you never know

when g and i were on our honeymoon in yosemite, we met two girls traveling from france. they took two months off from their everyday lives to road-trip through california, starting in the north and making their way down to san diego.

the night we met in the camp lodge, g and i were quickly intrigued by their charisma and sense of joie de vivre. lili and chloe shared their travel tales, their french way of life, their perspectives on american culture, and so much more. g and i embraced the connection we had with these two travelers, these girls who were so excited to see the natural beauty we oftentimes take for granted. it was as if they shed a new light on the totality of california. a bottle of wine, some beers, and a pumpkin pie later, we exchanged contact information and made tentative plans to reconnect when they made their way to los angeles.

and we did.

last weekend, we invited our french travelers over for dinner, along with our good friends brent and marcos. it was a splendid evening, picking up where we left off. g and i served our favorite fall fare and domestic wines, hoping to make them feel at home, in our home…in los angeles. the night was nothing short of great conversation and laughter, and just when we thought our time together was drawing to an end, we learned that lili and chloe would be in san diego for thanksgiving (!!). naturally, i invited them to my parents' home, where we always gather for la fete traditionnelle.

i've always loved thanksgiving as a holiday, but this year feels different. this is our first holiday as a married couple and it is the first time we get to share it with people who have only dreamed about it - the traditional bird, the herbed dressing, the pumpkin pie and crazy family shenanigans. we are thrilled to have chloe and lili join us, and look forward to welcoming them into our family.

it's a funny thing - you never know where you'll find your family, even if they are worlds apart.