A Day at the Beach

Caution  - caution! Lots of photos to follow! ::snort::

We took advantage of the unseasonably warm OR weather to head to the coast today!  The girls were working and BreZaak are otherwise occupied this week ::wink::.....but we still managed a crowd. We headed off with Mom, Dad, us and Lorri (my cousin) and YUUKI! We drove through Florence and stopped when Yuuki needed out....at the parking lot of Heceta Head Lighthouse.

deleted 3 other photos - trying to keep this manageable

 This seemed like a good place to stop. We knew the hike was an easy 1/2 mile to the lighthouse - comfortable for all. We had thought we'd drive on up to Newport and Depoe Bay but in the end decided this would work just as well. The aquarium would cost us over $100 to tour and this was $5.  It's an outdoor aquarium and rain was predicted. We'll do it when we are SURE we won't have to slog through the rain.

Lorri (cousin) and me

Leaves

Traveling Trio - Stacia, Alex and Nolan

Loved the view from the top 

Michael and me (De'Etta)

We enjoyed the tour. It turns out our tour guide is retired Air Force. Long after the tour was over, Michael and he continued to reminisce....he shared his thoughts about where we should eventually retire.  The kids spotted this creature in the water - we assume a sea lion as that is what the board suggested could be seen. I may have seen a whale blow - but I may have not. The views form the top are stunning.

Sea Lion 

After our tour and hike, lunch was next on our agenda. What better spot than HERE at the beach?

Evidently odd expressions while unloading picnics is genetic! 

Family picnic on the beach!

It didn't take Stacia long to begin constructing all manner of sand structures - lighthouses, oceans, volcanoes, butterflies etc.

Lighthouse

Lighthouse, channel, ocean, volcano - schooling at it's best 

Lorri was fascinated with the caves. We were too. She headed to a cave and we all chased her down and beat her to the cave.

Spelunkers

Lorri sees stars - right after she bonked her head

Playing on the beach is a natural

I say, "Jump." They say, "How high?" ::snort:: 

We really wanted to fly kites - but surprisingly there wasn't enough wind to really do this! 

"Run, De'Etta! There are pants following you!"  Things you don't expect to hear. 

Michael and the boys explored a second cave

Alex learned how slippery moss can be while exploring this cave! 

Dad/Grandpa napped

Lovely bridge

Hwy 101 is a gorgeous drive.

We drove back down Hwy 101 to Old Town Florence. We walked along the harbor and  visited a few shops.

Lorri and Stacia

Note the RV park in the back.....

 I love the sense of adventure our new lifestyle is birthing in our kids. Stacia was contemplative as we walked along the harbor. Finally, she said, "When we're done with the RV thing, we should move onto a boat and sail around for awhile...a new dream is born....EXCEPT I GET TERRIBLY MOTION SICK!

Is it possible? 

What a lovely day! No one got motion sick, we all had a great time. Sun-filled day - no rain at all! 

Update from Arielle

A letter from Arielle. 

Greetings earthlings!

This year has been one of many changes and transitions for me. In May, I graduated from high school. I spent the remaining month of May prepping for my move to Oregon to start college. In June, I had the pleasure of spending a week doing a VBS (Vacation Bible School) in Imuris, Mexico. It was amazing to bring smiles and laughter to all the kids! It was also fantastic to see all the friends I'd made the previous year when I had spent five weeks in Imuris. July found me moving up to Oregon then going back to California in August to celebrate my dad's retirement from the Air Force. After a whirlwind visit, I was back in Oregon moving into my new home, starting my first "real" job, and starting my first semester of college! Since then, I've met many amazing people, worked hard, cried hard, laughed hard and learned so many lessons I can't possibly cover all of them here! If I had to pick one thing God has been teaching me, I would have to say the power of joy. Sounds a lil' funny, huh? But it's true! He has shown me how joy can chase away darkness, give life to others, and get me through everything involved with "adulting."

