California Dreamin'

So, for my first trip to California, I must confess... I LOVED it.

I was determined to dislike it. I've dated a few California boys... Had some really good experiences, and some really awful experiences... I've met plenty of Californians who remind me of why Texans are so wonderful...

But I couldn't help it. San Diego was beautiful. So crowded. But beautiful. I don't think that I could ever live in California, but I would love to visit it. Often.

And with the view from some of the beaches... who wouldn't want to go visit it? Check this pic out. This is from the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego. I watched the sun set over the water as Carly, Curt, and I waited for the Palfreyman family to meet in San Diego for our dinner reservation. SOOOO beautiful.

And I have decided that as much as I love the mountains... I think that I love the ocean a little more. Surprising, no? I could happily spend all day on the beach with a good book, or resting on the sand. Even though the ocean was SO cold... it was so pretty. There is just something about the waves crashing that is almost hypnotic to watch and listen to. And the energy on the beach from everyone is so positive. Almost everyone is happy to be there.

And it is so nice to walk in the sand. I mean, FREE foot exfoliation! Every step is like a foot massage. And after a stressful morning with two little boys... Feet massages can be really nice.

One morning, instead of hitting the beach, we went... well... to a beach... (Crown Victoria) but visited the tide pools. It was SO cool!! There was so much life! In just one little area.


For example, in one little tide pool, we would see little crabs, hermit and otherwise, as well as sea anemones, urchins, mussels, starfish, seaweed... There is just so much going on. While I was there, I took just a moment to watch one little tide pool. It was fascinating! At first, it doesn't look like much, but then you begin to notice as all of the little snails ans little hermit crabs start moving. Then, you see a crab dart from one side of the tide pool to the other. The sea anemone starts to close up as the crab starts picking at it... It was just so cool.

We also experimented with the anemones, sticking our fingers and toes in them. They would start to close, and then you could feel the slightest bit of suction.... It was a little creepy... I mean, the anemone was trying to eat us! But failing (thankfully).


We broke open a mussel, by throwing down on a sharp rock, (seagull style), and fed half of it to a giant anemone, and and left the other half to the crabs and hermit crabs. Those hermit crabs went nuts. Turns out that crabs are pretty timid. They prefer to hide. But a hermit crab will just go for food.


(Don't I look happy?) I could have explored all day. And if I had better shoes on and a swim suit... I would have done some climbing, and gotten really wet.


Well... maybe. The tide was coming in, and some of those waves looked pretty fierce. Carly and I were standing on a little island that we climbed to, and had to do some quick moving to avoid being eaten by a wave. We could hear it coming, and moved fast! I think we made it out of harms way with only getting our feet a little bit wet.


And check this out! This is called the Devil's bathtub. It was totally fierce. A still picture just doesn't do it justice. The waves churned in and out of the rocks, roaring and then receding.

It was clearly dangerous, but so majestic and beautiful.



And check out the cave we found! We deemed it a pirate's cave. I'm sure that there were other caves around. I wish that we could have found, and explored them all!


There is just so much to see! It made me think about all of God's little creatures. And the power and majesty of His creations. It also made me think about how much life there is in this world. In one tiny tide pool, there are hundreds of little lives, just doing what they were created to do.

It made me wish that I could just explore. Forever. There is so much to see that I think it would take an eternity to fully appreciate all of God's little creatures.

Anyway, the tide pools were awesome. That was probably my favorite California morning.

Other than.... the wedding day!!

But... I think, dear readers, that you have had enough for one day. So... I'll let you rest, and post again tomorrow.

Until then, enjoy your day!