We went to Santa Barbara for Valentine's/Presidents Day weekend. My family went in 2003 and I loved it so much I have always wanted to go back. For a Christmas gift, Jonathan said I could pick a weekend to go.

There was not a cloud in the brilliant blue sky and it was a comfortable mid-70's the whole time. We ate nearly every meal outside. It was so nice. And we stayed at a great little inn (shown below). I took a lot of pictures of the architecture because it is so beautiful; white-washed stucco, red roofs, black wrought iron, colorful tile, and flowering clinging vines and trees. When we have a house one day, I would love to have a kitchen that reflects the Santa Barbara essence.

We walked up and down the beaches and saw a lot of different birds. Jonathan's favorites were the pelicans. We walked to the end of Stearn's Wharf and to the end of State Street. We were strolling around by the harbor and heard a bagpipe playing in the distance and followed the tune until we got to the top of a hill overlooking the wharf. A woman was practicing her bagpipe so we sat and listened and took in the view. It was one of our favorite parts of the trip. 

It was such a nice weekend away after the busy weeks we have had lately.

 

"She had been studying her lessons, but it had grown too dark to see the book, so she had fallen into wide-eyed reverie, looking out past the boughs of the Snow Queen, once more bestarred with its tufts of blossom."

- L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

My Cherry Tree Neighbor

 

Taking a break from studying Accounting to give a thankfulness report. 

Jonathan is working on a sermon that he will be giving tomorrow morning at intern class and tomorrow night at youth group. He has been busy with that almost every weeknight lately. I have been busy with accounting work almost every weeknight lately. Both our jobs have been demanding. Both of us have gotten sick recently. Weekends have been filled with fun social activities and volunteer opportunities. So much for hibernating :)

In making meals for new moms, helping people move, cooking meals for recovering addicts with our home group, and going to birthday parties and dinner dates, we have been overcome with gratitude. A couple Sundays ago we realized our after-church-lunch-crew had multiplied so that we needed two separate tables to fit everyone! And three of the couples have children now! God really plopped us into an amazing community down here. We couldn't ask for more, we are so blessed.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that stood out in a sea of  "I'd rather be flyfishing" or "I'd rather be kayaking" bumper stickers. It said, "I'd rather be here, now." Pretty profound for a bumper sticker I think. While we eagerly anticipate and hope in the glory of Heaven, we have so much to be thankful for. Right here, right now.