Michelle's Graduation!

This weekend I had the opportunity to see my little sister graduate from college. It was amazing to see the culmination of the last four years of her life. The weekend was full of family, friends, laughs, and smoke?

We flew in to Burbank and then drove north to Santa Barbara. We knew that there was a wild fire in Santa Barbara (the second one in 6 months) but we had no idea what to expect.

This is what we saw from the freeway coming into SB.

Our fist night we went to Michelle’s track and field banquet, it was a little long but fun.

Little did we know it was going to be dinner and a show.

The next day we woke up covered in a thin layer of ash that had come in through the windows overnight. After breakfast

we went for a walk on the wharf …

Then headed to the beach,

where Michelle and I compared skin color

I’ll let you be the judge about which looks better.

Friday night was Michelle’s baccalaureate, which had to be moved from Westmont to Santa Barbara City College because the campus had to be evacuated. It was a beautiful service in a beautiful setting.

Saturday morning was commencement, it was so incredible to watch Michelle walk across the stage, and she was so beautiful!

After the ceremony we went to a potluck with Michelle’s friends

and then went out to a nice dinner with the family.
Sunday morning Michelle, dad, and I woke up early to watch the sunrise,

it was too foggy to really see anything, however we did not complain about the fog because it helped so much with the firefighting efforts.

We went to church and then out to lunch, after lunch we went to the beach again for a little bit and then it was time to go.

But not before a quick stop in Summerland in which Michelle showed off her amazing avocado picking ability.

It was such a great trip and having gotten the chance to take Michelle to college for her freshman year and then to get to be there for her graduation was something that I will always keep close to my heart. I’m now home missing my sister with lots of memories, some great pictures and a wicked sunburn.

Christmas Day

Oh how I love Christmas time! Not only is it a time to celebrate my (our) savors birth, it is also a time that I get together with all my siblings; which is something we don’t do enough, because we are not all in the same state. I missed some family last night because of the snow and ice on the ground, I was bummed however I had a great night with Joe and my close family. I am so thankful for my friends and family and that we have this time of year when I can look back and reflect and be thankful.

Ode to my sweatpants

If I could I live in my sweatpants 24 hours a day 7 days a week I would, they are soft, comfy and warm. Any day that I can come home and put on my sweatpants and keep them on until I go to bed is a good day. I don’t think I have any piece of clothing I love more than my sweatpants. Yesterday I got to spend all day in my sweatpants, and it was the best day I’ve had in a long time. I love them and they love me. Thank you sweatpants for being so good to me!

Love

Love; the definition:
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
I have so many people in my life that I love or have loved; so many people that love me. Sometimes I feel like I have so much love in my heart that I might burst. I am so deeply grateful for the feeling of love, the ability to love. Sometimes I think that with all the pain and hurt in the world that love is the only thing that keeps us alive. As more people come in to my life and I get to know them and I let them in and come to love them I feel so blessed, how does one person get to have so much love in their life? If you’re reading this and you love me, thank you. Know that I love you too!