Down to earth.

From my two years of California living you don't meet down to earth folks often. I didn't realize this until last week. On Wednesday our Isaac came home. He serves in the Navy and was deployed for 7 months. You may not think that is a long time but let me tell you that Isaac is the only boy that we know out here that can even crank a lawn mower. So when my car broke and when we had to call the plumber three times and when there was a lizard tail flopping in my my closet for 30 minutes with the other half of the lizard MIA you realize just how long 7 months really is!! On Tuesday Bea and I headed to the airport to pick up Isaac's wife and mom. Isaac's dad got to do the tiger cruise with Isaac from Hawaii to San Diego. So the Loveland ladies, Bea, Ellenor, and I headed to homecoming bright and early Wednesday morning. We were even on San Diego Fox news :) It was absolutely WONDERFUL meeting Isaac's parents for the first time. They have been married for 40 years but are still so in love. Isaac loves his wife, Bridg, a lot. We love her too. While Isaac was on the ship we could email him. In one of the emails he sent me he randomly told me that he was praying that I would meet someone. I thought that that was so sweet because trust me, I do not talk to Isaac about that sort of thing. I say all of that to say, no wonder Isaac loves Bridg the way he does and no wonder he is praying for the man I will marry one day. His parents have always displayed true love to him. To say the least, they are AMAZING. I got home from work on Friday and his dad was in my kitchen making us dinner!! His mom is so sweet and funny. We spent a lot of time with them while they were in town and not once did I feel like I had to impress anyone. I never felt like I was being judged. Manners were not important to them. They looked at the heart and it wasn't like they were examining my heart. It was THEIR hearts that were so kind and genuine. They kept thanking us for taking care of their son when in all reality HE is the one who takes care of us. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Jim and Alice Loveland from Jersey. It was wonderful to be loved just because. John 13:35 says, "Love one another... By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." Thank you Jim and Alice for your love and for raising such a great son. And Bridg- thank you for sharing your husband with us, we can't wait for you to graduate and be here with us.

Another side note about my friendship with Isaac:

Saturday and Sunday were pretty crumby days for me. If you live in a small town just don't date, trust me, I'm 22 and wise now.. ya heard? Funny. Anyways, while sitting in the kitchen with everyone I stated that if I lived in Douglasville this would be one of those days where I ran away. (Not literally. I used to run away for a couple of hours or a day. I would either drive to ATL or to Alabama. Music up, windows down, singing loud. I would clear my mind and then head back. Sometimes Brittany and I would do this together.) In San Diego there is no where to run. Crowded freeways. More freeways, unless I was riding up the PCH I guess. Then Isaac chimes in... you want to? Me- um yes! Of course!! So Monday morning we went on a run (I almost died), rinsed off, hopped on the motorcycle and rode up the Pacific Coast Highway. Did you get that? On the back of a motorcycle, staring at the blue ocean, sun, wind, and waves! Wow. Just when I wanted to feel sorry for myself... I couldn't. Monday turned into one of my most favorite days in California. My life is grand. Let me tell ya, it sure is hard doing mission work in San Diego ;) Seriously just go google images of San Diego PCH. Thank you Isaac for being such a good friend.