Day 10 and 11

Right before we left Garth’s cousin’s house in Santa Barbara, we picked a bunch of oranges, loquats, lemons, and plums from their trees.  We said good-bye  to the cousins and began our way to Los Angeles to stay with some family friends.

On the way we stopped in Pasadena so Garth could show us where he used to live.  From there we headed to Buena Park to stay with my sister’s twin brother and his family.  They have three children, two boys and a girl.  The girl has all of the briar wood horses so Emma and Sophie were in horse heaven.  They also have a nice pool that the kids had fun swimming in.

This morning we woke up dreaming of ways to make Father’s Day special for Garth.  It started with pancakes full of blueberries from our pickings the other day, followed by loads of homemade cards and gifts.  We took a great walk to a park, had a big Mexican lunch and then said good-bye and started off for San Diego.  You won’t believe the view we have here at this place in San Diego, but I will save that for tomorrow.  I am wiped out and off to bed!

Happy Father’s Day Dad!!!  It was awesome to talk to you on the phone today.  No delay, no 14 hour time zone difference.  Just you and me.  You are amazing and I love you with all my heart.  Can’t wait to see you-eight days!!!!!

 Days 12 and 13

We are all in love with San Diego!!!  It is warm, and mountainous, close to the beach, has beautiful sunsets, palm trees and it is so bright and green.  Our time here went way too fast!  Yesterday for Sophie’s birthday we went to Coronado Beach.  It was an amazing day with cloudless blue skies.  One of our dorm girls that graduated from our school in Papua is living in San Diego and she came to spend some time with us at the beach.  The family that we are staying with came along as well.  This family is extraordinary.  It is Joe, and Danielle with their four kids.  Joe and four other guys came to Papua to work on some building projects.  That is where we met him.  Garth and I and Cale would visit them at the work site and bring them a morning snack.  We also had them all over for a meal or two at the Hostel.  Now they are returning the hospitality by letting us all stay at their lovely home.  What a blessing!  The home, view and company were so refreshing!  One of the other guys from that work team brought his family and came over for dinner as well.  We were able to watch the video they made of their time in Papua.  It was fun and sad.  We miss it already.
This morning, Tuesday, we said good-bye and now we are headed toward Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam.  It should be a 5 ½ to 6 hour drive there.  These are our last few hours in CA…What a fun place to be.  I am going to soak it all in.