Carlsbad...

On Saturday afternoon/evening I went to visit my parents who were staying at Carlsbad State Beach. Carlsbad is SO nostalgic for me as it is the place where most of my childhood memories occurred. When I was only a baby {a one year old to be exact} my parents started spending one week in July at Carlsbad each summer. We did this literally throughout my entire life {I went until the summer after I graduated from high school - and my parents STILL go}. Since it is Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and my dad has today off, my parents decided to enjoy the holiday at the beach {along with the Powells and the Holdens and the Buxtons and the Erpeldings - basically the whole crew}. I was torn about going to visit - this WICKED headache has stolen literally every desire to do something fun or interactive - but there was something particualarly appealing about the idea of standing on the beach in my CBU sweatshirt watching the sunset over the ocean while talking to the One who understands the plan and the purpose for this whole headache thing. I can't escape it - but it is overwhelmingly reassuring to know that He understands it. SO after having coffee with a friend and teaching ESL, I got in my car and went. I watched the sunsetwith Jenny {my friend since birth}

and we reminisced together about the many MANY times we've watched sunsets at Carlsbad together. I also spent a few minutes in intimate conversation with my Savior. It was a really fun evening - mom made spaghetti for dinner and we chatted about life - Kevin got into nursing school and Julie is in AZ visiting her boyfriend - then we enjoyed the campfire and starry night {which was only moderately interrupted by Papa Butler's laser light beam}. After hanging out at the campfire for a while I went to visit Steven and his family. It was nice to chat and catch up a bit - Steven and I haven't gotten to talk nearly as much since his move to Ventura a few months ago. I really miss our friendship. Being at the beach also definitely reminded me of what a blessing it was to be raised in a church with such amazing people. My parent's closest friends have all played a dramatic role in influencing my life and I am the better for it. I sincerely hope and pray that I'll be as much of a light and example to the next generation as they have been for me.

And seriously, it doesn't get much more beautiful than this!