unshakablecrown-blog

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GIVEAWAY 2018 for all you hard working #grilboss and creatives out there. An international planner from @lucycelebrates, a @retrogramboards and @starbucks gift card. (Over $150 value) _____ How to enter: 1) Follow us @unshakablecrown (Caleb’s name means Unshakable, Stefanie means Crown + it’s our mission) 2) Like this picture 3) Comment on this picture and tag a friend. 4) For each additional person you tag will be an extra entry. _____ EXTRA entries? 10 extra: Repost any of our pictures on your feed, tag us with GIVEAWAY. 5 extra: repost one of our pictures on your story & tag us. 10 extra: Sign up for our email list under Freebies, link in bio. _____ Hey Friends, I’m Stefanie. Unshakable Crown is my husband Caleb & my meaning of our names put together + our mission. Caleb=Unshakable, Stefanie=Crown and our mission: to speak purpose over each life because of God’s great love for each of us. We are lifestyle bloggers who talk about the real heart stuff in life. _____ I could tell you that I love animals, just got my first ever dog after asking for one since I was 5. That I love capturing moments 📷, people, my hubby, travel, adventure, marriage, flowers, people. But looking at our feed you probably could guess all that anyways. _____ What you might not know is, my life feels like oxymoron. I love Jesus and my husband, but I don’t always reflects that. I love animals but am allergic to most. I’m an advocate for health but have a lot of health issues. My dream is to work full time with my hubby like our first 3 years of marriage but we don’t. _____ I’ve always felt like an outcast. The first in my family to move outside of driving distance to Pittsburgh. Being a Jesus freak while others looked at me weird🤷‍♀️ Entering into my marriage and family therapy masters program knowing I didn’t want to be a therapist like everyone else in the program. I love community but am alone so much being an entrepreneur in LA and having only one car (that my hubby has throughout the day). _____ I’m always reminding you that YOU ARE LOVED because so often I forget that myself.  I would love to learn something new about you! Tell me below!👇🏼 (at Pasadena, California)

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Honey Bear 🍯🐻hopes you have a great day. And Caleb and I hope so too. _____ Life can get stressful, but maybe this little cute sweetie will bring a smile to your face. Her bringing joy or laughter to people is one of my favorite things about her. _____ Let us know if you’re ready for it to be Friday already, cause it’s been a LONG week for us. _____ P.S. we will be starting a giveaway soon and would love your input of what you would want us to give away! Love hearing from you! _____ . #thatsdarling #petitejoys #pursuepretty #theeverygirl #thehappynow #nothingisordinary #communityovercompetition #makeitblissful #loveauthentic #seekthesimplicity #theartofslowliving #littlestoriesofmylife #darlingmovement #risingtidesociety #glitterguide #theeverydaygirl #ohwowyes #fromwhereistand #abmlifeisbeautiful #livefullyalive #loveintentionally #puppylove #WeeklyFluff #theweekoninstagram #puppysofinstagram #puppygram #puppy #pomeranian #pomeranianofinsta #dogsofinstagram (at Pasadena, California)

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Are you cold right now? _____ A few weeks ago while visiting family in Pittsburgh Caleb & I experienced one of the coldest we’d ever been. Walking around my sisters farm located on a hill with lots of open land, it was 8 degrees, the windchill making it feel like -10. We felt frozen, numb. It took us hours to warm up. I’m OBSESSED with snow, but being that cold is painful. _____ But what I’m really wondering today, is if your heart is cold? Mines been super icy in the past. In HS I was in a serious relationship with a guy for about 2 1/2 years. Half way through that relationship I found out he cheated on me.  He begged for me back, actually did the clique movie moment where he walked to my house in the snow, and threw pebbles at my window. _____ I said yes to him being my bf again, but my heart wasn’t the same. Combined with sexual abuse and sexual harassment from men I knew, and also some other painful abuse caused by male figures, I became completely cold hearted towards men. Using them to get attention without care of their feelings (to be real I didn’t think they had feelings). _____ But like we all learned from the movie Frozen, we can’t be cold to one thing without it affecting everyone around us and making all of us and everything we touch cold. _____ Jesus got my heart 10 years ago there’s been a lot of ice he’s had to warm up. A LOT. But He’s been warming it and replacing hate with love. _____ It actually hurts to be thawed out. I was so cold I became completely numb in many areas of my life. The warming process is so excruciating at times that I long to make my heart cold again. I try to become numb, uncaring again. But Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr said it perfectly: "I have decided to stick with love…Hate is too great a burden to bear. _____ A verse I pray over my heart and others is this “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” -Ezekiel 36:26 _____ This is the hardest work, friends. That deep heart work. But I think the warmth and love of it all will be worth it. What do you think? _____ Are you cold today? We seriously LOVE hearing from you!! #unshakablecrown (at Erie, Pennsylvania)

