Beauty. Pure Beauty.

So as we have traveled across the country to California and then up the coast to San Francisco I have seen many beautiful things. None as beautiful as this video. Thankfully this is one of many beautiful stories of adoption. No matter if it is from a far away place or right here in the USA, there is something magnificently BEAUTIFUL about the journey of these families. Loving His children and welcoming them into a home where they too can know Him and change the world for His good. His stirring continues in my heart about the thought of adoption. Not now. But there is something there, something brewing. In his perfect and beautiful time I hope that we will follow His prompting to love a special child in need of a family. Only He knows. I can't wait to see where the journey takes us. For now we will continue to pray for and support these families in whatever way we can. Just wanted to share.

Meeting Endale For The First Time! from Peter Kidd on Vimeo.

Fear and LA Driving...

So over the past year I have really dealt a lot with fear. Fear that I have allowed to rule my life for far too long! Fear of "messing up" or doing the "wrong thing", fear of failure, fear of not being good enough, fear of the future... okay you get the picture! Well I have really struggled and grown in this area of my life. It is safe to say that I will continue to do so! However, having moved to CA brought on a new fear... DRIVING in LA!!!!

So I have been driving around Pasadena which is where we live, but I was totally avoiding driving in Los Angeles. I was content to let my LA taxi driver (aka: my husband) drive me around. Then it happened, I had an event with Mosaic that I really wanted to attend and Luke... had a bible study he couldn't miss. I had to get myself to an event that would take me quite a distance and through LA. Let me just say... was terrified! I mean I know I grew up 20 outside of Atlanta, but let's be clear... I did not enjoy driving in Atlanta. Another fact that I have learned after driving tonight is that Atlanta roads and traffic are NOTHING compared to this massive place! People here do NOT slow down to let you over, you better just get over almost like you don't even see the car coming.

So here is the update... I MADE IT!!! Once again, I had allowed myself to hear driving in LA so much that I avoided it for the first 6 days of our life here in CA. Now that is just crazy, because it really wants that bad. I mean I was not super relaxed or comfortable but I made it and I am proud of myself. The fear that I had built in my mind had me thinking that I would be in tears by the time I hit the 110 (which is one of the oldest highways in America- That's just a fun fact from Luke) or that I was going to have to pull off on the side of the road and call Luke to come get me because "I just couldn't do it". HA! This is completely dramatic because we all know that if at all possible I will do what I need to do without asking for help! Anyway, as I was driving home I was thinking about what a great example this is of how fear can rule our lives if we let it... So I made it! I'm not dead! I accomplished something I was afraid to do and I even learned in the process. Awesome!

Tomorrow Chick Fil A for the first time in 2 weeks!!! I am thrilled :)

Home Sweet Home

Here are some pictures of our new home! We have had fun setting up and settling in! So many great memories are already being formed. We are thankful for the Mosaic community here in LA and for the support of our family and friends in GA!

I just can't believe that our front yard has this huge palm tree!! What? I love it!

This is our entrance to the apartment. It is on the side of the house. The house is actually really big, but the sweetest little family lives in and owns the larger part! They have been amazing!
Kitchen table!!
The bathroom is still a work in progress as far as decorating goes! I have some ideas but have not completed them yet!


Luke's school area

You can actually see the ENTIRE apartment if you stand at the front door! Very small... but so are we, so it works out!

Our new street. You see who parks on the street... not me :)

Luke and I leave on Thursday for Carmel, CA in Northern California! This will be our honeymoon, since the time right after the wedding was mostly spent crammed in a car with my entire life packed with us! So after almost 2 weeks of unpacking, setting up, and for me adjusting to a new place we will take a much needed get away for just the 2 of us! I am aware it will most likely be the last one for a REALLY long time!! So we plan to enjoy every second. We are excited to drive up the coast, we have heard it is an amazing drive with beautiful scenery. We are planning on spending on day in San Francisco since it is only about 2 hours from Carmel!

We Made It!

Well we made it to California! The apartment was clean when I got here! Luke did an awesome job cleaning, but it did smell like a dude. :) So with a few plug in's that problem was solved. Since it is such a small place we are still figuring out how to best organize the space for the 2 of us! Luckily we make a great team so it is all coming right along! We are living in Pasadena and I am loving the area that surrounds our house. There is so much SO close. I have ventured out a few times along just to get my barrings. Those of you who know me know that I am super independent so it has been killing me that I can't just hop in the car and go. For a few days I didn't have a key to the apartment or the internet password either and things like that were making me feel so lost. HA! I know that sounds crazy but I just love being able to go and do as I want or need! Anyway, we are here and thank you for your prayers while we were on the road.

Here are some pictures from our trip! They may not be in order of our stops but I will do my best to give details as to what is going on!

On SEVERAL occasions the road was so flat and straight that we could actually see miles ahead of us. BORING! We would just laugh... we didn't know what else to do!
On our way into Las Vegas we drove over the Hoover Dam! It took quite a while but it was totally worth it!
Luke with the Dam! He had jokes!
Arizona!!!
This was the biggest and brightest rainbow we had ever seen. We saw it headed into New Mexico!! The picture does not do it justice but it was amazing!
Apparently New Mexico is the land of enchantment! Who knew?
Vegas at night!!
Grand Canyon! We went on an amazing helicopter tour od the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, and the Hoover Dam! Such an experience being surrounded by the HUGENESS of this beautiful part of nature!
Smiling for a picture at the bottom of the Grand Canyon while feeling very queezy from the flight! I have never felt so sick from motion.... but it was worth it. However, next time I fly in a helicopter I will take some meds!
This is clearly before the sickness set in.

Gondola ride through the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas! Our driver (would that be Gondo-leer?) was so funny! He said he was Figaro from Florence, Italy but we are pretty sure he was more like Tim from Texas! When he started singing opera to us... well, I lost it... died laughing! I asked it I could request a song and we agreed that it would be nice for him to sing Beyonce's Single Ladies! Pretty much one of the funniest things ever... a guy with a fake Italian accent singing Single Ladies! Just priceless.

The trip was great. Pictures of the new home to come!!