nos·tal·gia...

–noun
1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days.
2. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.
(thank you Dictionary.com)

As of late, I have been nostalgic for my favorite childhood vacation destinations. I don't know if this comes because summer is finally among us, if it's because it has been months and months since seeing family, or if it is because I want to wistfully escape to a simpler time. A time where sunshine was everywhere. Where most meals were enjoyed on the back deck. Where band concerts, summer movies, 'backyard camping', ice cream runs, swimming lessons and bike riding sprinkled the days. A time where I couldn't see past the last few straggling summer days to the inevitable time when summer vacation would end.

These days, spring runs into summer, summer into fall, fall into winter, winter into summer, all without much notice, save the changing weather. It is amazing how nostalgic I can get over times past. Holidays, school vacations, running careless through the neighborhood. But this desire to return to place past, places that are part of my heart, my head, my being, places that were temporary in my life, but which contain some of the fondest memories from my childhood years. Places where I must say, I inadvertently left part of myself. Yes, this is powerful.

Some of my favorite places, places that I crave right now include; a trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota...I was in jr high...we went to Mount Rushmore, Bear Country USA, and stayed in Hill City, SD and ate a meal I am 100% my brother and I complained about before eating, but that I still tell people about now because it was so memorably great food at Alpine Inn. We also rode the Black Hills Steam Train and I loved the Needles Highway (when I wasn't sleeping, as I used to get horribly car sick)!

I crave Independence Rock, Fort Caspar and its Living History Days...both barely a stones throw from home. I yearn for parades, fairs and rodeos. Trips to the lake, to the mountain. Foggy morning walks through the woods, sunburns, lazy Thursday evenings at the City Band concert, running through the sprinkler on the hotest of days.

I crave Steamboat Springs, Golden, CO, Horsetooth Resevoir. I crave ice cream at Little America-Cheyenne (before the recent remodel)and the Denver Botanic Garden, Colorado National Speedway- dubbed in our time there as the fastest 3/8 mile paved oval this side of the Mississippi. I crave Water World and intertubes, the wave pool, lazy river, laughter.

I crave walking along the beach with my Mom, Uncle Ron, Josh-first on the West Coast at Carmel by the Sea, Pebble Beach, Montery, San Fran back in 2000 and then most recently on the East Coast in North Carolina, both at Christmas.

I crave eating ice cream as a meal in between places, because you are on vacation and that is what you do on vacation.

It is funny how some of my favorite memories, vacation or not, were the little things. Eating tacos on the front porch mid-way through a day of hard yardwork with Mom, going crawdad fishing with Josh and exploring all places wild with Dad. It isn't those "big" vacations to the Bahamas, Disney World that stand out first and foremost in my mind, grand and glorious as they were. I hope that I remember this when I have kids. I want to remember so I can give them the opportunities to have those fond memories of the little things. Simple things. Profound things. I want them to remember like I remember. I want them to be sentimental and sappy and nostalgic when they find themselves a half a country, a whole country away from those who they share those ties and those memories with.

I am feeling nostalgic. Sentimental. Ready to escape to my childhood.

What was your favorite vacation destination in childhood or not?!

Because...

This is because you have no idea who you are.

This is because you talk too long and feel too much and say too little, and then decide to talk and feel and say a little more because it was too much. This is because you never quite understand the rules and cannot manage to get them clear in your head, let alone in your heart. This is because you try so hard, after you don’t try at all, and never seem to get that none of it was necessary, even from the beginning.

This is because you don’t have enough to do already. This is because you are always doing the things you are not supposed to do. This is because you forget how to feel. This is because you don’t know how to remember. This is because you cannot for one second let yourself be still.

This is because you cannot bear the uncertainty of mystery.
This is because you dream too little.
This is because you should have known better, or at least listened when you knew.
This is because you hate yourself for being difficult and incomprehensible.
This is because you need less sleep and more company.
This is because you always forget that it’s too soon in life to decide.
This is because you get it wrong, when all you wanted to do was get it right.
This is because you can’t make yourself fit in. This is because you don’t always care.

This is because I am exactly like you even when you think no one could possibly be. This is because this lost is what we all are. This is because none of us, after all this–thank God–somehow are not the only ones.

This is because even after all this
you must without question or hesitation
be absolutely seen and loved
just because.

And so must I.

~Courtesy of Jen Lemen


This is because...I appreciate aspects of this, not all, but parts, for sure. :)

Tea Time!

I always feel better after leaving this group of girls. Even if we are missing one. One of my small groups met at Rose's for "Tea Time" and we had great fun, even though Jamie wasn't able to make it!

