Inspiring Feathers: July 2013

▲▲▲ Day Nine: Goodbye SoCal, Hello Bay area ▲▲▲

This morning we went to my dad’s old church! It was pretty nostalgic being there and recognizing so many people that literally watched me grow up. I caught up with multiple people and introduced them to Daniel. Two of my girlfriends (who also grew up in the church) went with us and we all sat together, sort of reflecting on memory lane from back in the day. It was pretty cool. After church I caught up with more people that were still there and exchanged brief conversations, catching up on each others’ lives. It was positively charming. After church, Daniel and I went to In-N-Out (his new favorite) with Dana and Barrett. While I was talking to everyone catching up, Daniel was playing “airplane” with Barrett and they were having an absolute ball. It was super precious. Anywho, at lunch we just caught up and really enjoyed time together. Daniel and Barrett became besties for life, and it was truly the cutest thing ever. So while they were doing their boy thing and being adorable, Dana and I were able to catch up one-on-one with little heart-to-hearts (my fave!). Once again, just positively marvelous time well spent. Then we had to split ways. Always no fun, but we all knew that this wasn't goodbye but more of just a "see you later, alligator" type thing. Barrett kept telling us to come over! Wish we could :)

My old church!

Best friends :)

Such cute little men :)

Dana and I :) Best friends since second grade! Love you chica.

All four of us :)

Our next part of today's adventure was driving to my grandmothers house in the bay area! This took several hours, but Daniel and I just discussed all our previous adventures and what was to come! :)

Listening to my grandmother tell stories from when she was younger :)

Loved seeing my grandma green!

Visiting my grandma was so lovely! I haven't seen her since I was about 15 or 16, so it's been quite awhile! She showed Daniel and I old family photos (you know - the typical naked photos of your bum. Daniel thought this was precious). It was cool though because we were able to see old photos of when my dad was young! It was weird seeing him as a 70's love child... chest hair and deep v-necks. wow dad! haha. We caught up on what Daniel and I were up to these days, and she shared how she and my grandpa were doing. Sadly we didn't get to see my grandpa - he is currently in a nursing home because he has pretty severe dementia. I saw a recent photo of him and it was difficult to look at a men that was already tall and skinny lose about 50 pounds... He just looked really sick and different than the man I grew up seeing. It's never easy seeing the people you love start moving toward the end (please keep him and my grandmother in your prayers). Anywho - my grandma is an avid reader and she shared several of her books from her collection (pictured above) with us! She writes her name in all of her books, so that is something I will treasure! It was really sweet to see her and to spend some good time with her.

Next we drove up to my cousins house! I haven't seen this cousin since I was maybe four years old? I am not quite sure, because sadly I do not remember meeting her! She was only about an hour away from grandmothers house, so not too bad at all! We arrived at her and her husbands cute little house, and the four of us all talked and caught up on each others lives! It was cool to get to know more family that I've really never connected with before! It was definitely a blessing and Christiana and Justin were absolutely lovely!
Below is a photo taken the very next morning with them in front of their house.

▲▲▲ Day Eight: California Chillin' ▲▲▲

Saturday we decided to take the day off (we were going to spend another day at a theme park) and instead just be chill. We slept in, had a quiet morning, and then went to my friend Dana’s house to meet her children! Dana and I met in second grade, and she is one of my earliest and closest friends growing up. Even though time and life has distanced us, we have still remained good friends. It was really good to catch up with her and realize that nothing has really changed between us. Daniel really enjoyed getting to hang with her and getting to meet her adorable little children. Daniel really connected with her son Barrett, and the two of them were instant best friends. Dana drove us by my old neighborhood in Brea. We drove by the house I grew up and visited our elementary school that was right across the school. It was crazy to realize how much life has happened since our days there. Anywho, we had a lovely afternoon spending time with my chica.

Daniel and Taytum!

My old California house!

Cute sleeping Taytum

Jamba Juice! Yummmmm :)

The evening we spent with Brian. He treated us to Watsons, a family favorite of our in old Orange. They have the worlds best onion rings and vanilla malts! Yummm.

Brian is adorable. And excited for watsons! :)

Heaven in the form of onion rings!

The rest of the evening we just hung out and watched some ridiculous movies (look up Dinoshark – terrible, cheesy, tacky movie). But it was lovely to relax!

▲▲▲ Day Seven: Beach Day ▲▲▲

Today was another day I was really excited about – the beach! But more so than that, I was excited to see some friends that I grew up with in California for the first time in probably about eight years! The icing on the cake was that Daniel was able to meet (and vice-versa) the people that were near and dear to me all those years in California (and still are) and he was able to have a sort-of glimpse into my childhood. I know that we both enjoyed it! As with any beach day, we spent it in complete relaxation. We were in and out of the water, did plenty of talking and walking around and just really chilled. We even had a fire pit! It was just positively a marvelous day. As with probably all of my posts from now on, photos are the best description of this adventure.

Beach Day Fun!

The beautiful Whitney! :)

Love my dearest Whitney! :)

My girl Stephanie :)

Jumping with my ladies :)

The boys tried to jump... Not as successful but still quite adorable :)

After the beach, we went to In-N-Out so Daniel could try it for the first time! :)

What a cutie patootie!

Unhealthy amazingness!!!! :)

▲▲▲ Day Six: Disneyland ▲▲▲

Today was probably one of my favorite and most anxiously awaited days… DISNEYLAND! I think it’s been about eight years since I was there yet, though it felt like no time had passed. I was super excited to go to a place that literally was nostalgic to me, as I grew up 20 minutes from there and my family frequented quite often (thanks annual passes!). It was Daniel’s first time there, so I was even more excited to share part of the magical experience with him! Brian was with us, too, and of course he is always a delight to be with. What else is there to say? We were blessed to receive tickets at a great discount, and for both parks! We spent the day hopping back and fourth, visiting all the favorites and even a few were visited on multiple occasions! Brian treated us to some amazing sour dough bread (oh how I have missed it!) and to dinner at LA Brea Bakery – which was basically like heavenly food tastes in your mouth. Yummm. I really didn’t take many photographs, but for those who have been to Disneyland or Disneyworld, or even just really enjoyed the magic from a Disney movie, you can understand that today was positively charming.