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Double tap if you’re up for an adventure. Like this sailboat engagement session we shot. @unshakablecrown #unshakablecrown _____ Caleb and I have so many fun new spots for couple pictures we’ve scouted around LA. The spring flowers will be coming out soon, any couples that want to go on an adventure with us, lets have an experience for your engagement session. _____ Seriously, every engagement session it’s like we’re on a double date, us doting over the adorable couple. Caleb inevitably makes everyone laugh with his jokes, and we laugh at me for some clumsy thing I do along the way. All while getting fun pics of a date day with new friends. _____ We love the beach, mountains, water, all of it! Think of a super special date you want to go on and take us along! _____ It’s so natural, and even guys that hate getting their picture taken end up being models at the end of our shoot. _____ Message us if you want to go on an adventure with us, and get adorable pics and new friends! _____ What’s a recent adventure you’ve been on? Love hearing from you! . . . #wanderingphotographers #thatsdarling #authenticlovemag #Lookslikefilm #DIRTYBOOTSANDMESSYHAIR #Belovedstories #radstorytellers #stylemepretty #lovestory #Weddingphotoinspiration #marriage #engagement #Loveintentionally #Theknot #loveandwildhearts #weddingphotographer #petitejoys #pursuepretty #theeverygirl #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #nothingisordinary #communityovercompetition #makeitblissful #loveauthentic #californiaweddingphotographer #chasinglight #lovemywhitemag #theweddinglegends (at Newport Harbor, Newport Beach)

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Lighthouses remind me (Stefanie) of my late grandpa, a second dad to me. He loved lighthouses and was a light in the darkness to me and all those he met with his love and generosity. I’ve now taken his love of lighthouses on and a reminder to me of all those who are a light in this dark and foggy world. _____ Like Martin Luther King Jr., who we celebrate today. A beacon of light in a very dark time. Through a storm he stood on the shore like a lighthouse projecting a message of hope, Love, and redemption. _____ As a history teacher (Caleb) I get to teach about many different people throughout history, but my all-time favorite (I mean, besides Jesus) is MLK. _____ He fought for injustice, spoke truth to the masses, brought peace to the downtrodden, and changed our nation for the better. I have discovered over the years that the parts I love the most about MLK were the ways that he was most like Jesus. _____ I am in no way saying that he was Jesus or even close to him, however I am saying that what was most attractive about him, most polarizing to the masses was the ways that he chose to love in the face of hate, to be Christ in a world filled with malice. _____ We are thankful for people like MLK, my grandpa and all those who bring light to the darkness. These are our inspirations and who we wish with our lives and business to emulate. We have hope that we too could be a part of bringing light and hope into this world. This to us is worth far more than anything this world has to offer. _____ Our favorite quote of his, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Such amazing truth that reminds us to bring light in the darkness. _ What ways are you bringing light to the world? (at Erie, Pennsylvania)

