California trip to visit Stephanie and Kevin

We left for sunny California on Tuesday (October 21) in the afternoon. Derek only went a 1/2 day to school and the rest of the day was spent traveling. We arrived about 7:30 pm to see Steph and Kevin greet us at LAX. It was so good to see them both again! After a drive to their apartment in Redlands we had a good nights rest. Over the next few days Stephie was our tour guide. Kevin had to teach so it was just the 4 of us.

We left Wednesday morning for the desert. On the way we passed one of California's clean energy - Wind farms!

We then went to Joshua Tree National Park. The western half is the Mojave desert. The eastern half is Colorado Desert (high desert and low desert).

Desert flower

Rock climbers (took these pictures for Tracie and Nate - they are going to California in March and they like to Rock Climb - Maybe they can do that in the desert!)

View from Keys View. You can overlook a stunning expanse of valley, mountain and desert. The San Andreas Fault can be seen in the valley.

If it wasn't for the smog from LA - you could see into Mexico from here.

Skull Rock

Thursday - Big Bear Lake - and climbing up in the mountains.

Stephie's dog Ein needed help getting over this log.

Ein the rock climbing Corgie

Castle Rock

Kevin's classroom - he collects gas masks

Friday - Sea World in San Deigo

of course we had to take pictures of the horses - Clydesdales

Shamu

Mission Point

The Pacific Ocean

Derek - Stephanie - Kevin

There was a surfing contest on Saturday - high school teams

La Jolla - we kayaked, and saw sharks, sea turtles, seals and lots of fish

Kevin - Stephanie - Mom

Stephanie

Stephanie

Mom - Kevin - Derek

Birds of Paradise and Palm trees are everywhere

Kevin and Derek in Kevin's BMW

On Sunday we went to church with Kevin and Stephanie. They go to the River CRC. It is a great church - the people are all so friendly. On Monday we left for home. We had a great time and it was so good to see Kevin and Stephanie. They are doing well in California. It is obvious they are deeply in love and have put God in the center of their marriage. They have a nice apartment and very good jobs. We miss them and hope they move back to the mid west some day (ideally very close to us) but know they are in God's hands.