We've been getting rain like crazy. Not only is there all sorts of water where there usually isn't... do you SEE all the green?!?!
2024 Christmas Letter
2 weeks ago
Monday, January 28, 2008
Old Friend
My good friend Mark was here this weekend! He would be an old friend from college who actually lived not to far from where I am right now... up until about a 9 months before I moved out here. :-D He's in Wyoming now, but flew in on Saturday and had a day or so before his conference started, so we got to hang out. So good to see him.
We've been getting rain like crazy. Not only is there all sorts of water where there usually isn't... do you SEE all the green?!?!
We've been getting rain like crazy. Not only is there all sorts of water where there usually isn't... do you SEE all the green?!?!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Ben's Birthday!
On Tuesday (The Big Day) we headed out a little after 6 a.m., destination Big Bear/Summit. Jaime drove Danny, Jose & Juliette; Ben & I followed with their snowboards (he & I rented skis at the hill). It was about a 2.5 hour drive and well worth it. It was so good to see SNOW!!! :-D And really fun to be back on skis--I think I figured it's been about 15 years for me. Yipes... does that makes me old?! ;-)
You can see Big Bear Lake behind Ben & Jose in this picture. We had some lovely views; this one is a little obscured by snow as it was pretty high on the mountain.
It hardly looks real, does it? It was just gorgeous.
Funny to see the completely snow-less land below and beyond, isn't it?
The birthday boy feeds hungry skiers/snowboarders. Mmmm. . . quesadillas. . . :-)
You can see Big Bear Lake behind Ben & Jose in this picture. We had some lovely views; this one is a little obscured by snow as it was pretty high on the mountain.
It hardly looks real, does it? It was just gorgeous.
Funny to see the completely snow-less land below and beyond, isn't it?
The birthday boy feeds hungry skiers/snowboarders. Mmmm. . . quesadillas. . . :-)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Busy Weekend
I'm feeling the pressure to post (Kirsten!!) but will have to be quick about it. . . I'm sunk knee-deep into my book and haven't been doing much else with my non-work/sleep time this week. ;-)
Last weekend was filled with all sorts of things though! Ben was off on his (now) annual ski weekend with friends, but was kind enough to model his new ski helmet before taking off. . .
I drove to Erik's on Friday after work and then we drove to Santa Maria on Saturday morning after HE got off work. We met with the pastor in the afternoon which was really good. He gave us a book and suggested we pick up another--between those two and the ones mom gave us we'll be busy well into the new year! It was nice to talk with him, and we went back to his church on Sunday for the service which was also good. It was also really nice to see Patrick & Debra, as I hadn't been up there since Thanksgiving!
Random inserted note: it's always fun to see Packer fans in places far away from Wisconsin, and California is no exception! One of Patrick and Debra's neighbors had a Packer helmet planted in their yard, and a worker at Best Buy was in a jersey--and Ben said the ski hill was FULL of green & gold! :-D
We headed back to Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon and Erik surprised me with a short stop at BigRock Canyon, which is part of some federal land I think. We drove back in and took a little walk. So nice to be outside!!
Then we made our way back to Bakersfield and spent the evening with Steve & Laura, who have been close friends with Erik for a long time. I got to meet their beautiful children this time too! They are a really special family and it was great to spend some time with them.
The rest of the weekend is a bit of a blur. . . staggered off to sleep and got up to drive back south to close at work on Monday. Always hard to go back after a good weekend!
Alright, my book is calling. Love to all. Be good out there!
Last weekend was filled with all sorts of things though! Ben was off on his (now) annual ski weekend with friends, but was kind enough to model his new ski helmet before taking off. . .
I drove to Erik's on Friday after work and then we drove to Santa Maria on Saturday morning after HE got off work. We met with the pastor in the afternoon which was really good. He gave us a book and suggested we pick up another--between those two and the ones mom gave us we'll be busy well into the new year! It was nice to talk with him, and we went back to his church on Sunday for the service which was also good. It was also really nice to see Patrick & Debra, as I hadn't been up there since Thanksgiving!Random inserted note: it's always fun to see Packer fans in places far away from Wisconsin, and California is no exception! One of Patrick and Debra's neighbors had a Packer helmet planted in their yard, and a worker at Best Buy was in a jersey--and Ben said the ski hill was FULL of green & gold! :-D
We headed back to Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon and Erik surprised me with a short stop at BigRock Canyon, which is part of some federal land I think. We drove back in and took a little walk. So nice to be outside!!
Then we made our way back to Bakersfield and spent the evening with Steve & Laura, who have been close friends with Erik for a long time. I got to meet their beautiful children this time too! They are a really special family and it was great to spend some time with them.The rest of the weekend is a bit of a blur. . . staggered off to sleep and got up to drive back south to close at work on Monday. Always hard to go back after a good weekend!
Alright, my book is calling. Love to all. Be good out there!
Monday, January 7, 2008
2008!
Whew--where has the week gone?!
Upon arriving home from work on New Year's eve, April & Ben were busy in the kitchen. Ben Ryder was already off to work (a busy night when your store is directly in the path of the Rose Parade).
The four of us had a lovely dinner and then they left for the airport to fly out at 1 a.m.!
Holiday whirlwind now officially finished (and time for empty house syndrome to set in). . .
However, work continued at a crazy pace this past week. Haven't people spent all their money?? Why on earth are they still plodding through the mall? I can't figure it.
Spent Thursday night-Saturday morning up in Bakersfield visiting Erik. He took me out to see Kern Canyon and Lake Isabella which were beautiful.
Fun to know there are new and wonderful places to explore near Bakersfield!
Then I had to work this weekend, but enjoyed time with Erik in between and all day today on my day off (yay!) We took a hike this morning;
it was GORGEOUS outside. 
And the nearly dry canyon I've visited many times with Ben was filled with rushing water!! 
Things were actually GREEN and it smelled damp and lovely.
We got a little wet, 
but had a wonderful time.
Didn't get back as far as the waterfall as the second creek crossing was too deep and fast; we'll have to go back and try again soon. :-)
Wishing you all a joy-filled new year!!
Upon arriving home from work on New Year's eve, April & Ben were busy in the kitchen. Ben Ryder was already off to work (a busy night when your store is directly in the path of the Rose Parade).
The four of us had a lovely dinner and then they left for the airport to fly out at 1 a.m.!
Holiday whirlwind now officially finished (and time for empty house syndrome to set in). . .However, work continued at a crazy pace this past week. Haven't people spent all their money?? Why on earth are they still plodding through the mall? I can't figure it.
Spent Thursday night-Saturday morning up in Bakersfield visiting Erik. He took me out to see Kern Canyon and Lake Isabella which were beautiful.
Fun to know there are new and wonderful places to explore near Bakersfield!Then I had to work this weekend, but enjoyed time with Erik in between and all day today on my day off (yay!) We took a hike this morning;
it was GORGEOUS outside. 
And the nearly dry canyon I've visited many times with Ben was filled with rushing water!! 
Things were actually GREEN and it smelled damp and lovely.
We got a little wet, 
but had a wonderful time.
Didn't get back as far as the waterfall as the second creek crossing was too deep and fast; we'll have to go back and try again soon. :-)Wishing you all a joy-filled new year!!
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