after our day in
Southern California we woke up super early and started our journey to our next destination...which, i will not divulge until the next post.
i usually hate long drives, but the driving in this vacation was so amazing.
the tedward agreed to my request of driving up the entire Pacific Coast Highway, as opposed to the regular routes through California...even when the PCH added 3 extra hours to our drive!
the tedward is good people.
there was many-a-squeals from me when we drove past beautiful stretches of beach.
whenever i squealed, ted took that as a sign that he should pull over...and he did.
we stopped at probably 5 beaches on our way to our next destination, and i am so glad we did.
something i loved about the drive was the many fruit stands alongside the road...
there were also, many cute towns we passed through.
our favorite was San Luis Obispo.
Um. Hi...so darling.
apparently Zac Efron grew up there, and it is a big deal to them.
shooooot...it would be to me too.
anyway, the tedward and i were starving, so we stopped at a hotel/restaurant in town, mostly because it had beautiful architecture...but also because that seemed to be the only place to get good food in the little town.
it was called the madonna inn...and it was amazing.
1. the architecture inside the restaurant was victorian...
2. i loved the place settings because they used mismatched china...
3. for our drinking glasses they used mismatched milk-glass, and depression glass...
4. the sugar on the table was pink!
5. the waitresses wore victorian dresses...
6. classical music was playing in the background...
7. the food was so delicious.
after breakfast we went threw a blanket down on the sandy beach, and just marvelled...
marvelled at how soft the sand was...
marvelled at the dark storm clouds that seemed to blend in with the icy color of the ocean...
marvelled at the beauty that the Lord has given us to enjoy...
driving up the coast strengthened my understanding of how much Heavenly Father loves us...
i was with the person that i love more than anything, holding hands...
feeling the crisp ocean air tickle our faces...
smelling the fresh scent of the salty ocean breeze...
feeling the sand on our feet...
seeing the majestic waves crash against the rocky cliffs...
and being thankful...together...
...that our Heavenly Father gave us such a beautiful world to live in.
we are all so blessed.
62 awesomespice comments:
Don't you just love life sometimes. Glad you had fun.
Looks like you had a fabulous time! You take great photos!
And yes - we ARE all so blessed!
The minute I read PCH, I thought of Veronica Mars (mostly because I am watching the entire seires, only 2 discs left of season 3! and then it is over...)
The Madonna Inn is BEAUTIFUL! I love the spiral stairwell =]
The pictures are amazing as usual! Beach side is such a great place to sit and pray. I wish Colorado could have a beach front territory...
all your beach pictures are making me long for waves..
when i'm at the beach, i feel small. and am reminded of God's power. it's a good place for me.
keep your stellar pictures coming!
Gorgeous photos! I love the ways you edit them. I must know how you do it. You totally inspire me!
Lauren... what a fabulous vacation! I just love all the pics, and the spontaneity of all your little lunches. Just stopping wherever and whenever. So fun!!
the Madonna Inn is amazing! If you look on their website you can see pictures of all their different themed rooms..they're crazy! SLO is my favorite town too (i live 2 1/2 hours south of there)! So many cute shops and SUCH good food in downtown SLO. Too bad you didnt have more time there!
Beautiful photos :)
Glad you had a good time.
I can't even explain the feeling in my chest (like a swelling up --sorta, kinda) when I read this post. It was so inspiring and moving.
Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful post and not being afraid to talk about religion on here.
And the photos, well they are beautiful too!
x,ash
It's so hard not to feel our Heavenly Father's love for His children when I'm standing by the ocean. I feel so small and so insignificant, yet I also feel this great sense of gratitude that he created this beautiful world for me to enjoy.
I think this is going on my list of favorite Busy Bee Lauren posts...ever!
Your photographs are beautiful! It looks like you had a GREAT time. :)
My husband's Dad lives in Nipomo just south of San Luis Obispo. It is our home away from home. I love Avila beach and The Madonna Inn! I love the pier at Pismo Beach, too. This fall we are staying at the Lighthouse Inn when my brother in law gets married. Can't wait. I love it there!
beautiful words.
beautiful photography.
i want to go to the beach so bad right now!
i know exactly what you mean...
every time i'm at the beach i can't help but think how blessed we are to live on such a beautiful earth. there is no greater sound than waves crashing. i love it.
favorite moment: walking along the beach at 10:30 at night...pitch black...sand on my feet...waves crashing...holding hands with my best friend/love of my life and feeling so much love from Heavenly Father.
:)
beautiful post!
i would have loved to go into that madonna inn. sounds so darling!
I love SLO and try to get there every time I'm in CA visiting my aunt and uncle. It's become a tradition. Such a fun town! Your photos are gorgeous!
could you two be any cuter?!? What beautiful photos, I'm jealous you got to spend time at such a pretty beach!
This post has such beautiful pics Lauren. Can't wait to read the next one and the hubs and I agree the Cali DOES have the most amazing beaches!
I want to go in the Victorian place! It sounds dreamy to me!
LOVE the picture of you on the beach that you vintage-ized...
We are all so blessed! Love you!
SQUEEE! That's the blankie that you and I made together for Ted! :)
I SOOO want to go to the Madonna Inn...you have no idea!
Madonna Inn sounds like a totally adorable & delicous place! How cute. I love little towns too. Um that last picture of you is priceless. Love it. Ah I want to be at the beach now. We are all so blessed-that's for sure!
