Thursday June 4 2015 DAY 92 BROTHER COATS
It is Friday morning June 5, 2015 and I am now writing yesterday’s blog a bit late.
TWO NOTES
1. I actually finally finished Wednesday’s blog.
2. I think it is worth reading in full, especially the poem that I just wrote (again on the computer which is new for me).
That’s it. Just wanted you to know I actually filled in the blank pieces.
Now to yesterday, day 92. Charlene, my friend from my youth (we’ve known each other since diaper days) and her husband Larry have so graciously offered me a beautiful place to stay. I arrived on Wednesday evening and plan to leave on Wednesday of next week. She has prepared her entire lower level for me. In consists of one large bedroom, one bathroom, a large family room with a panoramic view of the outdoors, a small library, a closed door that leads to another bedroom which is out of service and access to her garage, which makes packing and unpacking my car quite convenient. She is supplying beautiful instrumental music that floats down through the glass encased stairway above to my level here below. My lower level has three access for to the outside. And oh my, what an outdoors. I set myself up in a beautiful spot on one of her patios. Brought my computer and book bag and journals out and sat down to enjoy the flights of the hummingbirds feeding in front of me and turned on my computer to write. The temperature is perfect this morning. Not too cold and not yet the 91 degrees that is forecast for this day. And here I planned to sit until all my blogging was finished (or until I got hungry again). But…the best laid plans do not always work. I found that WiFi does not reach to the back yard. So I am here on their comfy couch, with my feet propped on a pillow on top of the coffee table, back to the view, typing this blog with WiFi. I can hear the birds through the open walkout sliding door, the music drifting lazily downstairs, bugs hitting the glass behind me, and the ringing in my ears. I just but turn my head and I can see through my bedroom window, the side door and over my shoulder in my peripheral view all the beauty that surrounds me waiting patiently for my gaze. I think God created this entire mountain and all its surroundings just for me, just for this moment, this hour, this week. Here I am out of all the places in the world I could be. And with God’s help, I made it happen. I made it happen by living my life as I imagined it. I imagined, and then believed, and then put into motion something no one else could do for me. I made it happen. I got up one morning, packed my car, and headed out on the road on a journey of a lifetime, the one I had imagined, and I did it am still doing it. I am here because I imagined it was possible.
I have listed to a lot of wisdom from those on the road, some friends, some acquaintances, some strangers. And I have heard their words resounding in my head over and over. Some more than others. But I have heard their words. Not just listened with my ears, but heard and received in my heart. Is all of it right for me? Perhaps not, but that is for me to ponder and pray about and decide. It is for me to make the changes I want to see in my own life. And every word, every experience has some sort of influence. I am seeing for the first time what it means to live each moment unto itself, to filter out that which is good and which is not good, to take with me the truths that will define me and make me stronger, to throw out that which could harm me or cause me to doubt. I have given thought to what I speak. And I have learned that I need to given even more thought to what I speak BEFORE I SPEAK IT. Have I learned every lesson yet, no, not by a long shot. I still talk too much and wish I had been created with a quieter, gentler demeanor. But I am who I am and God is teaching me to accept myself in the way and purpose for which he has created. He has put in me a bold heart. He has put in me a compassionate heart. Those are my two greatest assets. He is opening my eyes to who I am in His kingdom of creation. I am His child, loved beyond understanding, created to love and show compassion to others, created to be bold and to reach out and pray for those that He directs me to pray for. And He gave me a great commission to do even more.
Mathew 28:18-20 says:
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them (His disciples), saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
And I ask myself, do I have the boldness to do just that? And am I really to go “to all the nations”? I may not be able to go to other countries, but I am able to go to my neighbor, my friend, those I meet, and share His love. And God promises to be with me always, even to the end of the age. And that end for me is eternity. We’ll all spend eternity somewhere? Where do you want to spend yours? You get to choose.
