and I didn’t even know it! Why am I hitting a server in Potomac, MD? I’m not in Potomac, but my PC appears to be – appears but really isn’t either. Oh well, must stop trying to figure it out.
9 July 2009
Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains, about 10 days ago.
7 July 2009
A little insight into the life of someone with cancer: http://beanygetsablog.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/what-can-you-do/
There are many things my church does not do well, but one thing we do very well is supporting those in need. A few of our own have entered personal battles with cancer and things yet unknown. This post referenced above provides some insight from a young woman who has been there. I thought it was worth sharing.
7 July 2009
This is the bottom of the altar frontal at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle. More photos from the adventure to come.
5 July 2009
the is NO place like home, with your peeps.
The Pilgrims arrived home this evening to a wonderful homecoming complete with balloons, flowers and signs!
Kitties are very happy I’m home. I’m sure they will be right by my side for a long time to come.
I have the best friends EVER! They came to the airport, bundled me up and brought me home. There was a little malt beverage for re-entry – yum! E drove me home, C&D met us at the house with the cooler that has travelled many miles.
Now, I am in the house alone, about to take a long shower with a modicum of fresh, unlike the showers of the last three days. Open air showers and sleeping in tee-pee – - those days are over. It was okay, but I’m done with that for now, thanks.
Many thanks to all who came to meet us! We are so loved and so thankful to be home!
3 July 2009
yes, I said CAMPING! that’s what we are doing. I DON’T CAMP! It’s not that I can’t its that I choose not too – and since I live in America, I get to choose.
But alas, I am camping, in a tee-pee. There is a concrete floor and we have bed frames with a plank of plywood and a gym mat and a sleeping bag and a hostel sheet. We are OUTDOORS! but, I am sitting on my bed with WiFi!! So, life’s not THAT bad.
Also, these kids are (usually) awesome – although I hear them laughing right now. Tomorrow we’ll go to have a tour of the cathedral and then to Pike Place Market. We send Miss C home on Saturday – on the 4:50 ferry! Ok, we don’t send her, we take her to the airport. Then we come home on Sunday.
Kinda ready – especially because of the camping… ready to be back in my life. Things are happening right now and I really want ot be there, but its actually good that I’m here with one kid who just really doesn’t need to be home right now. Another God-incidence. They happen all of the time.
Time for sleep then more fun tomorrow… Peace.
28 June 2009
Gonna list stuff today – mention as they come to mind.
1. Church was amazing! First we got the kids to church at 8 AM. As with many parished, the early service is not used to teens at that hour – so we were noticed.
The sermon was about miracles and why they happen and or maybe don’t and why some prayers are answered and what happens if our prayers are not answered and many other things. With some of the things our kids are dealing with in their familes right now, this hit hard. I went up for laying on of hand with two of the youth – and a bunch of the folks from the church came up and there were many hands, quite a few tears and so much love it was hard to take.
These people were amazing. So welcoming, that it was overwhelming. They kept commenting about how wonderful the kids were (they really were).
2. Driving up to Hurricane Ridge, 17 miles and approx 5200+ foot elevation gain, we were passing a cyclist on his way up. He was walking, bare foot and walking his bike. I immediately pulled over (I was sure he wasn’t hiding any consealed weapons in his bike outfit). He had two flat tires and his team didn’t realize he was left behind so he was walking. He’d been walking for about an hour and no one had stopped! I still don’t understand that! So we gave Misha a ride up, found his friends and left him with them – they had spare tubes.
Maybe I stopped because I’m a cyclist? But no one stiopped for an hour!?! He had blisters on his feet from walking. He was so thankful. Maybe it was my paying the kindness we’d received in the morning. I just could not leave him.
3. After picking Misha up, we then saw a bear scrambling up a hill – I was thankful he was in the car with us. He commented that might have been a good thing he was with us.
So we saw the bear, a bunch of deer (separately thus not a herd), chipmunk, mountain goat, a hawk we think. So, lots of wild animals.
4. Pretty yummy mexican food for din. Tomorrow we head to Winthrop via Whidbey Island and the North Cascades Highway.
28 June 2009
So, Day 3 is complete. We are safe and sound in Sequim (pronounced Squim). Tomorrow, church at 8AM – I tell ya, these yutes and younger grups are troopers!! Then we’ll go up to Hurricane Ridge.
I’m happy that the kids seem to be having a great time. We mix up who is in which van by drawing lots (as it were). They are handling it ok – we don’t want cliques to form.
Yesterday, I was riding with B and I started being, well, myself – which at times is pretty darned goofy. Then I confessed to B that one of the reasons I love traveling with C&D is that they already KNOW I’m crazy. By working with different adults in the church, well, they are learning my secret. I said “So B, I’m going to have to kill you .” He gave a rather hearty laugh – I think I caought him off guard. His daughter was on the first trip our church did. But I’m still going to have to kill him – too many people are learning this about me – it must stop. Oh, and um, all of you reading this – yeah, you’re next!
Anyhow, we gave the kids the option of going to the Hoh (hey, who you callin’ oh never mind) the option of going to the Hoh Rain Forest. If they didn’t want to go, we didn’t have to… They all said, let’s go! They had a blast! We took a 2 or so mile hike to the rivers edge (yes, and 2 miles back). There are pictures at graceontheroad.wordpress.com. We were there about 30-45 minutes, skipping rocks, throwing then across the river, watching “Leroy and Lunch” – miniature wild kingdom for real.
So, I miss my peeps and pets, but these kids are amazing. They are growing each and every day - they are still goofy teens. I see growth where some have said there can be none. I still have faith – I always have. We’ve had to use some claritan, benadryl, neosporin and bandaids – and yes, its just day 3.
Tomorrow – the ridge and some hiking, some quiet time in God’s creation – some more community time… The mural is coming along – just remember, I am not responsible! Miss home – but this little ppiece of home is very good!
24 June 2009
sniff – she’s leaving… but she’ll be back.
22 June 2009
Ya, the one in my car is broke!
Might be time for a new car sooner rather than later…
