We have our own mini beaches here, lovely, with rocks and boulders and freezing cold waters melted from snow-cap, tall green trees standing like giants, guarding this blue jewel 💎. And when the wind picks up, there are even tiny little waves.

This weekend Eric and I drove to Crescent Lake for our church camp out. Since we don’t yet own a tent, Eric and I set out to spend just the day up there. We went to Church under great, towering pine trees, which opened before us to an azure sky and turquoise-blue lake. .

After our worship, we walked to the shoreline, where three beautiful little girls were baptized. After the baptisms and some chatting with friends, Eric and I scrambled down large gray boulders to the first real sandy beach I’ve been to in Oregon yet. There was enough beach to lay our fuzzy, soft, wolf blanket down on the sand and hear the lapping waves of the lake before our feet. The sun warmed our bodies, its strong rays overpowering the chilly breeze. .

I exhaled.

This is what I miss most about leaving California— the beach. There is something so rare and special about being at the edge of water and land and sitting in that surreal meeting place where blue glass meets sand. Where skin meets soul and we feel the need to strip down to practically our underwear to heighten the experience and soak up the sun.

It felt amazing to lay down and be cradled by the warm earth and to look out and see a mile of pure, blessed, blue, bliss.