I just got back from California. You know, I've always wanted to visit California--it's not what I expected. Mark and his family live in the North central area of the state, where it is hot and dry. In fact, it was 100 degrees almost every day, and one day it got up to 108 degrees... in the shade. I know, it's not that hot for you Texas and Cali people, but for this Wisconsin girl, it was quite a shock (note: when I got home it was only 65 degrees, and last night it dropped down to 47 degrees. Mmm, summer).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from my fear of being bitten by a rattlesnake or a black widow, my trip was amazing. We saw the Pacific Ocean, the Redwood Forest, and the Sacramento Zoo. But my favorite sights were those Mark saw as a scrawny white kid. We played in the crick where they placed "Civil War" and "Paintball". We walked around the block where Mark used to walk or ride his bike. We went horseback riding for hours, surveying the land that my soulmate calls "home".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I told Mark that he had an advantage over me: he's been to my house twice. But I had never seen his home. How do I know him, if I've not seen where he came from? That part of the trip was great.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other great part was Mark's family. Doug and Beth hung out and played with us, and Mark's parents watched movies with us. Mark's mom, Tad, is very similar to who I'd like to be when I grow up. In spite of the responsibilities, sorrows, and burdens of adulthood, she still lays on the floor with her feet up on the bed. She goes horseback riding, tries on silly hats, and has a more active imagination than most fourth-graders. We had so much fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great side-note: I saw the Harmoncicle there in Cali. We found the creepiest playground ever (of course we took pictures with it!!). It has a slide shaped like a tongue, a perpetual motion spinning seat, a suspended, segemented tunnel, and a set of steps that go no where (oooOOOooo). The best part? David and Mark were playing on it, together, with me. We have pictures. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God is good. I made it back in one piece (well, not exactly. I left part of my heart in California). And life is better than ever. Even though I have a million things to do before I fly out next Wednesday. Pray that I can get it all done! Work on my recital, pack up my room, buy a wedding ring... all that.

Time is running out, but in spite of that, I'm getting things done. Bit by bit, my recital is being memorized/practiced, my wedding is being planned, and my room is getting packed. I'm not even sure how it is getting done, it just is. God is good like that.

Time is running out. I only have two weeks left to tell Bryan, Isaac, Kristin, Craig, Dennis, and Jake about Jesus. But opportunities, thought small, seem to come from no where at all. God is good like that.

Time is running out. The spiral beings in two weeks, with Haley's coming and the Renaissance Faire (the last one for who knows how long) and then school again. And then...

But God is with me, sustains and guides me, and shows me where to place my foot next. God is good like that.

Is xanga dead?


And did I kill it?