And so we come to my final entry. Three weeks - 8,000 miles. I can't believe we drove so far and discovered so much in such a short period of time. I'm sad the reliving is done, just as I was nine years ago.
Time to see how it all turned out.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
We maneuvered the winding highway through the Shasta National Forest and anticipation filled me. When we stopped in the small mountain town of Weed my eagerness intensified. We were almost home!
While high in the Siskiyou Mountains we passed a sign that said, "Welcome to Oregon." We'd arrived in our home state and it felt good. Yet, the best was yet to come. We descended into a valley north of the Siskiyou Mountains where golden hills cast in shadows and surrounded by forests welcomed us.
We continued north,, navigating familiar mountains. The evergreens were taller, their girth greater, and the forests were dense with Douglas Fir and Cedar. The final few miles we traveled from Roseburg to Glide were a balm to my need for home. Sheep and cattle grazed on honey-colored hills and the colorful oak and dark thick forests shouted, HOME!
In spite of all the grandeur, beauty, and fascinating people and sites we've encountered the last three weeks, there's just no place like home. Fall arrived while we were gone. The air is cool and the smells of evergreen and overripe blackberries welcome me. Before leaving for church today, I stepped onto my front porch and savored the morning crispness and the mists hanging over the meadow in front of my house.
As I contemplate our journey it's clear that God favored us with His presence and His mercy throughout our adventure. He revealed to us so much of Himself and His creation. We felt His protection and took comfort in the prayers of our friends.
A cross country trip may seem a small thing to some (after all we didn't travel to the other side of the planet), but I'm changed. Travel isn't easy for me. My body sometimes betrays me and I can't push it too far. But every ache and pain was worth the insight, wonderment, pleasure and knowledge that I gained. God's hand is truly upon this country, and we are blessed too live here.
I learned many lessons on this trip and praise God for allowing me to go. I know better how much He loves me, just as I am. And my confidence in Him is greater than ever.
May you know the joy and wonderment our glorious God offers to each of us."
It's been fun to relive the journey. I had no idea then that it would take me nine years to find the time and the heart to write the book I traveled so far to research. But God's timing is perfect and I trust Him.
Of course only a little of what we saw could be posted this week, and I hope you'll read the book To Dance With Dolphins to experience more of our incredible journey and how it affected my characters and their story.
Today's Question: What place to you call home?
Today's Gift: I'm going to give away two gifts - a copy of my book, To Dance With Dolphins. After all, it is the reason for our journey.
And with Christmas so close I want to include the beautiful holiday sounds of Mannheim Steamroller. There are no Christmas sounds quite like theirs.
You still have time to visit the last eight blog entries and leave an answer and win gifts! I'll be drawing the winners names this Wednesday.
Grace and peace to you from God,
Bonnie
I've lived in IA, IL, CA and now WA. I've dealt with all the different types of weather each state had to offer (plus non-weather related things like earthquakes). When I found out we were going to move to WA I thought of it as a grand adventure. When we'd moved from IL to CA I was devastated and didn't want to move at all. And even though I grew to love the place for some reason I didn't mind leaving. What place do I call home? Right here in Seattle! Every time I go walking and see Lake Washington so close, the seagulls flying overhead, and even an eagle now and then (and today a robin!) I thank the Lord that He called Ed here! I'm blessed beyond words to live here, to be so close to water, to have a place like Seward Park to go walking and on and on...so it's here! I've finally come home!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, home was central Michigan. But for the last 16 years, my husband and I have raised our family in central Indiana. And yay! I was hoping today's give away would be the book :)
ReplyDeleteI was an Air Force child so my early years were. California, France, North Carolina, and Az. When I was 10 we moved here to Roseburg. My parents weren't from here but knew they wanted to live in Oregon. God led them here.
ReplyDeleteI call this dear and wonderful forest my home. Who woulda thunk it? Certainly not me! Born and raised in Los Angeles, on the beaches, and here I have my tiny Sunriver, Oregon resort village. Speed limit: 25 mph. The Post Office, video store, and liquor store are all housed in the small market with the gas station. Every morning I raise the blinds and think, "Wow, God! You put me here surrounded by pine trees--it is paradise. Thanks from the bottom of my heart!" Those of you who've been here understand. Those who have not, well, you are welcome to come visit and fall in love with Sunriver!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to the place I call home, but its grandeur beckons me from behind a dark veil.I love the eastern side of Washington state where I was raised. Now that I'm a full time RVer I love my adopted state of Arizona as well. But this place, this wonderful place I've never been is fantastic.I've read books written by people who have visited, then returned to tell us what it was like. They say it's beyond anything we've ever seen abd I can't wait to go home because I want to meet its King in person. I know He's there. I've read his travel guide and I know its as wonderful as He is. So...my favorite Home? Heaven. And I can't wait to get there. I hear it's out of this world.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up as a missionary kid, I was back and forth between Central America and Indiana. Now that I'm married with 3 kids of my own, home is in central Indiana.
ReplyDeleteI call Nebraska home! We have lived at both ends of the state & in the middle too.
ReplyDeleteWe have finally settled in my husbands home town is So. East Nebraska.
Yes.. home is where the heart is.. mine is here with hubby & family in Nebraska :)
I've lived all over. From Ohio to Arizona to New Hampshire, back to Ohio and now Pennsylvania. I really love all your books. Right now, I'm in the process of checking out everything you've written from the local library! :)
ReplyDeleteJust want to say thanks for posts was great to see. I have a copy of your book so don't add my name.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we're from all over the country. I've lived in Washington, Oregon, California, and Colorado. I've lived in Oregon the longest - thirty-one years. And it is home ... definitely.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I'm going to draw winners from all eight days. Make sure too check out my new post tonight.