Our trip up the West Coast

Well this is going to be a mega-picture post! I'm way behind on blogging but for anyone who like the pictures I don't want to leave anything out.

So I left off right before Josh and I took our trip up North.

We felt like such big kids with our rental car!!!

Our first stop was visiting Uncle Cory & Aunt Carrol in Modesto. We only got to spend a bit of time with them because we were hurrying to get up the coast, but it was so fun to see them!

 Then to Newberg to see Auntie & Uncle very briefly! I got to help cook on the Aga - Auntie's fancy Elnglish stove!

After that we spent a few days with Auntie Andrea & Uncle Mike in Vancouver!

The first day Auntie was our tour guide and she took us to several beautiful waterfalls at one of which we had a picnic lunch. Then we went to the Bonneville dam locks. This was SO neat! I didn't want to leave. We got to see them fill up and watch a little boat push out this huge barge. I really wanted to see them open the locks and let out the water but there was no way of knowing when that would be and their best guess was a couple hours. It was just amazing to me how much water there was a how HUGE the big gates were! You can see where they come together in the picture below. On the other side of it were tons of hydraulics used to open and close them and several hundred foot drop to the rest of the river below.

We took some pictures for Mom & Campo - family joke. =)

The next day Uncle Mike took us on a more geological themed tour. We explored Ape Cave and climbed through 2 miles of underground lava tubes. It was super fun and very cold!

My cousins Ryan & Cameron. (Cam was visiting Ryan from Phoenix for his annual summer trip and he got there on the same day we did. It was fun to have him around too!)

Some parts were pretty rugged

Lava "waterfall"

Rob & I

The exit - light at the end of the tunnel!

We had a picnic in the warm air above ground

Trail of Two Forests

Cameron and I climbed through a tunnel formed by lava that flowed over a tree then the tree burned or rotted. We had to be on our bellies except for this one spot.

Mount St. Helens

My favourite part... (NOT)

Dinner with Uncle Mike & Auntie. Too bad we didn't take pictures of US! Not that we didn't try, but that's a different story.

Our beautiful view of the river from inside

Thursday morning Josh met Uncle Doug and went to Intel to meet with some of his friends there. I took Cameron and Ryan and we met up with Aunt Anette and had breakfast at one of their favourite little places

One day we went with Aunt Andrea and the kids to Cannon Beach and dug a hole!

And more holes!

And buried people!

I just thought this was pretty cute. =)

On our way back from church with Carley

Then begun our trip down the coast! The first attraction was the Redwoods

Neither of us had ever been through and we were blown away by the beauty and expansiveness of the trees. They just kept going and going! Also I've seen lots of trees in my life. LOTS of trees. And I was very impressed by how beautiful this forest was. Also we loved the fog that was prevalent because of being so close to the ocean.

I HAD to take a picture with Paul and Babe. I grew up watching Disney's American Legends and was so bummed that none of my family was with me to share in this fun discovery.

At our really neat inn in Eureka (The Eureka Inn) - talking on my cell phone in the phone booths

We loved how old fashioned and authentic this old inn was. It had all the original wood paneling and many antiques from when it was built. It is one of the many historical sites in the city and we really enjoyed being there. I would highly recommend it as a fun destination and place to stay.

After we checked out of the inn we walked to this beautiful church.

Stunning.

More Redwoods

We stayed in a little inn in Santa Rosa. This evening was when Josh got offered his job. We bought dinner at a grocery store to celebrate! I let Josh buy Lunchables. ; )

We drove through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge. Josh had never been there and it had been years since I had. It is everything it's cracked up to be, I wish we could have driven back and forth on it over and over. And the fog was a GREAT touch! (Thanks God! You're very thoughtful!)

It's right there! I promise!

That night we stayed at The Inn at Morro Bay. Again, VERY great place to stay.

The view from our room leading to an overview of the bay right out back

The next morning we tried out a little bakery. I love this shot of Josh with food in his cheek!

My pastry

Cool bread art

He wanted me to take a normal one too.

Morro Rock - we were so bummed we couldn't climb it!

So we went out onto the Sandspit instead.

We were worn out so that day we went home! It was a great trip! We were so glad to see so much family and to be able to spend time together.

 The last thing in July to note was Dad's 50th birthday. I'll post those pictures in a different post but here are the ones I took on the eve of his birthday. He had dinner with some of his sons and we all hung out.

That handsome guy is almost 50?!

The 26th marked 14 months we'd been married

The night before Nate & Rebecca's wedding

It has been a very fun week here in Utah. Different from what we are used to, but enjoyable! I'm pondering the memories that I have with Nate and Rebecca and thinking about all the dynamics of their relationship. It's so fun to see what can happen with the people you don't expect.

Seven years ago this summer, I worked at Pioneer Bible Camp. Somewhere in that summer I met this crazy girl named Rebecca. God worked something unbelievable and made her my best friend. Tomorrow night she will marry my brother and take the name Rupprecht.

