We have been enjoying a break from camping for the past three weeks.  Charis and I have been in Redding, Ca. staying with friends.  We continued to hike and geocache and visit many beautiful places.  We loved having refrigeration, plumbing and clean, dry clothes.  It was good to see our friends and experience a little bit of their new life in California.  I have had an amazing time attending Bethel Church and I am leaving filled up from the encouragement and the sense of God’s presence and power that I experienced there. I was so glad to be there for more than a weekend as my first weekend there felt awkward and I didn’t actually like the experience.  This was unexpected and a little unnerving since I had in my mind that this was what I most wanted this year that I am turning 50.  I thought…”what!!!!  I drove 4000 miles and I’m so disappointed….”   Staying on and continuing to engage made way for the experience to actually turn out to be more than I had hoped.    I am so glad we came and so grateful to our friends for making space for us.  Another sweet treat was that our friends had a new kitten.  I heard oooing and aaaahing and squeaky little awww’s the whole time.  Funny how those little guys are so packed with joy potential.  The pic is of Liberty “Libby” the kitten!