Wonderful Trip - Part Two

Well I wish I could give you some suitable excuse for taking nearly TWO MONTHS to post on this blog o' mine.  But I don't have one.  Can I just say "I've been really busy" and we'll forgive and forget.  I mean we're friends, right??

Part Two of my California trip was equally as wonderful as Part One.  I flew from San Diego to Oakland on Wednesday to spend a few days with my amazing cousin who lives in Lafayette, just outside of Oakland.  She and her mother (her mother is my dad's first cousin) picked me up at the airport and away we went!!!

If you've never visited California you should know that "Northern" California and "Southern" California are completely different.  Different in terrain, different in the "vibe" of the people, different in climate.  It's hard to image you are even in the same state.  

We took a drive through the Sonoma Wine Country and had lunch at the Korbel  Winery.  One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.  I've never been to Italy, but I can imagine it looks something like this . . . 

We drove to Ocean Beach near the Presidio.  Words cannot describe how completely gorgeous this area is. 

The Golden Gate Bridge is just AMAZING.  If you've never been to Northern California you simply MUST GO.  It is breathtakingly beautiful.

I had a wonderful visit with my cousin.  She was the best hostess in the world.  We ate, we laughed, we ate some more, we watched her son play high school football, we did a lot of sightseeing and spent time with her family.  We ate at the Cliff House overlooking the ocean and it was just one of the most amazing days of my life.  I'm HOPING she is coming to Missouri for a visit this spring!!

Since I've been back it just seems like the days have flown by.  And our beautiful daughter, Alex, has been back for a visit and already gone home.  She was here for a week just after the first of December.  Plane tickets are SOOOOOOO EXPENSIVE at Christmas time, they decided that the two of them wouldn't come home for Christmas but that she would come for a week while our son-in-law had a training mission in Southern California (freedom isn't free). We are so thankful for her visit and look forward to seeing her again sometime in February!  We are counting the weeks!!!

It was WONDERFUL having her home, but the week just went by way too fast.  I still can't believe she was here and it's been nearly two weeks since I took her back to the airport.  We talk nearly every single day, and we text EVERY day.   I miss her.

I have all my Christmas shopping done, and tonight I will try to get the wrapping completed.  I'm gonna be honest and share that I didn't put up a Christmas tree this year.  Alex coming home early threw me for a loop and got me off schedule!!  But I feel absolutely NO GUILT.  Christmas is not about the tree.  Christmas is about Jesus.  A baby born a King.  A Savior King.  

My prayer is that God will bless each and every one of you.  I don't know what you're facing.  I don't know your past.  I don't know what is heavy on your heart.  But I know the One who can meet every need.  Put your trust in Him.  No matter what the circumstance, Jesus is the answer.  I pray for everyone who reads this blog, that Jesus will meet your every need and strengthen you and encourage you!!

Merry, Merry Christmas to you and your family.  I am really praying about what God has in mind for Down On The Farm blog in 2016.  I want everything I do to bring glory and honor to Him.  

I'll leave you with one of my favorite Christmas songs, "The Night Before Christmas" by Brandon Heath.  So click on the video and remember that first Night Before Christmas over 2,000 years ago!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!