I'm so glad God brought Rebecca into my life and through me into Nate's life. I'm so grateful for the friend she has been to me through the journey life has taken us on. I'm in awe that God has chosen her to be the woman to stand by my brother in his challenging career and beyond. I'm thrilled that she will be the REAL aunty to my children!

I can't even guess how many conversations we had through our teen and young adult years about who we would marry, the kind of guy, etc. I had no idea that for Rebecca that would someday be my brother. Nate I'm so glad you get to be the one to take care of my friend. I'm so blessed to know that Rebecca has found herself a man who loves the Lord and loves her so much. I'm excited to watch your marriage blossom and see how God uses you both through your gifts.

I love you both so much and am excited to spend tomorrow with you and watching you begin your life together!

July update on life!

So I just want to give a quick update on what's going on with Josh and I!




-God answered our prayers and provided Josh with a job!

We are very excited to be staying in California.

Josh will be working at Uptime Computer Services in Brea

as a field tech doing IT work for large companies.

We have been blown away by the gravity of benefits this job provides.

God doesn't do halfway.

-We took a trip up North to visit family and meet contacts

We had great fun seeing Uncle Cory, Aunt Carrol, Carson, and Danie,

Uncle Fred, Auntie Joan, Nanna, David, Trevor, Mia, and Eva

Uncle Mike, Auntie Andrea, Rob, Ryan, and Cameron

Uncle Jim and Aunt Anette

Uncle Doug, Aunt Andrea, James, Anna, Jonathan, and Carley.

Josh got to visit an Intel campus and meet with two friends of Uncle Doug who work there.

We had a really fun time spending three nights coming back down the coast

exploring, taking pictures, staying in hotels, driving a rental car, and eating out!

-We are praying for our future and asking God how He wants to use us

(Please pray for the busy next few weeks. Josh has one week of training before his boss leaves for vacation and Josh is the main tech for one of their biggest clients. I will go to Utah with my family to prepare for the wedding and then camp in Wyoming and Josh will only be able to fly up for the weekend of the wedding. When we get home we will need to find an apartment and move our things from Las Cruces.)

Grandpa's Birthday

We were so glad we got to spend Grandpa Jerry's birthday with him this year!

Josh and I are really enjoying living with my grandparents and spending precious time with them.

We didn't have enough candles (Sorry Grandpa!) So we creatively used icing for the 7 and candles for the 6. I'll not say what order they go in. ; )

 

Grandpa loves to get burgers from McDonald's so we got him a gift card!

I loved the little french fry holder they gave me to put the card in!

I love you Grandpa. I love seeing Jesus in your life and what a testimony and gift you have been to many people. I am the second generation result of God's grace in your life and that is quite a heritage!

Josh's birthday celebration

I'm a little behind on my blogging due to much activity this month! So we're back tracking to July 8th when Josh had his 22nd birthday and wanted to bbq and play volleyball at the park!

We had a great time and were blessed to have family to celebrate with us!

I am so glad that my family loves Josh and supports him as he is far from his family.

We miss his parents & siblings, grandparents, aunts & uncles, and cousins. Wish you all could have been with us on his birthday!

Josh's birthday

Well I missed posting this on his birthday, but close enough. =)

I just wanted to say how much I love Josh. He completes me so well. I love him more and more and am enjoying spending my life with him. When Josh and I began to fall in love years ago we knew so little about each other. I always felt like it was just meant to be, and sometimes I couldn't explain why. I know it was God. Now I see how much we have grown...how much we've changed and affected each other.

Josh is a very strong person. I admire how I can always count on him to be very sure of himself. I love how more recently his strength and reliance has come from his trust in and understanding of God's will. He prays faithfully, and studies the word, taking opportunities to relate our real life experiences to what he's learning. I see the growth, sometimes slow but sure.

Josh is often quiet and reserved, but likes to have fun! I enjoy the crazy side of him. That spontaneous side of him that likes to sometimes make decisions on the fly and just do what we want to do rather than what we've planned to do. It keep life interesting, and keeps us young!

Josh is tender and kind. I've watched him learn to love his family. Standing in the kitchen to take time and talk with his mom while she cooks dinner. Trying to stay in contact with his siblings while we're far away. Playing ping pong with my little brother for hours.

I should close, even though there is so much I could say still. Thank you Lord for my husband...for his heart for You.

P.S. I love how Josh came into the room as I was closing and says, "We are so blessed." and when I asked why he said, "Because we have so much more than we need."

Independence Day 2013

 This morning Sarah took me out for breakfast for my birthday. It was long in coming but we had a really nice time having coffee and pastries and a good talk. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful sister as one of my best friends in the world.

 Sarah's Latte and Guava pastry

My blended latte and chocolate crescent

This afternoon we went swimming at Matthew's house. It was a nice time visiting with his family and playing with the dogs! It was the perfect day for swimming too.

 In the evening we went to Grandma & Grandpa for fireworks at the Cerritos City Center. It was crazy because they closed off a huge section of the roads and we walked down streets we drive down every day.

The fireworks were incredible

It was really cool hearing God Bless America during a public event!
I love how you can hear Dad, Sarah, and Joshy singing!

Also cool to hear my favourite modern patriotic song!