Pacific Time

We have spent so much time traveling this year.  One of the most difficult parts of travel is the constant change of time zones across the continent.  It seems odd to have more than 24 hours in a day sometimes, but there are days when we only have 22 or 23 hours as we travel back east.  In the summer, the days up north are so much longer (it was still light at 11:00PM on July 4th when we were in Minot, ND) and the mornings begin earlier.  It seems that your body never really knows what to do.  Going to bed when it is still light is against my convictions! :)  I am not a morning person, either, so getting up early also goes against my grain!  It is a grand life, though, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 
I love this picture of my guys from earlier this year.  We all went to the Pacific coast for a time of family fun.  Pacific means peaceful, and the day was one of rest and relaxation for all of us.  Some people enjoy going to the beach, and that is okay, I guess.  I personally prefer the rocky coastlines of California and Maine with the surf pounding against the rocks.  I must have a zillion pictures of the coasts of our country, and they are all beautiful to me!  There is something about the beauty and solitude that appeals to me.  I could sit and watch the water all day!   Take some pacific time…

A Jolly Holiday

Today dawned bright and beautiful and we decided to take the family to see the Pacific Ocean.  We drove up the coast a little ways, and found a rocky stretch of beach where we could spend some time in solitude.  The kids all loved the water, except for Daniel who was afraid.  The surf was crashing rather loudly, and the waves were all foam as they washed onto the coast.  The only people we saw were a few surfers trying to catch the waves off in the distance.  We played in the chilly water a bit, and the kids dug holes and built a "house" out of rocks.  We dubbed it the "Foolish Man's House" because it was built on the sand.  I have no doubt that when the tide comes in, it will go CRASH just as it did in the song!  It was so much fun just to relax and enjoy spending time with our children.  I took the opportunity to attempt another family picture.  That always adds excitement to the day.  I think we will be able to salvage at least one, perhaps more if I "photoshop" them! :) So, here is our most recent (only a few hours old) family picture.