Happy 4th of July!!!

Hello Loved Ones!!! Thomas and I have offically decided that this assignment has been the quickest one. We feel like we just got here, but we only have less than two weeks left. Work here has been a challenge for both Thomas and I but we have very much enjoyed our time here. Thomas is absolutely obsessed with the weather here. Some of you may not know that Thomas is always...and I mean always..hot. Here, there's a constant breeze and there's no humidity. He's very sad about going back out east where the humidity literally sufficates you. Me, on the other hand, has very much missed the humidity. I may have frizzy hair back home...but bring on the heat.
I think the thing that Thomas and I have truly enjoyed has been our church. We've been going to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Chuck Smith, the pastor, started this church back in the 60's. All it is is line by line, verse by verse teaching. From this church, sprang hundreds of Calvary Chapels around the world. We don't miss a service, because everytime we go we are incredibly blessed.

http://www.calvarychapel.com/

Please check out this site. It has amazing expository teaching that you can download.

We will be making out cross country trip(for the fourth time) in two weeks. Hopefully, we will get to see many of you. We're not sure where our next and final assignment will be. We will definitely keep you posted when we find out. We have a ton of pics on this one,b/c the ones from Yosemite were too hard to choose from.

We took a surfing class.....it was so hard...but still a ton of fun. I don't think I've ever had so many bruises on my body at one time. We are definitely going give this another try before we leave. Also, Thomas and I normally go to bed around 11pm, we were in the bed at 8:30 the day we surfed. We've never been so tired!!
We went camping in Yosemite for 2 days. Yosemite is literally breath-taking. This is Half-Dome.

"Soaking up God's creation"
Half-Dome and Yosemite Falls.


Thomas and I did a long hike called Nevada Falls. It's a long hike that takes you past 2 huge falls. It was the most beautiful hike I've ever done!!
Resting at the top..look at that view.







This is the first fall that you pass on the way up "Mist Trail". You get soaked as your walking by.


This squirrel really wanted some of Thomas' almonds.






We spent a night camping in the Santa Cantalina Islands, which made for some interesting hair. Its about 45 miles off the coast of Long Beach. It's like your in another country. It was so beautiful!!!

Wet suits....not so flattering....we went snorkeling, the water was so cold that my hands went completely numb. But of course,we still had fun.
Sorry, a little out of order...El Capitan is on the left.
The massive El Capitan!!! It takes around a week to climb the face of it.
Check out our sweet ride we had in Cantilina...we almost wrecked a few times. Once we almost crashed when a tour bus drove by...yeap..they stopped and asked if we were O.K. Embarrassing.
Thomas making his right turn signal on our tandem bike.

Hello All!!! Thomas and I are having a great time in Cali. What we've loved the most about Long Beach is that it's a great location for traveling to tons of other places in CA. We've gone to Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, San Fran, Malibu.....it's so fun. However, do not be deceived, the water here is freezing!!! We're used to the luke warm water of Florida. I can't even stand to stick my pinky toe in the water. We miss everyone and hope all is well.

Long Beach is a big kite surfing beach. This people literally fly on top of the water. I really want to try it, but my luck, I'd get pulled out to Japan.

Hanging out at Malibu pier.

Thomas' sister Angela came to visit us. We were able to go to an improv show called the Groundlings. A lot of the actors end up on SNL. It was histerical!!!
Laguna Beach is definitely our favorite beach. The water is so blue and there are cliffs everywhere.
I love how my husband lays out.

Thomas and I took a road trip to San Francisco at the very last minute. It was probably one of the best trips we've ever had. This is the best burger place in the world!!! We had amazing food, went hiking, went to Napa Valley, walked the city, and had a free place to stay in the middle of down town San Fran (thanks Greg & Andy).
Thomas and I have a new obsession with Gelato!!! Ice cream....never heard of it.
My favorite bagel shop in San Fran. We went there every morning we were there.
Visiting the Muir Woods in San Fran.
When I lived in San Fran as a nanny. This was my favorite place to eat called Oggi's Cafe. It has the best veggies in the world. This was actually the only place I wanted to go while we were in San Fran. I could have just eaten there and drove back to Long Beach.
The view from Coit Tower in San Fran.
I love this city!!!


Thomas and I took the drive down Lombard. The famous crazy curvy street.

Napa Valley is one of the most beautiful places I've every seen. We went to a couple of winery's there and had a picnic lunch.



Tennesse Valley hike.





Crystal Cove National Park.
Lazy days on the beach.....oh, the life.

Check out the surfers.
Gelato.....imagine that. We want to open our own gelato store in Tennessee.
Hollywood Sign

We did the infamous hike to the Hollywood sign. It was hot!!!

Oh, sweet L.A. The beautiful smog!!!



Til next time!