So, I guess I said all that to say “I am learning”. I want to say thank you to all who I have stayed with. Each and every one of you have taught me something. Thank you for the lessons I have learned, the words you have spoken to me in truth and sincerity, the blessings you have bestowed upon me with your gracious hospitality, food and added expenses that made my trip possible. Every single one of you are invited to come to our home should you ever pass through Wisconsin and need a place to take rest and comfort and food. Thank you to all those whom I have met on my journey who so willingly and spontaneously contributed your words of wisdom to enhance my learning and my blog. Thank you for your permission to share your wisdom on my blog. Thanks to my family for backing me in this extension of my imagination. My husband and children have been so supportive and loving throughout my trip. Thanks for the calls. And special thanks to you who I know are following my blog as faithfully as your busy life may allow. Even my blogging has been a learning experience. Special thanks to Len for all the hours he invested in me that I might learn the rudimentary aspects of blogging. Thanks to to Sarah who also gave me a lesson. My heart is so full of gratitude to all who have shepherded me along the way.
Now, back to Thursday, Brother Coats day! A little history on who Brother Coats is. First of all he is a very special man that has walked this earth. He is also Charlene’s father and Don’s father (remember Don and Darrelyn). Brother Coats new my family at the first church in El Cerrito California after my family moved from Arkansas to California. When they moved to a church closer to home we too moved to the church because it was a lot closer to the projects where we lived. Charlene had two brothers, Ron and Don. Her mom was Lois. Lois became very significant in my life because when I turned 6 years old I graduated to her Sunday School Class at Pinole Assembly of God Church where my mother took me. I was like a sponge and loved Jesus so much that I just wanted to learn more and more about who he was. Of course I talked a lot and gave Lois a run for her money. She was my Sunday School teacher year after year. It wasn’t until years later when we were talking about it and I told her how fortunate I was to have her for so many years and wondered how that happened. She told me that she enjoyed having me in her class and each two years I moved up she moved up with me. Go figure that one out. Well, it was a compliment to a little girl who often felt lost amongst the 5 girls in her family; a sister 6 years younger, and sisters 6, 7, and 8 years older and one brother who was already married and had kids my younger sister’s age. Anyway, her comment to me was like a little flower placed within my heart to know that someone had enjoyed who I was.
Well, Brother Coats was married to Lois. He didn’t really hold great significance to me when I was a kid. I knew my parents especially liked him and he was always busy. Charlene and I weren’t really all that close as we grew up but we liked each other but lived too far apart to have much contact. But somehow we always seemed to connect. Over the years I kept in contact with Brother and Sister Coats, went to visit them a few times in California, Portland and Washington and got to know them from my adult point of view. I highly respected them and loved them from my child’s heart. Sister Coats had been a great influence in my formative years of learning about the Lord. For that I am forever grateful. Brother Coats I realized was a gifted and talented gentle soul. He was giving, worked hard and diligently and whatever he did, he did to perfection. And as far as I know he still does it to perfection. He may be a little slower, a bit more bent, and not as strong, but in my eyes he is one of the strongest men I have ever know and still know. Yesterday afternoon and evening we spent our day with Brother Coats. He lives about an hour away. He lives alone now because Lois went to be with the Lord in December of this past year. Her presence was still felt when I entered the Coats’ home. Beautiful decor, everything so neat and tidy and matching. Work impeccably done, with Brother Coats’ smiling face, bright eyes, and quick wit greeting me. He is 89 years old and would have been married 68 years this past January after Lois died in December.
What a wonderful time of memories and stories as we talked and looked at old photo albums. The spirit of Brother Coats’ heart emanated from his presence. I could tell that he walks in close communion to our loving Lord. He is like love personified. Charlene and Don are blessed to have such a father on this earth. I was blessed to be with him for this day. He is extremely alert and communicative and spry in walk and movement. His life source runs deep and true. He is truly a blessed man of God. So much I could tell you but due to time I must end with his words of wisdom. One sentence he spoke without my asking him if he had any wisdom was this “Never lose the little boy or girl in you”. I asked him if I could quote him on that. He said yes, but was quick to point out that he had more wisdom that he would like to share. Here it is:
“Life is short.
Death is sure.
Sin the cause.
Christ the cure.”
Brother Coats I sure do love you!
After a time of visiting we went to the Country Buffet for dinner. It was delicious! Especially the coconut pie!!!!!! Here is the wisdom Charlene gave me at the buffet table: “Don’t get the old age mentality. If you think you can’t do something, you can’t”.
We returned to Brother Coats’ home, had another long visit and Charlene wanted me to go through her mom’s clothing to see if there were things I might enjoy having. Something of the things in her closet I could actually remember her wearing. It was a time of memories and nostalgia. There were several nice things that fit me and I accepted them. I shall think of her when I wear them. I’ll tell her about it when I get to heave. I think she would like me to have them. Thanks for Charlene’s thoughtful gesture in giving them to me. I also accepted a bag full of books that her mom had on her library shelf. Most of them books for me to learn from or give away. Several by Sarah Young to add to those I love to give to others. I asked Charlene if she minded if I gave them away and she said she is delighted that I wanted to take them and do so. I felt so blessed when we drove away from that house, Brother Coats standing in the driveway for one last wave, tears streaming down my face know that it was likely my last goodbye on this earth. I’ll see him too when I get to heaven, and who knows, maybe I’ll get there first.
We had a quick Costco stop, then the trip home, unloading all the groceries and all eating a 9:30 snack and then story time for way too late. So it was a quiet morning with all of us sleeping in. A wonderful quiet, tranquil, peaceful, morning. How blessed I am to be living in this moment.
God bless this day for you!
Wednesday June 3, 2015 DAY 91 OREGON GARDENS IN SILVERTON
I forgot to ask my host for the WiFi connection so I can’t connect with the internet. I do want to do a summary of my day so thought I would just write it on the Word document and upload tomorrow. I know some of you are early readers so I am sorry that it won’t be available for you.
It was actually a very fun day on the road. I hope someday to take a trip when time does not matter. I think that would be even more fun that my current trip. Time does matter to me because I don’t want to be traveling after dark. I must plan my driving time accordingly. Today was one of those days. I have so much planned to pack into one day and still get to my destination before dark. Well, I did it!
I actually got up when my alarm clock went off at 6:30. I was almost ready to leave by 8:00 am as planned but I got busy talking too much and snapping a tripod photo, which means me being included in the photo. I had not yet taken a photo of Don and Darrelyn with me. So we did that in the morning and that took a little extra time. Of course I forgot to take one with my cell phone so I have no photo of them to share. I actually did take off in the morning but was an hour late. I enjoyed my stay in Eugene with Don and Darrelyn and their little four legged family members but the road beckoned me. And oh what a beautiful road!
OREGON IS MAJESTICALLY BEAUTIFUL! I remember driving through Oregon once before on the interstate freeway system. I do not remember enjoying it nearly as much as I did today traveling the back roads. The trees here are so tall that they seem to make a tunnel of the two lane highway as you drive through them. The first part of my trip was getting from place A, Eugene, to place B, The State Capitol. Don mentioned the State Capitol being in Salem and I would be going right by there. I hadn’t been certain I’d have enough time to go there but the closer I got, the more I knew I wanted to see it. Don said it wasn’t very impressive or much to see. Well, I told Bossy where to go and she took me there! I was impressed. From the first time I looked at the capitol building I was impressed. I loved the architecture.
THIS IS WHERE I FELL ASLEEP ON THE COUCH WRITING MY BLOG.
So this is now Thursday morning, writing about my Wednesday.
I spent one hour and 20 minutes exploring the capitol in Salem Washington and enjoyed every moment of it. Took a few pictures which I will send later as I have no service on my phone to transfer them. I will not have service for at least a week while I am here except when I leave for visits to other places. I am on WiFi so hope this will publish. The pictures won’t be with the right day but I’ll send them when we go into Portland later today.
After I left the capitol I drove to the little town of Silverton Oregon.
And this is where the story will continue. My morning has already been amazing and I will not go there until I finish yesterday. Must leave again in a few minutes. I will finish this later. To be continued. I don’t want to lose it so I will publish as is.
Write more later! 12:08 p.m. Thursday June 4.
CONTINUATION OF WEDNESDAY JUNE 30.
When I left Eugene I purposely wanted to drive the back roads. After visiting the capitol in Salem Oregon I headed out to the little road that would lead me to Silverton. What a wonderful little city. It is one I wouldn’t mind exploring more closely. I think it would be a great little community to retire in.
The reason I wanted to come to Silverton was because in my Olbrich Garden Book it is listed as a reciprocal garden. A reciprocal garden is one that will honor my Olbrich Botanical Garden Membership. When you join Olbrich Gardens you have privileges to go to a great list of other gardens across the U.S. with free admittance and free parking. I have tried to make it a point to see as many of the gardens as possible. There are so many gardens I did not get to see. My pass has saved me quite a bit of money and my guests also have free admittance. Silverton garden is actually Oregon Gardens. It was well worth the drive to explore them. They are amazing and actually quite new as far as gardens go There is still a lot of land that is being readied for additional plantings. Oregon gardens are on very hilly terrain which creates amazing aesthetic views of the botanical design and growth. Again, I wish I could put photos on with this entry but without my phone I cannot do so.
Ultimately I was driving to my next destination with Silverton just being a couple of hour layover to enjoy the gardens. My hostess gave me free reign to come any time and to even change my mind if I should do so. Well, I did so. I was actually going to my car, quite reluctantly, to forward my trip and I just had to call her and cancel plans for the evening. I turned back around, checked back into the gardens and quickly went to the places I had not yet seen. It was truly an amazing adventure.
While at the gardens I just had to share one of the most beautiful visual displays with someone else. I saw two ladies down a path and felt drawn to bring them to my visual paradise. I noticed they did not have any kind of cameras so I just knew I needed to point out some of the visual aspects. Besides, I think I just needed to share the beauty with someone else. They treated me graciously, came with me and agreed that it was spectacular. I enjoyed our conversation. I am never lonely as I travel but sometimes I just need to share time and conversation with others. I asked both ladies what their wisdom for the world is. CJ’s wisdom is: “Get heath back; reconnect with friends and family; learn to live going less than 100 miles per hour.” I think she was referencing after you retire. Her friend Karen’s wisdom is: “Don’t wait; learn something new everyday; avoid loud and aggressive people.” Both ladies were a bit younger than I am but both retired.
I am actually learning a lot on this trip about being retired. Several places I’ve stayed are places of those who are now retired. And every place has its own ideas of what retirement is about. My cousin’s mantra is “I’ll do it when I want, how I want, IF I want.” Some just want to hibernate. Others are desiring to reconnect with past relationships and friends (maybe that is where I am), others live very disciplined and regimented days, others give themselves the freedom to go with the flow and do as opportunity arises. Some are spontaneous enjoyers of life, others have strict and demanding terms that go with their retirement. I find that retirement is a really big life change for everyone involved. So much I could expound on but must go forward with my Wednesday. It is now Friday morning, and of course I am late with yesterday’s blog and want to catch up on that this morning also.
Back to the gardens. I finally left and had about a three hour drive left before I reached the Columbia River. Oh how uneducated I am in so many areas. I was totally unaware of how huge and important and beautiful the Columbia River is. Some widths of it appear to be lakes. The Columbia River has more dams than any other River in the United States. I have been told that there are 13 total dams. Below are a few facts copied from the Internet:
Columbia River Facts
- The Columbia River basin comprises some 260,000 square miles, from its headwaters in British Columbia, Canada, to its mouth at Astoria, Ore., bordering Washington and Oregon.
- The basin includes parts of seven states, 13 federally recognized Indian reservations, and one Canadian province. Nineteen percent of the watershed is in Washington.
- The average annual flow for the Columbia River at The Dalles, Oregon is approximately 190,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) (1 cfs = 448.8 gallons per minute).
- The river’s annual discharge rate fluctuates with precipitation and ranges from 120,000 cfs in a low water year to 260,000 cfs in a high water year.
- After dams were constructed along the river for flood control and power production, the flow regime of the river changed. Records kept since 1878 show that flows were much higher in the spring and lower in winter before dam construction. In addition, the velocity of the water moving down the river was significantly greater before dam construction began in the 1930s.In 1917, Washington adopted a water code to help manage water allocations from surface water bodies in the state, including the Columbia River.
I also looked up some info on the dams. I counted 14 in the article and then another article seemed to have even more accounted for. So, I will say that I don’t really know for certain how many dams are on the river but will say that the river is the most impressive river I have ever experienced. I MAY have a chance to go on a River Cruise.
I arrived to my destination, Carson Washington in a daze of awe and wonder as to what was surrounding me. The location of the home is in the back hills, a bit from the Columbia River. My friend’s property is 20 acres and very mountainous. Not hills. MOUNTAINS! A fast flowing, wide creek, Panther Creek, winds it’s way through the property. When a window or door is open it actually sounds like the distant roar of a waterfall. The sound is peaceful and lulling, like a song coming from heaven. I cried as I looked out over the evening light and the thousands of trees I could see from my parallax. No matter what view I have it is one of trees and trees and more trees. All kinds of trees, young ones, stately tall elegant old growth trees, just trees and more trees. Because of the rise and fall of the land the view is astounding. The house is built with walls filled with glass. It sets high above the creek’s journey below. Even a yard such as this must be managed. Charlene and Larry live here. Larry manages the land by using a zip-line to traverse from one mountain side to the next. I can see the lines hundreds of feet over my head. A zip-line is high. He said I could go on it. I think I will. Dave has sent me some papers that must be signed for legal documents. I am waiting to receive them. His request was that I sign the papers first, get them posted, and THEN go on the zip-line. So that is what I plan to do. I get a little flutter inside me when I think about it. Will I have the courage to do it is the question I ask myself. I think I would like to do so. I contemplated going on a zip line over a canyon when I was in Canyon Texas but I was concerned I might cause an injury early in my trip and so wanted to continue on my journey. I still want to continue on this journey so I will give due consideration and investigation before making the final decision.
More about Charlene and Larry in a later blog. “They” are keeping me up to late every night so blame it on them that my blogs are not ready on time.
This is goodbye for Wednesday’s blog. Now I will start on Thursday! (And it is already 11:04 a.m. on Friday). This has been designated as a day of rest.
Oh, one more thing. Charlene and Larry are a bad influence on my writing. I can’t remember when I have gone TWO DAY IN A ROW without writing a poem. So I shall write one here for Wednesday though the date will be today. And I can never recapture the true moment of Wednesday.
Memory of a Garden
by Kathleen Martens
Written June 5 2015 in memory of
Wednesday June 3, 2015 “Oregon Garden”
A misty moment lingers
In the mind from days past.
Emotions of the moment
Are later hard to grasp.
But I do remember
The beauty of the day
The stroll through a garden
On a warm summer day.
The sun dappling
In reflection pools of light
Upon the water’s surface
Create a gentle sight.
The hush of wonder
Floods my heart
I cling to the moment
That shall not depart.
Flowers so delicate
Exquisitely designed
Only the hand of God
Could create so refined.
And the majesty of trees
Each standing alone
Adding beauty to the world
That I have never known.
How do I grasp
Such beauty so exquisite?
I will simply go again
For another visit.
The visit of my memory
That gently stroked a flower
The hours that I lingered
In the garden by the hour.
Thank you God for the gifts
Of your magnificent creation
That floods my heart with such peace,
And gives me such elation.
Tuesday June 2, 2015 Day 90 SLEPT LIKE A BABY
MESSAGE: I JUST WROTE THE BLOG FOR MONDAY JUNE 1ST. PLEASE GO DOWN AND READ DAY 89.
I slept until almost 9:00 a.m. Awesome. It was like I caught up on the sleep I had lost the past few days of short nights. But alas, it is late again and I have an early morning tomorrow. So this will be an abbreviated synopsis of my day.
Darrelyn had an appointment and was gone by the time I made it down for breakfast. Don and I shared time at breakfast until she returned. We ended up talking and sharing and snacking and then decided that the best place to go here in Eugene was St. Vinney’s. I guess it was more my decision. It was about the nicest St. Vinney’s I have ever been to. I think the reason was that when I walked in and looked to my right there was an entire library of books just waiting for me. And wonder of wonders I found several. I have been looking for out of print books by Norman Vincent Peale and I was able to buy several there. What a great find. If I never bought another book I don’t think I could possible finish all the books I currently own if I read straight through from now until I was 100. But I just couldn’t resist. Somehow I do get a lot of them read.
We then went to the Goodwill store. Found another book!
Darrelyn drove us home, we picked up Don and then went out to eat. We ate at a Mexican Restaurant and it was delicious. I think I did more talking that eating but that was okay, I still ate enough. I have thoroughly enjoyed my acquaintance with both Don and Darrelyn. I wish I could have bet their son. I thank you Don and Darrelyn for a wonderful stay in your lovely home. And when I say lovely, I mean lovely. It just had a very pleasant, homey, comfortable atmosphere with an artist’s flare. I love all the art they have displayed. Oh to be so organized! Well, I’m retired now so I suspect (very suspiciously) that someday my house will be so organized again. One time it was.
