Sometimes it's good to get a break from everything around you that is routine and normal.
After four years of life being focused mostly on John finishing this degree...the one that kept him awake all hours of the night for months on end, it was a BLESSING to retreat as a couple.
The kids stayed with Grammie and Papa and we drove away from our sweet family, through the mountains that led us to the water's edge.
We stood together on the edge of the land, gazing into the expansive sea and drew in the freshness around us. A fresh start. A fresh vision. We didn't know what the next stage would look like exactly, but it was new, and it was good. God had brought us this far, and we knew He had more for us on the edge of a new chapter about to begin.
We walked further and came upon a stream of fresh water flowing from the mountains...
Into the salty sea...
So inspiring as we were there for the Lord to renew us with water only He could give.
As fondly as we look back on the life-altering years behind us, we knew one of the first things we wanted to focus on as we entered this next stage, was US.
The Trinidad Lighthouse...
One of the things we prayed for was for God to bring light to the places left dark for so long as we made sacrifices for the completion of this degree to be possible. Sacrifices, we knew would only be true of us for a time, before healthy patterns of life and relationship could become our "normal" again.
Signs of LIFE have been popping up all around us as we begin our new normal with intentionality and vision.
And to begin it all...our little place of escape...
Greeted by a lovely spread, including the best clam chowder I've ever had!
Our beautiful room...
Garden view...these veggies are used for all meals made at the Inn...
The back deck...
And the best part of it all...the view.
Anyone that wanted to make s'mores just had to ask for a basket of goodies to do so...
A view of the beautiful house...
Starting down the trail to the ocean...
We found a little chair with binoculars sitting there for anyone wanting a closer look...
We were told the end of the trail was a little "rocky"but we didn't realize we'd be rappelling!
The destination was worth the journey...
Such a beautiful place to remember how good our God is...
There are so many tiny pockets of beauty, just waiting to be discovered...
Collecting our first pieces of driftwood to make a headboard for our bed back home...
After a beautiful dinner we watched the sunset...
And the table was already set for breakfast...
The last shots the next morning before heading back home to our babies...
And one more stop up the coast...
To watch the boats race...
And for a few more pieces of driftwood...
Such a timely, beautiful getaway...with the perfect man for me.
Here's to another chapter, sweet one.
And as you'll read in the upcoming posts...what a chapter it's turned out to be!
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! I love it! Good job you two. SO MUCH has happened for all of you in a relatively short amount of time. I am proud of all of you and so happy you were able to get away just the two of you! I bet it was a "win win" for the grandparents, kids and your marriage! God is good!
And where oh where is that little piece of heaven? The perfect place for Jay and I... ocean meets mountains. :)
Love you guys! Kirstin
Kirstin! Yes..it was amazing...it was at a place called Patrick's Point on the Northern Coast of California, almost to the Oregon border...a little farther for you guys to go, but SO worth the trip!!!! We love you guys and can't wait for the next time we get to see each other!