Life at the Loft: Presenting the Last Month of 2014 and First of 2015

Ah, update here folks! Finally got a chance to get the pictures from Matthew's phone and found another hike we did in December. Reservoir Canyon for the second time.

It had been raining that week and the trail was muddy. We hike in minimalist shoes (at least we both used to be Matthew's finally wore out and he got some different ones this time, minimalist trail running) so it is quite tricky navigating muddy slopes, especially on the way back down!

Us
(okay, so we do take selfies for posterity's sake and I include them in here because
family likes to see some of us every once in awhile for some reason ;)

These probably all look the same, slightly greening hills,
blue sky and puffy white clouds, but I just love that range of hills!

The left peak is Madonna, or Cerro San Luis actually, and the next is Bishop's Peak.
We were walking along getting ready to head back down, when who should we see but Darrel and Coral and Bodie!
They were house and dog sitting for David and Lauren and hiked up the city side, quite the climb!

Let me introduce you to the Banana Slug!
On our way down, a boy and his dad informed us that if we kept our eyes
peeled around the next corner we might spot this lovely critter.

The surf was unusually high the end of one week. We didn't get to go out until Saturday, when it had calmed down some, but the waves were still
huge!

We got lunch Giovanni's and took it out to the north side of the rock to eat.
In line in front of us was Roger and Janice, Roger Junior and his three kids!
After eating, we walked around to the other side of the rock. In the distance, we
observed two couples talking. As we got closer, we saw one man's profile as he laughed,
it was dad! They were talking to a couple that used to be at Atascadero Christian Home.
We pretended not to know them and walked right by, mom ran after us and grabbed us
as we busted up laughing =) After visiting a bit, Lloyd and I forget his lady friend's name,
walked on and we went on out to the jetty. There were other people out there as well.
When a particularly big wave would come in, several clapped. I didn't know until
the next day at meeting, that mom had a similar thought as me: That people were
joining in with creation in praising God. I don't know if that was their purpose or thought,
but my heart rejoiced and sung with it!

"Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy"

Psalm 98:8

"He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm."

Job 26:12

"Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them."

Psalm 69:34

"The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters,Than the mighty waves of the sea."

Psalm 93:4

"Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;"

Psalm 96:11

Well, I don't recall which verse we were thinking of at that time, but these all are great!

December was a lovely month!

Rain has made the hills green and the air clear as a bell.

This was driving out the December camp Thursday evening.
The sunset was SO pretty.

Shopping one afternoon with Vanessa, SB, Cherisa and Hailey, we parked between two black trucks.
OREO!

One of the ladies had too many onions for her camp meal, so I took them for mine.
I spent a few hours crying over it :)

Matthew was a huge help and support for browning the ground beef!
Many thanks to those who helped out and all the offers to help.

Matthew has taken to healthy snacking ;)
j/k -- he just wondered what dried parsley tastes like.

During the break at Grizzly, I got to go with Matthew to work twice. This is his
'new' office. He loves having the window.

Kind of washed out, but you can see a bit of the
mountain that is on the base and the new
admin building.

The one and only picture I took at camp!
Claire was so cute peddling furiously around trying to keep
up with the older kids, with the handler bars always backwards!

Right after camp, Caleb, Amy, and Adalyn visited for a few days.

Matthew took Monday off and we did some sightseeing with them.
Adalyn loves her 'sunglacklees'

Matthew found a hermit crab that wasn't shy.
I think it was the first time I saw one!
Adalyn did NOT want to hold it

Love this picture - just wish Adalyn was wearing a color to stand out a little more.

Then we went up to San Simeon (after lunch in Cambria at Main Street Grill :)
This elephant seal was taking a nap out on the point.
When it breathed out, its lips would flutter around and poof out!
We got quite a kick out of it.