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We’re pretty excited puppy parents right now! @unshakablecrown 🍯🐻finally has all her vaccinations so she can walk outside with us! We’ll put up some instastories about it. Her little feet going so fast is the cutest thing. _____ Other than being pretty bummed about the Steelers game (I’m from Pittsburgh and they just lost in the playoffs) it’s been a pretty good day. _____ Our biggest frustration with 🍯🐻so far is she barks when she’s not with us, any advice for that? We’re hoping the extra exercise and her being with us on all our walks now will help. _____ How’s your Sunday going? Love hearing from you! (at Pasadena, California)

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It’s the weekend! We are so excited to be done with the week and that we get to spend this three day weekend together. ________ Looking back at our 2017, we both felt a theme of having dreams, committing them to God, getting scared/nervous that they wouldn’t come true, and then seeing Him come through in His timing. ________ Owning your own business can be hard in this way. You have these aspirations that drive you, that are God given, and part of your makeup that you try to bring out in what you do. And in trying to pursue that, thoughts of failure, disappointment, or doubt can creep in so fast. ________ We are always trying to remind each other to stay grounded in what God is doing. He had shown time and time again that He will come through for us, not necessarily in the timing or way that we want, but in His perfect timing which is ALWAYS better. ________ We have already had a few prayers answered in 2018 that have been years in the making, prayers that we have spent on or knees pleading to God about, and to see Him come through has been comforting and affirming. ________ This verse came up today for me as I was sitting here next to Stefanie reading the word and seeking His words for today. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭ ________ We are encouraged that as we commit what we do to the Lord that He is going to use it for His kingdom and He is going to establish our plans and our direction for it. We are so thankful to have a God who is ever caring and looking to bless us in our hopes and dreams. ________ I am sitting here today feeling encouraged that though I have no idea what this year will bring, I know that the Lord is establishing our plan. All I want is the faith to continue to put it into the fathers hands. ________ What encourages you to keep pursuing your dreams? Love hearing from you! #unshakablecrown 📷-@amelialavoiephoto (at Pasadena, California)

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This is Chris and Kinzie and their little one. Their story blew us away! _____ Chris grew up the oldest, without having a father around decided to make it his goal to be the biggest gangster on the streets. As him and his buddies were planning to pull a crime one night his loaded gun went off and hit his sister in the neck. By God’s grace a sentence that could have been 20 years turned out only 3 days. He decided to become a boxer and lived in his car parked outside the gym and then trained all day. He found God in that cold car in Sacramento where it was parked, he was hurting and asking God what he was doing there getting beat up everyday. He felt God say “Just follow me.” Fast-forward, he decided to go to church at the Dream Center in LA and decided to start volunteering at the Dream Center and again by God’s favor and grace he got a job at the Dream Center. _____ Kinzie grew up with an abusive father and it was too much for her mother to handle. Her mother moved to Mexico with her boyfriend because she couldn’t take the abuse anymore. This left Kinzie so alone and to help her siblings. Partying, drugs, men- anything that she could try to get to take her need for a father and distraction from her pain. _____ When Kinzie and Chris were together, Chris told Kinzie about Jesus. She heard God say to her to restore her relationship with her mom. And now her and her mother are very close. _____ Because of what the people of God are doing at the Dream Center, this family is getting a real chance at life.  They are most thankful to be a family and for God’s love in their life. They live at the Dream Center’s Family floor and are surround by people who care, and share love and truth daily as well as helping them with career paths. Join me in wishing so many blessings on this beautiful family! _____ God has made every single life SO very beautiful and precious. His grace and love are unsurpassed, and when situations seem beyond repair, Jesus finds a way to make dry bones come alive. _____ Jesus is near you today, friend. He loves you. Love to hear your feedback! #unshakablecrown (at Los Angeles, California)

