Our family had a beach party while we were all together in California. I've noticed that I like the gatherings when we are all together because it feels like Dad is there even though he (technically) isn't. It feels like he is sitting down chatting with the group next to you or walking with one of the kids along the shoreline. We really enjoyed ourselves . . . roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, chomping on chips and Kaylene's salsa and watching John in his "pyro glory" as he manned our fire. Dan watched Claire most of the evening . . . which allowed Chris and I more time to relax. I think Dan and Claire are meant to be. She is kind of the female version of Dan twenty-five years later. Dan can attest that Claire was enamored with sand. We stayed until it grew dark and Claire just couldn't take being awake anymore. Then we carted a screaming Claire and a tired Hallie back to the car and drove home contentedly (and with music blaring to camoflauge Claire's screams).
I'm a huge fan of Heritage Park in Cerritos, CA. My mom took us a couple times when we were little and I was hooked. It is one of the places I like to go back to every summer. This year I got us lost in Long Beach on the way there. I felt very embarassed about my navigation skills. (Ask Chris -- I'm sorta prideful about that stuff). But we made it! And it was just as cool as I remembered. It is patterned after Boston in the Colonial era. You know Chris and I love Boston. And our little girls love this park.
"You're a doctor?!" These are the words that Hallie asked/announced to Laura when we visited our favorite Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at her clinic. Hal, of course, knows and loves Laura. But she thinks of Laura more of the fun friend who spoils her. She had no idea of Laura's other secret superhero identity.
Meet Camille. Camille and I met in a British Literature class in college. She sat in front of me. We started to chat before and after classes. Turns out, we were from the same place, sunny Southern CA. As our friendship grew we realized that wasn't the only thing we had in common. We loved the same books, music, musicals, and we could talk for hours! Our favorite summer time activity was to get smoothies after class and then sit by this secluded lake at a nearby park. We talked about our families and our dreams for our future families. We also talked about the comforts of home-- of Disneyland and the beach. Chris and I were already married when we went to BYU-Idaho so he spent lots of time with Camille too. He loved Camille just as much as I did. One semester when Camille was away from school, she met John. Cut to four years later and they are happily married with two cute boys and they own a home just minutes away from my parents. This means I can now see Camille, John, Spencer, and Logan whenever I go home. Yes!
There are two things in our home that are often said about Camille. I say that Camille was one of the best blessings I received at BYU-I. Chris knows what a true friend Camille is so when I meet new friends he uses Camille as a gage. "Is she a Camille?" Those are two pretty great things to say about a pretty great person.
