A Visit from Mi Padre

My Dad had gone to Washington, DC to visit younger brother. While he was driving back to Colorado he decided that is was about time he come see me. I whole-heartedly agree. After all, it had been (just) over 5 years since he had been here. College graduation time. He headed this direction and arrived safe and sound in PDX Wednesday afternoon. I had decided I really wanted to "document" this trip. So here it is:

I had given Dad directions to work and he arrived with these:

A girl always loves to get flowers!

Once I got off work we headed downtown for dinner. We made a quick stop at Powell's City of Books. (It would be visit number 1 of 3 to a Powell's in the greater Portland area.)

Dad amongst the books...

We then headed to Deschutes Brewery Pub for amazing beer (gluten-free for me) and an amazing g-f burger for me and a sandwhich for Pops.

There was dessert on the menu that we wanted, that we didn't have room for, but we decided we'd come back the next day.

I had two glorious days off from work and when we got up Thursday morning we headed to Concordia's campus so Dad could see all the changes. Here we are in between some of the apartment buildings that I lived in once upon a time.

Then, back to Deschutes for g-f cheesecake, for lunch mind you. Yes, cheesecake for lunch. Healthy diet, but delicious nonetheless.

Then we made stop 2 at Powell's and hit-up some other stores in the area. I had tickets for a play that evening so I left Dad to fend for himself. He washed/cut/preped supplies for our picnic the next day.

We got up Friday and headed for the hills. Mountain more like it. Dad had never been to Mt Hood, so away we went. Destination: Timberline Lodge. I was disappointed in the cloudy, overcast day as I love the view of glorious Hood on the trip up, but alas, it was not to be that day.

When we arrived at Timberline the clouds were blowing through. This is the best view we had of the summit the whole time we were there.

Us with the Lodge behind us.

View from inside the Lodge.

An attempt at getting a shot with Hood behind us. You can make it out (sort of).

Once we picniced and came down the mountain the clouds conveniently started parting. If only they'd gotten an earlier start at that. We were coming around Mt Hood and then north through Hood River to do the Mt Hood Loop. It is a gorgeous drive.

This is the view from the west side of the mountain.

We stopped to get some shots with us and Mt Hood.

Once we made it to the Hood River Valley we stopped off at Panorama Point Park. I had seen the sign, but hadn't stopped before. I'm glad we did as it is a gorgeous view complete with picnic tables, ample parking and restrooms. Sweet!

This is the view of us with Hood in the background from Panorama Point:

Mt Hood with the beautiful valley of orchards below.

After amazing views we hopped on the freeway to head back towards Portland. I can't pass Cascade Locks without stopping at this little joint for a mouthwatering Blackberry Milkshake. One of the things I love about my Dad is that he is always up for ice cream-I inheritated that from him. Most definitely.

We then hopped off the freeway to take the Historic Columbia River Highway back into Portland. With a few stops, of course.

Multnomah Falls being stop one.

Next stop: Crown Point. Phenomenal views. Sweet reflection.

The building is also pretty amazing.

I was worn out by the time we got home. I crashed that night and dear Dad let me sleep in the next morning. It was glorious. Dad wanted to say that we stood on a mountain one day and on the beach at the ocean the next. Once I was up on Saturday we headed to the beach, got almost all the way to Tillamook and then had to turn around. I later found out that the traffic back-up was due to a fatality accident. We eventually (3 1/2 hours after setting off from home) made it to the beach. We stopped and had lunch and then walked the beach.

Us with Haystack Rock in the background.

Feet on the beach! It was warm and wonderful!

Pops on the beach.

Me on the beach!

Fun sandcastle that we saw.

On Sunday, Dad's last day, we went shopping for a cute little boys 1st Birthday gift. And then headed to Battle Ground for Isaiah's 1st b-day shindig. Too.Stinkin'.Cute.

After the party we headed home and I had to face the realization that my fun, extra-long weekend was winding down and Dad's time for his visit was winding down. It was a grand trip and I was so thankful for his visit and the time I had with him.

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Ezme sratched on the door and cried each night when Dad went to bed. So cute!

Dad also spent a lot of time playing laser light with Ezme, which she LOVED.

Thanks for the visit, Dad! Love you lots and come back before another 5 years passes! :)

Purpose

We didn’t come here to fit in.
We came here to be who we are.
We didn’t come here to work.
We came here to live our dreams.
We didn’t come here for the stuff.
We came here to love each other.
We didn’t come here by accident.
We each came here with a purpose
that is uniquely our own.

Be
Dream
Love
Thrive

Always.

~Author Unknown

August Poem of the Month

Now is the Time...

