A Peek at 29 Palms!

Yesterday I got back from a whirlwind trip to sunny California.  It was 48 hours of pure sensory and information overload - and I loved every second of it.  The desert was a bit of a shock at first.  Palm Springs is gorgeous, but as you drive through the mountains into the more remote parts of the area it is overwhelmingly NOTHING like suburban Wisconsin living.  Over the course of 2 days, however, I was pleasantly surprised several times.  Here are a few of my new revelations!

First of all, I had no idea that the mountains were really mountains.  That sounds ridiculous - I know.  But I had this uneducated notion that the mountains in California were more like glorified hills.

I was wrong.

this is the view out the front door of my host's house...

from the driveway of one of the houses we looked at...

My second pleasant surprise (sort of tied to the first) was beauty.  I have spent the last few months convincing myself that I can take living anywhere - even somewhere awful.  Newsflash:  29 Palms isn't awful.  Its actually kind of beautiful.

down the main strip of the town of 29 Palms...

Now having said that, I will admit that there are some sketchy looking parts of town.  For example: do not blow up the above picture and inspect any of the buildings too carefully.  They look much nicer from a bit of a distance... ;) 

The base itself has pretty parts and not so pretty parts.  Here are some of the parts I'm excited to be hanging around for the next 3 years!

 I don't have any idea where that is... random road on base...

the grocery store on base!  My future second home... 

One of the several fields on base... Look - GRASS!!!

 The Protestant chapel on base...

The drive down from the main part of base to the gate...

The third surprise is really just for Caleb:  a skate park right on base for my little skater dude.  Unexpected and SO fun.  He might have been rather excited when I showed him this picture. =)

My last revelation wasn't really a surprise.  It was more of a confirmation of what I felt at Matt's graduation from ODS.  We've been in the Navy for almost 2 months now, and our family has grown.  The couple that invited me to come and stay with them in California blew me away with their generosity and support and helpfulness.  The families and wives who I met offered advice from their wisdom and experiences, and helped calm so many of my worries and fears.

It is obvious that one of the greatest blessings of this new adventure is going to be people.  The people we get to love on and serve, and the people who will (and already have!) gathered around to love and support us.

We are so blessed!  So Matt, its time to be done with school and start the part of this adventure that means being together!!

I. Can. Not. WAIT!!!!