So after 10 days away, I couldn't wait to unload the car and head out to watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs. Oh my goodness, it did not disappoint! The beauty of the sky, the warmth of the air, and the intoxicating smell of salt water swept me up into overwhelming gratitude for our home in San Diego. It was the perfect homecoming.
We took walks almost daily around my dad's vineyard and experienced some incredible Valley sunsets.
My dad took Bran and Soren to John Deere and Soren got his first toy tractor (with many more to come, I'm sure). What a treat for my dad who never had a son!
Soren got re-acquainted with his Uncle Scotty and Aunty Dani and just laughed and laughed.
Bran and I took advantage of free babysitting and enjoyed a getaway in Shaver Lake where we snowboarded, relaxed at a B & B, and woke up to fresh snow in the morning! 
We know Mamae loved being with Soren at least as much as we loved the break.
Soren had his first Christmas! 
It was a bit overwhelming for him, but we sure loved watching him get all kinds of "big kid" toys like a golf set, a basketball hoop, and an "autographed" Chargers football.
And surrounded by all of his new toys Soren had the most fun playing in an empty basket!
Soren made friends with Cooper (Scotty's nephew) who is just 2 weeks older than him. It was hilarious to watch the two meet by staring at each other and grabbing each other's faces! It made me wish Soren had a friend his age close by.
And one of my highlights is getting to see all of my extended family at Christmas. Of course Soren had fun charming them as well!
We so enjoyed just soaking up quality time with my sisters, brothers-in-law and parents. That is what makes Christmas for me.
First came Soren Gabriel...and then Quinn Michele.
They began by just playing next to each other.
Then Soren started reaching for Quinn's hand.
Then Quinn started liking it. 
And now they're just buds.
Our families are loving the match so far....
...for new life this year. 
As we went around the dinner table today with family and friends to share what we were thankful for, it was only too easy and obvious for me to choose my son. But really, I can't even begin to express how overwhelmed I am with love and gratitude for my dear Soren Gabriel. Every day I look at him with awe and just can't get over the miracle that this little person, unique and all his own, came from Brandon and me. Our love for each other gave birth to a new person that will have his own place in this world. 
He will have hobbies, talents, friends, adventures, and--I struggle to say it--a wife someday. God has entrusted to Brandon and me the enormous and incredible gift of raising and loving this new life into adulthood. Wow. Thank you God. May we honor you with your most tremendous gift to us.
In honor of our San Diego Chargers--who have been on a big upswing recently--I decided I had to share some pictures of our little super-Charger. 
Soren proudly wears his Chargers onesie every Sunday and cracks up when I sing their old theme song "San Diego Super Chargers". He also got a kick out of the football we introduced to him a few Sundays ago! No pressure to be a football player, right?:-)
This last Sunday Brandon and I saw our favorite band Switchfoot in concert. It was truly a powerful experience. I think because they are a local band they gave their San Diego fans the treat of hearing their brand-new album played back-to-back in its entirety. And then they proceeded to play one song from each of their other albums. As we journeyed through their musical history I was hit by how each album represented an important stage in my life. Switchfoot is the one musical entity that has unknowingly journeyed with me throughout my entire adult life, bringing gifts of hope, motivation, humility, and insight. In a way, they have helped me understand my story. So just as my life story can be seen through my favorite books, so can pieces of it be seen through Switchfoot songs. Here's a look at our journey...
After all the chaos of the last few weeks, we finally got some sweet relief. We got to visit our dear friends in Virginia!! It was a short but restful weekend in charming Charlottesville that left us feeling encouraged and restored. Soren got to meet and enjoy so many of our favorite people--Tim, Jenn, Kevin, Tim W., Chris, Sarah, and Tuula--which was so fun for Brandon and I to watch. 
And we even got to experience the beginnings of fall in the East with red leaves and cool rain. 
But most importantly, we got to just be ourselves and curl up with good friends. 
That's the kind of retreat I could use more often.
And Soren's gotten to play with lots of friends...Quinn, Pele (the dog), Uncle Andrew & Tante Janneke, Zeke, and Banning & Roddick.
He also let off some serious steam after our rough week!
Lord, oh Lord how I love to be with Thee,
Treasure these times oh Lord I do.
As I bask and sit in your presence I could forever be,
To be with you oh Lord, all I want is you.
This is how it should always be I think,
With you, next to you, connected at last.
I’ve found it Lord! The secret, the missing link!
Finally, I’ve got it! What a fool I was in the past!
Now that I am here let me record the events,
Let me write down this way, never to forget.
I will make a map recording each turn, every way I went,
The Law is recorded, the path is clear, success a sure bet.
This experience is too high, too far from my understanding,
This moment too shaky, unpredictable, uncertain at best.
I want it always, I want it now, I want it right from where I am standing
So I pull and I tug and gaze over the crest.
I follow my map and tug as hard as I can,
I can see it there it is now in my sight.
I almost got it, it’s working ahh yes my plan!
As I hold it and touch it, it seems so light.
What happened to the weight it once had?
The color seems dull, imperfect at best.
As I inspect it I see, this is not what made me glad,
It’s hollow and empty, just like all the rest.
I open up my treasure and I am surprised about what’s inside
First I find my map, not treasure at all.
A map that leads to its maker is no treasure to hide,
This trail of sure success only lead me to fall.
Finally I discover the real contents of my loot,
Is this what I longed for? What I worked so hard to obtain?
The answer is No! I’ve taken the wrong route,
There I am sitting inside. Me in all my glory and pride so vain!
In my attempts to find God I miss him completely,
It’s because I try to hem Him in, in this cold world of the Law.
I try to bring Him to me, not realizing my strength is depleted,
My maps, rules, guidelines, securities are just fear, fear is my Law.
If I can just stay with Him, with His Spirit that is,
I can float on his tide, bask in his rays, be rocked by his waves,
be crushed by his storms but all in all I can be suspended by His Love.
The dynamics of this relationship can never be defined.
As soon as we do the love turns in.
As soon as it is by our own strength we only hold ourselves.
We can only relate with God when we live in his world of the constantly changing,
ever powerful, journey of love.
