As some of you read in my blog back in December, Madie and Bella have been friends since birth...I know some think that's impossible, but these two are living proof that a friendship doesn't always require words, actions, or even a maturity. What I have learned by watching these two is that all a friendship requires is love for one another and the ability to be selfless.
We arrived in Los Angeles California at 7:30 pm (pacific time) on Monday, July 2nd and embraced the Canalejo clan shortly there after. That bunch has never looked so good!!! Madie and Bella didn't actually quit embracing until we forced them to go to bed. Those two were beyond excited to be reunited again!
Tuesday we used as a bit of a recovery day from traveling. Madie and Bella played all day, we went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and then Jess took me to a few really cool grocery stores native to L.A. which is one of my favorite things to do in a new location! She had to work that night so we took the girls to the park later that afternoon so she could get some rest. I followed the girls around while Brad and Stephen threw the Frisbee around for a bit. Watching those two play together just flooded my mind with memories of them when they were a bit younger. They hadn't been playing long when two other little girls came over and joined them. One of the little girl's moms was following her around and stood next to me as we watched them. I got into a conversation with this lady whose name was Aju, she was from India ,devoutly Hindu and she and her husband had just moved to L.A. a few weeks prior. We talked about all sorts of stuff, so I decided to share The Gospel with her. As I was doing so, Madie bumped her head underneath the playground and began to cry rather hard, so I ran over to check on her to make sure she was ok, and when I turned around Aju was gone. She had gone back over to where her Mother-in-law (also Hindu and dressed in the traditional garb) was seated on the picnic tables. I was so disappointed to say the least; however, her little girl was still playing with Madie and Bella and when we got ready to leave the little girl began to cry, so I scooped her up and walked her back over to where Aju was sitting with her mother-in-law and this time Brad came with me. I told her who he was and about Jessica as well and that they come to this park often so hopefully they could meet up again. She smiled and told me how kind I was and thanked me and Brad and seemed very genuine in her excitement of meeting up with them again. I pray this was just the beginning of many more meetings for them!
Wednesday was the fourth of July so Brad and Jessica took us to a parade in Santa Clarita (which is the part of L.A. they actually live in, also the street was where some of CSI is filmed). It was so much fun, we met some of their friends from church and got great seats! The girls danced, played, watched, ate, danced, danced, got candy,toys,flyers,frisbees,etc. We had a blast and saw some AWESOME stuff! Afterwards we went back to Brad and Jessica's to put the girls down for naps! A few of us joined them :). When the girls woke up Brad and Stephen took them down to the neighborhood pool to swim for a bit while Jess finished cooking supper and I watched :). And what fourth of July would be complete with out FIREWORKS? So, after supper they took us to see some with the same sweet family we met earlier in the day and a few others from their church. We had a great time and enjoyed the much cooler temperatures!
Thursday they took us to part of downtown L.A. to the Science Center where there was all sorts of stuff to do. There was a magnificent rose garden that we walked through and the girls sprinted through, it was absolutely gorgeous! Jess and I took the girls through a few of the exhibits while Brad and his history junky self to Stephen to an IMAX movie about Cleopatra. I tell you, you'll never ever, ever, ever meet any bigger history nerd than Brad Canalejo (sorry Brad if you're reading this, but you know it's the truth.)
Friday we went to HOLLYWOOD. We took the girls to go see the movie Brave in the EL Captain theatre on Hollywood Boulevard where they saw an awesome live show with Disney princesses, characters, dancers and singers before the movie ever started. The movie was in 3-D which of course means you have to where the glasses. Ummm....let's just say Madie was less than impressed with the glasses so, she played with Bella's doll through the whole movie...oh well it was fun anyways! We also ate at Carmine's that night which was DELICIOUS! Needless to say after a day of touring by foot and car we had two exhausted little girls riding home!
Saturday was also very exciting, we drove over to Malibu, dipped our toes in the icy cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, walked on the beach wishing we had brought jackets (how is that possible? It is JULY!) went to the Santa Monica Pier, let the girls ride a few rides, ate cotton candy, played on the beach for a bit, then set off to find somewhere to fill our grumbling tummies! We ate at a place called Claim Jumper which was also delicious. They were apparently famous for this ridiculous dessert they make which is a 3,000 calorie PER SLICE chocolate caked...no exaggerations I promise!
