Off To The Beach!

 

I love going to the beach----any beach!  One of my favorites is in Dana Point, CA.  This is a view of the Dana Point Harbor from one of the cliffs that tower above it.  But, it's beach is called Doheny.

 

 

This past weekend we decided to go to one of our favorite hotels in Dana Point----The Doubletree.  It's just a short hop across the highway to Doheny State Beach.  It was cloudy that day, but there was lots of activity on the beach.

 

 

Many people were surfing, from the very young to the very old.  The waves were perfect.

 

 

In fact, there was a surfing competition going on that day called The Legends of Surf.  These people were all over 60 and were fun to watch.  I was very jealous of one of them---a little old lady like myself who held her own with the guys.

 

 

Duane was taking it all in.

 

 

There were booths with all kinds of surfing items, and we spotted this row of surfboards from all eras.

 

 

After taking it all in, we had dinner at Harpoon Henry's, famous for their seafood, then went back to the hotel where they had a band playing at their rooftop lounge.

 

 

Although I couldn't get a very good picture of the group called "Riptide", it was great fun and great surf music.

 

 

The next morning the fog rolled in, but I took a picture anyway of the "beach" outside our hotel window.  We'll be back soon, I'm sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMANDA

 

Last night, Duane's granddaughter, Amanda, graduated from high school.  What a proud moment. 

 

 

Amanda has truly become my granddaughter as well.  She came into my life when she was four years old, and has been in my heart ever since.

 

 

She was such a sweet child, and has grown into an extraordinary young lady.

 

 

She has become a shining example for her sister Valerie and her cousin Madeline to follow.  Not only has she gotten straight A's throughout her school years, but she has unfailingly been kind, gentle, sincere, and an upstanding Christian.

 

 

She has even caught the eye of the son of her pastor at church.

 

 

But, she's not always serious, and loves even the most insignificant competition.

 

 

And, is always fun to be around.

 

 

Oh, did I mention that she is also beautiful?

 

 

So, whether she's riding off into the sunset, singing in the choir, or doing calculus, we are so happy to have Amanda in our lives.  God Bless You Sweetheart!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maddie

It's amazing to me that my granddaughter Maddie is turning 10 years old this year.  She is such a delight, and so precious to me.  The following photos will show why I love her so much.  They are not necessarily in chronological order, but they capture those instances that filled my heart with love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!