Places in the Heart

Some days the temporary nature of this time can overwhelm our hearts, but whenever those feelings arise and threaten to consume us they seem to be swiftly followed by time spent with people we simply adore. The joy, love and honesty found in these friendships, which span so many seasons of our life journey, renew our strength and encourage us to a place of thankfulness and hope. 

We had a birthday celebration at the beach for Carrie, Leah's college friend of eighteen years (!). The Eacker family has been our rock these past couple of months, offering endless friendship, support and playdates. We love them!

An afternoon in the pool with the Rice family segued into an adult dinner out, which then became an impromptu family slumber party (a perk of friends with a guest house), which was then followed by a picnic at the beach. It was a total indulgence (and fun for all of us) to embrace the carefree spirit of the weekend and just play.

Lauren came up to Santa Barbara for a couple days. Leah savored a round of wonderful talk-therapy and strolling up and down State Street with her Lolo the way they had countless (countless) times in their pre-kid, pre-real grown-up life.

Our mini-excursion to Santa Monica to see “Our Jan” was filled with a night-walk along the beach, a much anticipated Ferris wheel ride, a viewing of Yellow Submarine, a toy store treat, a long elevator ride with incredible views at the top…and most of all time with a dear, beautiful, wise, loving friend.  The kids are so smitten with Jan and we have to say, we are too.

 

Clara’s favorite spot in the house: time in Judy’s art studio “helping” Juju.

It was an honor to be able to visit the cemetery where Erik and Jordyn Kester are buried this week of Erik’s birthday. We went to the farmers market for flowers, made our bouquets, then walked among countless markers of people loved and lost, to find our people loved and lost. To stand looking at a brother and sister laid side by side, a spot where we have shed so many tears over the years, but now with Ben and Clara there too- it was overwhelming in every way. Together we said a prayer, tenderly laid the flowers and looked out at the foggy coastline with pain, love and hope in our hearts. (We love you Debi and Phil—so much).

All of these relationships, all of these memories, all of these marks upon our hearts, it makes a complicated time suddenly simple— all you need is love.

Kids About Town

More everyday adventures for Ben (aka Luke) and Clara (aka Obi-One)…and the very exciting (for all of us) start of preschool.

The beautiful, historic Santa Barbara Courthouse, offered incredible views of the city, gorgeous architecture and a certain Miss Clara raiding Leah’s purse for shades and lip gloss and striking a pose for the camera— this tomboy may just be a girly girl in disguise.

We enjoyed a family afternoon at the zoo followed by a pizza picnic at Butterfly Beach. Of course, this included a long visit to Ben’s beloved penguins and timed it right to watch their afternoon feeding. It was wonderful to remember holding chubby, bald, baby Ben in our arms as he squealed in delight watching those same little guys waddle his first summer in SB.

This week included a much-needed “Just Mommy” date to the wharf and sea center.  It is a transition for everyone with Leah being back at work, so the time we have together is even more precious.  Holding little hands, having kid conversation, surrounded by such beauty is about as perfect as it gets.

And our biggest news, a great start to preschool.  Ben and Clara love their new school, All Saints by the Sea. It is less than a mile down the road from our first home as newlyweds, strange and wonderful to have little moments like that. Ben’s favorite part of school— playtime and the police helmets in his classroom. The teachers reported that today Ben and Clara sat together at one of the picnic tables for lunch; all we really need for any new adventure is someone by our side to share it with (a job and house would be nice too...).

Friends with Benefits

Doug and Ashlee Wylie are the talent behind our incredible family photos taken last fall in North Carolina (http://www.dnawylieblog.com/).  This weekend we just took about ten minutes worth of photos (with an under the weather Clara) just for fun.  Ashlee, thank you for sharing your gift with us, for capturing these special moments and your patience with squirmy kids and blinks.  We love you!

Cousins, Coronado…and a Cold

We loaded up the van and headed down to Orange County to visit some very important people.  Ben and Clara have been waiting for time with their cousins, Nick and Noah, ever since we told them about our West Coast move. After a soccer-skill park excursion with them, we now have some avid little soccer players (and are the proud owners of two new soccer balls).  After lots of playtime, a visit from the ice cream truck (thanks, Uncle Adam!) and the thrill of a house filled with “cool” toys, the kids left happy and exhausted.

The next stop on our weekend getaway— which still feels very strange after years of having to be home by Saturday night— was to the enchanting seaside island of Coronado to visit Ashlee (we missed Doug, who was away for the weekend).  We had never visited Coronado before and were charmed by it’s quaint, quirky charm and the gorgeous Hotel Del Coronado property.  It was wonderful to spend time with Ashlee (on the ride home Ben gazed out the window and sighed happily, “I’m in love with Ashlee.”) and stay at her cute cottage.  The bummer was that Clara came down with a cold and fever, making her rather miserable and cranky and making us hit the road back to Santa Barbara earlier than expected.

It was a family road trip kind of weekend— catching up with Leah’s brother, watching cousins bond, munching on kettle corn while stuck in traffic, time with a friend that by God’s grace is family, discovering a new place together, extending a little extra love and care when needed and ending it all with milkshakes for dinner on the drive home. Returning thankful for the home, thankful for the family, not so thankful for the piles of laundry— two out of three ain’t so bad.