A Weekend in San Diego

I've been busy. This Fall is getting away from me. We haven't been able to go hiking or camping yet. Hopefully soon before ALL the leaves fall.

My time lately has been full of job-work, car inspections and an oil change, research papers, final projects, readings for class, laundry, and everyday feeling like I'm trying to catch up, only to find I'm behind again the next day. We're half way through the semester as of last week-yay!

A couple weeks ago, we took a whirlwind of a short vacation:

With Brad!

Like I said earlier, Brad was in Afghanistan with the Marine Corps for an entire year. We only got emails every now and then, and we got to talk to him on the phone once for a few mintues over Christmas last year.

God brought him back safely to the USofA, and we got to welcome him back and spend the weekend with him in San Diego. Bryce's mom and dad (Connie and Roger), brother and wife (Brett and Rachel), and I all went. Sadly, Brant and Ashley couldn't come since he is in the middle of rotations for med school. We missed them!

All of us welcoming him back!



Bryce was at a conference in Austin, TX for school until Saturday night when he flew in for the last couple days to see Brad.



We had fun going out to eat, seeing Camp Pendleton and meeting some of Brad's friends, walking on the beach, checking out Balboa Park near downtown, watching movies, eating at a sweet breakfast place in Encinitas, going to Point Loma peninsula with a view of the entire city and a lighthouse, and watching surfers catch some waves in Carlsbad.



A happy mom...


Balboa Park...


It was a blessing to be able to go to San Diego and spend the weekend in a fun place with the family, but the biggest blessing by leaps and bounds was simply to have Brad back safe and sound.

And actually, they overbooked our tail end flight on Monday, so with all the incentives, we (Bryce and I) decided to stay in San Diego an extra day. A hotel on the bay, a rented car, hot tub time, free meals, exploring La Jolla, and the Gaslamp (historic) district in downtown San Diego. It wasn't so bad...







We got home the next day and drove from the Charlotte airport straight to my class (she takes attendance) and I made it in time for the second half (1 1/2 hrs) and turned in my homework. Phew! Then it was back to normal life.