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Shot for @whitemagazine by @emily.magers _____ A dream to get photographed yet again by one of our very favorite photographers and people for a magazine where we get to talk about marriage. _____ We LOVE being married. Long walks hand in hand, cuddling on the couch, going on adventures together are staples for us, but lets go behind the scenes a bit… _____ Life can be so difficult, and when two become one, the other persons difficult situations become yours. Any pain Caleb feels, I feel and vice versa. Whatever pains from the past manifest themselves in a variety of ways for one person, directly affects the other. And when we take frustration out on each other, not only does it hurt that person, but hurts even worse knowing something you did would hurt someone you love so much. _____ Before I could hide the ugliest version of myself to the world. Those dark sad or angry moments where I used to cry alone in my room, no one had to see me or know about all that pain in my heart except God (and my therapist or Bible study when I told them 😆 ). _____ But now, those times have been with Caleb. Marriage is the most vulnerable thing to enter into if done whole heartedly. It’s a daily sacrifice of loving another over yourself. No longer are your decisions based on just you, each decision made directly affects the other. _____ When the two become one, it’s so easy to think Caleb is the answer to my happiness or the catalyst to my problem. It’s so untrue. Caleb isn’t my ultimate savior or my enemy. Sure we do things that bring each other more joy then we could have ever imagined. And we also have let each other down at times. But the ultimate source for what will save us and our marriage is God and His love. _____ When we stop believing the lie that we are each others ultimate savior or enemy, and we see the truth, everything changes for the best. Grace, encouragement, and love abound given generously by God to each other. _____ A reminder for myself and you that your spouse/family/friends are not the enemy. You are so loved, they are so loved and we all are so broken. How can you see the special people in your life with extra grace today? Love hearing from you! (at Pasadena, California)

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This has been my work zone over the past three days. I usually work from my upstairs office half the day, then work on the downstairs couch _____ Only with my hair up in a messy bun and wearing the most comfortable clothes I own. So grateful to work from home while being so sick (some nasty cold or flu). Camera next to me, editing pictures, catching up with emails. Learning, studying, planning. Organizing upcoming photoshoots, getting timelines set up for my brides this year. Tweaking things on our website, uploading and sending online albums out. I’m missing Caleb like crazy, but feeling so grateful to work on my passion company full time. _____ Love my @lucycelebrates journal to help get my planning on the right foot and to help me remind myself of focusing on what’s most important. _____ What has your work week looked like? Love hearing from you! (at Pasadena, California)

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Do you ever wonder what path to take? _____ My trust has been in so many things over the years. Family, friendships, sports (swimming for me), school, hobbies, career, popularity, boyfriend, health, animals/nature, drinking.  All these things failed me in one way or another. None of my trust, hope, or belonging was secure in any of these things. _____ Family & friends die or disappoint/ or I would disappoint them. I injured myself in sports, my boyfriend cheated on me, popularity is like the tide, health issues came up, drinking left me depressed. _____ I’m not saying all these things are bad things to want. With the right motive they can be wonderful. But, I was putting all the trust of my heart into them, and that left me so very broken. _____ That’s why Proverbs 3:5-6 is my favorite Bible verse. It’s the only thing from all my years of longing & searching where I’ve found a peace that surpasses understanding. A belonging that can’t be taken. A love that isn’t wishy washy or in pieces. _____ Trust in the Lord with all my heart. And trusting His path for my love. Just as a mother bird that can fly can know the best way for a baby bird who can’t fly to get to safety, even greater is God’s perspective over our lives as if we were that baby bird. _____ I’m longing today as I was 10 years ago when I gave my life to God to have Him show me the paths to take. They aren’t always the easiest paths, but the ones that will bring the most beautiful destination. _____ For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. -Matthew 7:13-14 _____ We find it by trusting in Him, reading His word, following the light which is Jesus. _____ Do you, like me, ever wonder what path to take in decisions in life? Love hearing from you! #unshakablecrown (at Mammoth Lakes, California)

