“From sea to shining sea”

Happy Independence Day! I’ve been to some pretty incredible places abroad but I believe we forget about our own backyard sometimes. This adventure through America has been breathtaking and exhilarating. It seems a perfect way to commemorate our journey across the pond and our fight for freedom. 
This morning we hiked around Crater Lake. No words to describe the varying blues of the water. The reflection of the rim in the lake was perfect! I posted up on a rock and soaked in the pure beauty that surrounded us. There is a mini volcano in the middle of the lake and I teased the kids that I am going to move to the island. Eli was intrigued.
After a long car ride, we rolled into San Francisco. There was minimal traffic due to the holiday. It was foggy over the Golden Gate Bridge but it was still spectacular. We got out and walked out on to the bridge. Eli liked waving to all the drivers on the bridge. It was super windy and chilly. The view was still awesome and seeing Alcatraz in the distance was cool. There were sailboats enjoying the wind on the bay. The kids agreed that Papa needed to bring his sailboat out here.

Judson’s cousin Amy let us crash at her place for the night. There was even a sign made by her daughter, Anya, welcoming us to their home. The kids enjoyed playing with the cats and Anya’s toys. The kitchen set and the building blocks were a hit. We wish they could have been there to hang out with us. Amy summed up our trip in a most appropriate way: “from sea to shining sea.”