July 2013.

Here comes July! 

First stop, Indiana. The weekend after July 4th we headed to the annual Haist Family Reunion! Not before seeing three of Sam's favorite bands in concert that Friday! We saw Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket, and Wilco - Sam was basking in all things "Americanarama".

Sam and I enjoying a morning on the farm. 

So thankful for Grandma and Grandpa Haist. Their marriage is a such a beautiful testimony to us.

It was a wonderful weekend spent with family! 

Next stop. CALIFORNIA. I feel like it is almost doing the trip an injustice to try to explain how wonderful it was, because it was just that wonderful. But I will try. It was refreshing, relaxing, and just what we needed. We didn't know just how much we needed it until we were driving through the mountains, standing in the Pacific Ocean, experiencing fine wine, and just purely enjoying each other. At the risk of sounding too mushy, I will say that taking this trip was so great for our marriage - this time without the constant interruptions of life. This time of soaking in God's magnificent creation. This time of talking, laughing, and experiencing. It made me sad to realize how much the business of our lives interferes with the joy of being married. To sit and have real conversations for a whole week that didn't revolve around our dinner menu for the week, or updating our calendars, or the gossip of our jobs, or complaining about feeling exhausted, etc. etc. etc. This trip was meaningful for so many reasons - but one of the greatest being we spent a week in one of the most beautiful places we've ever been, truly enjoying this sweet time together. And being so thankful for the blessing of our marriage. Here we go with an overload of pictures! 

First stop, Napa Valley. Vineyards. Wineries. Mountains.

At one of our favorite wineries, Sterling Vineyards. Breathtaking views! 

Taken at our last winery, Artesa. My personal favorite. Built into the side of a mountain! One of the neatest things we learned at Artesa was what a huge roll the food chains plays in the protection of the grapes. Our tour guide explained that the deer love grapes, but the coyotes that linger in the mountains keep them clear of the vineyards (not by eating them, just their presence). The hawks that perch in the vineyards and have no interest in the grapes, keep away the rodents and the snakes in the vineyards take care of the larger bugs that linger. It was pretty crazy to hear how nature protects the grapes so that no tampering or pesticides are needed. 

Upon leaving Napa, we decided to take the long route to get south to San Francisco. We drove west to Highway 1, and down the coast. As we reflected on our trip, we would both have to say this was one of our favorite parts. As we came around the bend of a cliff, we laid eyes on the Pacific Ocean, and it literally brought me to tears! It was so breathtakingly beautiful. 

Walking down into a valley to get to the ocean. 

My first time seeing the Pacific Ocean! 

It was pretty chilly.

And then we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge! San Francisco here we come!!!

It would be an understatement to say that our trip was very "coffee-centric"! Here's my very happy hubby the morning after arriving in San Francisco with his first (of many) expressos at Blue Bottle. Our coffee adventures included Ritual Coffee, (3) Blue Bottle locations, and Four Barrel. We also went to a coffee tasting, or in coffee geek terms, "cupping". 

Can you see Sam super tiny right there? One of our other favorite days was hiking around Muir Woods and admiring the magnificent Redwoods. It was seriously unbelievable. 

While in San Francisco, we did one day of being 100% tourists. We took one of those big open roofed tour buses for a three-hour tour of the whole city. We saw that sea lions at Fisherman's Warf, drove down Lombard Street (after waiting for 45min in the line), we walked the park across from the Painted Ladies (where Full House was filmed!), and we indulged in an amazing Ghirardelli sundae. After that day, we were wiped! We decided that being tourists is exhausting work. The city was beautiful, and the weather was absolutely perfect. That being said, the next few days in San Francisco we decided to hang low. Walking around Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Tea Garden. We also visited an adorable part of the city with used book stores, great coffee, and nice parks. We also ended one of our days by driving to Half Moon Bay, eating the best BBQ pork from a food train, and walking along the beach in 50 degree weather! The other crazy thing about northern California is the super dense, intense FOG!

One thing that was definitely not lacking on this trip was -- food. Oh my, did we eat amazing food! We found some amazing restaurants (thank you YELP!), and had some low key meals in our cute studio apartment a few of the days. Our last night in San Francisco we went to Fog Harbor on Pier 39, and I ate crab for the first time! It was to die for! Can you go wrong with a cup of melted butter? We ate our hearts out.

And then... it was time to head home. One of my favorite coastal driving pictures (above). We boarded our plane back to Chicago where we were greeted by Jim at the airport, fed an amazing meal by Gaye, hugged by a drugged up Ben (from getting his tonsils removed!), and finally reunited with the Dean clan and our sweet pup. We were so thankful for Mom and Dad Dean, Krista, Jesse, and Aunt Chrissy's care for Ethel while we were gone. She definitely went through some serious withdrawls (I wish I was kidding). Including, but not limited to, coming in from a walk and sitting in front of the door of the pantry where we keep her treats, staring at her dinner and wondering why it wasn't sprinkled with cheese, and whining at 5am wondering why we were ignoring her and not letting her run around and play with us. Nonetheless, she enjoyed all the attention and was definitely spoiled! 

And now we are back to STL in the thick of life again. So thankful for our beautiful vacation. Also thankful to have been married 3 years this month! What better way to celebrate an anniversary then with intentional time together, and in California for pete's sake! I am so thankful for Sam. For the wonderful husband he is, and for the selfless example of Christ he shows me each and everyday. He's a keeper!

Until next time. 

With love, 

Katelyn & Sam