A Year ago...

It is great to look back at our blog a year ago...remembering all of the new memories we were creating. It is even greater to think about how much good has happened for us over the last year: a new job for Megan...performing together in a community theater show...B. J. winning an award for best actor and being asked to provide artwork as a "local celebrity artist"...Megan being accepted into the Mentor's Studio (film acting school) in Los Angeles...surprising our families at Christmas, traveling home to Virginia for the first time in almost two years...B. J.'s father and stepmother coming to visit Visalia...etc. etc. There have been a few sad and scary moments, too: B. J.'s grandfather passed away this year...Megan's grandparents have been in and out of the hospital...and both of us have had a few new health issues. All things considered, life is good in Visalia. We look forward to what the next year holds in store and constantly count our blessings as the time passes! :-)

Update!

We are fitting in well in Visalia, CA! We love our church...we love the area...and it seems that God continues to bless us each day we are here.

Megan is involved in a few local productions as accompanist and music director. She is also currently working on a short music video that she is filming for church for Easter Sunday. It is the background to a great song called "Ballad of Love and Hate" (the song is on youtube...we'll post the end product after Easter). Megan has also had several opportunities to substitute teach at private schools in the area. We continue to pray that she can find a job (at least part-time) which will help us feel more comfortable to entertain new friends and sight see! :)

B. J. is as busy as ever in ministry. Getting settled at VUMC has been exciting! The choir is wonderful, the band is crazy talented, and all of the various worship arts volunteers are a huge blessing. You might imagine that this time of year is mostly consumed with Easter preparation...but he is also planning a worship series in May for Sunday morning assemblies...and the fall will bring an exciting workshop with "worship leading choir" guru, Dave Williamson.

We continue to feel the prayers of our friends and family...and although we are having a blast...we miss folks dearly! :)

Enchanted Hill

A friend from church told us last week that if we went to the coast over the next few weeks, we might see elephant seals birthing on the shore. Since B. J. is a National Geographic nerd, Megan decided to endure...but only if a tour of the famous Hearst Castle was in the plan for the day. So...we packed a lunch and got in the Pathfinder to take the chance of seeing a birthed baby seal. WARNING: if you have a weak stomach...don't watch this clip...but if you dig nature...it is totally worth it (based on the excited tone...you can guess which one of us is writting this post!!!).

The following pictures are our the best we could do in trying to capture the magnitude of the Hearst Castle. They really do not do it justice...and if we had more time we would post all of our pictures (to see more, visit B. J.'s facebook page)...but it was AMAZING!!!

The stairs leading to the GUEST house (where Bob Hope would stay)!

The famous Neptune pool where guests could swim freely in heated spring waters.

The view from the guest house.

The dining hall...complete with Heinz ketchup and French's mustard bottles...you know, casual-like!

The indoor movie theater where Hearst would show silent films and cartoons to end the evening with friends.

The indoor, heated pool where folks would get to know one another (in a Christian way) until the wee hours of the morning. The landing in the center of the screen is a 22 k gold covered diving platform.

The bear cages from the former private zoo of exotic animals.

The Hearst Castle from the lowest point on the property.

The Hearst Castle (or "The Ranch" or the "Enchanted Hill" as Hearst called it) was designed to look like an European cathedral Hearst saw once while on vacation. He always intended this property to be converted into a museum for those who could not travel abroad.
What an incredible day in CALIFORNIA!!!! :)

Moving truck is here!

Moving truck is here!

Just bought 8 lemons for $1 from some little girls in our neighborhood who picked them off their backyard tree! Ha! Ha! Can't beat that! They were so excited! :D

Wet Feet

Our first Sunday at VUMC was wonderful! Folks have been tremendously warm and welcoming, and worship was meaningful. There is not a shortage of enthusiasm in Visalia, and we are feeling the presence of God in our lives every passing day. Unfortunately...we can't prove God's presence during the photo shoot below...but He loves us even still! :)

Photos by Tamara Douglass, 2010

Yay! Internet!

We finally got our internet connected yesterday and can't wait to upload more pictures and stories. This week has been wonderful! Tonight we are going to the Tulare County Symphony concert - "Movies and Magic."

The unfortunate thing about this week...the moving company still has not delivered our stuff from Chicago. So...we are watching tv in lawn chairs...sleeping on an air mattress...and eating dinner on the fireplace...which actually has not been bad at all. It just will be good to have our stuff in place. Regardless...we certainly have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week. We are blessed to have the coolest friends and family praying for us...we have each other (and the cats)...and that is enough to be thankful for!