San Diego, Orange County, and Santa Monica

Wow, We have actually blown through all three of these places today. We finally checked in at a fab Santa Monica hotel (thanks God, Laura, and name your priceline). Laura is meeting up with an old friend tonight, and Renee and I are going to address Renee's craving for sushi...wish me luck...it will be my first time to sushi dine...lots of firsts this trip...I LOVE CA and I know that I have only seen the desert so far...not true, Venice Beach was amazing. We met a very sweet elderly couple named Maurice (Mikey) and Marie on the pier. We definitely had a divine appointment with them. They have been married 56 years. She had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and he has been legally blind for ten years, but their faith and optimism was infectious. Marie and I both ended the interview with, "I sure needed this." Mikey's sense of gratitude and love of life was inspirational. Marie's faith in God (her higher power) and her sure belief in "little miracles" radiated from her, refusing to hide behind her sunglasses and floopy sunhat. As the two best friends walked away, hand in hand, back to the beach condo they have owned for twenty years, I felt a lot more grateful for the blessings I daily take for granted, and I breathed in hope that maybe more people know God than we suspected. I promised the girls that I would keep my lengthy blogs contained in my own blog, so for more blow-by-blow commentary on the last three days, check angela's blog...I'll try to sneak some pictures in there as soon as I get them uploaded...chow time...