Don't drink coffee in the morning. It will keep you awake until noon.

(The pictures below are courtesy of Debby's camera.)

Yesterday I left Bob & Marla’s a few minutes before 8 a.m. and began the drive down the coast to Bruce & Debby’s in Solvang.

Note: the lady inside the Garmin cannot think outside her box, and her box says the shortest route is always the best. It may twist and turn like a Balinese belly dancer and reduce the life of your tires and brakes by 25%, but it will be the shortest route. I’m pretty sure I could have been here 4 hours earlier if I’d just driven due west to Hwy 101 south, but instead I got the scenic route winding through the hills in a southwesterly direction out to 101.

Bruce and Debby have what may be the coolest place I’ve ever seen. They live on one acre but it feels like 10. I don’t think you can see another house from anywhere on their lot despite the fact they have next door neighbors on both sides. Their house is amazing, with a spiral staircase, more fireplaces than we have bedrooms (but we only have two) and the most comfortable, relaxing combination of furnishings you can imagine. Walking in the front door is like waking into a spa for your mind.

Outside is almost beyond description. The pool is in the ground and above the ground (I’d show you pictures if my camera weren’t dead). You would never guess the pond isn’t natural, even with the rock water fall. The water lilies are beautiful. The patio area down in the corner is like a separate retreat. We had dinner down there last night (yum!!) and it’s even more relaxing than the house. All around these features are trees, flowers and shrubs that look totally indigenous...but are the result of Debby’s green thumb.

Yeah, I really wish my camera worked.

After I’d been here for a couple of hours, getting to know the youngest two of their four kids, Bruce and I went for an adventure. We took their two Vespas over to the local airport two miles away where Bruce keeps his plane. It’s an experimental aircraft, which is a technical term that means it was built by an individual, not a company. Rita (her name) is a pretty lady, but also a high performance aircraft capable of aerial acrobatics. We didn’t do any of that, but we did fly out to the coastline and then south. He let me fly it for a little bit. (Grin!)We saw a boat that two guys from Seattle sailed right onto the beach. Apparently they got “lost.” What they needed was a lighthouse!

One of the songs we sing at Pathway is “Blessed!” The chorus includes the lines,
We’re blessed in the church and blessed in our work.
And blessed in our homes and blessed everywhere, every way.
I am blessed with wonderful friends spread all over the planet - friends I can go without seeing for 20 years but pick up right where we left off. I think that happens because the underlying foundation is our bond as family in Christ.
This week I have been blessed as I’ve spent time with friends who have received me into their homes with more graciousness and love than I can put into words. Thank you, Bob & Marla and Bruce & Debby for being the BEST!