2nd annual beach house

I judge who I can be good friends with based off of whether I can imagine camping or renting a beach house with you and our future families. Any one else do this?! 

I love that our friends are practicing this--putting aside a weekend every summer to reconnect with each other. This past year many of us were off pursuing our dreams: getting teaching credentials, preparing to move to Geneva, finishing grad school in a different state. Nonetheless, we've made the time to reconnect. To ask the question: 'how was your year?' To feel reenergized just being around people who are fervently pursuing their dreams. 

I love believing that every year I will see them, on a beach near Santa Cruz, as they grow into themselves. You know how people you see everyday don't seem to notice your hair growing longer or when you were a kid how tall you've gotten? But it's the people that see you once in a while that exclaim, "Your hair is getting so long!" or "Last I saw you, you were this tall!" That's like beach house to me, I get to witness the drastic growth that one year can do. It's a very precious place to be. To recognize in a person that they've come a long way. I know over this past year I have grown so much: graduated with my degree, started my own business, lost my cousin, and learned a lot about selflessness entering my second year of marriage. Many that were there have had their own year of hardships and triumphs and I get to see how far they've come and where they are heading in this next year. I hope that my future years are full of this process of reconnecting and witnessing people I love become a deeper and stronger them.

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day one.

day two.

houseboats

I've realized that I am completely behind on what's been going on this summer [eep! sorry, mom!]

The next couple of posts are going to be a series of catch-ups before Bryan and I get on our plane to the east coast tonight.

In June, Bryan and I spent a week with our high schoolers on Lake Shasta. For me everything significant happens on this Lake: this is where I came to know Jesus,  where I met so many dear friends, and where my heart feels a complete recharge. In fact, this is where I met Bryan for the first time. Perhaps, this is why we named our dog 'Shasta'. 

This week was no less significant--watching high schoolers realize that they are loved beyond measure and seeing them recharge after a hectic school year. And of course banana boating, wake boarding, and  my favorite face plant picture of ALL time.

stace-a-lace

I met Stacey when she was going into high school. Within ten minutes of meeting her she taught me the microwave dance [It's pretty sweet. ask me and i'll show you.] Now she's off to college this fall and going to be teaching a whole new group of people her sweet dance moves. It's kinda crazy. I started youth ministry at the Junior high level and each year I've moved up with my girls. Stacey's a year older than my girls, but I've realized that many of them have become a dear friend. With Stacey it's been that way from the start. Being in her presence is just easy. 

That's exactly the way this shoot was too. We just drove around all afternoon exploring crevices within the valley--finding a cute coffee shop, giant tree, and sunflower field. 

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Thanks Stacey for letting me explore with you!