JD is settling in and she is discovering a love of hiking in Arizona. She is trading corn stalks for cactus and getting out to explore the new setting. Expanding her comfort zone, JD started hiking through the Sonoran trails. She was excited to share her newfound love of hiking through Arizona.

Our goal was to go wine (ing) on the Pacific Coast Highway: wine tasting through the California Winery Region, however no wine for us. Let me explain because I'm sure you were expecting a lovely article about the California Wine Trail and picturesque ocean scenes; so were we. It didn't happen.

How I fit a week's vacation into one day on a Holland America Cruise Day At Sea.

Sipping morning coffee in the mountain air at Half Dome while watching the sunrise in Yosemite is one of the greatest moments I've ever had. I've written previously about my goal not just to see Yosemite, but to experience Yosemite. There is nothing like the experience of mixing fresh, hot coffee, with cold pine air, watching the light bounce off the icy needles in the trees.

here it was, a real-life La Jolla moment. I could stay all day and watch, but I felt like momma wanted her privacy.  She will be a great caregiver to her baby I’m sure.  Did you know that baby sea lions memorize their momma’s bark?  The barking all sounded the same to me, but even each sea lion is unique.  This is their place, and we were just visiting.     I felt honored just to see this special moment and connect with the land and nature.  When we ask, "Is There More To Life?" these are the moments we are looking for. The real moments that make up our lives.