found in Him: photos

Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts

3.02.2012

Catalina Getaway

This year we were so blessed that Nicholas was able to get so much time off of work

for Christmas and New Years.

We got to be in San Diego with our families for a few day

then back up to Santa Barbara to celebrate just with the two of us

and then we met Nicholas' family and some good friends over on Catalina Island to

celebrate the new year!

Here are a few photos of our boat ride from Long Beach over to Avalon.

In general I don't care for boats because I get sea sick, but this trip is so easy! It only takes an hour to get to the Island, and the boat is so nice you can hardly feel the water.

Have you ever been the Catalina?

What did you think of the little town?

12.28.2011

It has been a few months since I have updated the blog, so there's a lot of catch up to do.

Nicholas and I made our drive back up to Santa Barbara from San Diego
after Christmas into a date extravaganza.
It was really wonderful!
First we stopped for some yummy kabobs at a little restaurant off santa monica blvd.

Then we went to the Getty Center, which I had never been to.
If you are ever in the LA area you have to go it is amazing!

view of LA from one of the decks at the Getty.

although I posted a lot of pictures of the grounds, we did see a lot of gorgeous artwork, this was one of my favorites.

We left the Getty when it closed and found ourselves in major traffic on the 405

But our night ended with a drive on the 10 to Venice Beach

where we got Intelligentsia coffee.

The picture above is of the outside of the shop,

it was a really unique coffee shop.

In my opinion, the best coffee there is, but the most uncomfortable seating imaginable (inside there were just concrete slabs in rows to sit on).

12.20.2011

Christmas fun.

CHRISTMAS QUIZ (idea found here)

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? no kiddos, no Santa
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white only white!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? ALWAYS.

5. When do you put your decorations up? the weekend after Thanksgiving
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Amber's Potatoes (family recipe) and tamales
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? listening to the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas CD and decorating the tree with my mom and dad.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember if I ever believed in Santa or not.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? OooOoh YAH!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? white lights, homemade sea glass ornaments and a few randoms from mom.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Love it, probably because we don't get it here in Santa Barbara...
12. Can you ice skate? Ya.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Nicholas made me a log cabin stocking hook for our first Christmas married and he wrote a poem on the bottom that told me he was taking me to the mountains for a weekend-- so romantic!
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? enjoying Jesus with our family and friends.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? pecan pie has always been my favorite. I haven't had one since we found out I'm allergic to wheat though.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? hum... reading Luke chapters 1 and 2 on Christmas morning.
17. What tops your tree? a silly wood star that is attached to a metal hanger, haha, we need to do something about that...

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? both. I love receiving gifts! I feel so loved when someone has spent time thinking about what I would like (love language?? I'd say YES). But I also love that in our family we make each others gifts. It make giving really special because you have put so much thought and time into it.

a homemade Christmas gift from my sweet friends Brandon and Nikki

19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? the original ones are yummy the fruit flavored ones are yuck!
20. Favorite Christmas movie? The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
21. Saddest Christmas song? umm... strange question, I don't know.
22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Silent Night

12.05.2011

Awesomeness.

Maybe your tired of looking at them but I'm not... He's just so dang HOT!!

Geri put up more of our

Apple Picking-Spider Dodging-Bumble-Bee Swatting-Adventure Photo Shoot

up on her website here.

12.01.2011

Currently.

Seen this on a few of my favorite blogs and thought it was fun.

Obsessing over: TJ's peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream, all the beautiful brown boots this season, white Christmas twinkle lights, fried egg and cheese sandwiches.

Working on: our Christmas card, my last two finals for Fall quarter, a few crafts for this event!

Thinking about: my dreams for next year, Nicholas, where we will live when I graduate, when we will have little ones.

Anticipating: wintery date nights, giving meaningful gifts, more quality time with our families!

Listening to: Hotel Cafe (so good).

Drinking: coffee.

Wishing: I was better at slowing down, I had more time to experiment with meals, we had more to give to others, next quarter wont be as busy as I think it will, Nicholas was not so tired when he comes home from work.

11.25.2011

Fall Photos by Geri!!

I have no words.

...

....

.....

We had so much fun taking these photos up in Solvang with Geri, she was a riot!
If you remember, I won a giveaway photo shoot on her blog me and him a few months back.

Between trying to avoid the bees in the apples and the spiders in the trees,

she captured quiet a few special moments!

Thank you sweet friend! You are seriously gifted.

Her lovely website can be found here.

11.16.2011

footprints in the sand.

This poem is really well know, but I thought I would still post it here because
it has played such a significant role in my life.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from His life.

For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.
One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it.
LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you!
During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.

-Carolyn Carty, 1963

Was 14 when I got that tattoo on my left foot, I had just started to walk with the Lord.
But I had read that poem over and over and over again since I was in kindergarten or first grade.
It was written in really delicate calligraphy over a picture of a beautiful beach with rocks like you find up north and footprints on the sand. It hung in the bathroom of my Grandma Judy's house,
where I lived for about 4 years as a young girl.

I remember every time I was brushing my teeth before bed I would look at it, I would quickly read over it and feel comfort, an odd sense of security and peace, but I didn't understand it.

My parents had left when I was 3, to serve a 7 year sentence in federal prison.
I don't have any recollection of hearing about God during those years.
And although I was reading this poem and I suppose at some level believing it was true, I was too young to comprehend what it meant and was never told what it meant to "follow" Him.

It wasn't until I was 14, a freshman in High School that I can recall being introduced to the Good News.
And when I heard it, it clicked, I thought of the poem that had produced feelings of security for me for years.
I looked back over all the pain I had suffered in my seemingly short life: the abandonment, the abuse, the loneliness, the broken promises, the unmet hopes... all of it.
And I KNEW that although I hadn't know God, He had known me, and he had carried me

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds [...]
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen"
-Psalm 77: 11-12 & 19

I rejoice in this biblical truth still, when I look down at that tattoo I am reminded that he carries me.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
-John 14:18

"...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..."
-Jeremiah 29:11

"Because he loves me," says the LORD,
"I will rescue him;
I will protect him,
for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
-Psalm 91:14-16

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds [...]
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen"
-Psalm 77: 11-12 & 19