I debated naming this post "Living on a Prayer", because that's where my mind went when I thought "halfway there": Bon Jovi.
Yup.
But then, I thought that "Living on a Prayer" sounded pretty dramatic, and that's not what this is. So we'll just stick with "Halfway There" because that IS what this is... A celebration of being just a little over halfway through this summer with Ray being in California and me being in Germany.
Woohoo!
I have been back in Deutschland for just about a week now. Going to California (my first time back to the states in 2 years!) was so much fun, and exactly what I needed; time with Ray, vacation from work, opportunity to meet and spend time with family, and Mexican food.
I got there just in time for our 3rd anniversary. Ray planned the perfect day and I won't mind a bit if all of our anniversaries from here on out play out in a similar manner. Ray took me shopping for a new dress. Then we had lunch together and then headed home so I could finish unpacking. We got ready and went to do a session at the Newport Beach LDS Temple, which is Ray's favorite. He's been telling me about it for 3 years and I was so glad I finally got to go and see why he loves it so much. It really was beautiful and I was so glad to be there with him. Afterwards, Ray had made reservations for dinner at a fancy restaurant that overlooked the ocean in Newport Beach. We were seated on the patio and enjoyed some of the best seafood as we watched the sunset. Seriously, the perfect day with my man.
During the rest of my time there, Ray had to continue working, so I spent my days going to the beach, shopping a bit more, spending time with my sister-in-law, and anything else to keep me busy until Ray got home.
The first weekend I was there, we (Ray, his brother, our sister-in-law, and myself) all drove up to the Bay Area where we spent the night with Ray's oldest brother and his family. It was so much fun to be back in the area where we lived as a brand new married couple. And seeing how much our nephews and niece had grown was crazy! Only one day with them was cruelly short, but absolutely worth sitting still for 2 hours in California traffic.
Ray's dad also drove down to Orange County to spend some time with us. We all got to go to dinner with him, my sister-in-law and I went to lunch with him, and then I got to spend some time with him at the happiest place on Earth... or close to it, Downtown Disney!
I was also in town for the 4th of July (yay for celebrating Independence Day actually in America!) Ray had to work for a half day, but when he was done I drove out and picked him up. We then went to Downtown Disney (again) because it's just too much fun. We went to the kiosk selling pearls that are pried out of the oyster you pick. This was another memory of Ray's from his childhood but since I had never done it, he spoiled me. I got a beautiful pearl necklace that I love wearing now.
It was all over too soon and my sunburns have already faded and I fear my skin is being bleached by the dreary weather of Germany already. It has literally rained every day since I have been back, and I'm listening to distant thunder now. It's a stark difference between here and there, but I won't let it dampen my spirits. Because as I said, we're halfway through this, and I can't wait for Ray to be back!
