something new....and returning to favorite places

sunday.october 14. 2012  for the first time since we've begun this particular journey, we set an alarm to wake us this morning.  I know!  What?  On vacation?  But there was motivation behind the madness, you see.  Our plan was to make it to the 8:00 a.m. worship service at The Rock Church in San Diego    http://www.sdrock.com/  and make it we did!   This place has been in the news in San Diego apparently, because the needs for parking for the 20,000 worshippers that attend every Sunday (5 services) exceed the space provided in their huge parking lot and are spilling over into the surrounding neighborhoods.  Naturally, being the peace-loving folks that we are, we didn't want to contribute to the 'later in the day' parking problem, which we assumed might be worse.  We were blessed with a primo spot, the service was wonderful, the hospitality exceptional and we were glad we were there.  The area that this huge church occupies and the surrounding acres full of shops, restaurants,  and offices was once the site of the Naval Training Center.    It was sold and became largely commercial property sometime in the '80s, but this was where your dad (Rob) spent Christmas 1968 (his first time away from home) in enlisted boot camp.  Many of the walks and buildings and gardens are the same (but have been maintained/renovated) as were there then and even before so there's lots of history here.  So naturally, we walked and walked and walked......and, if you really concentrate on this picture, you may be able to see Seaman Recruit Searcy OR Tom Cruise (remember the scene from 'Top Gun'?) walking this promenade.......

 

We spent a good couple of hours strolling, enjoying our lattes (3 Starbucks on the property!), talking and reminiscing....enjoying the feel of the sunshine....just wandering among places familiar to him (your dad/rob), new to me (mom/cathie)...being so thankful to God for that which almost came to ruin in San Diego (our relationship) is still growing and thriving......

 

After we left this area, we headed back down to the Embarcadero, specifically Seaport Village, where we'd been the other day....just enjoyed the walk and the scenery there so much.  We enjoyed some awesome fish tacos at a place called The Pier, because it was.....built out over the water.....and the dressing.....well, let me tell you, we're gonna be tryin' this one at home: plain yogurt and lime juice!  Yummerinos!!!!

 

Then we just browsed the shops, enjoyed the music of the buskers, and walked and walked (gotta make that fitbit scream "10,000 steps" everyday or we don't get to call it 'good', y' know)!

 

Watched some folks fly some astonishingly HUGE kites and then admired admired these 'littles' (and I flew one of them in my imagination;))

 

 

And this lovely bird of paradise, of which there are thousands in this area, is for our precious Laura and Keith, to wish them a happy and blessed wedding anniversary, on their special day~october 15.