The Perfect Day

The Backroad
Originally uploaded by Contrails.

I can't wait for fall. It is my absolute most favorite season ever. I hear the colors aren't as bright here, so maybe they'll be better in Colorado Springs. I found this picture on Flickr today. Flickr is so great. This reminds me of when Josh and I were engaged and we lived in Bellaire, Michigan. That was one of the happiest times in my life. I woke up this morning to a chilly, rainy day and suddenly had a longing for fall. Street fairs, sweaters, orchards, pumpkins (which there are some growing in our backyard, planted by the previous pastors that lived here), carmel apples, cool breezes, the smell of leaves, bonfires, hayrides... I love all of it. I even like winter. Until after Christmas, then it can just all go away. The opening scenes in "You've Got Mail" are all about fall. Talking about it, telling each other why they love it so much. Bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils! I would love to be in NYC for fall. I've never been there, but if I could go, I'd go in the fall. There is also the scene when Joe is taking his brother and aunt to the street fair, and the street is covered in leaves, they're dressed in sweaters, and I want to be there with them! A perfect "season" day for me would be grey, a little bit of a breeze, colorful trees so vibrant they look like paintings (and they do in Northern Michigan), and a drive to an orchard. Or just sitting on a bench with my journal. It also reminds me of walking on campus at IWU. Aren't those great memories, for all of us IWU alum? I can't wait for fall!

The O.C.

The O.C.
Originally uploaded by Cammiebeth.

Dusk at Huntington Beach, from the pier

The O.C. - Our New Home

Man, this really feels like home. Away from home. No really, home. We have been in SoCal the past few days for the Saddleback Worship Conference, but so much has occured! We have reunited with friends, gleaned wisdom from the amazing speakers at the conference, and are already looking at life with fresh new eyes. And we have no pictures to show for it. We suck. Anyway, we got here on Monday morning around 10:30 am, and proceeded to pick up our rental car.... which we were told by the mean Avis people that we couldn't pick it up until 1:00 pm. Our friends that we were supposed to meet for lunch, Grant and Karen Thiessen, ended up coming to the airport to pick us up. Had an awesome non-frozen pizza from California Pizza Kitchen and laughed, talked, and caught up. We eventually made it to Saddleback for the first choir practice with TOMMY WALKER - how amazing is that?! It was great. We made it back to the hotel around 11:30 and crashed. Tuesday was full of worship, awesome workshops, and the best of all..... our hook up with Josh and Lacy Garlow, Sam and Rosie Bills, and Brock and Esther Sheets!! We haven't seen these guys in almost 5 years... and we hadn't missed a beat. Once we figure out how to post links to their blogs, we will do so. Garlow's blog has pictures to recreate the whole thing. We ate at P.F. Chang's, then had ice cream at Coldstone. Just talking, catching up, and hanging out and talking baby stuff with all the girls (Esther & Brock and Sam & Rosie are all expecting!!) was a lot of fun. We get to experience Skyline with the Garlows on Sunday morning in San Diego. We've never been there, so we are pumped. I love last minute plans. So, this is the only the 2nd day of the conference and we are inspired, refreshed, and being totally spoiled by the greatness of it all. We miss Ellie, but she's having a great time at Grandpa and Grandma Delph's in Colorado Springs. Could we call SoCal our home one day?..... Ah, we can dream. And God is in the business of big dreams.