2018

 

This question reflects my thoughts at the end of the year.  Thoughts I struggled with a lot this year.

And now that a new year is dawning, I have to find that way to look forward.

Forward with hope.

Hope is where we draw strength.

Hope gets us through every difficulty.

Without it, we would not be able to breathe our next breath.

Hope comes from many things.

Today, hope comes from remembering this: 

 BROKEN THINGS WILL YIELD BETTER THINGS.

Grapes must be crushed to produce wine.

A field must be plowed under with a sharp blade to plant seeds to grow.

Only a weeded garden will bear a harvest.

Pruned bushes flourish more deeply.

A diamond comes from coal that was put under great pressure.

Some things must break in order to bear more fruit.

This is where we find our hope.

For all of us - our relationships, our finances, our family, our friendships, here's to hoping that the things that were broken in 2018 will bear much beautiful fruit in 2019.

Flying coast to coast

First beautiful California 

 Then somewhere in the middle








Then I don't know where, but with that snow, no thanks!!





Then Florida.









The Orlando Airport has made some improvements











And first stop!

Bath time

I took Indy in for a bath and grooming today!  This is the before picture 

as he rides casually in the back.

He's so cute but everyone always thinks he's a girl.

This is after when he is wiped out.

But soft and clean and fluffy.

Christmas 2018

Second attempt - somehow my first published post got deleted when I went to add this awesome picture here!  So now I am going to try to remember everything I said before! haha

It was a strange and sad Christmas since Ryan didn't come home and Matt and Maria were too sick to join us.  We face timed with them as we opened each other's gifts, which was sweet, but weird since they live in the guest house.

Gifts from family far away

Along with Christmas cards

And grandpa and grandma's  famous Fiji basket!

Tired out boy after treats and playtime

Waiting so anxiously for his stocking!

Simple and small.

Breakfast bake.

We took Matt and Maria's gifts to their front door in a laundry basket, and they left ours in the laundry room.  Whatever works!

Indy 's loot this year!

Awesome Dad gifts

Star Wars cups - yay!

 Dads favorite, impossible to find chips!

Nice treat.

Gift wrap humor.

Winter solstice

Today is the first day of winter, but here in California it looks a lot more like fall.

Fall trees backed by palm trees

Wishes

Night out

Jacob's first night home for Christmas break so we went out to get some good food.

The Compass.

Lamburger.

Yes.

Crackheads outdoor bar

Christmas time travels

With three trips to the San Diego airport within 5 days, I am grateful that the airport and the city are so beautiful! Especially at night.

You see the skyline both on the way to and leaving from the airport.

It never gets old.

Steak heaven

Danny made the most amazing steak dinner I have ever had in my life.  And that's saying something when he is so good at making steak.

Tenderloin cooked to perfection, smothered with bearnaise sauce, asparagus and crispy shallots with a side of mushrooms in au jus sauce.  It cut like butter and tasted like heaven.

Paired with red wine - perfection.

Instagram surprise

I have been following the royal family on Instagram since these two got married (yeah I am a sucker for a Cinderella romance) and the posts have always been very generic.  

And then today this one popped up!

Kinda been my life quote for a little while now, so I was so surprised to see it on their Instagram feed.

Love it.

Need to believe it.

Tree

Fighting for joy.

Losing this round.

We lost our post office!

We had so much rain yesterday that the fountain and pool are full all the way to the top, mud is everywhere, and our little local post office is closed for months apparently as the rain made their roof collapse!  

Indy waited to go out until it was URGENT, and even then he ran out and back in as quickly as he could.  He had to be towel dried each time!

Peeking out from under the table at dinner time. 

 He jumped into that chair and tried to hide! 

Rainy day

Little blessings 

Today we had an appointment in this building, and normally we have to walk a block by the time we actually find a place to park.  Today it was pouring, and we found the spot right up front!

Lucky day.

Morning coffee and Christmas decorations

Sharing a breakfast sandwich across a table with a hole in the middle.

Holy table.

Holy jeans.

Seasonal favorites!