Last week’s vacation to California was quite the week. All the way from Seattle we drove about 2,000 miles round trip and went as far south as Visalia. First of all, thank the Good Lord for His protection over us. We were also VERY thankful for clear roads over the many mountain passes we crossed. Siskiyous, Sexton, Black Butte to name a few. I also want to officially nominate our Drew boy for Baby of the Year, who just turned 4 months by the way, on a superb job on this drive. He was amazing, sleeping through most of the miles. What a good sport he was! Truly proud parents we were and always will be.
What a blessing it was to be able to see family and friends again! One of the highlights of the trip was watching Drew meet for the first time his grandparents and many other family members and friends in CA who he had not met yet. It was also quite amazing to be in the house I grew up in and realize I was now there as a married man, as a father. Wowsers. The Lord has been good to us!
We also had an opporunity to stay with our good friends Florin and Stacy. I’ve given permission to Drew to call them Uncle and Auntie. 
Once again, it was crazy to stay with my family in the room I once called home as a bachelor. Sumatra Alumni! Ya! Part of me feels like this blog should be called “Going Home” or that it’s turning into a sappy Hallmark movie – not that I’ve ever seen one – I’ve just heard. Jk.
I would also like to nominate my wife Katrina for Wife of the Year once again. Thanks for the great conversation and fun on the trip! You are truly amazing and I love you! Thank you for everything you do.
Honorable mention to my favorite sister-in-law-named-Angela for securing my laptop after I left it in an unlocked car after leaving for vacation.
Also honorable mention to my neighbors for ensuring our trash and recycle bins were appropriately moved to the street and back. And also for retrieving our mail.
Upon returning home, there is one nomination I am not willing to make. I would NOT like to give any honorable mention to the crows who took advantage of my carelessness and poked through the bag of David sun flower seeds I left in the drive way by accident - I will give it to you guys though – pretty clever that you can actually crack open the seeds and leave me the shells all over our driveway.
It’s great to be home from our long trip, but it was a trip filled with great memories. Thanks everyone.
It was good to you see you guys! If only briefly. Hopefully we can come see you in Seattle soon!
Glad to “hear” Simon is saying things again! And yes, you do have a wonderful wife and son, and they are blessed to have you for a husband and father!