I made gluten free heart shaped shortbread cookies for the gathering!

Yumm!

Rose set-up the tea table and did a great job!

She also made g/f cucumber sandwiches (amazing), has g/f pretzels and g/f pecan sandies...I could eat everything that was there...it was glorious (not that I needed to eat it all though...)

This was Rose's first time to use her tea set and it was for a fun occassion.

Me, Rose, Rachel

Pinkies up~

I laughed, I cried because I laughed, I felt light after spending such a relaxing evening with such fun friends...too bad life will all be changing for our little group soon~ Rose is moving to the great white north~ Alaska in less than two months, so we are cherishing our remaining time together!

Today

~ listening {to the dishwasher, dryer, birdsong, John Prine, Yiruma, David Crowder Band, Ben Folds, The Weepies, Laura Story, JJ Heller}
~ watching {the sun shine, the cat play, Scrubs in my spare time and still working on my Academy Award Best Picture winners}
~ dreaming {about travels}
~ writing {blogs, letters, care plans at work}
~ reading {just finished Water for Elephants, starting The Help; blogs, letters, Janet Evanovich}
~ hoping {for inspiration; for the best and then some}
~ crafting {crocheted afghans}
~ remembering {my trip to the beach last week}
~ contemplating {cutting my hair, the simple and complex--dinner menu, mopping floors; where I will be in one year, ten years}
~ anticipating {a potential visit from my Dad, summer hiking}
~ admiring {God's beautiful work in this world, my growing plants and flowers, the simplicity and complexity of life}
~ marveling {at the remarkableness of the human body; that warmth has been found in this place that has felt so cold for so long}
~ thankful {for everything}

First Hike of the Season

After getting home late from Corvallis, I was ready to ease into Saturday. The challenge: I had also wanted to go hike a state park since it was free state parks day. As the morning wore on, I decided it was a little too late to go, parking would be a nightmare. Perfectly, I returned a call from Holly and she invited me to go hike with she, Brian and 1 1/2 year old Isaiah. I headed to their place a little later and away we went to Lewis River, Moulton Falls. It was hot, but the trail was nicely shaded.

Brian, Isaiah, Holly

We came upon some railroad tracks, which the boys had to check out.

Isaiah loves sticks, and drawing on the ground with them. Check out his curly hair!

We saw a profile of a horse head in this rock...see it?!

Looking down river.

Brian wanted to get to this bridge, so we did! The falls weren't impressive, apparently I never even took a picture of them.

Holly and Isaiah stayed up on the bridge while Brian and I went down to get pictures. See them just off center to the right in the picture.

The river was "refreshing" according to those swimming in it, but sunning on the rocks looked delightful...

Group picture near a small "fall," though not Moulton Falls.

Summer, I think, has finally arrived!

A Lesson in Oregon Geography

The best way to get from Portland to Corvallis is via the Oregon Coast. Now, realize, I say this is the best way. It is however, not the quickest or the most direct way, but it is by far the best way. I had never been much further south on the coast than Tillamook, (which is not south in the slightest). I never really had a reason to go. Destinations shouldn't require a reason, other than the journey and experience, but it is my excuse nonetheless. I finally had a reason to go, so I went. It was glorious, and oh-so-worth it.

You see, a couple of weeks ago when I was in Corvallis visiting Tera, she mentioned her graduation from the School of Ministry that she has been going to for the last nine months. She mentioned to me the date, which was a Friday evening, which equated to my inability to attend. This was unfortunate, but not the end of the world, as I was getting to spend a good deal of time with her that weekend.

A few days after my return to work my coworker pointed out to me that I was off on June 3rd. The Friday of the graduation. I don't know what stirred me, in January, to request such an odd day off from work. That is not my general practice, but I am grateful that I did. It also, so happened, to be the best weather day of the year. Bonus!

Tera's graduation didn't begin until 7 p.m. So the question was, 'what to do with myself all day leading up to that time?' Solution--drive to the beach on the way. Crazy?! I think it was one of the most brilliant ideas I've had all month, especially considering it is so early in the month. So, after deciding on the plan, this is what the map leading me on my day away looked like....

Looks like fun, huh?!

When I was driving along I saw a sign for a covered bridge. If you don't know me, you don't understand my affinity for covered bridges, but I had to turn off the road and find the bridge. It was just a short distance from the main highway. The Drift Creek Covered Bridge.
Later in the day I passed the Chitwood Covered Bridge. It was right off the highway, there were lots of cars behind me, so I had to pass without stopping. I borrowed this picture from this site. Someday I will have to make an intentional stop.