To seek more rainbows,
take more chances,
and to follow more dreams.
To smile more--to yourself
and to smile more--at others.
To stretch your arms up to the sky
and to stretch your arms out to the world.
To kick off your shoes more often,
wish on more stars,
sing more songs,
laugh more...
and to treasure the wonder
in every day.


Author Unknown

Because things change....

...And friends leave. And life doesn’t stop for anybody.
~Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

The above sentiment is true. Though I've never read the book. I've always wanted to. It sits on the bookshelf in my old room. The one at home in Wyoming. The one in my mom's house. Where I first learned about things changing, about friends leaving, and about life not stopping--no matter how much we may want it to. "The Perks" sits among the books I accumulated during the first two-thirds of my life. Before I changed where I call home. Before I knew all the many books that would sit, waiting to be read, on my bookshelf in my now-home living room. Before I lived so many changes, friends leaving and the world not stopping for anyone experiences that I now have had. Some of those books I have read, some I have not. I need to get to them. I will get to them. When I get home sometime. (Which is a whole other post, one that has been started and left unfinished as of now.)

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I have felt particularly reflective the last several days because of some life events involving friends, family, loved ones. I can't help but admit and know that change is in the air. I feel it in my bones. Yet, I can't pinpoint exacly where it will lead. All I know is that August is moments away from being over. September is already knocking at my door. (Even though it feels like October here today.) Too soon she will open the door widely, welcoming herself in and settling down for for a cup of tea and a short chat and then she'll leave as quickly as she came. But while she is here she will re-introduce me to some of my favorite things. She will also remind me of the inevitable change and cycle of this world. As Don Miller so aptly states, "the seasons remind me that I must keep changing, and I want to change because it is God's way...everybody has to change, or they expire."

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Tonight as I turned the heater on in my car to chase away the cold on my way home from work, I realized that another season is ending, another beginning. Yes, we may have a few more days of summer to tease our senses. Make us think that it may be kick started again. That it isn't quite time to put away the shorts, tanks, capris, skirts and flip flops. I'm not yet ready to retire that wardrobe, but alas, soon I will be pulling out the flannel pajamas, the sturdy shoes, the cozy sweaters and warming scarves. Soon the windows will be closed all the time, not just on those especially chilly evenings. Blankets will migrate out of their basket to laps and shoulders that are chilly. Soon I will be adorning my home with the decorations of my favorite season. I will be inhaling and cherishing my favorite smells. The comforting scent of Yankee's "Harvest" candle, the crisp, fresh autumn air each morning and evening as it bites at my nose and makes me smile and rewinds my memory to a distinct moment, walking to school one brisk morning when I was probably no older than 6 or 7.

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I still remember thinking that was the best smell I had ever smelled in my life. And that thought remains to this day. I was standing on the sidewalk in front of my house, under a big Cottonwood tree raining leaves of yellow. The air was thick with the autumn morning fog and smoke settling down among the chimneys. It was a combination of the smell of musky leaves, burning wood, and crisp freshness. A scent so difficult to describe, but so easy to recall. I will go back to that place, that time. Even if only for a brief moment. Then I will fast forward to now. To the present. To reality. There will be the fun of pumpkin patches, spiced cider, roasting pumpkin seeds. Leaves that change color seemingly overnight, the enjoyment I get as they crunch under my shuffling feet and that stinging sensation in my lungs resulting from a deep breath in when I walk out my door in the morning into that crisp, cool, invigorating air.

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I know that there are some major changes on the horizon and I pray that I will graciously and open-heartedly embrace them. Whatever they may be. Whatever they may bring with them. In the meantime, I will mourn and rejoice over the summer months and the experiences I've had. I will be thankful for the time, late nights and early mornings. For the hikes, hard and easy. For nature, rain and shine. For friends, new and old. I will cherish my remaining morning-tea-on-the-balcony times, walking-under-the-stars times and hiking-in-nature times. I will anticipate the donning of a cozy sweater, the smell of autumn air and the glory of the oh-so-colorful pumpkins scattered in the fields.

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I will prepare my heart for changes, I will say farwell to friends and I will encourage my loved ones to persevere 'Because things change. And friends leave. And life doesn't stop for anybody.'

To Gaze Up at the Stars

"Without a wish, without a will,

I stood upon that silent hill

And stared into the sky until

My eyes were blind with stars

and still I stared into the sky."

~Ralph Hodgson

This is my all-time favorite constellation. Always has been. Always will be. No.Matter.What.

When we used to be on the road, late at night, in Wyoming and Colorado (where, by the way, there was a lot of dark and vacant areas and lots of stars to be seen) I would watch for this constellation. I could always spot it. Always. It is another thing that anchors me. I could care less about the BIG Dipper or the little Dipper. They are great and all. But the one that I love, the one I look for is Orion. Who knows, maybe there is a subconscious draw towards the mighty hunter in the sky, always on the hunt or lookout for the next big thing...who knows.

