Beach trip

Andy took work off on Friday.  He didn't want the people in his office to bombard him with birthday wishes.  To celebrate another year of his life we drove to the ocean.  We took the beautiful scenic routes of Cornelius pass and talked about life overseas and mutual high school friends. 

Our first stop was at Fort Stevens. It was overgrown with decayed rust and weeds.  The sparrows had taken control of any flat surface and corner for their eclectic mud nests.  We wandered around taking pictures and playing with his Nikon.  

Next we drove south down coastal high way to Seaside.  Over the years it's changed so much but at different intersections I could make out the skeleton of memories from high school. The beach wasn't very inviting so we walked up and down the rustic beach homes.  As we did I made mental notes on what features I liked.  The welcoming front entrance, the big open windows, the smaller homes that could be defined as a cottage.  

Our third stop was to Cannon beach.  Where we also walked in neighborhoods around the beach.  We stopped for some beer at the pub and got a sampler so I could taste all the different kinds.  I would take a dainty sip and after each one was reaffirmed that I don't like beer. 

  

Andy enjoyed the time and it was good for him to get out of the office for the day.  Everyone needs an escape especially on their birthday.  

I've continued having a wonderful time at home.  I've gotten to go to a vineyard church that my friend Andy goes to. Last night I went to the homegroup and felt freedom and refreshing.  I left encouraged about my time in Nigeria that it wasn't waste.  I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that he is attracted to any level of desire in me.  Even the smallest flicker of a match or the a raging bonfire, both attract him as he can't deny any level of desire from us.  This encouraged my heart and I began to see the year in Nigeria and all of the times I was pushing in and trying to connect and trying to be with him. He encouraged me that this was a job well done.  And at the end they prayed for me and I one guy got a vision of me being a bow and arrow. the bow was being pulled back to be released and this year I've felt that the progress had been really slow and even seemed like I was going backward instead of forward but that God was going to be releasing it soon.  At one point there was a girl there would shared something on her heart because of a movie she had watched about South Africa and I felt that similar stir in my heart and this desperateness to return to Africa and this reconfirmation that I am called there and that no matter how much I love the freedom of America and the ease of the culture it probably is just for a season.  This was reassuring as I've not felt this passion for Africa for a while.  I'm excited for what God is doing and this church and homegroup has reassured me that the balance of the word and the spirit can be achieved.  I've been breathing deeply of this knowing I fully need to be restored and refreshed.

Mike comes to visit on Wednesday! I'm thrilled!  We will spend some time down here in Portland and then we will also be driving up North to Tacoma. I don't want to overwhelm him with new people and would rather he connect with those most important to me so I'm trying to arrange for a picnic at the waterfront with three of my favorite couples.  I know it will be magical.  

Days filled

It's been a busy couple of days but the days have been full with my favorite adventures. I got to go to the local farmers market and eat a fresh market dinner of salmon and potatoes and asparagus. We took a walk around my neighborhood and enjoyed the sounds of birds and owls stating their ever but hidden presence. I got to go on a hike with Tommy at Forest Park which is a beautiful inner city trail system which makes you feel lost in a forest millions of miles away from the actual hustle and bustle of the city. I got to spend a little time browsing the full bookshelves at my favorite book store Powells where the books take up a whole city block. I got to reconnect with lost friends over the pinks and blues of a baby shower. I got to go to church and feel the presence of God again and drink deeply of it's sweetness and get charged up by hearing the spoken word of God. I got to watch a movie on a huge wide screen while curled up on the couch and stuffed with strawberry shortcake. I've gotten to teach Mike about baby showers and bridal showers and laugh when he tells me with all seriousness that he has to learn about those "programs" because we might need to be having one some day. I loved that he called them programs showing me how new the concept really was to him.

Fearless

I just felt so in love with life today and so in love with each gift of my sparkle Diamonds today. We spent most of our Wednesday at the local Fun Factory. They had a huge tall bouncy slide at the factory and I went down it with Moji who was frozen at the top with fear. We skidded down and I thought that once was enough for me. It was hot and our sweaty bodies stuck to it creating painful rug burns. But, those kids are fearless. They take huge leaps and tumble down with wide eyes. At one point they sprayed water on the slide and piled extra tumble mats below. This made the children slip down with great ease. I was cracking up watching their landings and their reactions. Their faces would be twisted up with fear and anticipation of their upcoming tumbled landings but they would crash and stagger up stunned, pause for a second and then yell "That was ggggrrreat! I'm going to do it again!"