Oregon Trail

We are now in week three of our trip!  It is at the point when it has only been two weeks but sort of feels like 2 months.   Our second week was spent in Oregon.  We spent 4 days on the Oregon coast and four days in the Portland area.

On the coast we stayed in Florence, Oregon with friends of Mike's family.  The drive to their home on Route 38/138 was arguably our prettiest drive yet, complete with an elk sighting.  Paul and Vicki allowed us to park Hope in their driveway and set up rooms for us and the kids in their lovely home.  We were very spoiled with fish n' chips at Mo's, walks on the sand dunes and beach and even a pontoon boat ride on Lake Mercer.

Our favorite activity however, was the ride they took us on over the sand dunes.  I have always heard the term, "dune buggy" but until last week had never had seen one before (a dune or a buggy).  We went for an hour long ride over miles and miles of sand dunes built up along the Oregon coast.  The guide explained that it is the only place that has forest, sand, and both fresh and salt water.  It is such a unique place.

As we were heading out for our ride, I couldn't help feel the excitement that comes with a brand new experience.  I had no idea what to expect or where we were going.   The past two weeks have been physically and mentally draining as we are learning, traveling and navigating so many new things with living an RV life.   However, it is these iconic and brand new experiences that make up for all the hard.   Three years ago I was in my last month of chemotherapy treatments, and when I started chemo the way ahead was daunting. It felt like that season was going to last forever.  We took it one day at a time and tried not to think about how long it was going to take to finish.  God was right in our midst though, we felt and saw his presence constantly.  All I wanted was to finish chemo and move onto the next part of the treatment plan.  God wanted more.  He wanted this trip. This trip was born during that year of cancer.  So when all we saw were IV's, mammograms, and medications he saw us in a dune buggy on the Oregon coast. He saw us walking over the Golden Gate Bridge too.  This trip is making up for the hard that was cancer.  Such is the nature of God's grace.

We've been hearing how "lucky" we are, that we had this trip planned before anyone knew what COVID-19 was.   People have told us that we're "living their dream life."  This time in history is unlike any other, and I think most people could agree that life is hard right now.   But I would argue there is a spark for opportunity.  An opportunity for your future that you may not see yet.   For now, all we can see are masks, closures and case numbers but God has something for you in all of it.  Ask him what it is. Listen for his voice.  He will lead you, and only he can see what's around your corner...

We rounded out our trip on the Oregon trail in Portland.  We saw dear friends of mine, Jodi and Dani and their precious kids.  We went to the best farmer's market in Beaverton, hiked in Forest Park and picked blueberries (all 8lbs of them).  Our last night Mike's former SEAL buddy Craig and his wife Kari hosted us for dinner and we spent hours talking and trying not to get squirted by water guns from the kids. We were so blessed by spending time with you all.

Off to Washington! Until next time...

Much aloha,

Nani