More from the West Coast

Well, it's coming up on week 4 out here in Cali. It's been an amazing trip so far, we've seen and experienced so many new things that are simply impossible to experience in a shorter amount of time. For example, the luxury of biking to the beach almost every day for the pure enjoyment of sitting on the sand or seeing the coast of Huntington Beach. All in all it's been great. 

Its funny how when you're removed from different places or situations for awhile, you begin to notice how insignificant some things really are, and on the other hand, what's really important. Being out here removed from life in Florida has given me a new perspective on how to really live. Be thankful for the time we have with people, but be open to the Lord leading you out of a certain place and into another. Don't worry, I'm not packing up and moving to California as soon as I get home, but I have begun to realize that God has a different plan for each of us, and while it's nice to have roots somewhere, isn't it better to have wings to go wherever you're called? I used to be afraid of losing people when they moved away. Maybe it had something to do with moving alot as a kid, I don't know. But this summer I realize that we should get the most out of every single moment we have with people in a particular place, and then be ready for the new friends and adventures that wait for us in the next. 

Maybe this is a lesson everyone already knows and I'm just slow to catch on, it wouldn't be the first time, haha. But it's freeing to know that God is in control of everything, and he has it all planned out already. We're just waiting to find out the next piece of the puzzle. 

California!!

With my last post giving thanks for summer, I figured now was as good a time as any for a summer update. This summer I am out in California for 6 weeks total, its been about two and a half so far. I absolutely love this state. It still blows my mind that in a single state you can have so much variety; deserts, mountains, beaches, lakes, skiing, surfing, huge cities, vineyards, ranches, you name it. 

Our first week we we're very busy seeing lots of family and friends we hadn't seen in awhile. Staying with my aunt and uncle in Costa Mesa, we live about a 15-20 minute bike-ride from the beach...it's amazing. We spent the 4th of July with my mom's side of the family and seeing our cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles was really a blast.

Week two consisted of a trip up the coast with San Francisco as our final destination. We stopped in several town as we slowly made our way up, the first of which was Solvang, a small Swedish town. It was simply adorable, all the windmills made it quite charming.  After that we made a few more stops, including the Monterey Sea Aquarium, and then finally ended up in San Francisco. 

San Francisco was amazing, I definitely want to go spend much more time there exploring the city. Its so alive and vibrant, there's music and art,  and so many people walking and biking. The golden gate bridge was incredible, we drove across it on our way to Muir Woods, a national forest of redwood trees. 

Altogether our trip was great, minus maybe the seven hour long car ride back to Costa Mesa where my uncles lives. But now that we're back we've been biking to the beach, surfing, tanning, and just hanging out alot. There's a surf competition in Huntington next week that I'm stoked for...