Seasons of Change: travel and leisure

July 12, 2013

Spring Bliss & Summer Fun

So many pictures, so little time! I'm an avid photographer, so I tend to take more than my fair share of photos. I think I do this because I don't want to miss anything. Moments are so brief and all too soon forgotten, so I do my best to capture those moments before they fade from memory. My hope is that the photos I take will call to mind the joy, satisfaction or thrill that was felt at the time...even if it's only an echo of it. Here are some photos of the more notable enjoyments of the last few months.

"I'm glad I am alive, to see and feel
The full deliciousness of this bright spring day."
William Allingham

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~Yosemite~

Evergreen Lodge

Andre's favorite part of the lodge--s'mores every night!

How great is nature and how small we truly are.

Upper Yosemite Falls

~Disneyland~

Bonding time with the cousins.

They look like they are at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Toy Story Midway, one of our favorite attractions.

Checking out the new Carsland.

Family

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"Come we to the summer, to the summer we will come..."

John Clare

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~Santa Cruz~

Seven years had passed since we last saw Billy's cousin and his family. At the time, we had visited them in San Diego. Andre was no more than one. Since that time, Anthony, who is in the Navy, had traveled to several locations before recently settling down in the Central Valley. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet each other somewhere halfway.

The boardwalk.

Such vibrant colors!

Cousins photo

It was so nice to have the opportunity to spend time with extended family at such a fun, lively place.

~Fourth of July at HMB~

One of the things I associate with summer...blowing bubbles!

And beach volleyball...

Wet and wild crew!

Friends 'til the end.

~Camping at Albion~

Upon invitation, we took a trek to Mendocino County to stay the weekend at the Albion Campground. It was a wonderful trip! Surrounded by nature and the simplest of essentials, it was a relief to be unplugged and unfettered from the usual routine. Here, there was little more to do than to breathe deeply of the sea-scented air, to study the breaking waves and the cloudless sky, to sit around a fire at night, toasting marshmallows and conversing under the stars.

Just a short walk from the campground, beneath a Redwood trestle bridge, lay the great Pacific Ocean.

Andre showing his dad something he found by the shore.

Quality time with Grandma.

Conquering the rock!

Fishing! Much of the weekend was spent engaged in fishing and crabbing.

Fishing off the dock.

Fishing at sea.

Andre catches a red snapper!

He can't watch as Dan guts the fish.

Billy and I get to run off to Mendocino for a few hours.

The quaint seaside town is as gorgeous as ever. Can we move here?
One can dream...

The rugged coastline

When we return to the camp, what do we find? The three are fishing and crabbing yet again!

The sun setting on camp.

We were thankful to my mom and Dan for allowing us to enjoy such a restful time with them.

November 3, 2012

Memories of Hawaii

It's been nearly two months since our vacation to Maui and Oahu. Normally, I am eager to share my photos from such fun, relaxing times, but this vacation was significantly different. You see, while we were reveling in the beauty of a tropical isle, back home tragedy had struck. A member from our church, someone I'd known for quite some time, was shot and killed in the line of duty. He was a husband, a father of four, and a faithful servant at our church. Needless to say, it was difficult to feel happy and light-hearted knowing that four children were suddenly without a father. I had trouble sleeping the night I heard the news. And for days afterward, I was distracted and feeling somewhat guilty. How could I enjoy myself when others were hurting? Then I remembered Ecclesiastes 3:1--the very verse my blog is based on. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." I was reminded that God has appointed every detail of our lives...a time to live and a time to die. And all of us will have our times of triumph and tragedy. I realized that Kenyon's death was a necessary reminder to cherish what God has appointed for us that day. In light of this, I found a new appreciation for my precious family and vowed to cherish them while God allowed them in my life. The same for my dear friends. Once again, I was able to find enjoyment in God's creation with a grateful heart, having the assurance that Kenyon was enjoying himself in heaven even more.

~ Maui ~