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The Long Road Back
A week and a half of travel took us on a fun journey down memory lane. After some fun reunions with forever-ago-friends, another stop as we circled back through California afforded us the chance to reconnect with yet another friend from our bible college years. Jesse is part of some of our fondest European memories, traveling with C in Scotland during mid-term break and he was in a group with me when I went skiing in the Swiss Alps after our term concluded. It was great to finally meet his lovely bride and beautiful house full of girls which of course Evie and Gigi were grateful for after endless hours in the car! Always neat to have those people with whom you can just pick right back up wherever you left off in spite of years of disconnect.
The long road back home to our tribe could not have been more picturesque. I really had no idea such a breathtaking coastline existed on US soil! An unforgettable drive with postcard scenes around every bend and curve.
And this sweet guy graciously obliged every time he saw my trigger-finger go for my shutter button. Pretty sure we turned a 6 hour drive into an 8 hour drive because of all the “vista point” pull offs we stopped at.
The highlight for Evie and Gigi was the seal beach we pulled over to check out. Literally hundreds of these funny mammals dozing lazily in the sun and wallowing all over eachother. The girls found them wildly entertaining and thought their “barks” sounded like “farts” so were of course squealing with disgust at their antics!
A few more coffee meetings with friends and supporters on the route back and an evening in Santa Barbara with a sunset walk on the beach and some sand play under the pier. Then pizza in the hotel room before bed because that’s how tired mommy and daddy were!!
One leg of this trip down. Now some family time reconnected with our big kids before we start our roadtrip across the US!!
Sleepless in Seattle (cause we’re too busy having fun!)
The “natives” are remarking on how warm it is.
We’ve been freezing our tails off ever since we stepped off the plane in LA last week. First stop the morning after arriving was a run to Target and pick up hoodie sweatshirts for everyone.
This 60/70 degree weather is no joke for our tropical tribe!
A week in, we are acclimating and finding the cooler climate of the beautiful northwest refreshing!
Seattle WA and Portland OR have until now been uncharted territory for C and I. I must say after the past 2 days, I can understand why so many people find living in these cities so charming. Debunked my misunderstanding of Seattle always being rainy and grey!
We brunched Saturday morning with two sisters who are friends of mine from the church I grew up in in Atlanta. Faith & Ruth and I spent a summer together in ’99 in Sarajevo Bosnia and they blame me for infecting them with the travel bug…they followed me overseas and attended bible college a couple years after me. So fun to reconnect and see them as moms and “in bloom” with a baby on the way in weeks.
Some serious Seattle treats. Famous donuts from a local bakery and fresh caught tuna….nom, nom, nom!! What a beautiful brunch spread enjoyed in the shade of their flower laden backyard.
We carried on to the burbs of Washington where we reconnected with a friend from many moons ago! Our girls were thrilled to have some room to roam on their sprawling 3 acres. Poor Gigi had a meltdown yesterday a couple hours into our drive…
“I just miss my friend Gabby….and my house….because….(sniff, sniff)…because now we just live in a car“!! We reassured her that we do have a home and that this is temporary…..but it sure did make the dirt digging in the backyard and trampoline bouncing particularly attractive! Thanks Wes and Jennie for a fantastic evening of fellowship and yummy tacos!! Loved getting to catch up after all these years!
C of course had to hit up the original Starbucks in Seattle, and buy a mug for the collection! We strolled through the legendary market and met up with friends from Ukraine. Olya and I met when Tristan and Abi were 3 and her son Kohl was one of their first friends. Crazy to be reunited a decade and world away….my how our families have grown since then!!
(Sleepless in Seattle buffs….this bar is from a famous Tom Hanks scene in that movie!)
This afternoon was one of those sweet “glimpses of heaven”. We drove to Portland for 15 year reunion of friends from Capernwray Bible College – the school where C and I met. We laughed and laughed reminiscing about the mischief and trouble that can be gotten into even secluded in the middle of nowhere on 175 acres of rolling English countryside. We all recollect it as a formative year and fondly recall the impact made through incredible teachers of the Word…..the serenity of space and time in our lives devoted to growth…..and lasting relationships that have been established through the common ground we share in Christ (and the travel bug none of us can get out of our system!!) I love these people!!
I told C, this Tour de ‘Merica feels a bit like the fun of a wedding reception….when else in life do you get to rekindle so many significant relationships and hug the necks of so many dear friends? My heart is full and happy!!
The Firmament Shows His Handiwork
The firmament shows His handiwork! As if some spectacular drama were unfolding, we’ve been captivated by the landscape that stretches before us, transitioning scenes every few miles.
Sleepy sand dunes cloaked in heavy mist.
Beaches littered with driftwood and frothy waves depositing treasures of the sea on the shore.
Towering Redwoods rooted deeply in the fern-laced underbrush.
Frigid emerald streams careening down stony riverbanks.
And the wonder and awe reflected in the eyes of the littles I love!
There can be do doubt that this is divine design. His exquisite creation.
The firmament shows His handiwork and I cant help but praise the ~
God of wonder beyond our galaxy
You are Holy, Holy.
The universe declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy!
Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and Earth!!