happy you were born, dad!

57 years ago today, God brought into this world the man He would call to be my father. Could not be more blessed by my dad. With his quirks, sense of humor, and free spirit, I've learned to not take life too serious, to go with the flow, and have fun. He'll talk your ear off with how God has rocked his life and continues to work in him. Through my dad's example, I've learned to surrender everything to the Lord and trust in His perfect plan.

Here are a few reasons why my dad is pretty much the raddest:

- When he became a Christian as a hippie in the 70's he used to pick up hitchhikers so he could share the gospel with them as they got a ride to their needed destination. Classic hippie dad.

- While trying to wish my grandfather (his father-in-law) "Happy Father's Day" in Japanese, he instead wished him "Happy Baboon's Day."

- He's the car wash AND gas fairy as I live at home.

- He would pick me up from school from pre-school through 5th grade on his motorcycle.

- My dad was actually the one who named me.

- He lives a life surrendered to the Lord and His calling. Where God calls, my dad follows.

So proud to call Ron Barnes my father! Happy birthday, Dad! Love you...a WHOLE lot!

hello, thirty!

I hit a milestone today. I'm officially now in my 30's. I swear just the other day I was tucking my Cabbage Patch into bed, putting together my Mouse Trap game, watching 90210 in hiding from my parents, singing to Amy Grant's "I Have Decided," and walking to the TV to turn the dial to change the channel.

Wasn't I just wearing this yesterday??

What better way to celebrate my 30 years of life than to list off 30 facts/quirks/things-you-could-care-less-to-know along with a few snapshots from my time on earth. My hope is that this will shorten the gap between us, internet, and strengthen our bond of friendship! ;)

Here it goes...

1. Microwaving food on a time ending in 5 or 0 is just silly to me. I never do it.
2. I never got the hang of blowing my nose. Can't do it.
3. Country music evades my will to live.
4. Chik Fil A is a food group in my book.

2 years old

5. I am extremely intrigued by serial criminals/killers and their behavior.
6. I don't have a favorite flower.
7. As a child, being a mermaid sounded like a pretty appealing and attainable career goal.
8. I inherited my grandma's Oldsmobile with a Betty Boop license plate frame that read, "Happiness is being a grandparent." And for some reason never thought to change it.
9. I choose the beach over any other landscape any day.

4th birthday party, Micky-D style.

10. I sucked my thumb up until the embarrassing-to-admit age of 10.
11. One of my favorite beverages as a child was pickle juice.
12. I have a fear of the dark, heights, sharks, and pool drains.
13. The scent of eucalyptus mint sends me into a nasal passage euphoria.

14. My first domestic flight was when I was 12.
15. My first international flight was when I was in the womb.
16. A favorite childhood memory: while visiting my grandparents in Japan, my cousin, brother, and I would walk down the block to the rice fields and gather tadpoles from the water there, bring them back in our buckets, and put them in a little kiddie pool in my grandparents backyard. We would then monitor them daily to watch them transform into frogs.

Age 8...the age I outgrew grandma (and the entire Japanese population).

17. I watch reruns of ALF on Hulu while I get ready everyday.
18. LAX is my favorite airport.
19. Every Easter growing up, my brother and I would get Lego's in our Easter baskets...and I still wish this was the case.

High school graduation.

20. Have a scar on my arm from falling in the shower. Also realized in that moment that there's just no way to fall gracefully while naked.
21. I personally think every channel should run I Love Lucy 20 hours a day. (With the other 4 hours filled with Modern Family, New Girl, Parks and Rec, Criminal Minds, Everyday Italian, and Downton Abbey).
22. I love to journal my brains and heart out.
23. I miss this guy terribly:

24. Lord of the Rings is, in my opinion, the best trilogy ever made.
25. I would shower 3 times a day if I could.
26. I went to Japanese school every Saturday from Kindergarten through 10th grade.
27. Zelda on Super Nintendo is my all time favorite video game....with MarioKart 64 close behind.

21st birthday

28. I may or may not have teared up at the Shamu show at Sea World.
29. When I was 5 I thought it would be fun to eat all the salt at the bottom of the pretzel bag and while I was throwing up I realized it may not have been the best idea.
30. I never enjoyed Seinfield.

One thing I've learned is that each decade of life keeps getting better and better. The trials become more challenging and intense for sure, but through it all I've learned to cling to Jesus tighter and tighter.

Cheers to the 30's!

beach boys

I just don't think it's possible to pass up an opportunity to spend the day with these cuties:

You just can't.

Mini back story.....

Elaine, their mama, and I have been good friends for several years. It's been pure joy to see our friendship grow through the years, witness her marriage to the man of her life, serve in youth ministry together,  watch her take on the role as a mother, and relate to her as she and Kevin move away from family and friends to another state so he can attend law school. 

This summer, Kevin got an AMAZING internship through International Justice Mission (sidenote: they do some incredible stuff and truly carry out the call of justice and righteousness. CHECK THEM OUT.) and is spending his summer months in another country. So Elaine decided to spend her summer months back home with her family in SoCal.

I'm so incredibly overjoyed that we are visiting Cali at the same time! It would've been unlikely that I would have made it out to her before I left the country so this has been so much fun to spend time with her and the boys while we're here. We both love the beach and missed it a lot so we planned a beach day. The boys had so much fun and so did we! Definitely need to plan more of these.

Don't be fooled by this precious face...when it comes to sand, he means business.

His father "bird watches;" he "bird chases."

Until next time, beach!

beach housing

I can't express how grateful and humbled I am at the opportunities the Lord has provided for me to relax and spend some quality time with my friends and doing so in GORGEOUS places.

Last week I spent several days at my friends family beach house about an hour and a half up the coast. It. Was. Perfect. No agenda. Tons of food. Adventure walks along the beach. Sunsets. Napping to the sound of waves. Absorbing the sun. Dolphin sightings. Are ya jealous yet???

(Top left) The strawberry stands by the beach are the best. Never had such amazing strawberries...and then put them in a bowl of ice cream and Magic Shell (top right), oh my HEAVENS. (Bottom left) Our lunch venue. (Bottom right) No words needed.

 Can never get tired of watching the waves crash.

 The view we woke up to every morning.

 I mean, is it possible to ever tire from watching the sun set in the ocean??

 I figured it needed a little help going down. You're welcome, God.

Erin and I on the patio.

One of my main prayer requests while I'm in CA is to not get too complacent and comfortable being back home. My time at the beach house did not help that at all...but it was so worth it!

When I moved to Austin I didn't think I would really miss the beach. I loved the ocean and grew up on the beach, but as I got older I just didn't have the time to go as much so I figured I wouldn't really mind not having it close by. And during most of the 4 years spent in Texas, I didn't really miss it. As I knew my time there was ending for some reason my desire to be at the beach grew greatly. Spending several days with my feet in the sand, watching the dolphins do their morning swim, and listening to the soothing sound of the waves crashing confirmed and reminded me of my love for the deep blue and the west coast.

There truly is NO place like home!!