Dana Point

Derek planned a trip for us to go to Dana Point, California for a week in August.   Loved escaping the Houston heat and just enjoying our threesome.  Derek planned the entire thing - I just jumped on a plane and showed up.  I am liking this lack of planning on my end.  Who knew?   My parents came to join us on the last half of our trip which was so fun to have them there.

Drove straight to an In-and-Out Burger once we landed.

Derek doing a little of this

We went every other day to get fresh strawberries from a little vendor down the road.  The last day of strawberry season was the day we left.

Our condo was right on the edge of a cliff.

We would sit out on the porch and eat, play games, look at the binoculars, and just enjoy God's creation.

On the first full day there we drove to Dove Canyon to see Derek's Uncle Roger.  We stayed with Roger in Las Vegas during the last season of Derek's minor league baseball career.  So it was fun to see his place in California.  Roger's house is on the 5th hole, so D and Roger played golf, Justin napped, I got some sun in the backyard, and then we all went to dinner before heading back.  Was already hooked on all the delicious organic California food!

The second day we went to Disneyland.  Makes me not want to go to Disneyworld in humid Florida.  We were there in August and I didn't break a sweat all day.  Crowds weren't bad, though the Disney magic wasn't really to be found.  But Justin didn't know the difference and we were relieved it went so well.

Don't make me go on these ever.  I went to Disneyland when I was 4 and 7 with the Blevins.  I still remember how sick I felt on these.

D & JT rode this starter roller coaster 4 times.  Justin is a thrill seeker.

I had to do Small World for old times sake.

For the record, while on Space Mountain, I was quoting Psalm 23 while getting a neck cramp.  Been there, done that, won't do it again. 

The next day Birdie & Papa came in town.  We went straight to the Crystal Cover Shake Shack right on the water.  Gorgeous view, beautiful day, fantastic burgers!

Went back to the condo for some of this

We had access to the beach but the journey was long.

That first afternoon we jumped at the babysitting and went to our first Art Festival.  We were overnight art junkies.

We wanted art with purpose.  We had never bought any art and wanted it to mean something.  Insert new college grad Hannah Harris whose half of the proceeds went to support kids in Africa trying to go to college.  She was a believer and her art of orphans cut to my soul and brought a lot of emotion.  We ended up buying two pieces of art that I am waiting to put up in the new house.  Art that points people to the Lord.

On this trip Justin started this crazy dance thing once you said 1, 2, ... to take a photo.  It was hilarious.

We had dinner at the Dana Wharf.

Dana Point was unseasonably cloudy on this trip, so this sunset was all Derek had wanted when he found our place to stay.

There were nature trails at the top of the hill that we could walk on and see the sunrise.  Gorgeous colors as the Lord showed off all He could do for us on this trip.

Goofy poser back again

Played soccer in the parking lot close to our condo

Loved the long walks

Wednesday we woke up to cloudy and cool.  So we went to the par three course where everyone but me played some golf.

I was the local photog while keeping up the golf cart

Didn't plan the pink shirts

Then we had date night thanks to willing parents who stayed at home and enjoyed the view

Thanks to cousin Amy who used to live in Dana Point for the 242 Fusion Cafe recommendation.  Loved it!

Back to Stacks for one of three trips of the week

Then, Thursday, Torrey Pines day.

We dropped off the older fellas and headed to a day in La Joya.  We went to the Torrey Pines Glidderport first.  We watched the gliders jump from cliff to cliff.  Exciting!

Then we headed to the park by the beach.

We packed our lunch and stayed for the day.

Went to the local aquarium which was awesome

Went to dinner at Tony Jacal's Mexican food.  I was done by then after a full day of activities, cranky with hunger (thank you Lord that I don't have to go days without food), and a selfish heart.  A good night's sleep and I was better.  Thank you Jesus for redemption.

Next day was the first day we could get to the beach.

I chose not to get in the freezing water.  Justin had just fully recovered from his worst ear infection ever that had stemmed back in Galveston.  First time he was getting his ear wet.

The waves were huge and mom attempted to surf

We went on Friday night to a whale and dolphin boat ride.  It was amazing.  The Lord totally showed off for us and I kept smiling at how much pleasure He was getting from watching the creatures He created.

And then we saw them.  The world's largest mammal - the blue whale.  It was beautiful.  And I kept thinking how much pleasure the whales brought the Lord as He reveled in His creation.

I would run from one side of the boat to the other.  Thinking how good of the Lord to share in His creation with the created.  How much delight we received from the evening didn't even match the Lord's delight in watching our childlike excitement. 

Then there was the coolest thing.  The footprint that showed that the whales were going to the bottom to feed before coming up for air in about 15 minutes.  There was literally an oval of smooth water left behind.

And the turquoise color in the water is the reflection of the glow from the blue whale.  So you knew when the whale was close to the surface while still under water.  I mean, I couldn't get enough of how creative our Lord was.

And I leave with that.  The Lord has created so many animals, climates, and places in this world I will never see this side of heaven.  But it was a blessing and a treat to see Dana Point, California, with some of my most favorite people on earth.