Good-bye's

What is it about saying 'good-bye' that makes people feel closer?  As I drove away from my families house with tears in my eyes I felt that we had become closer in the process of saying good bye.  Maybe it's the tears.  Maybe it's the acknowledgement of good times, love, memories.  As much as I don't like saying good-bye, I like feeling closer to those I've said good-bye to.  

Tuesday night farmers market/family fun

Happy counselors!

The Mountains

one of my favorite pics - happy campers!  :)

family singing at dinner

from Bozeman to Portland and back

Awhile back I received a phone call from my friend Susan inviting me to go to Portland with her and Josephine.  Susan was running a crazy 197mile relay race from Mount Hood to Seaside, Oregon and she wanted me to hang out with Josephine.  This was my chance to have a vacation after a full summer.  Andrew joined Josephine and I as our partner in crime and chauffer.  It was a amazing race.  Andrew and I were also able to see our favorite Oregonian Aunt & Uncle.  I was also able to reconnect with some dear friends from undergrad.

On our way to Mount Hood

The relay team ready for the next 197 miles

Andrew, Jo, and I all went to a outdoor activity park while the runners were running.

Our favorite activity of the day!  A bunjee/trampoline!

 Andrew and I wandered our way home stopping at a rose garden, camping in Idaho at an RV park and stopping at an old used bookstore. It was a great trip of reconnecting with old friends and family.  My hope is it's only the first of other trips to Portland to come....

6 weeks in...

Roadtrip!

The end of the story: I made it safely to Montana! 

Now, no one is allowed to ask how the following pictures were taken.  Theoretically, they were taken in a stopped car with a steady hand.  :)

Now for the beginning of the story, 

 I began with fresh flowers for a friend in Chicago that ended up accompanying me all the way to Montana.  Some were left in Scottsbluff, NE with the Webers and the remainders graced us with their presence at the dinner table tonight in Montana.

The road began with Iowa. 

Iowa City (where I saw Kris Allen - the American Idol), Des Moines (where I stayed for the night), and then proceeded on to Nebraska.

My spontaneous moment in Nebraska was stopping at this lovely settlers house.  I have no idea why I was so intrigued, but I was!  I was driving along THE Oregon Trail!!  Remember the computer game from grade school?!  I couldn't help but be enthralled with the idea of covered wagons trekking across the scenery I was driving through.

After spending the night at the Weber's, while talking on the phone to Susan I drove by this monument and loved it. 

And then I saw what it said and I loved it even more.  :)

In Wyoming I had to stop and do some exploring in Douglas, Wyoming in honor of my dear friend Doug.  This view was worth the stop. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the road.  The scenery.  The sky!  (Pardon the smashed bugs on the window).

There were many mountains that I felt snuck out of nowhere and all the sudden I found myself crying.  It happened twice! In Wyoming and Montana...I'm innocently driving along and...Wa La!...mountains in my face!  Unfortunately there are no pictures, I just could not get them to do justice.

I am here!  The roadtrip to Montana is finished.  May the adventures continue!

On the road

It's commonly thought that leaving is easier than being left.  Yet today, I found it particulary hard to leave.  I was going to leave for Montana yesterday, then I was going to leave this morning at 6am, finally at 10:30am I rolled onto Lake Cook Road headed towards the highway.  I decided to be silent for the first couple hours, which was good.  It did not take long for the tears to roll down.  I am looking forward to this summer in Montana for a million reasons, yet the tears were a affirmation of the love I have in Chicago. I am confident that God is going to do a good work this summer in Montana.  I look forward to telling you all about it. 

Lastly...some highlights from the car trip thus far

• Tyler Perry's book on tape - I am laughing out loud in my car!
• The Hoover Memorial library in West Branch, IA
• A doppio con panna (coffee) at the Java House in Iowa City
• Seeing Kris Allen (yes, the American idol!) walk infront of my car in Iowa City!  :)
• The green hills and trees as back drop to the trip
• A good run tonight at the hotel before crawling into bed.

Profile Pic

One of my most beloved readers reminded me that I needed to post pictures still...below area few favorite memories from the graduation weekend!

And yes, I have a camera now thanks to my lovely parents!  Woot!

Dad with some of his biggest fans!

Once Granny arrived, the cooking drastically improved!




In the city we played with the new camera in the Cheesecake Factory...

 

Post-Grad

What a whirlwind! I am all graduated.  It was a wonderful weekend!

Pictures are to come. 

But in case you were wondering, the graduation is final.

Great is thy faithfulness, O' God my Father!