Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year.  Another year has begun.  With our company gone and Sarah visiting family in Cali, the house is quieter than normal.  The holidays have passed but I don't want the excitement of Christmas to end for another year.  There is so much to be thankful for and I want to take the joy of Christmas into the new year.  Josh and I are grateful for family, new friends we have made in 2012, looking forward to a niece or nephew to be born in 2013, a place we call home...most of all I am thankful for my Lord who with every turn I make I am reminded of his creativity and love for us.   

 

The first day of 2013 started with the sun shining bright which was the reminder I needed that God is still near even in the dark and gloomy.  His light shines.  Josh took me out to play with my camera to a local park which has a few trails in hope to see some wildlife even on a cold winter's day.

 

With the sun out, little birds were on the hunt for dinner before the sun set.  Frost still settled on the leaves.  Disc golfers were out enjoying a cold game bundled up in their winter coats and scarfs.

 

I have started the book Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg and I want to have a new appreciation and wonderment of God and his miraculous power in 2013. 

 

A child-like faith can move mountains. Everywhere I look I see His beauty.  Today I reflect on all He has done in our lives in 2012...He has provided and He never fails. 

 

 Happy New Year everyone!

My Jeep Ride

Dad has been promising me another Jeep ride for months.  I have been looking forward to it every minute since he promised.  This time we headed up on the hills that are above the Santa Ynez Valley and between Cachuma Lake and Santa Barbara. 



I edited this picture to make it look like the cover of an old Jeep magazine.





Dad on the phone talking to Uncle Dennis. Hi Uncle Dennis! What a view!







I couldn't help but ask myself how long those rocks have been on this old trail.  This old road now closed was used by the early settlers of the Central Coast to get over the mountains into Santa Barbara.





On our ride we saw over 20 deer! Thanks Dad! I can't wait for our next Jeep excursion!

Just a Few of My Favorites

Once home from vacation I have the task of going through photos of our trip and reflecting on the precious memories made.  We had such an amazing time and I have such gratefulness in my heart.

There were trips to the beach...

Avila Beach on one of its finest days! It seems to be a new tradition for the girls to take an afternoon to visit the beach...





We stopped at Avila Barn to feed the animals...









I even got in a couple of trips to San Luis Obispo...




One of my favorite moments of our vacation was to catch up with two of my favorite girls!





Josh and I met Matt and Deborah for coffee at Starbucks...





Fireworks at the Stones house again this year!



Solvang never changes. I didn't regret the tummy ache after eating two danish pastries.





Deborah joined us for the trip to Solvang!

Flowers and Things

Anytime the sun has shown itself I have grabbed my camera and tried to capture some pretties.  That's what I have enjoyed taken pictures of...anything that make me smile and warms my heart.  Here are a few pretties that I thought I would share...




Wings of Wonder in Independence is a greenhouse butterfly habitat.  Exotic butterflies fly freely everywhere.

Winter Days

When winter hits the camera doesn't come out much.  Winter means rain storms, floods, snow, ice...cameras and the such don't mix well.  I did snap this picture a few weeks ago when it snowed while at Dave and Jen's.

Josh and I spent today on a little adventure in McMinnville.  We enjoyed the country drive and the Saturday Market the best.

The town is quaint and brewing with historical character.  We enjoyed lunch at the local Golden Valley Brewery. 

Josh outside an old barn near the Public Market...

After lunch we found the local Saturday Market full of local vendor selling handmade and home grown items. We enjoyed looking at the art, soap, fresh produce, duck and goose eggs, hand spun yarn, honey, coffee…we enjoyed chatting with a merchant selling to order free range chickens and ducks. To learn more…check out http://mcminnvillepublicmarket.com/

After enjoying the sights and sounds of the Saturday Public Market, we walked through downtown stopping to look at the yarn and buttons, interesting yard sculptures, cats sitting in windows soaking in the sun, and Josh makes sure he stops to talk with the locals.

Evans Street seems like a nice street to call home. 

Yarn pretties...



Button Bliss...

Every yard needs one of these...

A cat's home in a dance studio...