In the middle of everything!

I do apologize for the two month delay in "correspondence," if blog updating can be called such a thing.  It has been a time when, really, there is SO much to tell about, but nothing we could then or can now say for sure because we're still in the middle of it all.  And let me define all for those we haven't completely updated: in the middle of getting out of the Navy (active duty), getting out of the little condo, getting into our (yes, home ownership!) new condo, getting out of poor old Gertrude (the faithful, purple 1997 Toyota), getting into a new car, and getting into my new job at Reston Hospital Center.  Each step of the way, including arranging a move through the government (the phrase "act of congress" seems appropriate), we have prayed over and continue to finish each sentence with the phrase "Lord willing."  While we don't always do our best at trusting in the Lord and actually believing that, should one of these many variables not work out, God is still good and is still at work, it is a phrase that, when repeated, reminds us of that truth.

We also just returned from our yearly trek to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, with the Reimer side of the family.  The dynamics change yearly, mainly as blessed children are added, but also as to who is able to attend.  This year, we had the delight of spending time with the Mitchells, including an older and more beach-friendly Adeline (last year, she was only 4 months old!), and the Reimers Sr., but we missed out on the excitement and adventure that Christina brings along.

Please enjoy a few photos, and we'll continue to update as each of the aforementioned scenarios and situations work out.  And as always, thank you for your continued prayers!

Pardon the expressions...this was the one and only sunrise that we saw.  And Jon went back to bed before the sun could get above the clouds...

You know you're loved when...

Parents show love by nurturing and rearing their children.  Boyfriends show love by unexpectedly showing up with a bouquet of flowers.  Wives show love by caring for each detail of their homes and husbands.  And one way family shows love is by showing up at your doorstop for a visit.

Jon had the pleasure of hosting the Reimers, Sr. (we are the Reimers, Jr., of course) along with Aunt Margaret for a trip to the Hillwood Estate as well as some of the monuments downtown.  I was asleep...what a terrible waste of a beautiful spring day!  (Photos courtesy of Mom Reimer)

But I did have the opportunity to make-up for the missed trip by taking my sisters and our sweet niece Genevieve to see the monuments and enjoy a fabulous lunch at one of Jon's restaurant favorites, Founding Farmers.  Leave it to DC to combine a historical idea with a hint of sustainable farming.

Thankfully, Jon and I have yet to develop the DC health plague...seasonal allergies.  I fear if we stay here much longer, though, we may gain such a nemesis to spring.  As Charles (our dear brother) mentioned over Easter weekend, we again realize the fallen-ness of our world when we can't enjoy God's beautiful creation without feeling ill enough to want to escape.  But please enjoy the photos, allergy-free (hopefully), and this lovely spring season.

Cali Finale

We'll finish up our California broadcasting with a final slide show of the last few days.  As per the beer sampler below, please see Stone Brewing Company with its beautiful gardens and delicious beer.  Thanks to all the friends and family who gave suggestions, and to a wonderful husband who is willing to travel and plan and spend every hour of the day with me.  Enjoy.

Can we say Lion King?

At Stone Brewing Company

Hotel del Coronado, right after having indulged in Moo Time Creamery on Orange Ave.

Hotel del in all its glory

The wedding at the Athenaeum on CalTech's campus

the beautiful bride, Laura, and her parents

and the incredible reception!

 And what a way to end our week but sit in on a beautiful wedding, not only decorated with dazzling glowers but filled with celebration.  I'm sorry if I'm repeating what I've shared with some of you already, but the wedding message was wonderful...not schmoltzy, but filled with the gospel and encouragement to follow God's guidance on marriage.  It reminded us a little of our own wedding in that sense, a chance for those who haven't heard to partake in the gospel, when they least expected it.  Hooray for Laura and Kevin!

The "Mall" of San Diego

In Washington, DC, we have the National Mall, an area filled with monuments, museums, and cultural experiences.  San Diego has Balboa Park, a place of amazing gardens, beautiful architecture, historical museums, and artistic entertainment.  We only had part of a day (the zoo is on one side of the park), and most of the buildings were closed by the time we got there, but we enjoyed our sunset walk and dinner overlooking the park and the ocean (far away) before our show at The Old Globe.

We saw A Room with a View, a romantic play dealing with a damsel who's plight is choosing a sensible fiance or running after a stormy near-lover.  Who do you think she ends up with?  The theater isn't that different from its Hollywood counterpart sometimes.

Fight Club...Artic style.

While visiting with family over the Easter weekend and showing off our trip pictures, we decided our best photo shoot was with particularly active (for zoo animals) polar bears.  Thankfully this all happens behind reinforced Plexiglas walls...can you imagine catching this in the wild?

The Animal Kindgom of San Diego

One of our favorite parts of the trip was visiting the San Diego Zoo.  I won't be including the exotic animals names, mostly because my memory wasn't prepared for so much information while on vacation.  Please enjoy the photo-shoot anyhow.

Escaping chickens!

Napping fox...they are nocturnal.  Look at those ears!

Dr. Doolittle, I presume?

Tapir...a.k.a. "diaper butt"

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas...

Red Panda

Hide-and-go-seek panda

Orangutans...getting the honey from the hole in the rock.

"Jonathan, I think its a sloth...wait, no, its a bear."  Actually, its a Sloth Bear.

Feeding time!

They don't have these in Kuwait.

It seems as if Giraffes come from the dinosaur age...