we left off--as good friends often do.

We spent the day seeing a few sights and driving around different parts of the city. Most of our discussion was about her upcoming trip.  I love seeing our friends and family take steps of faith, risk comfort, and go on an adventure. It reminds me of the step we took when we moved to California and inspires me to take more risks and trust Him more.

It has been a year since we moved into the city. I can't believe how the time has gone by so fast. And how quickly we can settle in and become comfortable with our new life. Which is good in one sense--we feel at home, we can get around, we have what we need etc. But in another sense, we don't feel the urgency to depend on our Father for our next meal, our home, or job like we did a year ago.

Cara had shared with me that she was hoping to experience God in deeper ways through this trip. I doubt she will have to wait very long before she feels an urgency to have more faith, know God more, and pray more. The unknown can be a scary thing -- but God often does incredible things when you walk by faith through the unknown.

Listening to Cara share her uncertainties and hopes for the next year really spurred me on to live with more faith! Who can't use a little push in that direction? I look forward to hearing the lessons she's learned and the experiences she's had! Have an amazing adventure Cara!

Please note this was originally written on June 11 but was not posted until the 19th -- sorry to keep you waiting!

If you ever need to cross the Pacific Ocean, I hope you take a day to visit us first. Our good friend Cara did last weekend! Before she started her year-long adventure backpacking overseas she planned a layover in San Francisco. It was just a day, but it was a great day!

I know you have experienced saying goodbye to a good friend before. Chris and I left our very close-knit community when we moved from Colorado -- Cara was part of that group. We aren't always very good at keeping in touch, but when we do have a chance to connect, it's GOOD. It satisfies my soul. I felt that same way when I spent the weekend with friends in Colorado in May. I was blessed to have that experience again so soon with Cara's visit. We picked up right where we left off--as good friends often do.

We spent the day seeing a few sights and driving around different parts of the city. Most of our discussion was about her upcoming trip.  I love seeing our friends and family take steps of faith, risk comfort, and go on an adventure. It reminds me of the step we took when we moved to California and inspires me to take more risks and trust Him more.

It has been a year since we moved into the city. I can't believe how the time has gone by so fast. And how quickly we can settle in and become comfortable with our new life. Which is good in one sense--we feel at home, we can get around, we have what we need etc. But in another sense, we don't feel the urgency to depend on our Father for our next meal, our home, or job like we did a year ago.

Cara had shared with me that she was hoping to experience God in deeper ways through this trip. I doubt she will have to wait very long before she feels an urgency to have more faith, know God more, and pray more. The unknown can be a scary thing -- but God often does incredible things when you walk by faith through the unknown.

Listening to Cara share her uncertainties and hopes for the next year really spurred me on to live with more faith! Who can't use a little push in that direction? I look forward to hearing the lessons she's learned and the experiences she's had! Have an amazing adventure Cara!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had been looking forward to Memorial day weekend for about a month. Finally a day off! Finally an opportunity to do something/go somewhere together . . . have a mini-vacation . . . aah(relaxing sigh)! We had come up with several options, some were just the two of us, others included old friends, and another new friends. 

Two weeks ago, Chris found out he had to work on Monday . . . and then we ended up both needing to help out at church on Sunday. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I felt like I really needed a break from my normal day-to-day stuff. But it is what it is and I still wanted to make the best of my long weekend. We came up with a plan . . . I would keep ALL my chores until Monday so that Chris and I would have two whole days together (minus our church activities).

We drove to Stinson Beach on Saturday in an attempt to get out of the city and relax for the day. Unfortunately, the weather was its normal "moody" self and we ended up getting rained out and having to leave early. We did get to sit on the beach for a solid 45 minutes of sunshine and had a great lunch at a little cafe in the town. 



Can you see the fog behind us? You definitely can't see the hills that should be there!

 

These next two pictures were taken from the same point just in opposite directions. Hard to believe the sky can look so different at the same time!



This was a sign we read as we had walked on the beach . . . for those of you who saw the trailer
to the movie Chris has been working on, this didn't sit well with me!

The main street in Stinson Beach was really cute; all the little shops had adorable signs -- I had to take pictures!

This was the cafe where we had lunch. Earlier in the day when we had
first arrived we grabbed coffee and tea here -- we sat down in cozy leather chairs
and found a backgammon game to keep us occupied during the rain. (So relaxing!)

Sorry I didn't think to take photos before we started eating!
This is Chris's burrito 

and my soup



Rained out -- on our way back home.

Even though we got rained out, I still had a really great time. It was peaceful, beautiful, and I was spending quality time with Chris. That was all I needed!

After church on Sunday we decided to hike through Glen Canyon Park which is another park we are blessed have within walking distance.

Afterwards we walked around the neighborhood checking out a book store with live music, a frozen yogurt place and a few other cute shops. It was another really great day (with much better weather).

And as planned, I got most of my chores done on Monday while Chris had to work. I also had lunch and took a long walk with a friend. Having that extra day was really nice and our weekend did feel more like a mini-vacation that I would have expected. Hope you were able to enjoy your weekend too!

We hiked quite a bit this weekend -- much more than I have been recently. 
And now, as of June 1, I've walked 300 miles this year!

We had been looking forward to Memorial day weekend for about a month. Finally a day off! Finally an opportunity to do something/go somewhere together . . . have a mini-vacation . . . aah(relaxing sigh)! We had come up with several options, some were just the two of us, others included old friends, and another new friends. 

Two weeks ago, Chris found out he had to work on Monday . . . and then we ended up both needing to help out at church on Sunday. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I felt like I really needed a break from my normal day-to-day stuff. But it is what it is and I still wanted to make the best of my long weekend. We came up with a plan . . . I would keep ALL my chores until Monday so that Chris and I would have two whole days together (minus our church activities).

We drove to Stinson Beach on Saturday in an attempt to get out of the city and relax for the day. Unfortunately, the weather was its normal "moody" self and we ended up getting rained out and having to leave early. We did get to sit on the beach for a solid 45 minutes of sunshine and had a great lunch at a little cafe in the town. 



Can you see the fog behind us? You definitely can't see the hills that should be there!

 

These next two pictures were taken from the same point just in opposite directions. Hard to believe the sky can look so different at the same time!



This was a sign we read as we had walked on the beach . . . for those of you who saw the trailer
to the movie Chris has been working on, this didn't sit well with me!

The main street in Stinson Beach was really cute; all the little shops had adorable signs -- I had to take pictures!

This was the cafe where we had lunch. Earlier in the day when we had
first arrived we grabbed coffee and tea here -- we sat down in cozy leather chairs
and found a backgammon game to keep us occupied during the rain. (So relaxing!)

Sorry I didn't think to take photos before we started eating!
This is Chris's burrito 

and my soup



Rained out -- on our way back home.

Even though we got rained out, I still had a really great time. It was peaceful, beautiful, and I was spending quality time with Chris. That was all I needed!

After church on Sunday we decided to hike through Glen Canyon Park which is another park we are blessed have within walking distance.

Afterwards we walked around the neighborhood checking out a book store with live music, a frozen yogurt place and a few other cute shops. It was another really great day (with much better weather).

And as planned, I got most of my chores done on Monday while Chris had to work. I also had lunch and took a long walk with a friend. Having that extra day was really nice and our weekend did feel more like a mini-vacation that I would have expected. Hope you were able to enjoy your weekend too!

We hiked quite a bit this weekend -- much more than I have been recently. 
And now, as of June 1, I've walked 300 miles this year!