 Our daily agenda in San Diego was incredible. I think it was a bit of heaven for all of us. <- Day 1 (Saturday) - we left for Vegas. Stopped in Cedar City for lunch at Cafe Rio. Continued to Las Vegas, but did not have housing arranged. Tried GW Celine dion celinedion.com Day 2 (Sunday)- we got up and showered for the day. Went to breakfast and left our room at La Quinta for the Homewood Suites in Oxnard. The drive was spectacular. Green hills filled with spring flowers in every color, particularly orange and violet. We arrived to our room and made ourselves comfortable in our suite. We continued on to Colina Vista. Much better than I expected. A number of houses were gone (like Elaine’s former home), but others were left. Lots of pictures from the remodel, beautiful. Then we went and got fish tacos and headed up to the point. Spectacular sunset from the church. Jacuzzi and World of Dance, then bed. Goodnight.
Day 3 (Monday)- Started this day by waking at our place in our favorite Ventura hotel Homewood Suites and having a wonderful breakfast. Mom and I showered and dressed and went down to the dining room. Emily came shortly after. The fare was delightful. Wanted to stop and get some strawberries for the fam. We looked all over for Terri's Berries, but when we finally found it, the operation was closed. We found another little farmer's market with Strawberries and headed for the Super Bloom. This was the likes of the Tulip Festival in Washington with an extraordinary bounty of blooms, from poppies to lupine and chocolate lilies. Even the pics of California’s 2019 Super Bloom are breathtaking. Seeing it is marvelous. Experience it was life changing. We met Jer, Lys, and Ray at the cross park in Ventura for pictures and a quick getaway to let Luna run. Then, we continued on our way down to San Diego. Camilla and Nick got to the airbnb first, Carly and Steven got there next everyone loves it. We had hours of laughter and Steven ordered pizza for the first night. Beautiful sunset. Linda and I went to pickup Melanie from the airport in San Diego. Soon, we were back with the fam. Tons more laughing and visiting while sitting around the fire in the back patio of the house. Divided up the bedrooms. Linda and I got the master. Camilla and Nick went to the store. We are all going to bed now. San Diego Zoo opens 9-6pm
Day 4 (Tuesday) - Great night. We slept in until 7:30, then there was a knock at our patio door. I went to find Steven and Van. Soon Van was in bed with us drinking his bottle. He was a happy camper. Then he wanted to get down from the bed. He slid off the bed when done and luckily I was holding his hand because it was a long way down. Then Merv came and got in bed with us for 30 seconds. It was super awesome. Then we told him that we had Apple Jacks for breakfast. He's said, and I quote, "Grandpa, Apple Jacks are super yummy." Yeah, I agree. Ever since I was a little boy, Apple Jacks have been super delicious. But you know what is better? Watching your grandsons smile from ear-to-ear enjoying Apple Jacks is even better than having them yourself. More on that in a second...  Today we are headed to the San Diego zoo. It is going to be super awesome as well. And we are just getting started. Every day is better than the last. Every choice is anticipated with knowledge that it will be right and good and result in happiness now and joy for eternity. Sounds too good? Ha..we are only getting started. Our good choices build on one another making the next experience better than the last. Exercise, construction, personal development, schooling; they all build on the prior achievements and make the latter better than the former--lots of evidences of that. Zoo today was so much fun. We watched the parents tenderly guide their children and we all had a delightful day. We began our day with a bus tour of the zoo and enjoyed seeing lots of animals and sites to come. Then we began walking the zoo with strollers and anticipation of a fun day to come.elephants, lions, tigers, and bears. And a ton more. This day ranks right up there with some of the great memories for our family...and we are just getting started. We are shooting from the hip. Tomorrow's activities to be determined. I think we will do something on the beach.
Day 6 (Thursday) - We jumped in our vehicles and drove to Old Town. After a little effort, we found parking up a long road. Thanks to Steven, it was convenient and relatively close. We stopped at the Church museum and watched and experienced a little presentation of the Battalion, then we strolled along in the darling little shops and restaurants. We knew that we had a big dinner awaiting us that evening, so we restrained the temptation to sit down and eat. We did, however grab some elote (corn). A famous restaurant called Campfire was planned for our evening meal. "Amazing place! Very attentive staff and incredible food," and "Wonderful place, thoroughly impressed. One of the few true foodie restaurants in the Carlsbad area" is the way others described it. We felt it was a perfect end to a perfect day. Thanks Steven!