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“I don’t want to miss a moment with you.” I frequently say this to Caleb. _____ But lets me honest, with all the distractions this world has to offer, it’s easy to miss moments with the people we love. But I’ve been learning over the last couple years to be more present in whatever moment I’m in. It might not be my ideal place to be, but if I can’t change it, might as well seek the beauty in whatever that moment has to offer. _____ In this moments I’m sick on the couch, typing on my laptop, surrounded by healthy food and drink with the hopes of feeling better soon, with Honey Bear jumping around next to me. I got to hear the soothing sound of rain on our roof this morning which is a rarity in Los Angeles. _____ After being with Caleb non-stop for the last 18 days straight, I don’t think we spent longer than 5 minutes apart. He’s back to his day job (he works as a history teacher and athletic director). Caleb and I got to work a lot on our company over break, and I’m so grateful to have our company full time, even on days I’m sick so I can still work from home. I sure miss him, I get so used to counting on him for so many things and then our schedules switch all up again, but I’m learning to see the beauty in this moment too. Just being in his presence is everything to me, but I’m so grateful for what an amazing job he does as a teacher & athletic director and him working so hard for this little family of ours. _____ If I could choose any moment to be in right now, a top pick would be where we are in this picture, in Erie, PA.  We got to play in 5 feet of snow a little over a week ago. We had to be out for short periods of time, then would warm ourselves back up in the car because it was about 10 degrees outside. We got Starbucks twice to stay warm and had to change socks because the snow came in under our boots. We walked around mitten hands in hand listening to Christmas music about snow, Jesus and joy. Seeing all that white snow and the beautiful blue sky with my love was a dream to me, since snow is one of my favorites. _____ What’s something beautiful about the moment you’re in right now, or a recent moment you enjoyed? Love to hear from you! (at Erie, Pennsylvania)

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Happy Sunday! We have a photoshoot today we’re super excited about, what are you up to? _____ As I’m writing this, I’m thinking how thankful I am to have God and this man not give up on me. Wow can I be a handful sometimes, and so grateful for the grace I get day after day. And for all the laughs that hopefully trump my grumpy times. _____ What’s on your mind today? Love hearing from you! _____ . . #thatsdarling #petitejoys #pursuepretty #theeverygirl #livethelittlethings #liveauthentic #thehappynow #nothingisordinary #communityovercompetition #makeitblissful #loveauthentic #adventuretogether #seekthesimplicity #theartofslowliving #littlestoriesofmylife #darlingmovement #risingtidesociety #glitterguide #tilinsiders #theeverydaygirl #ohwowyes #fromwhereistand #abmlifeisbeautiful #livefullyalive #loveintentionally #abmlifeiscolorful #dirtybootsmessyhair #radlovestories #loveandwildhearts #belovedstories (at Big Bear Lake, California)

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Raise your hands if you’re excited it’s the weekend.🙌🏼Today we’ll be celebrating our niece, Shirah’s third birthday. What are you guys up to? _____ Our little 🍯🐻pup is getting so big too. A whopping 2 llbs when we weighed her this morning. She gets her last shots on Tuesday and she’ll finally get to walk on the ground. She’s learned how to sit on command, and give me her paw. She’s getting really good at being potty trained and wants to play with us ALL THE TIME. She wants to kiss every stranger she meets, so if you meet her be ready for that. We love this little ball of fun. _____ What are your plans this weekend? And as always, puppy advice always welcome! . . #thatsdarling #petitejoys #pursuepretty #theeverygirl #thehappynow #nothingisordinary #communityovercompetition #makeitblissful #loveauthentic #seekthesimplicity #theartofslowliving #littlestoriesofmylife #darlingmovement #risingtidesociety #glitterguide #theeverydaygirl #ohwowyes #fromwhereistand #abmlifeisbeautiful #livefullyalive #loveintentionally #puppylove #WeeklyFluff #theweekoninstagram #puppysofinstagram #puppygram #puppy #pomeranian #pomeranianofinsta #dogsofinstagram (at Pasadena, California)

