Crowded Beaches, Tortoises, Being a Kid Again

We just finished a week of VBA at church. (Vacation Bible Adventure.) We had over 500 kids this year, and a big family party on Friday afternoon. We heard there were 58 kids who gave their hearts to the Lord last week. That's the whole reason we do it! Our Kids Team did such a great job.

 

 My team was responsible for setting up all the tables and chairs throughout the classrooms, and outside. Then throughout the day to empty trash, refill cambros with ice water, clean up spills, mop floors, they did a phenomenal job! I have a great group of custodians!

 

On July 4th we had family come up from San Diego to hang out at the condo with us. We barbecued and played in the pool all day. Then all of the sudden, fireworks started going off right above us! We don't know who was setting them off, but we had a great view!

 

 

 The next day we drove down to San Diego to see my sister. She loves animals and Adelaide was amazed with her tortoises. It had been about two years since we'd all seen her, so I'm glad we made the time to stop by. I know it meant a lot to her.

We were planning to go to the ocean afterward but we should have known it would be packed on a Friday in the summer. We couldn't find parking so the kids ended up going out to dinner instead, while Chuck, Beth and I took the scenic route back to L.A. driving by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Torrey Pines.

Scripps overlooks La Jolla

This was one of the places we were planning to swim

but it was just too busy

The next day we all kind of did our own thing. Sharaya visited an art museum, Diana and Peter went back to Disneyland, Ally hung out at the condo, and Chuck, Beth and I went to Huntington Beach. We set up our chairs and then Beth and I went and put our feet in the water. After that she was done. She actually slept in the beach chair for most of the time we were there! I went back out and spent about 45 minutes jumping waves. And I seriously couldn't stop smiling: bracing myself, jumping the waves, stumbling forward by the force of the water... all with a huge smile on my face! It's something I've looked forward to since we started planning the trip. I grew up in San Diego and have been jumping waves my whole life. It's something I will do as long as I'm able, every chance I get!

 

This was our little spot on the sand

 

I forgot how busy the beaches in southern California can get. 

It was only by the grace of God that we even found a parking spot!

 

The water was quite a ways from the parking lot and Beth struggled to walk on the sand. She did better when she used the umbrellas as walking sticks. It took her a while but she did it! Next time we'll find a beach where the water is closer to the boardwalk.

 

It's time to go fix dinner so I'll close for now. Have a wonderful day!

Soaking Wet, Flying, Got On and Off Just in Time

 Continuing our trip...

 

Our second day in Anaheim we went to California Adventure. Chuck, Beth and I had never been there before and as an old person, I liked it better than Disneyland. It's a smaller park, we actually walked the entire thing, plus there are a lot of places to sit in the shade and watch the adventures going on around you.

 

 

When we first got there the Incredicoaster was running the cars without people in them. We guessed something had happened earlier and they were testing it. Pretty soon, they were letting people on so Chuck and the kids climbed aboard. About 10 minutes after they got off, it stopped again. With people still in the cars! We heard they were stuck for about 45 minutes before cast members were able to get everyone off. Our kids got on and off at just the right time!

 

 

Some of us rode the Zephyr, the Ferris Wheel, Grizzly River Run... it was so much fun!

 

 

That's Ally and Sharaya waving at me. Beth is in front of them hanging on for dear life. Smiling, but hanging on!

 Thank goodness Peter knew to get into a stationary car! 

 

 And my favorite was Grizzle River Run. We got soaked which felt good after a day in the heat. (I took these pics afterward.)

 

 Then we did a little shopping before heading back to the condo.

 

 

Have you ever been to California Adventure? What did you think?

Minnie, Living Across the Hall, and Matching Helmets!

 Hi everyone,

I hope you're all doing well and that the extreme weather we've all been having hasn't affected you too much.

 

We walked through the front door at midnight on Monday. Chuck had to work on Tuesday but I was smart enough to take the day off. 😏 Beth and I spent the day unpacking and doing laundry. I worked Wednesday, then went grocery shopping to fill our empty cupboards, then back to church to lead a class. 

 

Then worked Thursday and now it's officially the weekend for me.

 

I've been uploading pictures of our trip and keep telling myself that I don't need to show you every single thing that happened on our trip! We did so much, and had so much fun. 

We had a few hours between landing and checking into our timeshare so we went to lunch with my half-sister. It's been too long since we've seen each other and it was so good to get to talk with her. She's our dad's first daughter, and is 15 years older than me. Just hearing her voice again was so good for my heart.

 

 We all got to the condo around 4:00 on the 1st. Diana, Peter and Adelaide flew in from Pennsylvania, we flew from Seattle and Sharaya and Ally drove from Seattle. They stopped at the Redwoods on their way down.

We reserved two condos, and were able to get them right across the hall from each other. As soon as we all got in, Diana and Adelaide came over. I loved being that close to them!

Her favorite character is Minnie so I gave her the plush right away. In her little one-and-a-half year old voice she yelled, "Meenee!" then ran to show mom. 💕 When she got to meet the real Minnie, she loved her from afar.

We ended up walking to Disneyland on Tuesday morning because we couldn't figure out where the shuttle picked us up. Even various people we asked: in hotels, on the street, even a city bus driver didn't know. Well actually, they all very confidently told us something different.

 

Once we got there we slowly made our way back to Galaxy's Edge, the Star Wars area, and I took pictures of Beth along the way. By the Teacups and the Matterhorn.

 

She was excited to see the storm troopers! 

She bought the hat the last time we were at Disney! 

 

We had lunch at the Red Rose Cafe. AKA The Beauty and Beast restaurant. I was expecting it to be about Belle and the castle, but it's designed after Gaston's tavern. But it was still fun, and the food was good. If you get a chance to go, you really should "try the gray stuff, it's delicious!"🎵

 

We rode the Train around the park, went on The Jungle Cruise, It's a Small World, Adelaide played in Toon Town, and the kids went on the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride. We had such a great time being together. And Adelaide's new favorite word? "Splash!"

 

Til next time - I pray the Lord fills your life with happy splashing!