duluth.

this past week, holland texted me asking if i was going to be busy this saturday and if maybe i wanted to meet her and a few of my other favorite people in duluth for the day.  i didn't even have to think about it.  i mean seriously, is the pope catholic?!
i don't think my words or these pictures will possibly be able do the day justice, but that's okay.  i still can't get over it.  it was all one big glorious gift from our kind and loving God, to five very thankful people to have received it.

the day started with this picture text of my eau claire buddies on their way!  it makes me so happy!  just look at those friends!

i stopped on the way to get gas and saw these maps in the gas station and i liked them so i took a pic.  ha.

^ aaaalllll the love for these two BEAUTIFUL women!  just inside-leaking-out BEAUTY!  several times throughout the day, their individual beauty just about stopped me in my tracks!

^ not filtered at all, guys!  the colors really looked like that!  it could have been rainy and i would have been just as content, just bein with my pals in duluth, but this was an extra gift.  smelled like spring and the colors and sun felt like God was breathing new breath in my lungs!  come to think of it, that's kind of what the whole day felt like... like He was setting my legs back on solid ground and breathing new breath in my lungs.

it's hard for me to believe some people go their whole lives without ever knowing holland kabat or ariel yang.  i wouldn't want to live that life.

^^ a lil group pic!

^^ happy ariel!  such a content spirit... so peaceful and life-giving.

^ beans, too.  whatta happy man with a loving heart.
(let's also just take a minute to appreciate those contemplative senior pics of an older guy who's definitely not a senior happening on our right, and holland and isaac really strugglin down those icy steps in the middle.)

^^ they were laughing SO hard right here.  i don't know what it was about, but i was glad to witness it. ^^

^ hi, buddies!  
isaac and holland... you both are so dear to my heart!  my world is exponentially more full and sweet because i know you two.

ariel and the S.S. chip! ^^^ but seriously, look at that soul!  whatta life!

^ gotcha, holl!  you said you wouldn't like any of em, but look at this one!  look at you!!  i can't believe you're my friend!

^ this looks like a dream.  or heaven.  look at that little nook-a-sunshine!  one of those thin spaces, where heaven felt a little closer to earth.

^ i wanted to buy one of these lil hooville trees but they were a-billion-a-piece (just kidding, they were only a million! ;)), so i snapped a pic instead. ^

^^ this was one of my favorite moments of the day.  i felt like i'd never been happier.  it just occurred to me all over again that i was with some of my favorite people in the world... in the sunshine... in duluth... with some good tunes... about to do even more explorin... WHAT. ^^

^ as seen from the backseat.

^ some new friends.

^^ we could see our houses from here!  if we lived in duluth...

so there it is.
the spirit of adventure rolls on.

​on my list of favorite days of my existence, this one is up there.