But in analyzing this I decided to google "hunter" and lovely google decided to populate and give me "hunter personality types" as a search option. Who knew?! Not I, that is for darn sure. My psych degree and all. It is sort of interesting. Read about the Hunter Personality Type here! As I perused it I discovered that I possess some of these traits (not many though-and that is a stretch also), but even moreso, I am in awe of and respect people I know who do "fit" these traits more than I do. Maybe because I wish I could be more like that? Maybe?! Maybe it is just because I sometimes think these people are just a tad bit crazy? But then again, so am I. Who knows.

Who knows what draws my eyes up to the sky. I have always had a facination for the heavens. I love looking up to the sky no matter the time of day. Laying on the elementary school playground picking out items in the clouds, stargazing, watching for the summer thunderstorms brewing in the ominous looking sky and the lightning guaranteed to accompany the thunder. It all intrigues me. Hence, my reflecting on it tonight as I was walking out among the stars. I also recall some of my favorite star-gazing experiences. All time favorite: camping in Canada, during a burn ban season and seeing more stars than I could have ever imagined. Heaven-quite literally.

I decided for fun to include some of my favorite sky pictures. Ah, look up to the heavens the next chance you get! Really!

**originally written 8/16/10 and unposted until now :)

A Melting Heart...

...is what I had when I read the following correspondence that was a reply to a message I sent to a friend on Facebook:

Yes, it has been awhile! Great to hear from you.We are doing well and enjoying
the beautiful sunshine lately:) We would love to see you when you come down in
the fall. Keep me posted. Just have to tell you that any night I ask Nora if she
wants to pray for anyone before going to bed, it's always you. I'm sure she'll
be excited to see you too! And Carmen is almost 1 so you'll hardly recognize
her. Miss you and look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Do you remember THIS adorable 2 year old?! Well, I do! She is almost 3 now. And, apparently (to my elation) she remembers me! :)

What makes an excellent day at work?!

I'll show you:

~First, you have the two girls who planned an outing to the beach, with a handful of our old folks. And (here is the key) you leave work! (remember that little part about leaving work)

~Make sure you have a driver (so of course you can enjoy the ride rather than doing all the driving yourself).
~Then you take a day that had been forecasted to be full of the marine layer and no cloud parting until late afternoon. You surprise said girls who planned the outing, old folks who agreed to go on the outing and bus driver who scoped out a killer (outdoor) picnic location and then asks, "Do we have a Plan B?" in the Coast Range as her windshield wipers were going full blast; with this scene: BLUE skys. Warm sun. And just a touch of a coastal breeze. All from our killer picnic table location {which, by the way, I sincerely hope I can find again. It was perfect}!

~Here is where you eat and be merry with the old folks.

{I can't show this picture...confidentiality sake and all--just imagine it.}

~Then you let the girls get a little crazy, they jump up on the table for a quick picture before scurrying back to the bus. (After getting group and individual shots of the participants of course.) ~Then you take a picture of the bus at the beach. You've gotta get proof that you were there don't you?! {I did the same thing last year when we were at Timberline Lodge} ~Then you take the bus of old folks and head back to Portland. Of course, with the fresh air and fresh lunch in the bellies, afternoon naps must ensue. {I wish I could put participant nap pictures here, but alas you will just have to settle with Tera napping. I am cruel and always take a picture of whomever falls asleep in the bus. And, if anyone can catch me sleeping you are more than welcome to return the favor. Just for future reference.}
~You can't let a day meet the excellent standard without ice cream now can you? Never. So you must stop at Dairy Queen for a sweet treat.

~Finally, you return to work. And are greeted by fun artwork, left by jealous co-workers.

Ahhhhhhhhh, beach outing= Huge SUCCESS!

Lacamas Lake and a Sour Mood

I ventured up to Camas WA today to hike Lacamas Park. It took me forever to find it because I had neglected to look up more specific directions. I set out early so that I could get my hike in before the day got too hot (the forecast was for upper 90's)! By the time I found the park I was ready to go home. Not a positive way to start a hike. It was already warmer than I'd like and I just didn't have it in me. Needless to say, I pushed myself to start it. I'm glad I did because this was one of the most peaceful shots I could get. It was beautiful. Absolutely. There were kayakers on the water, the birds were singing and the ducks were enjoying the sun.

Too bad it didn't last. No, nature stayed the same, but I was still done with being there. So, I left. Yes, I completed about 2 miles and then hightailed it out of there. I made it about half way around Round Lake that you can see on the left side of the map.

Ah...what was wrong with me?! Oh well. I, at the very least, discovered an area that I will have to go back too. When I'm in the mood, of course.