One of the things I struggle with most as a business owner is knowing when it is time to take a break. As cheesy as it sounds, I love what I do so much, most days it doesn’t feel fair calling it “work”.  I truly feel like God designed me to be a wedding photographer, and I hope it is something I get to do for the rest of my life. When my good friend Caroline asked me if I wanted to photograph a wedding with her in California, I hesitated. It was in August, smack dab in the middle of busy season!  Knowing it would be one of my only chances to take a vacation before December, and unable to deny my love for travel and new adventures, I decided to join her.

The trip began with a gorgeous wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay.  A big thanks to my beautiful friend Caroline for bringing me along to help capture it.

The day after the wedding I joined my husband Matt, Tony, Kelly, Liz and Ben for a relaxing day in Napa.

It was a blast catching up with some of our closest friends!

Matt and I spent Monday and Tuesday exploring Lake Tahoe!  We reconnected with Caroline and her husband Alex at Caroline’s family’s home.

One of my favorite memories from the trip was our hike up this incredible mountain.  There was just something so peaceful and inspiring about exploring God’s creation.

A big thanks to Dale and Lily for hosting us in your beautiful home.

How amazing is this view?!

The whole group. 🙂

Dinner was held outside, right before sunset.

As we enjoyed a delicious meal, we watched the sky change from blue, to golden, to a deep rich purple.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30

Thanks for coming along on my California adventure!  Have you enjoyed a restful summer or explored an exciting new place?  Feel free to share your adventures in the comment box below. 🙂