Vacations are so important and so needed. Vacations don’t happen enough for us. We have only been on four real vacations in the (almost) nine years of our marriage. We love them, and benefit so much from them, but when it comes down to it…the money has usually been spent on something else, and the time has been used on other things. But now with a little one we are realizing how important it is to get away, as a family. To leave our everyday surroundings, our routines, rhythms and schedules. To go away to a new place, to have nothing planned but to just be together, enjoying the little moments and watching M experience new things. And thats what we have been doing more and more. Little trips here and there, that require little money and little planning. A long weekend away, or a day trip to somewhere we’ve never been. Each time we come back refreshed, and renewed.

This mini vacation was in Santa Barbara, we are so blessed to have friends and family there. And even more blessed that our friends let us stay in their amazing house. It was wonderful. We spent everyday outside, exploring the grounds around us, jumping on the trampoline, playing ping pong and collecting rocks and sea shells while we watched Casey surf.  We spent the evenings in the kitchen cooking with our friends. We ate dinner around the table while enjoying the best conversations. Each night was ended with a bonfire and endless laughter. It was truly one of the best weeks we’ve had in a while. We were surrounded by so much beauty, and so much love from family and friends, that it makes you stop and thank God for the life he’s given you. Because even with the ups and downs of life, health and the unknown, we are so grateful for the life we do have. We have each other, we have family and friends. We have love. So much of it.