Oregon, you are an incredibly beautiful state! We came on such a gorgeous day. Driving through miles of country to get from Portland to Seaside had to be one of the most amazing drives I've had in a long time. And this is coming from the girl who grew up in Alaska and lives an hour from the California coast. I can type that probably because of all the stunning scenery we drove through with bursting, warm sunlight! I didn't have my camera handy and even if I had, I don't think it would have done justice to our view.
Farms, rolling green hills, red barns, steep jagged hills, HUGE tall Evergreen trees, an expansive blue sky. Our Creator God is amazing in His landscapes. I think it is the Alaska in me that has come to deeply appreciate raw, gorgeous, outdoor beauty. It's breath-taking and Oregon was no different.
And then we got to the coast. Wow! I could look at it all day long. I'm jealous of where my sister lives. Truly spectacular. {scenery pictures courtesy of Jen Howell}
But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. The details of the trip actually start at 4am. The time Matt and I chose to set our alarms that morning. Bags were packed and ready to grab, showers taken, girls up and dressed, ready to be put into Papa's waiting van headed for Burbank airport. Everything went so smoothly. The night before Matt reminded me how with each traveling adventure we've taken we are quick to bicker, complain or nitpick at each other. We stopped to pray for ourselves, asking that the Lord would help us remember to be at peace with each other and to have lots of patience. In His kindness He answered our prayers right before our eyes.
And then we arrived at the Southwest check-in counter.
Who knew? We sure didn't! Too bad it wasn't written in BIG BOLD LETTERS across the website that your child must be UNDER the age of 2 to ride free. Yep! As you know from THIS blog post awhile back, we usually fly on Alaska Airlines for our traveling needs. Their policy on kiddos' flying free is anyone under 3. Not so with Southwest. Needless to say it was a big shock to get to the counter and find out we had to pay for a whole other ticket, not to mention our concern of there being room on both flights we were just about to board. Talk about stress! A definite opportunity to be really frustrated/discouraged/bummed. But again, God was gracious and gave us a wonderful Southwest ticket agent who honored the price we had previously paid and did all the quick research to find out it wouldn't be a problem to add one more passenger to the flight(s). He also gave us the right hearts to hold our tongues and not gripe with each other about somehow missing that important information. Our God is so kind to help us fight sin...even in tense situations, in airports, with unbelievers {our children included} watching how we react, even when we've started the day at 4am!
From there we held, played with, entertained and distracted our two girlies until 1:45pm when we finally were driving away from the Portland airport in our cute and NEW Toyota Camry {bummer that I didn't get a picture of it}. Matt and I both had so much fun driving a new car!
Our girls were tired and super hungry so a quick stop at McDonald's (the only thing we could find...but to be honest we weren't really that picky because of how much the girls had endured up to this point) and then an hour and a half drive to our little vacation home in Seaside!
This little home that we stumbled upon through the website vrbo.com {vacation rental by owner} was a sweet blessing from the Lord. We had no idea how much we would love it, how perfect it would be as a central hang out place for friends and family and how we would want to put it in our bags and bring it home with us to California! If/when we go back to Seaside to see Diana and Stephen {before Memorial Day weekend ;)} you can bet that we will be back!!
After arriving, quickly settling in and saying a warm hello to almost all my family...I was back on the road {this time by myself in our way cool rental car} headed to Cannon Beach to celebrate Bachelorette style with the bride-to-be and her closest friends and bridesmaids! It was a super late night but we had lots of fun loving on the future Mrs. Andersen.
Diana and Karlene...Diana's first roommate after leaving Alaska to attend Ecola Bible School in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Diana was the best sport with all the antics her
sister Cathryn had planned for her that night!
Half way through our evening Kris and Jenny Howell arrived in Cannon Beach!! It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about how wonderful it was to see them after 5 1/2 years! I love them so much!
Our big sister finally together with us again!!! This picture would be
complete if only Kelly were in it! :(
She was still on the road traveling at this point.
(*Sidenote: Jenny isn't technically our sister by blood. 18 years ago she was the high school senior who watched my sisters and I at a church sponsored event while our parents got away for a day of Christmas shopping. We bonded instantly, she was adopted in as one of our own and as they say...the rest is history!)
These 3 sweet gals are Diana's besties from growing up in Alaska together. Diana was the last of the four to get married and Mayerly, Natalie and Emily traveled the distance to be there and support her.
So special to see them all together!
Next up:
Oregon pt 2 and 3!