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It has been so nice to have an extended period of time off from being a teacher/athletic director over winter break. We have had extra cuddle sessions, adventures, and quality time working on our business together. _____ Yesterday we got to relax and just BE together throughout the day. It was so relaxing to have that intentional time for us. _____ Today I am reflecting back on our time with this amazing couple. Their love has stood the test of time, and it’s easy to tell that their love for reach other is not only as much as it was in the beginning, but it has grown so much more!! _____ We can only hope and pray that God gives us the grace and mercy to have such a wonderful love story as this. We are inspired by people like them. _____ We are so excited to work with the awesome couples we have booked for 2018. We love investing into their lives and we seek to be a blessing to them as they begin the most wonderful blessing of marriage. _____ We still have some open spots for 2018, hit us up before we are all filled. _____ What love stories inspire you? We always love hearing from you guys! . . . . #thatsdarling #petitejoys #pursuepretty #theeverygirl #livethelittlethings #liveauthentic #thehappynow #nothingisordinary #communityovercompetition #makeitblissful #loveauthentic #adventuretogether #seekthesimplicity #theartofslowliving #littlestoriesofmylife #darlingmovement #risingtidesociety #glitterguide #tilinsiders #theeverydaygirl #ohwowyes #fromwhereistand #abmlifeisbeautiful #livefullyalive #loveintentionally #abmlifeiscolorful #dirtybootsmessyhair #radlovestories #loveandwildhearts #belovedstories (at Pasadena, California)

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Have you taken down your decorations yet? _____ This morning we got up bright and early thanks to Honey Bear 🍯🐻and started taking down our Christmas decor. _____ We listened to Christmas music for the last time for probably a while (we will see how long I stick with that) and then watched Home Alone as our place slowly transformed back to it’s normal state. _____ Everything’s nice, white and clean now, and I’m already excited for next December. _____ I feel a bit sad with decorations gone and the anniversary of my Pappy’s (grandpa) death, but I’m also feeling full of love thinking of all the wonderful memories made this holiday season and all the lessons I always remember from my Pappy. _____ Caleb and I reflected on our fav parts of this holiday season, we basically recounted the whole thing. One for sure was seeing family in Pittsburgh & LA. Ice skating with my sis and bro in law in downtown Pittsburgh was one of our highlights. _____ Do you get sad to take down the decor? What is one of your favorite memories from your holiday. Love hearing from you! #unshakablecrown (at Pasadena, California)

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Hey friends, I want to admit something to you I’m not proud of. _____ I’ve had the nasty habit of being late for things and people have known me for that. To be honest, it’s had a lot to do with insecurity’s and taking too much time getting ready. I’m girly and like to look nice when going to see friends, family or on a date and has caused me to hurt others. I wish I could change all those times I’ve been late in the past, but over the last few years I’ve been so much better. I want to honor the people in my life and a way to do that is being on time. _____ It’s still one of my goals to grow in this area and a way that was so nice over this last trip to Pittsburgh to have extra time with my family this year because I didn’t need to do my eye makeup and hair. @modernfacestudio did an amazing job putting on lashes for me so I could just wake up and be ready to go. _____ @thegreatergoodsalon trimmed my hair Sabrina is my fav hairdresser ever. I shower at night, let it air dry and brush it out in the morning. I don’t have to dry it or curl it or straighten it which is such a time saver. _____ Honey bear took enough time away with all the attention she needs, but thankfully we had the blessing of the above Pasadena places to save time elsewhere. _____ What tricks do you have to spend less time getting ready and more time with the people you love? Can’t wait to hear from you! _____ . . #thatsdarling #petitejoys #pursuepretty #theeverygirl #livethelittlethings #thehappynow #nothingisordinary #communityovercompetition #makeitblissful #loveauthentic #chasinglight #seekthesimplicity #theartofslowliving #littlestoriesofmylife #darlingmovement #risingtidesociety #glitterguide #theeverydaygirl #ohwowyes #fromwhereistand #abmlifeisbeautiful #livefullyalive #longhairdontcare #theweekoninstagram #loveintentionally #exploretocreate #Featurepalette #portraitphotography #underthefloralspell #myunicornlife (at Pasadena, California)