Ingredients of me hiking

Here is me on a hike

Best camp chair ever! 

And all the components

Oh course the camera, not pictured for some reason is a given, as is the rain coat that I was able to leave out this one day a year, but never am I usually without it!

Solitude

What a wonderful thing, I forget this. I went camping this weekend with my young married small group, and what fun! Great conversation and connecting with people! It was wonderful, but during the day they were all headed to climb Mt Pilchuck and after a very long stressful and tiring week, and having climbed it recently I opted out. I did however want to do a little hike, but not one that was 2000 ft up is all! :-) And I was a little stressed about teaching woman at church the next day and feeling less prepared than I wanted to. So I headed to a Tiny hike to Bear Lake. Its less than 1/2 mile I think, so great to lug up some heavy books and sit by a lake and study etc. But when I got to the trail-head it had moved, down the road about 2 miles in fact. There was a wash out on the road. I had no idea how far at the time so I started walking, ended up with a perfect easy walk along a road, and the last bit on the trail, sat at the lake, even had some worship music on me, didn't see a soul, but sparkling water, glimpse of snow caped peaks, and birds and bugs all along the way.

 I walked away realizing I had no memory of the last time I was alone, I live in a house full on people, my husband is home when I leave and when I get home, we are spending every spare moment with people before we move, all wonderful but complete solitude is a great thing non and then.
I realized when I started working full time I much I had gotten used to being home in the house alone during the day and its odd now not to have that time built into my life, so I have to find the time to make sure it happens. I came alway feeling as if I had spent a day at the spa, thought maybe less clean, but completely refreshed!

Road Trip!

The details of moving are slowly falling into place. We just found out we will need to drive from Seattle to VA for the move. This is nice because it will be fun, I also feel like its a nicer transition to slowly go across country then to fly is a harsh break from one place to another. Maybe this makes no scene but it does to me! :-) It also solves all my "what can I get in a suitcase on a plane" issues with moving. Now whatever fits in my car can go with me which will make storing all the household goods (HHG) until we are able to buy a house much easier. As I can bring a pot and pan and bedding etc in the car easily. So thats one less stress, "how do I get it all in my suitcase and underweight" was weighing on my mind. The airlines keep lowering the weight limit!

For those of you that might be along the way it would be fun to know if you are near our route. I can't promise my husband will let me stop to see you but I can do what I can. If it were up to me I would stop at every historical marker and touristy thing along the way not to mention seeing every person I have ever met before and lives anywhere near, and we would get there next year sometime, but he wanted to do 12 hours a day and spend more time in Cali with family, so we are aiming at 8 hours a day so we have some room to make some stops and still get there in hopefully 5 days (from LA).

So the plan: We will go from Seattle through Vancouver and hope to see some of you there, even if just for a meal, then to Sacramento to see cousins (hope thats cool, if you are reading this its the first you have heard of it, so I will call to check dates etc) then on to LA to see hubby's sis who is due with number three Aug 27th I think, so if the baby cooperates we will get to see the new niece or nephew before heading off! (also if you are reading this its the first you have heard, we won't be planing to stay with you don't worry, but if we can be of help babysitting we will be happy to) Then we will take the I-40 across Ca and AZ to the Grand Canyon, from there through Flagstaff, Albuquerque to Amarillo (all on I-40), next day from TX to Memphis TN or so, and then we hope to make it from there on the I-81 and through VA on some Hwy's to "home" in VA the last day.


View Larger Map

If you know of any exciting points of interest along this route let me know! But it can't be to far off the beaten track or we would get off schedule, and we can't have that!

Sunny Days

250. Beautiful Sunny days in Seattle

251. Gods providing in ways we can't imagine
252. New adventures
253. Blue water, snow caped peaks, green grass, good conversation with my man
254. Bumping into old friends unexpectedly!
255. A husband that serves
256. Catching up with a friend over a nice dinner with sun and ocean behind
257. Girl dates! :-)
258. Full calender with friends and family
259. Not taking things for granted

Moving

Well its official, I didn't want to say anything until I told my boss and people at work, but we are moving. Brian has been offered an amazing job in VA. So we are off. He will start Sept 12th so we have a little time, but its going quick and my calender is so full already getting everything and everyone in I don't know how I will make it. I have a feeling I will be thrilled to go when all is said and done so I can have some peace and quiet after two crazy months. 


Some of you I am sure are dieing for details so I will give some. Brian will be working for Nav Sea which is a division of the Navy that does among other things weapons development. he will be a Mathematician for them doing computer programing and applied math etc. We don't know a ton of details but it will be great experience and I am sure he will learn lots. He will graduate Aug 20th, and I am guessing we will move just after labor day. We will be about an hour and 20 min South and East of DC, so if you want to tour the capital do come stay. You might need to give us a few months to find a house first though. We will be, as it is a navy base, on or very near the water. East of Fredericksburg if you want to check out the map. 

We are sad to leave Seattle and family and friends but excited for the new adventure to come. More than anything I feel so completely overwhelmed by Gods amazing goodness and blessing. Brain was headhunted and for him not to have to go through what I did in job hunting is worth the world. God is good, and his provision is beyond what I could have ever imagined. His plan has turned out so much better than my wildest dreams time and time and time again so that I am so excited to see what He has in store this time. It is as ever something I never could have imagined for us which to me is usually the best thing.  I would love for you to join me in praying over the community He has for us, the ministry we will find to be used in and the people who will bless us and who we hope to be able to bless. 


We are also very much looking forward with anticipation to many of you visiting us! Hint Hint! Homes are amazingly affordable, as compared to Seattle anyway so we should have lots of room for visitors! 

If you are reading this and know anything about the area, churches, shoppings, Realtors etc please please contact me or leave me a comment. I have never been there and am gleaning as much info as I can!