This June, I have the pleasure of going to Imuris Kids Kingdom again with an awesome team! Imuris Kid’s Kingdom is a non-profit orphanage credentialed through Open Bible. They opened their doors fifteen years ago to the children of Mexico. Imuris Kid’s Kingdom normally has around thirty children staying with them. This orphanage is run like a large family. Imuris Kid’s Kingdom is also a community center and a support for the local single moms. The youth that live there are placed there by the government after being taken out of abusive homes or off the streets. Imuris is also unique in that they are one of the few orphanages who gladly take in teenagers. In fact, a large percentage of the children are teenagers. I'll be spending a week there doing another VBS, spreading God's joy and showing God's love to the orphanage and surrounding community. 

And guess what?!? You can get involved too! Prayers are always needed and appreciated. Pray for a safe trip there and back. Pray that all the details will come together. Most of all, pray that lives will be touched and changed by God's love. Another way you can help is through your donations. Money for traveling expenses and supplies would be a huge blessing! Donations can be sent to Lively Stone Fellowship with my name, Arielle Go. (3791 Pattison St Eugene OR 97402T; Tax ID number 90-0345290 donations are tax deductible) We are also collecting cans and bottles!

Thank for your time, prayers and donations!
Sincerely,
Arielle Go

Note if you do not know Arielle's last name and would like to send a donation for her, feel free to email me at dschoosingjoy@gmail.com and I'll supply her name. We just don't publish our last name on the blog. 

Bella is One Week Old

Bella turned a week old today. BreZaak sent photos of her first bath! What a cutie! 

Hello, Bright Eyes! 

Repairs and Exploration

Michael designated today to be a day to work on repairs. Nothing big - little things rattle loose or need tending to. The top  of our board shows repairs and fixes in the works and the bottom half show things we'd like to do before we leave this area in 2 weeks and 2 days. 

Last week he repaired the toilet seal - today he found the silicon grease to lubricate the new seal. I suspect I need to find a bleach free toilet cleaner as the seal is plastic and that may be why it gave out.

One night I flipped on the bathroom fan and heard a LOUD, CRACKING sound....every plastic blade on the overhead fan had shattered. The new fan is now installed and working well.

We twisted the awning's arm our first trip out - in 2007. Michael took it apart today to see if it could be welded or if he should buy a new arm. Then he put it back together until the new arm arrives. It will be fantastic to have an awning....if we aren't near wind, rain and tornadoes.

We have some special stabilizers Michael installed....and they worked well. However, 7 1/2 months of full-timing and we're noticing a lot of movement....it feels a  like 5.4 quake when Nolan rolls over at night. ::snort:: Michael has been considering the next step. We really don't want to  put a lot of money into this trailer as we save for a new rig. Michael borrowed some jack stands from Dad and put them under the frame by the wheels. It helps - a lot. So we'll be buying some jack stands this week.

7 1/2 months and the command hooks over the stove are falling off the wall. Michael checked to see what sort of clearance there is between the side of the wall by the stove and the fridge. Enough that he's comfortable putting screws in for a more permanent fix.  I hang utensils and hot pads etc from the hooks.

While he visited RV supply stores and did repairs, the kids did table school (year round duty), Nolan had Japanese Lessons, we finished up Joni  and I baked bread. I decided we'd be home long enough for me to try to do 6 loaves - 3x the normal baking day in the Caboose.

Fake out bread ::wink::

It takes a lot of time to grind wheat  for a triple load of baking with the vitamix....but I was juggling all well. I had two loaves in the oven....and the second bath of dough was ready to be shaped when I realized my error. I only have TWO bread pans in the caboose (and no cookie sheets)....because that's all that will fit in the oven.  Thanks for the suggestions on the Facebook page. I ended up making three free form fake out loaves. Michael was excited to see sourdough bread - but it's not. ::snort::

The Caboose was like a giant oven after having the oven at 375 for hours of baking.....after dinner we headed out to explore the area. We took a new road and found ourselves at Mill Creek Park.....

Bird watching and um...people watching too

We headed over to Island Park - we'll have to do this in an afternoon. It's a very relaxing spot. 

It's been a great day. We're ending the night with a game or two of Flashpoint.