 Day 7 (Friday) - Disneyland was a memorable day from the moment we walked into the park. There was anticipation and excitement everywhere one looked. Children and adults wore Mickey's ear hats and Minnie attire; everyone was happy or so it seemed. Even the workers were glad to see the guests and welcomed us heartily. For one day every where we turned someone was there to help us. People looked forward to serving our every need and happiness and smiles was the goal of the entire staff. How can we not love that feeling? Of course we did--all of us. But the best part was seeing the excitement and smiles of the family and our precious little grandsons.
 The time in our little bit of paradise is passing so quickly. When I look at my favorite picture of Linda with the boys, it is hard to believe how much they have grown already. Now our week in San Diego is almost over. I guess sentimental feelings come with age, but if there is one thing I have learned in my short time here on this planet, it is to relish the opportunities that we have here and now with our families. Some call it moments; others express an end they are pursuing and expect to someday reach, still others hope at some point in life happiness will be the order of the day in its fullness. This usually has to do with the end goal when all their dreams will come true, and everything they worked for is finally realized. If there is one thing I have come to realize in this crazy thing we call mortality is that life is what you make of it--specifically not what you have been given or even achieved. Life is the culmination of what you do with the things you have. Make every day paradise. We don't have to prove to God that we should inherit heaven. He knows what our choices will be. We are preparing now so we can enjoy living in the Kingdom of God when it is handed to us. Part of our preparations continued with General conference .. Sat morning session Ulysses Soares The Divine Center Becky Craven Following the covenant path brings happiness There is not a right way to do the wrong thing Brook P Hales Blessed and happy state of those that love God Dieter Uchtdorf General conference .. Sat afternoon session ... Jeffrey Holland .. Sacrament General conference .. Sat priesthood session Gary E Stevenson Discipline of athletes Places of retreat where you can escape evil influences Ideas for our play book Bryce Harper Daniel Sorenson William Hopoate Offensive and defensive strategies David and Goliath Repent and learn from your playbook 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (Book of Mormon, Mosiah, Chapter 2) http://classic.scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/2/41c Carl B Cook* Priesthood quorum (waves) Quorums help those that do not have support for home centered learning Andres' example of the band of brothers Kim B Clark* Elders in Israel Healing of the woman with an issue of blood Look unto Jesus Christ to be his disciples in his church (rivet) Young men are examples of servants of the Lord in his ministry We are not alone .. Jesus Christ will lift us up 1 we see revelation 2 priesthood power 3 Jesus Christ goes with us... Henry B Eyring Dallin H Oaks Predictable occurs if we do nothing when it is easy Opportunity cost Russell M Nelson* Repentance is not punishment Repentance is a privilege Purify, sanctify, strengthen, edify, increase, and exemplify. Regular daily focus on repentance Repent daily and be a little better every day Joy of redemption in Jesus Christ .. the battle with sin is real Daily repentance is the pathway to purity Purity is power 1 improve the way we treat our bodies / Satan is miserable w/o a body 2 honor the women in our lives / sports and games can become too dominant 3 help the women in your life receive the blessings of gospel of Jesus Christ 4 only way to keep families safe in the challenging days ahead... Blessings promised Day 9 (Sunday) - More General conference and drive home Day 10 (Monday) - Back to work Back to the grind, but not in a rut. The rut is for those who have lost hope. That will never happen to me. Admittedly, time is passing so quickly. It has nearly been two weeks since we have returned home. I feel our family has experienced another life-changing week together. Was everything perfect? Pretty close. The next adventure is here and now taking our families with us and transforming our everyday lives into what we are shooting for someday. One week in San Diego with my family was just the beginning. Now 2019 will always mean something special for us all. Always.
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One of the amazing things about writing is that one can make changes and updates all the way through. When you begin working on a piece, you can change it up to your liking or at least what you think you want. Then if circumstances change or you come to realize there are better ways to present the ideas in your head, the composition can be modified. It might just be a word, maybe a sentence, or a phrase that is altered to make it even better than the original draft. In the book of this life's experiences, we gratefully get an opportunity to change it up as well, and improve a sentence, a paragraph, a page, or a chapter or two. Because of Jesus Christ our mistakes can be erased just like the writing in a book, and gratefully we can improve and brighten the outcome of our lives. But we can also illuminate every day by applying his teachings. He has had prophets preach this sentiment for centuries. All-in-all a relatively few listen and apply his words so that that life can be even better today and tomorrow. Be one who does. Amazingly (perhaps to some) the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about happiness--today, tomorrow, and forever. That is its very purpose. |
purposeThis is our memory of the Christmas 2018 trip to San Diego and our adventures at Del Mar Airbnb in April . ArchivesCategories |
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