We will be gone on Monday. Michigan, here we come! Four months have disappeared and we have a vault full of good memories in return! Two major holidays made for plenty of time with friends and family. (Right: Grandma Goble and “The Great Dave”). Some of my favorite things included Christmas Caroling with LDPBC. My heart was full of merriment as we all joined in bringing cheer to the community and then filled up on goodies and the Miller’s secret hot chocolate recipe!
Family was a huge theme since we knew our 4 years overseas would be here before we knew it. California makes for strange holidays too since it gets warm randomly in the middle of December. Short-sleeves and Christmas just don’t seem to match in my brain! 🙂 But we took advantage of it anyway.
We did do some traditional wintery things though, like ice skating!!!! I LOVE being on the ice. Payton and I did a lot of ice skating when we were dating, plus it’s something my sister and I always enjoyed, so it felt really special. Gliding around, dodging little kids leaning on buckets, and zipping in between people was awesome!
Yay for new/old friends! We got to hang out with the Rhor’s (friends from Jenness Park) and play games a few times. The boldly dove into Carcassone and Pandemic, both very wonky games, but oh so fun! Plus, one time, they gave me a bean burrito for a really long drive home. It saved me from being carsick on the windy drive. We will be friends for a long time, I’m sure! And then, they sent us off by saying goodbye to their Christmas tree. 😀
And finally, we spent a day wandering around Yosemite. We got a new camera, and Payton took all of the pictures, so he didn’t end up in any, but he was there and got to climb all over rocks. We also had a sunny tailgate picnic for lunch, complete with hot soup! Payton’s Aunt Jennifer was able to make it up too!
What a blessing to be able to spend time together! I’ve loved getting to know everyone a bit better as we lived with family. And now we’ve got to pack and begin our final chapter in the US as our departure is right around the corner!!!
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I am glad you guys spent time in California. Keep posting as God sends you on your next adventure.
Chris