Last weekend in July

This week I had Wednesday and Thursday off, I was so excited after working for eight days straight including IPNC, to finally have a few days to myself. I decided I wanted to spend some time with my Jared so after my exam on Tuesday night I hit the road and headed South to Eugene. I left a little after 7:15 p.m. and I had the most amazing drive. Once the sun started to lower down the colors of the sky were breathtaking. The dry hot air (106 degrees that day but only 95 at 9p.m. in JC) combined with the farmland made for amazing pictures. I wish I had been able to find my camera battery charger so unfortunately I was not able to take any pictures of the amazing splendor God created. So...I did a Google images search of sunset (and sunrise for my drive back to work this morning) and included them in to help give a scene of the beauty (most are not even of Oregon let along along my drive on Hwy 99W) The sky was full of pink, purple, orange, yellow, and all shades of blue.

During my drive back this morning (I left at 5:45 a.m. VERY EARLY) I was able to see the sky pinken up with the starting of the sunrise. Once the sun peaked over the Coberg Hills it was a vibrant shade of pink. These pictures can't even really express how pretty it was.


In addition to having a wonderful driving trips back and forth I was also able to hear some great songs on the radio, at some point I might start posting play lists of the top songs I hear. But for now lets just leave it that there were some great ones.

Jared and I went out to a brew pub (Hop Valley)we had not eaten at before and I had an amazing cheese stake sandwich and a pretty darn good sex on the beach for my cocktail.

On Wednesday I wanted to go get some Cafe' Yumm for lunch but as usual I took the wrong turn at the Delta and Beltline and ended up at the mall. But I remembered I had a gift card for Barns and Noble so I spend about 2 hours perusing the books. I did good, I made it out with only 5 books :) Afterwards I finally did make it to lunch. YUMMY!




I have started reading Julie & Julia and I am really enjoying it so far. I will keep you posted.

Wednesday evening Jared and I went out for Race Night at the shop. Good times with yummy pizza and wonderful girl chat time with Tracy. I loved being able to catch up with her, we used to be much closer but with life getting busier for both of us we have slightly drifted, but when we are able to reconnect it is wonderful.

Thursday I met up with Carrie for lunch and a movie Ghosts of Girlfriends Past which was pretty cute




All in all the weekend was great. It was so nice to be able rest up and read good books while in the comfort of AC when it was 106 outside. Jared and I were able to have some good snuggles and talks and enjoy several good meals. However, now it is time to go back to a week of work.

John Day Trip '09

During the last weekend of June I was able to travel over to John Day Oregon to see my Best Friends since first grade. We had not seen each other since she came to my graduation party over in Corvallis and that was four years ago. Since then we both attended college and graduated with our Bachelors degrees. On Thursday evening my boss was trying to figure out tasks for us to work on while he had Friday off but he was running low on ideas. Jokingly I offered to work tell 10 a.m. when the others started their shift and then head out, he agreed. As soon as I got off work I called Amelia and we planned it all out, the next day I drove to work so as soon as I got off work I could hit the road.

Almost six hours later I was in the arms of my best bud.

It was so wonderful to be able to get my Milly hugs after so long. God has truley blessed our friendship, even though we don't talk as often as we would like we were able to pick up right were we left off and probably did not stop talking for the whole weekend I was there.

Milly asked me what I would really like to do on Sunday and I mentioned that Magoon lake sounded like a blast. It had been around 9 years since I had last been there (I got lost on my last attempt and did not make it). Shelia, Milly, and I headed out about mid morning and spent the day basking in the sun, eating lunch, floating in the snow melt water, and reading books.

We had our photo shoot...

Even of each other taking pictures.....

Oh the sun babes...before the burns

Our nap on the beach was great, it even lent to a good picture opportunity




I had not been back to Grant County since I attended a wedding and then the funeral of a dear friends father three years ago, and before that it had been several years since I had been back after moving away. I did not leave on the best of terms with the county however I am so very thankful that after this trip I feel confident that enough time has passed and with the mighty power of God I am now able to appreciate the area in all it's beauty. On this trip I was able to finally look into the mountains and remember the good times and not just those of pain, I can drive down certain streets without my gut churning in anguish. I have been able to move on, and forgive, maybe not forget but I can honestly say that I do not hold the hard feelings I once had for the inhabitance of the small community. The lush green beauty of the landscape and the cool blue water of the lake, and the soft pale blue tints to the sky helped bring about healing. The land is not God-forsaken as I had once felt due to all the pain and hurt I experienced there, no, God has a plan for His people in the area and I am thankful I am able to release my anger and look back with compassion.

Thank You God,
I needed this trip for the break from work, the friendship reconnecting, and the healing, but most of all thank you for meeting me there where I needed you most.