CA - south from Stanford to Carmel

The Stanford Dish Hike - on the south edge of campus, a
breathtaking 4 mile hike with views of Stanford and the Bay.  

Santa Cruz, West Cliff Drive - a sweet walking trail with lots of dolphin (and hippie) watching.

Cannery Row in Monterey - honoring native son John Steinbeck.

We recommend the Big Sur Ale (SJ) and the Monterey Wheat (JL).

San Carlos Cathedral, Monterey - opened in 1794.

We bought a $4 candle - for you.  Love you all.  We talked about you and asked for God's grace on you.

Carmel-by-the-Sea - nice ocean, lots of dogs and seaweed.
Edged by Pebble Beach Golf Course.

My BFF, it's just that simple - love this guy!

Our coutyard - we proclaimed it happy hour central!

What a fun day we had - We started on the edge of the Stanford Campus

and then traveled to Santa Cruz, Monterey, and setting in Carmel.  We saw a lot of migrant farm workers, picking brussel sprouts, artichokes, and avocados (5/$1).

Carmel is dog country - not my deal.  Beaches are better in Florida, but they do have the ocean here and that is hard to resist.

We went to dinner in Carmel - took the flashlights provided by the hotel and walked downtown (they don't have streetlights and it is pitch black after sunset).

A couple of experiences that stuck with me - THE BEST bartender, ever, at Barmel (Oscar).

He told us about his 2nd wife, his 2nd family, and the pain and uphill battle of blended life.  He has older kids, in Washington State, and they don't like him very much.  And he has a 3/y/o daughter - who thinks he is the real deal. We were teary-eyed when we left and tipped him well.

Stanford!

What a beautiful campus - the largest contiguous campus in the world (8600 acres for 18,000 students)!

At Hoover Tower - the self-proclaimed first student of Leland Stanford Junior University.

Hoover Tower - one of the many bells

Rodin Sculpture Garden - like a Parisian garden, with the six originals (yep, the artist who did "The Thinker")

We have been happy about Stanford since Joe was admitted to GBS (Graduate School of Business) earlier this year - with only 7% of applicants getting selected, it was a victory - and now to be visiting him, and learning the campus, well it's a real thrill.  The list of notable alumni is impressive, and an Iowa son before Joe?  Well that's Herbert Hoover!

Hypocrisy and Humility

So most of us are hypocrites, apparently.  I hadn't given this any thought, until I heard it in church tonight.  Most of us behave contrary to our beliefs.  Going inward on a regular basis can help.  Are you living the way you proclaim?  Are you behaving as if your beliefs matter?

17 million American children go to bed hungry at night.  That fact interferes with my dining.

It's easy to get caught up in life's glamour, the pretense, the drama. It's easy to put forth a product, your dreamed up self, that you think others want to see.  The haves are beautiful, aren't they?

That's a perfect time to get brave, to turn it over, to ask for humility, to get out of your own head and help another.

Along with all that, in his "one-minute homily", Fr. V reminded us to be followers, not just members. 

Thirty-fun!

It may not feel like it on mornings when you are a bit sleep-deprived, but you are having it all, dear daughter, and these are truly the good old days!  You have evolved this year into a capable, informed mother, and your strength and maturity continue to amaze me.  I'm so proud of you!

Congratulations.  And happy birthday dear.  I received the original gift on August 11 and I'm honored to have a front row seat to your life. xoxo

Road Trip with Mr. Trooper

I joined Jacob and Kate on a tri-state trip to see family and friends...Jacob's first trip out of his home state, traveling to Iowa (to the happiest place on Earth) to pick up Gramps. Then we traveled to Minneapolis, picking up Kelly at the airport on our way to Anne's bridal shower!  He behaved perfectly.  Seriously. And was so dang cute I could hardly focus on anything else! Tomorrow he heads for home, and I'm missing him already!

My 8 weeks visit!

He's got my heart

Look at those eyes!

Matt put him to sleep :)

I don't think he wanted the party to end -
Notice the blue bandaid on his thigh from his 8 week shots

Outside on a blanket - even in the shade it is bright for baby eyes

You're So Fun

This is what fun looks like - the honor and privilege of watching this incredible gift from God grow and change, from a front row: