Okay... so I make it sound like I went camping this weekend, but I didn't. I just went to visit my sister Lori back home in Santa Barbara. The title may confuse some people, because when you think of Santa Barbara, you don't think of the wilderness, but my sister and her family live up the mountains of Santa Barbara and that is where I stayed. I didn't even get cell phone reception (which I really didn't care) so they REALLY are in the wilderness. Even though I stayed there... we didn't spend all our time there. We were in the city a lot of the time.
It was such a great visit. I LOVE visiting home. I get there and it just brings a smile to my face. The beautiful scenery, the smells, the weather, the familiar faces... I just love it all. When I go back, it's almost like I never left.
I flew into the Santa Barbara airport. I was so happy that as soon as I got off of the plane and went to go wait for my sister to come get me... I ran into some familiar faces. Nanci and Taylor Gardner! What a great way to start the weekend... by seeing people that I grew up with. They were there to welcome home a missionary and had no idea that I would be there, but what a nice surprise.
That was just the start of many great friends that I would run into and get together with that weekend. My sister and I went walking around and shopping on state street downtown and I ran into my old High School teacher (and friend) Brian Pearce. It was so great to see him with his son. It had been years since I had talked to him, but we kept in touch a little after High School and we used to talk all the time when I was in High School. I was his TA and loved it. What a great guy. So fun to see him. I also had found out from my sister that a guy I used to go to Jr. High and High School with.. now works with my brother in law. So she took me to the National Forrest Station to see him. We had not talked since High School... so it was really fun to see and talk to him too... especially since I will not be making it to my 10 year reunion. Nice to have a few old friends to reconnect with. I got a picture with him... but I am going to do a different post with him and also Catherine who I also got together with over the weekend and had not seen in years. I am going to try and find pictures of us together in high school... so you can see us then and now. :o)
Saturday was the Pioneer Day Celebration, so I went with my sister to the stake activity and I was able to see and talk to a lot more friends. Many of which didn't even know I was in town. Larry Adams was there and I was able to talk to him. Most of my time there I spent talking to the Fields. I LOVE Cherry and Dave. They are both amazing people. Cherry and I normally have a tradition that when I come home, we go see a movie together. I didn't let her know I was coming though... so that didn't happen, but I was so glad to be able to see her and catch up. I also told Violet that I was in town, so she and Sean met up with me at Pioneer day as well to talk for a while. It was great to see them.
Went to church with my sister the next day and was able to see Holly and talk with her for a bit. It is always fun to see her and chat. She got to tell me all about her great new job! Congrats on that Holly! I was also lucky enough that I was there the weekend my brother in law's (Hixon) parents spoke in church about their mission that they just got back from. What great timing! Always good to see them. I love the Hixon family.
Most of all, I got to spend some quality time with my wonderful and beautiful sister Lori and her adorable boys. It was so nice to spend time together and play with my nephews. I love them all very much. Thanks Lori for letting me come visit you in the Wilderness and for taking care of me while I was there. Love you lots!
I'm feel so lucky that I was able to see so many friends in such a short time that I was home. The weekend was not long enough... but my time there was great. I loved every minute of it. I'm so blessed with such wonderful friends and family in my life and that I was able to grow up in such a beautiful place. What a great visit! I hope I get to go back and visit soon!
It was such a great visit. I LOVE visiting home. I get there and it just brings a smile to my face. The beautiful scenery, the smells, the weather, the familiar faces... I just love it all. When I go back, it's almost like I never left.
I flew into the Santa Barbara airport. I was so happy that as soon as I got off of the plane and went to go wait for my sister to come get me... I ran into some familiar faces. Nanci and Taylor Gardner! What a great way to start the weekend... by seeing people that I grew up with. They were there to welcome home a missionary and had no idea that I would be there, but what a nice surprise.
That was just the start of many great friends that I would run into and get together with that weekend. My sister and I went walking around and shopping on state street downtown and I ran into my old High School teacher (and friend) Brian Pearce. It was so great to see him with his son. It had been years since I had talked to him, but we kept in touch a little after High School and we used to talk all the time when I was in High School. I was his TA and loved it. What a great guy. So fun to see him. I also had found out from my sister that a guy I used to go to Jr. High and High School with.. now works with my brother in law. So she took me to the National Forrest Station to see him. We had not talked since High School... so it was really fun to see and talk to him too... especially since I will not be making it to my 10 year reunion. Nice to have a few old friends to reconnect with. I got a picture with him... but I am going to do a different post with him and also Catherine who I also got together with over the weekend and had not seen in years. I am going to try and find pictures of us together in high school... so you can see us then and now. :o)
Saturday was the Pioneer Day Celebration, so I went with my sister to the stake activity and I was able to see and talk to a lot more friends. Many of which didn't even know I was in town. Larry Adams was there and I was able to talk to him. Most of my time there I spent talking to the Fields. I LOVE Cherry and Dave. They are both amazing people. Cherry and I normally have a tradition that when I come home, we go see a movie together. I didn't let her know I was coming though... so that didn't happen, but I was so glad to be able to see her and catch up. I also told Violet that I was in town, so she and Sean met up with me at Pioneer day as well to talk for a while. It was great to see them.
Went to church with my sister the next day and was able to see Holly and talk with her for a bit. It is always fun to see her and chat. She got to tell me all about her great new job! Congrats on that Holly! I was also lucky enough that I was there the weekend my brother in law's (Hixon) parents spoke in church about their mission that they just got back from. What great timing! Always good to see them. I love the Hixon family.
Most of all, I got to spend some quality time with my wonderful and beautiful sister Lori and her adorable boys. It was so nice to spend time together and play with my nephews. I love them all very much. Thanks Lori for letting me come visit you in the Wilderness and for taking care of me while I was there. Love you lots!
I'm feel so lucky that I was able to see so many friends in such a short time that I was home. The weekend was not long enough... but my time there was great. I loved every minute of it. I'm so blessed with such wonderful friends and family in my life and that I was able to grow up in such a beautiful place. What a great visit! I hope I get to go back and visit soon!
3 comments:
SO FUN!!! You saw so many amazing people :) We're going for Labor Day/my bday and I can't wait!! Glad you had a great time!
so glad you were able to come visit us :) thanks for the fun & getting me down to state street for some habit and yogert land! please come and visit as much as you want. love you. (i'm on moms computer... lori)
Isn't it great to run into old friends? I love SB! And you look so gorgeous, Tracy.
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