Still

It's 12:45am. I push my comforter off of me and climb out of my warm bedding that costs more than you make in a year. I make my way to the kitchen passing my closet full of clothes and sinking my toes into the plush carpet below them. As I fill my cup and sip the cold clean water my eyes fall on you and the silence around me grows deafening as you look back at me. You're eyes pierce my heart and I can't look away. Where are you tonight? What's on your mind? Are you struggling? Are you hungry? Are you healthy? You're a son, who is your mother? Are you a father? Are you a husband? What are you praying for? What can I pray for you for? Do you know His love tonight? I pray you're wrapped in grace. I pray you feel Him. I pray you know Him. He knows you. Do you feel Him?

In the stillness of the night everything is more clear. I'm less asleep than ever before and my soul is gripped in prayer. Lord keep my eyes open.

Mr. Pepin

Today marks the end of Brett's first week as a teacher!
It's been so fun to watch him during these first few days. He absolutely loves what he's doing and is doing a great job at it. He loves his students and is thrilled at the opportunity to teach them English. I may be biased, but honestly I wish I had an English teacher like Brett when I was in school. He is authentically passionate about the subject he is teaching and works hard to present it in a creative and inspiring way. So lucky to be married to this man. I could not be more proud of him!

On another slightly related note, in order to prep for his new life as a teacher and to gain inspiration we watched Dead Poets Society with Robin Williams on Sunday night. If you haven't seen this movie you totally should! It's awesome and super inspiring.

His first day of school picture!!

Nate & Rachelle

It was 12 years ago and we were both in 6^th grade. I was the new kid on the block and the new kid at school. I didn’t know a soul and was scared to death until I met Rachelle. She lived 6 doors down and we immediately clicked. We filled our days with playing hair, playing “restaurant”, swimming, and laughing.

Years went by and our days began to be filled with different things like driving, and football games, and boys, more hair, and even more laughing.

Before we knew it we were out of high school and began down separate paths (ironically both involved hair at some point! Surprise, surprise.) Our time together grew less frequent but when we got a chance to catch up it was as if we never parted and as always it was full of laughs.

Rachelle is such a sweet, loving, genuine soul. Her happiness is contagious. At 11 years old I remember talking with her and noticing that she already had wrinkles (sorry Rachelle). She had the cutest laugh lines that lived at the ends of her eyes and danced as she talked. Telling all who noticed that this was a happy girl, a girl that lived joyfully and laughed often. I was jealous. I was 11 years old too and I wanted laugh lines!

This year Rachelle got engaged. Over a haircut she told me all about him through smiles and giggles. Taking their engagement pictures was my first time meeting Nate and I was studying him throughout the afternoon (every good friend would). I watched as they interacted. Watched as they talked. And watched as he made her laugh like I had never seen her laugh. He filled her with so much joy and her laugh lines danced to prove it.

We shot their engagement portraits at the place where they first fell in love. The beach. It was a gorgeous afternoon and I had so much fun with them. They get married this November and I’m so honored to be a part of their big day!

Yosemite: Day's 1, 2, & 3

I don't have many words for Yosemite. Since the first time I went it has held such a special place in my heart. If I had to describe it in one word it would be: Majestic. It just does something to me I can't explain and I like that. So instead of forcing an insufficient explanation here are some awesome quotes from an awesome man of God and man of nature.

If only I was alive in the early 1900's I would so date John Muir.

"When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.” John Muir

"This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on seas and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.” John Muir

"I must return to the mountains- to Yosemite. I am told that the winter storms there will not be easily borne, but I am bewitched, enchanted, and tomorrow I must start for the great temple to listen to the winter songs and sermons preached and sung only there." John Muir

The Milky Way. (Got to love that Canon 5D and it's outrageously high ISO's.)

Tree Huggers.

San Francisco: Day 3

Last Day in San Fran: Doubtfire, Muir Woods, Muir Beach, Zachary's Pizza (drool), Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, China Town, Bi-Rite Creamery.

Our last day in the city was jammed packed but it was so much fun! Before we headed out for the day I told the three that I had a surprise from them. I looked up the location of the house in Mrs. Doubtfire and took them there. I made them guess where we were and Brett got it!
"You ate my begonias!"

Muir Woods was beautiful and gave us a nice little taste of our next stop: Yosemite.
If I could go back in time I would be friends with John Muir. I think he's totally my kind of guy!

I fell behind not only because I was taking pictures but because I couldn't stop petting the green moss that covered everything. At some point I was way behind the group petting moss when a stranger turned the corner and found me. I swear they must have thought I was crazy hunched over, with my face close to the rock, petting it. Ok, so maybe I am a little crazy. But look at that stuff!
It's the little things:)

Muir Beach was peacful and covered in driftwood which was a change of scenery from our San Diego beaches.

After spending some time in nature we made the drive to Oakland. We went to Oakland for one reason and one reason only. Zachary's Pizza. If you ever go to San Francisco GO HERE. I could not say enough good things. Even if you don't like spinach or mushrooms just get what they're famous for. You won't regret it. Basically, they specialize in deep dish pizza.. but this is not just any deep dish pizza. No, this is THE deep dish pizza. First of all it comes out and looks like a cake sitting on your table because it's so thick. At first glance it looks like something went terribly wrong in the kitchen. They forgot the cheese? Then you pull a slice out and the magic is revealed. Zachary's Pizza does their pizza a little backwards. Crust, then toppings, then cheese, then sauce. In that order. You wouldn't think it makes a difference but oh it does! It was the gooiest, thickest, most flavorful, delicious pizza I have ever had. You have to have it.

Then we sought out a good spot for a picture of the bridge. We found an awesome one that was our own for awhile until every one else found it. It' so big that it almost looked fake when standing near the base. Like some kind of Truman Show prop.

Next we headed to Lombard Street! We all drove down once then Lauren and I waited at the bottom while the boys drove down so we could take pictures. The boys are somewhere in this picture but I don't know where:)

After a ton of city traffic and a good car nap we arrived in China Town! I LOVED China Town. It was so bright, and cultured, and different. We had a ton of fun walking the streets, running back to our car over and over to refill the meter, celebrating certain bodily accomplishment's of Lauren's, and hunting for a yarn mummy keychain that B wanted:)

All the way across the sky... so intense.

Our last stop of the day was at Bi-Rite Creamery. This place has the most intriguing list of ice cream flavors. Salted caramel, balsamic strawberry, honey lavender. It was featured on "Best Thing I Ever Ate" on Food Network for its "Sam's Sundae". We decided to go test it out. The boys got something more normal but Lauren and I decided to give the famous "Sam's Sundae" a try. Ok so here's what it is. 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream, drizzled with Bergamot olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and topped with whipped cream. At first it totally worked. I love salt and chocolate and somehow the olive oil just tied it all together. The whipped cream sort of carried it all in a basket to your mouth. About half way in I got a bite that was covered in salt and it kind of ruined it for me. Was definitely good but it was not the best thing I ever ate and I probably wouldn't order it again, but worth a try!
Brett got a delicious coffee sundae that he said WAS one of the best sundaes he ever ate:)