Venice Beach

today we went out to Venice Beach to our old neighborhood. it was so nice to be back where we had lived for a little over 5 years. when we moved there Av was only a month old. now she is (almost) 7... her birthday is coming up! :)

we went out to lunch with two dear friends, neighbors of ours whom we have stayed in touch with since moving. we occasionally visit the area just to have lunch with them and play with their doggies -- the girls used to be fellow dog-walkers with these wonderful ladies! anyway, it was fun to visit there today. we went to Islands* for lunch and celebrated Av's birthday a little early with an ice cream sundae after our meal [it reminded me of another dear friend who celebrates her birthday for the 8 days prior to the actual date -- kind of like Channukah]. later we walked down to the pier and ventured to the end of it. the Pacific Ocean is Brian's final earthly resting place, as we knew it was the only place he really wanted to be; it is a wonderful memorial for his children to visit and remember him by: anytime the kids go to the beach and play in the water, they will be playing with him; when they learn how to surf, he'll be there teaching them; whenever we have our family photo taken by the water, he'll be in it.

it really was a great day. two things happened on the way home: 1/ i received a photo text from a friend. it was a picture of his daughter tending the sunflower seedlings grown from the sunflower seeds given out at Brian's memorial service. so sweet! and 2/ we were listening to the local christian radio station and i felt like God was speaking to me -- really about Brian being in heaven with our loving and merciful Savior who protects us and shelters us from the storms that life brings. one song in particular brought tears to my eyes [not a good thing while driving!]

Wish You Were Here - Mark Harris

[you don't need to sign up to listen... just press the "pause" button behind the sign up page]

words from a dear Father letting me know that Brian is well and well taken care of... as i and my children will be in this Life After.

*click the link to hear the waves lapping upon the shore ;)