Sunday was a bittersweet day since it was our last day, but it was also Brad's birthday so we mustered up a few smiles for the occasion! We went and worshipped with them at their church and enjoyed the ability to do so with no responsibilities for a change. We love that God has called us to serve Him through ministry, but are always so thankful for time off! It was such a good day in the House of the Lord! We ate leftovers for lunch and then Jess took me to my new favorite store in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD...brace yourselves for this...THE LARGEST GOODWILL IN THE US! We were there for two hours and I could've stayed longer! I was most impressed!!!
This trip was such a joy and reminded me again why we love these people so much! Our week in L.A. was a trip I'll remember forever, and not just because of the things we did, in fact, we could have gone and done nothing as long as it was with them! The Lord blessed us mightily four years ago when He brought the Canalejo's into our lives. We've walked through celebrating the lives of both of our firstborn children, we walked through many sad times together, we've endured hard times together and even thousands of miles apart, the Lord continues to use them to bless our lives. And even as close as we are to Brad and Jess, I look at Madie and Bella and pray the Lord continues to grow their friendship in unsurmountable ways!
What a treasure we found four years ago!
Long day of sightseeing...pooped is an understatement!
On Malibu Beach...stuck our toes in the Pacific...felt like ICE!
Still beautiful though!
Me and my love taking it all in!
On the way to the Airport to say, "goodbye" but just for now...
(Still looking for a few pics I know I took, hoping to find them and update post later.)
We had the best time and thank the Lord for the blessing of such wonderful friends!
We arrived in Los Angeles California at 7:30 pm (pacific time) on Monday, July 2nd and embraced the Canalejo clan shortly there after. That bunch has never looked so good!!! Madie and Bella didn't actually quit embracing until we forced them to go to bed. Those two were beyond excited to be reunited again!
Tuesday we used as a bit of a recovery day from traveling. Madie and Bella played all day, we went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and then Jess took me to a few really cool grocery stores native to L.A. which is one of my favorite things to do in a new location! She had to work that night so we took the girls to the park later that afternoon so she could get some rest. I followed the girls around while Brad and Stephen threw the Frisbee around for a bit. Watching those two play together just flooded my mind with memories of them when they were a bit younger. They hadn't been playing long when two other little girls came over and joined them. One of the little girl's moms was following her around and stood next to me as we watched them. I got into a conversation with this lady whose name was Aju, she was from India ,devoutly Hindu and she and her husband had just moved to L.A. a few weeks prior. We talked about all sorts of stuff, so I decided to share The Gospel with her. As I was doing so, Madie bumped her head underneath the playground and began to cry rather hard, so I ran over to check on her to make sure she was ok, and when I turned around Aju was gone. She had gone back over to where her Mother-in-law (also Hindu and dressed in the traditional garb) was seated on the picnic tables. I was so disappointed to say the least; however, her little girl was still playing with Madie and Bella and when we got ready to leave the little girl began to cry, so I scooped her up and walked her back over to where Aju was sitting with her mother-in-law and this time Brad came with me. I told her who he was and about Jessica as well and that they come to this park often so hopefully they could meet up again. She smiled and told me how kind I was and thanked me and Brad and seemed very genuine in her excitement of meeting up with them again. I pray this was just the beginning of many more meetings for them!
Wednesday was the fourth of July so Brad and Jessica took us to a parade in Santa Clarita (which is the part of L.A. they actually live in, also the street was where some of CSI is filmed). It was so much fun, we met some of their friends from church and got great seats! The girls danced, played, watched, ate, danced, danced, got candy,toys,flyers,frisbees,etc. We had a blast and saw some AWESOME stuff! Afterwards we went back to Brad and Jessica's to put the girls down for naps! A few of us joined them :). When the girls woke up Brad and Stephen took them down to the neighborhood pool to swim for a bit while Jess finished cooking supper and I watched :). And what fourth of July would be complete with out FIREWORKS? So, after supper they took us to see some with the same sweet family we met earlier in the day and a few others from their church. We had a great time and enjoyed the much cooler temperatures!
