Its time for you to meet the most beautiful and happy family you've ever seen.

The Venzaras:

This is Nathan, Sarah, and their beautiful baby girl Emma Marie

When I visited California a week ago they were so generous. They let me stay with them, they loaned me their car, and they introduced me to some delicious new recipes!

Nathan was one of my best friends as a kid ... we went to school and church together and for a while he was my next door neighbor. He is quite a character and its no shocker to me that his daughter is full of just as much character and personality. The two of them together are quite a show:

This was the coast just a few miles from where they lived. I love California!

After we had gotten enough of the sea and sand ... we went to a second location where there was a lot of grass and weeds and some amazing California sunlight. We just don't have light like this in Tennessee. I LOVE these:

They are just so happy. And they don't just "look" happy. They really ARE that happy.

And Emma is just the snuggliest, cooing, giggler I have ever seen. I loved her rolling around in the grass!

Sarah is studying to get her certification in midwifery. As a result she knows just about everything there is to know about mothering and all that good stuff. More importantly she is madly in love with her baby girl and it shows!

The thing that is also evident is that Nathan and Sarah really love each other. This is the core of what makes a happy family.