San Diego -- "The Love of God is Like the Ocean"

My family has ALWAYS loved the water.  From fishing trips with my daddy, to water skiing with friends, to vacations at the bay, we are definitely water and beach people!  There's just something about being by the water that is so relaxing and rejuvenating and beautiful.  :0)

So it was a total surprise to me when I realized that, while I'd been in many rivers and bays throughout my lifetime, I'd only been in the ocean once...in the Atlantic off the east coast of Florida the summer before my freshman year of high school. 

I found a saying a few years ago and, even with my lack of ocean-time, with my family's love of the water, I immediately loved it!  It goes:

The love of God is like the ocean--

you can see its beginning but NEVER its end.

I love that.  :0)

And guess what?!?  I got to see the Pacific Ocean!  A few days (four to be exact) after we returned from Europe in April, we packed our bags again (significantly LESS this time!) and flew to San Diego, CA on April 16th to visit my Matthew's sweet Aunt Jo and cousin Brent. 

In the air again!
Enjoying our breakfast on the way to San Diego, CA!

Matthew and Brent, being close in age and only children, grew up super-close, so it was a thrill to get to visit him and Matt's Aunt Jo and in such a breathtaking setting!  And it was so exciting for me to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time!  So enormous yet beautiful, peaceful yet powerful...just like God's love for all of us!  :0)

We started out staying the Saturday night at Matt's cousin's AMAZING condo...

View from Matt's cousin's balcony.  So amazing!
Like on vacation every day!

San Diego Bay Beach in front of Matt's cousin's condo

Then my sweetie surprised me with a fabulous resort just outside town!  The Grande del Mar was simply amazing...it was so luxurious and beautiful while being perfectly laid back and relaxing.  It was the perfect place to unwind and relax and enjoy each other after such a busy two weeks of sightseeing in Europe.

Moved to the Grande del Mar on Sunday, where we checked in
and had the yummiest brunch ever!
View from our room.  So beautiful and peaceful!!!

Matt with his sweet aunt and the view from the back of our resort

On Sunday, we had the most delicious brunch with Matt's Aunt Jo (seriously, I don't even like French toast, but it was the best I have EVER tasted!) and then went to La Jolla to go shopping a bit and to see the OCEAN!!!

Me & Matt and the Pacific Ocean!!!
At La Jolla Beach.  We saw seals and dolphins in the water!

Birds and seals on the rocks

Seals in the water!

<3  Love  <3

Late Sunday afternoon after visiting the beach, we relaxed in rocking chairs in the back of our resort,
and a BUNNY hopped up next to us.  A bunny!!!  :0)

Monday we woke up and went for a hike around our resort.  It was so peaceful and so much fun together!!!

Me and my sweetie on our Monday morning "Grand View" hike.

Another bunny!  Love it!!!

We would be hiking and thinking we were in the middle of nowhere,
but then we'd reach a clearing and realize we had been right by the golf course
the whole time.  I even found a golf ball!  :0)

The "Grand View"...looking back at our beautiful resort

Picture of the adult pool area.
Matt & I spent so much time relaxing and sunning and reading
on the third red cushion from the left by the giant hot tub.
The place was so quiet, most of the time we had the pool area
all to ourselves.  :0)

Monday night we went into Del Mar to eat sushi by the sea!
So yummy!!!

Tuesday, I hiked in the morning while Matthew did a bit of work / returning emails, then we lounged and read books by the pool all morning until our hotel drove us over to the Del Mar Beach!  It had been a little overcast the entire trip, but when we got to the beach, the sun broke through and it was perfectly sunny!  Beautiful!!!

Me & Matt & Del Mar beach!
"The love of God is like the ocean!"

My handsome man  :0)

Our hotel dropped us off at the beach with an umbrella, lawn chairs, towels, water, etc.
So nice!!!

I went seashell searching, but most of the shells still had little creatures in them.
Hang on little guy!  :0)

So instead of picking up seashells (I still did get a few) the beach had
the most beautifully colored rocks!
Matt went walking and brought these back for me.  <3

Then we found more pretty colors
and played.  :0)

I <3 him!!!

I LOVE MY SWEETIE!!!

Wednesday, April 20th we flew home after a wonderfully relaxing and restful trip together!

This is the back patio where we ate most of our meals.
Even in the mornings, we would eat out there with the heaters.
So yummy and so beautiful!!!

On the plane ride home...Judge Judy!  Love her!!!
Go Judge Judy, go!

Such an amazing and relaxing trip with my sweetie!  Thank You, Father!  "The love of God is like the ocean!"  :0)