Alright spill it girl - what kind of camera do you use and what software do you use for editing your pics? They're fantastic and I'm completely inspired!
Love love love!
Kim
did you make it to Santa Barbara? LOVE IT THERE!!!
So true! I feel like whenever I go on a road trip I realize what you've just described. God really created every last inch of this earth...and it is BEAUTIFUL!
wow Lauren! that post was moving and inspirational! I have to agree with others you can almost feel the lord when you are in the presance of such beauty and grace. and i srsly want some beach time now! even if it is FL's *inferior* beaches!! LOL
Your pictures are beautiful! You two look so happy!
Oh wow, that hotel is so beautiful! So are all the pictures by the way...as well as this post.
You are amazing.
Wonderful pics, as always! :)
I LOVE this post. It reminds me of that primary song...you know the one..."Whenever I hear the song of a bird...". Will and I live in Boston and somtimes we drive to New York to hike in the Catskills. The first time we drove up the mountain I started crying...all I could say is "look at what He gave us, look how much he loves us".
Gorgeous pics! I love this post. :)
Life is just wonderful.
That just sounds so completely perfect!! :)
those pictures are gorgeous! your vacation sounds so amazing.
My mood today was momentarily lifted because of this post.
Amazing, once again.
You are so right! We are indeed blessed! Beautiful photos and thoughts. Thanks for sharing Lauren!
I love the moments where you find yourself in awe of all God has blessed us with in life.
Love your pics.
My Spanish teacher at UNR was from San Luis Obispo I bet she new Zac Efron before he was cool!
Great pictures!
And yes we are so blessed to live in a world with beautiful beaches, sweet guys and pink sugar! :P
Lovely post. Lovely trip. We truly are blessed.
Ok, so I HAVE to comment b/c we were @ Pismo Beach last month, and rented surfboards from a fab shop in SLO. We drove past the Madonna Inn, and I thought it looked cool. LOVE the CA coast. I even blogged about it when we got back home (to the east coast). Looks like a fun trip!
Hallelujer and cheers. Love the beach because it's beautiful and brings me peace. I've always dreamed of living on the ocean with a dock in my backyard...
This post made me want to quit everything and drive to the coast STAT
This was such a beautiful post! I hope someday I can experience the Pacific Ocean, but for now, I'll appreciate the Atlantic and the East Coast =)
Your pictures are beautiful! I want to drive up the west coast someday!
I love how you've curved the edges of the pics. Makes them look like old holiday snaps.
PCH is the most beautiful drive. I love San Luis Obispo, it is 3 and a half hours from me here in Cali. I wish you would have stopped in at Pismo and driven on the beach, it is an ATV lovers heaven but it is part of the highway and you drive right next to the ocean! I love Cali! I love our Heavenly Father and I love you!
You're right. Even though our world is filled with some crap, there are still parts that remind us of how amazing it is. ps that fourth pic. down of you on the beach is gorgeous!!!
God is good!
I just teared up... seriously sweet post.
beautiful pictures. I want to go on vacation now!
LOVED this post!
MADE my day.
You're right- we ARE blessed. The places you went to were so beautiful- and all created just for us to enjoy!
Your photography is really getting good Lauren. Beautiful pictures.
I know what you mean about the beauty. It's how I feel every single time I'm at the beach.
Mmmm. I totally agree. Beaches and California are proof that God loves me.
Linked you. Very beautiful indeed.
Love seeing you and Ted in the photos, too.
umm did the rock in the ocean in the background of the last two photos remind anyone else of the goonies? maybe there's buried treasure from one eye'd willies sunken ship under there. just sayin.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. It is a beautiful world ; )
Allan and I stayed at the Madonna Inn years ago--each room has a theme, right?
Can't wait to read more about your trip.
I love the beaches.... aahh. i feel relaxed just thinking about the sand and the ocean!
k, im dying... i read your mom's post that she did and it is freakin AWESOME!!!!! She is so hilarious. i really really enjoyed it. no, i loved it!
YOURE DARLING! :)
HAVE A GREAT DAY :)
Love the pics and that you are not afraid to share your faith. So few people are willing to do that these days.
Anyway, I was wondering if some of those pics were taken at Morro Bay? We love it there!
Lauren,
what a cute blog you have! thanks for commenting on mine...now we can blog friends! Love your photos! let me know how your black bottoms turn out!
blessed we are! :) you two are a fabulous pair - I love road trips with Mark... makes me think back to a couple of years ago. SO fun. I'm glad you got this trip. and your hair is perfect.
yes, I agree, so beautiful. glad it was a perfect escape.
I saw the Madonna Inn on a TV show, Girls Next Door I think (I know, I should be ashamed!) and they have a different theme for each room and it looked so fun and cute! I actually wrote it down in a note on my phone so that I could research it and try to remember to go there someday! Your trip looks fun so far, can't wait to see more!
So did you go through Big Sur/Carmel/Monterey/San Jose? If so...my neck of the woods. The coast around Big Sur is my favorite...makes me happy every time! And ever since living here I've thought similar thoughts about Heavenly Father loving us with all his beautiful creations. And I wonder hmmm...was He just a little more proud of creating the coastal regions than say...the I10 West from AZ to Texas? :)
we are all so blessed -- i strongly agree!
the pictures are incredible, as usual! i wouldnt except anything less from you.
glad ya'll had a great time.
God is good all the time. Sometimes i think, this is so beautiful and God made that just for me, why don't i notice those things ALL the time! I can't wait to see heaven!
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