California

I spent last weekend in California, and I'm still dreaming about it! It was such a wonderful time. Soul-filling. Just the best. Andrew was so generous to hold down the fort here in Virginia while I jetted off to the West Coast for a wedding. Along with wedding festivities I was able to squeeze in a few visits with friends. What a treat! When you're working with 3,000 miles, those little visits just pack a punch! :)

I spent Saturday morning exploring my friend Emily's hometown of Ventura, California! Oh the fun we had! I had never been to Ventura before. Now I'm trying to figure out how Andrew and I can relocate to the West Coast. ;) Emily and I, and her wonderful sister, Amanda, spent the day driving around, eating Mexican food, and taking lots of photos...

After the Ventura explorations, it was time for the Kubler wedding in Camarillo! This wedding. Oh my goodness, was it ever a blast! Katherine, the beautiful bride, and I went to Biola University together. But way before that we knew one another from the church we grew up at in Virginia! We go way back. Our siblings go way back. Our parents go way back. And our parents' friends go way back. It was just the reunion to beat all reunions! Along with a party to beat all parties! It reflected the bride's carefree and whimsical personality perfectly. I wish we could celebrate that special evening over and over again.

On Sunday my Mom and her sweet girlfriends dropped me off at LAX. Before I flew back home I got to sneak in one last visit with two longtime friends! Lindsay and Kalen and I spent six weeks together in Israel in the summer of 2005. Almost 10 years later we were sitting curbside at LAX packing as much chatter as possible into one hour together! 

It was a busy weekend, but such a good one. All week I've been reflecting on the beauty of friendships with other women. We need those! We need people who have known us in a variety of seasons. People who can start a conversation with, "Remember when...?" We need people who can remind us of where we've come from and where we're going. I thank God for these women friends. And for the sheer joy of being in relationship together! What a gift.