Something to look forward to

This weekend we felt so blessed to be a part of Henri and Dianne's 60th wedding anniversary. It was amazing to watch all seven of their children tell beautiful stories all weekend rich with laughter and love and know that it was their marriage that laid the foundation for it all. Bryan at one point asked if they had advice for all the newly weds in the family and his grandpa said [paraphrased because I have an awful memory], "It's hard work. Every evening we said grace and after grace we kissed each other. Make sure you kiss each other, even if you are gritting your teeth and don't want to. And it doesn't hurt to say you're sorry a lot." Later he added, "and it doesn't hurt to say I love you a lot."

See those cuties on the left? They are Bryan's grandparents and this weekend we are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary! So ta-ta for now! We are off to Monterey to honor a beautiful beautiful thing!

Waiting to pick up a friend at the airport...

I found a field and took some photos

On a Boat with 40 High Schoolers

If you are around Bryan and I enough, you'll hear us talk about our kids. By that, we mean the kids we love to love on at our church. Sometimes that's all we talk about. We love to brag about them because they happen to be some of the most inspiring and most wonderful people we know. This past week I got the pleasure of spending a week with some of them on houseboats. It was a life-changing week to say the least (a conversation much more suited for face-to-face time over a cup of coffee). But I just wanted to post a picture or two just so you guys can see the people who my heart swells with joy for. I love these kids to death and I am just so excited for what God is doing in their lives.

The faces in this picture are hilarious!

I love eating outside.

Someday we will have a house that has a dining table outside and there we will have family dinners every sunny day. But until then, we pack our dinner in our backpacks and walk till we find a grassy knoll.

Date Night

Some cherry pickin'

Some Rummikub in the back of the truck

watching a beautiful sunset

My posts are not usually this sappy, I just miss this girl...

This is my best friend, Nicole. I often feel overwhelming joy with how great she is. She lives in San Diego, which happens to be really far from Davis. And as happy as I am that my best friend lives in such a cool place, I often miss her like crazy. Like this week. I miss her. A lot. I've probably written this post for about the 15th time now. Writing and rewriting. Not only because Nicole is a fantastic editor [I better make no mistakes in this post!], but because how do you fully get across how special a person is to you?

I met Nicole nine years ago. We've grown so much since then. I got married. She graduated and got a real job [I say 'real' because I pump lotion for a living and I'd like to think that its not 'really' my job.] We both have lives now.

But every so often, I get a letter, voicemail, or package from her. They are reminders that even in this very busy time of our lives that we are still close. Last week, she sent a package that had this handmade wooden puzzle in it--just because I like puzzles. In college, when life got hard, she would send me encouraging letters that brought hope into hardship. And when Bryan and I moved into our first place, we were greeted with a package of these beautiful prints that we've now hung right by our front door. It's as if my best friend was right there sharing in the excitement of the new life stage I was in.

I don't think she knows how great of a gift giver she is. When you open her gifts, it's exactly what you need--encouragement, shared excitement, hope, understanding, and more.

Nik, thank you for being such a tangible friend despite the distance. I hope that one day I can learn to give gifts that move people like you do.

[I'm also positive you showed those LSATs who's boss today. Smartest lady I know!]