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Lucas & Cristin Engagement
Jan 21, 2009

Last Saturday was a beautiful day, the wind was warm, the sun was out and 2 people in love were galavanting around Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes.  It has been brough to my attention (by my husband) that I am a bad writer so I am going to let the pictures say it themselves. Meet Cristin and Lucas...

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Like anyone could shut me up :) I am a bad typist but it comes from the heart. And honestly that is what matters to me. And It comes from the heart for Lucas and Cristin. They will be getting married in August and they are going to be a stunning bride and groom. 

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Cristin and Lucas thanks for letting me be a "Michael Scott" and spend the with you. You guys
are cute like Pam and Jim :)
 



It's a Beautiful Day
Jan 20, 2009

We (Trav, Kai & I) headed for Long Beach for a whale watching tour. For a family that is always late, this made us NERVOUS! If you miss your boat you miss your chance. We hurried ourselves out the door, got a little turned around on the drive down & and then wa-la we arrived. We felt complete relief that were actually there early. *Gold Star* We showed up with gloves, a blanket, enough snacks to feed the whole boat of passengers--twice. Every freckle on my body was eager with anticipation.I didn't want to put out time effort and money only to turn out disappointed. I was pretty nervous. Let me re-phrase that... I was going on a boat with a 2 year old for 2 1/2 hours. I was wondering if we were crazy.

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It was the first 9am boat for the season, so we were nervous that the whales might still be sleeping :) and that we would be at a loss. But, only 5 minutes out of the harbor and the amazement started. Grey Whale 12 o'clock! We watched the big guy surface a few times and after a couple of minutes it "fluked". I could have stayed there all day but the boat voted and everyone wanted to keep going. These people were gamblers--Vegas style!


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*One small comment on this picture. The brownish cloud layer was the smog. The Santa Anna winds pushed it out far to see. It was thick. It make me happy that we own a Prius and my husband bikes to work but I might be buying a gas mask soon.

That's when "IT" happened. I saw out of the corner of my left eye something leaping, jumping and swimming. As fast as it's little flippers could carry him. A "common" dolphin was racing to the boat and it was a picture of unbridled joy. It was a moment that froze in time for me. Every fiber of me cried out to God in gratitude. It is how I should be running after God. It is a scene I won't forget anytime soon.  But before I knew it every one on the boat was saying, "dolphins!" It was like popcorn popping--everyone was announcing dolphins.  Out boat was in the exact middle of a grouping of 150 or more dolphins. They were as far as I could see. EVERYWHERE!! It was such an AWESOME experience. They were playing at the front of the boat, doing acrobatics off the side and ska-dattling everywhere. 


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After 10 minutes of bliss, the captain saw another grouping. So we went and !!again!! played with another 100 or so dolphins and this time there were some Californian sea lions. Everyone was brimming with excitement, it was like our little boat had been electrified. So when the captain said we had to head back we were completely satisfied.
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The fun wasn't over yet on the way back into the dock. The captain spotted a Momma and baby grey whale. He estimated that the baby was only 2 weeks old. Man-what a sight to see. I kinda got a little baby fever. From a whale?!#*  Hmmmm....odd. 

I am gr8phul to have been able to see such beautiful and captivating creatures in the wild. There was such a truth seeing these animals in the natural habitat. I loved that the were still wild and free and the end of the day. It was Trav's first time seeing them and the smile on his face spoke volumes. And I am gr8phul for all the aquatic activity, they kept Kai somewhat entertained. And the rest of the time he was learning to get his sea legs. :)

Being back on a boat reminded me how much I love being out there. When I lived in Honduras I lived on a 64 foot schooner for a month. It was my version of Disneyland. It was good to be back on the water today and be so profoundly blessed. Now Kai has been saying all day, "I saw dolphins and whales, it go jumped in the air." On the way home from the backseat we heard him talking to himself and he said, "That was AWESOME!"
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When we got home we decided to make it a super killer day. So, Trav went surfing for a few hours and then Trav and I went to LACMA to see a photography exhibit I have been wanting to see. It was educational and inspirational. That museum is HUGE!! I will be going back--hopefully sooner than later.

So now it is SUPER late and I don't want to go to bed and have the day be over. It was a gr8 day! But I need to close my eyes.

I don't want to be groggy and grumpy for inauguration day.




 



Transformation
Jan 18, 2009


God Transforms Lives
I am gr8phul that He has transformed mine and Trav's

Gr8phul!

God has brought me from the depths of hurts to the heights of joy.
And he's not done yet!


 



It's almost Friday!
Jan 15, 2009

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     Joy.
 



So much to be gr8phul 4
Jan 13, 2009



I am down in bed with a cold and I was looking back on the pictures from 2008. Colds suck but getting to look back on all the amazing moments from the past year is a blessing. I just got an e-mail from Tom & Erica yesterday telling me about all the AWESOMENESS in their lives. They are such a special couple and sweet friends. I love that I got to be with them on their wedding day. Even though I am sick, I am not sick of my "job" :)
 



A New do for a New Year
Jan 11, 2009

A picture is worth a thousand words   :)
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the red does wash out :)
 



asleep at the...
Jan 10, 2009

Don't fall asleep and drop your computer. It is a bad thing to do. Thank goodness I just got a small cosmetic ding on the frame and no real damage. I always heard of people falling asleep while smoking, and I always thought it was kinda crazy that they could ACTUALLY fall asleep that way.

We'll I have no more judgement for them. I am amazed that I could "crash out" and go to sleep and totally let my computer crash to the floor. Just one more reason why I have no business smoking.

There before the grace of God go I.
 



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