Thursday they took us to part of downtown L.A. to the Science Center where there was all sorts of stuff to do. There was a magnificent rose garden that we walked through and the girls sprinted through, it was absolutely gorgeous! Jess and I took the girls through a few of the exhibits while Brad and his history junky self to Stephen to an IMAX movie about Cleopatra. I tell you, you'll never ever, ever, ever meet any bigger history nerd than Brad Canalejo (sorry Brad if you're reading this, but you know it's the truth.)
Friday we went to HOLLYWOOD. We took the girls to go see the movie Brave in the EL Captain theatre on Hollywood Boulevard where they saw an awesome live show with Disney princesses, characters, dancers and singers before the movie ever started. The movie was in 3-D which of course means you have to where the glasses. Ummm....let's just say Madie was less than impressed with the glasses so, she played with Bella's doll through the whole movie...oh well it was fun anyways! We also ate at Carmine's that night which was DELICIOUS! Needless to say after a day of touring by foot and car we had two exhausted little girls riding home!
Saturday was also very exciting, we drove over to Malibu, dipped our toes in the icy cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, walked on the beach wishing we had brought jackets (how is that possible? It is JULY!) went to the Santa Monica Pier, let the girls ride a few rides, ate cotton candy, played on the beach for a bit, then set off to find somewhere to fill our grumbling tummies! We ate at a place called Claim Jumper which was also delicious. They were apparently famous for this ridiculous dessert they make which is a 3,000 calorie PER SLICE chocolate caked...no exaggerations I promise!
Sunday was a bittersweet day since it was our last day, but it was also Brad's birthday so we mustered up a few smiles for the occasion! We went and worshipped with them at their church and enjoyed the ability to do so with no responsibilities for a change. We love that God has called us to serve Him through ministry, but are always so thankful for time off! It was such a good day in the House of the Lord! We ate leftovers for lunch and then Jess took me to my new favorite store in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD...brace yourselves for this...THE LARGEST GOODWILL IN THE US! We were there for two hours and I could've stayed longer! I was most impressed!!!
This trip was such a joy and reminded me again why we love these people so much! Our week in L.A. was a trip I'll remember forever, and not just because of the things we did, in fact, we could have gone and done nothing as long as it was with them! The Lord blessed us mightily four years ago when He brought the Canalejo's into our lives. We've walked through celebrating the lives of both of our firstborn children, we walked through many sad times together, we've endured hard times together and even thousands of miles apart, the Lord continues to use them to bless our lives. And even as close as we are to Brad and Jess, I look at Madie and Bella and pray the Lord continues to grow their friendship in unsurmountable ways!
What a treasure we found four years ago!
This was during takeoff...she was so excited and did great, but if you look closely here you can see the death grip she had on her daddy's hand!
But she got over any fears she had! Praise the Lord for this nap!
We were super excited too! Couldn't wait to put our arms around those Canalejo's!
Awesome view flying into LAX
Our first full day there, Madie had a bit of recovering to do from traveling :). This was at California Pizza Kitchen.
Everywhere we went, these two were hand in hand.
July 4th Parade...two peas in a pod!
Great seats with great friends!
Patriotism at its best...
They waved those flags all morning long!
That's our crew!
Glimpses of the Rose Garden...Gorgeous!
They sniffed EVERY ROSE in the place!
Another view of the Garden
Silly poses!
Who knew The Muppets had a star???
The El Captain Theatre where we saw Brave
They were super excited!
If you look close you can see the famous Hollywood Hill
Hollywood BLVD.
The tallest palm trees I've ever seen...still on Hollywood BLVD.
This picture just made me laugh...check out Bella's pose and expression
I kept running into people because I was trying to read all the names on the stars.
Closer view of the Hollywood Hill...nothing special :)
Here I am trying not to get hit by a car to get my picture taken in front of the sign and you can't even read the sign...bummer!
Take #2 with the hubs...no luck either.
Food for thought here...NOTED!
Rodeo Dr.
The shops on Rodeo Dr...no thanks!
The cars were unbelievable in this area of town!
Oh, there's where we parked the car honey!
(Still looking for a few pics I know I took, hoping to find them and update post later.)
No comments:
Post a Comment