I arrived at Lincoln City and looked for beach access. I can't say that I particularly love Lincoln City, at least not the parts I saw, besides the beach. I am used to the places I generally go. I did enjoy seeing a new place. I did enjoy the sand and the sun!

Proof of the sun AND that Iwas in it!

The sand was so warm (read hot) that my toes and feet got nice and pink. Besides the polish. Hard to tell in the pic.

This lighthouse was painted on the side of one of the buildings.

Sea grass in black and white.

Me in black and white.

There aren't many pictures of me that I like, but this would be one of them!

A ladybug landed on my windshield.

After taking off from the beach I stopped at the outlet shopping center. A trip to the beach mandates ice cream for lunch...it was tasty, especially in the hot weather. I then headed from Lincoln City toward Newport, I stopped at Cape Foulweather for some gorgeous views.

After getting to Newport I saw a sign for Yaquina Head Lighthouse. I pulled in, paid the fee and headed for my next adventure.

There it is!

Standing above this area the wind was so strong that if I faced right into it I couldn't breathe at all. The water was a beautiful color.

The lighthouse was opened in 1873 and is still an operational lighthouse.

Oil barrels.

Apparently, there is usually a line to get up the stairs to the lighthouse, but I lucked out and got to walk right up...a lot of steps.

One of the window views.

The lens...it was made in France and shipped over. Still the original.

There were two lightbulbs. The larger one on the right side was the primary bulb. It lasts about one year. When it burns out the smaller one starts working, sends a message to the coast guard and they come change out the main light. The bigger bulb costs $500.

You can see the light lit up.

Rainbows from the lenses.

114 steps to get to the top...

The view looking down.

There were thousands of birds covering the rocks off the head.

A simple, yet meaningful memorial.

Looking out across the ocean.

I walked down to Cobble Beach and hobbled among the cobbles. While I was at it I saw this cute little guy scampering across the rocks. He was only about the size of a quater with lots of little legs sticking out.

After the walk at the lighthouse and surrounding areas I spent at least 20 minutes combing out the tangles from my hair being so windblown. It was worth it, I think.

Egg shell...

I'm going to put in another post the video I took of the waves. There was this odd sound when the wave was receeding and I just couldn't get over it. The video wasn't happy in the post!

Hard to see, but seals sunning themselves on the rocks.

The lighthouse from Newport.

Flowers like the sun as much as I do.

After I said my goodbyes to the beach, the salty air, the peace I felt; I hopped back into the car and headed inland to Corvallis. I arrived, got something to eat, got changed and made my way to Tera's church. Her parents sat with me and we enjoyed chatting and watching the meaningful graduation ceremony. Tera had been one of two students chosen to address the audience and her classmates with a speech. She is an eloquent and beautiful speaker and I loved her speech.

~

"You are all on God’s track team. He set a race before you that must run in with endurance.

So make sure that you lay aside every weight that will slow you down in the race that God has given you. And make sure that you also cut off all sin because it will, if undealt with, easily entangle you and cause you to loose your footing.

While you run, fix your eyes on the one who ran His race with perfection, and let His humility and joy be your example and inspiration.

Use your unique running form that God has designed and do not slow yourself down by trying to match your teammates form, thinking that theirs might be better. And stay in your lane, knowing that there is no higher calling in life than God’s calling, and He is the one who put you in that lane.

When the race hurts at times, and you feel fatigued, take joy because this testing is producing greater endurance within you that will cause you to run even stronger. And do not give up, but remember that you are running for a glorious prize; press on, not looking back, but straining forward to what lies ahead.

And most importantly, do not, for one second, ever, ever, EVER forget who it is that has made you His runner…. by calling you by name to be on His team.

Know always that He believes in you – you whom He chose and trusts to run well;

Know always that He is cheering for you on every corner of the track, having only good things to say about His beloved athlete;

Know always that he will never cut you from the team, no matter how much, at times, you may feel like you have failed Him;

And know always that as His trained athlete, you never have to doubt your talent, but are free to run well, strong, and fast in this race knowing that He has fully prepared you for it."

~Tera Stegner CSOM Graduation Ceremony 6/3/11

~

After the ceremony there was talking, hugging and then the drive home for me. It was a glorious day away. A time for peace, renewal, reflection, fun and celebrating accomplishments of a dear friend. All things that I love.

Oh, and the geography lesson...there is a lot to see in Oregon, well worth the trip to Corvallis via the Oregon Coast. It was the best route!