After the delicious dinner Don and Darrelyn drove me all around the campus of U of O. And for those of you who may be as naive as I am, that stand for the University of Oregon. It is an awesome campus. Sort of like a city unto itself. Beautiful buildings with lovely landscaping that seems to take up most of he city. The sun was setting give that golden hour of sunlight which bathed the buildings in a warm golden hue. Some of the buildings were so covered by the tall trees of many varieties that the light could not penetrate to the ground. It was still light enough to see and all I saw was magnificent. A big campus to cover. Oh yes, I can’t forget this: I saw the stadium where the Ducks play. I never heard of the ducks before coming here but I am becoming educated. I know the Ducks are a football team (oh I hope I got that right) and their colors are NOT ORANGE AND BLACK! Please don’t ask me what their colors are because I have already forgotten. I’m just glad I remembered the word FOOTBALL. Please forgive me Darrelyn. It only took me abut 10 or 20 years to remember who the Packers are.
Another late night because I talked too much. So I’ll close before I write too much. I have made a grave error on this trip. I have yet to get a photo of the three of us together. Don’t know if they will be awake in the morning before I leave so I may not have opportunity to do so. I do hope it works out. Will let you know tomorrow.
Goodnight everyone. Okay Joyce, I haven’t proof read this blog or yesterday’s (which I just wrote before this one) so let me know where I can clean them up. Thanks cousin. I love you so much. I will always remember your little routines and am impressed how you host all your events. You are awesome!
Goodnight! 1:08 a.m.
MY POEM IS UNWRITTEN
By The Dancing fingers of
Kathleen Martens
June 2, 2015
A day goes by faster than lightening
How it is so is sometimes frightening.
My blogs are written, thought all was done,
Time to go to sleep and have some fun!
Bu then I remembered with a sigh
My poem is unwritten, oh my, oh my!
So I set my fingers upon dancing keys
And say fingers, just speak for me.
Write the words that need to be said
So I can go and fall into my bed.
And so they did and now I may go
And this is my poem to you I show!
Monday June 1, 2015 Day 89
I am writing this on Tuesday June 2 for yesterday, June 1st. So much has happened since yesterday I just hope I can remember all I wanted to write. It will be brief as it is midnight and I must get up at 6:30 a.m. for another long day tomorrow.
My time at Arky’s airbnb was absolutely the best! After driving through the trailer park and arriving at paradise it was so refreshing to be welcomed by two lovely people, Annie and Richard. Annie and Richard purchased this home with the intention of opening it up to travelers at a remarkable price for the accommodations received. First of all after I arrived they had a parking place in their garage for my car. Then they helped carry my luggage into the house They showed me around and ask if they could serve tea. This is a couple have been in the U.S. for one year, who are learning English and sharing a bit of their culture with their guests. It was Awesome. Please be certain and view the tea tray presented to me with Chrysanthemum Tea (no caffeine). There were dehydrated grapes reconstituted with wine, peanuts and sesame seeds, and slices of kiwi included with the tea. It was beautiful and delicious and it was delightful to be waited on after a long day of driving and sightseeing, especially when I was not expecting anything to be presented.
I went to bed and awakened awhile later with a migraine headache and I knew immediately that there was MSG in the Chinese food I had eaten for dinner. I specifically asked that none be put in and they assured me they would not use any. WRONG! It is the one thing that always gives me a screaming headache. I did not want to take a pill for it because the side effects of the pill often caused me to have several cluster headaches in a row following getting rid of the first headache. If I can ride out the first headache without medicine I usually do not get headaches over and over again for several nights. So I rode it out. Lost a little sleep. The headache went away after I got up in the morning and so far has not been back. I am claiming it GONE!
Morning with Annie and Richard was wonderful. No other way to describe it. They prepared an official Chinese breakfast which I have have included in picture form. Unbelievable. The presentation was beautiful. The surroundings were so peaceful and calm, and the view was amazing. I shared a table with the other guest there, Tammy, Tommy, and their daughter Kayla. A beautiful God loving family from the south. I had a little trouble understanding their accent as I have been out of the south too long but finally understood everything that was being said. Loved the company and conversation.
After the other family left I spent some time with Richard and Annie. I read them a poem so they would understand the cadence of how I wrote it. We had some deep discussions about things and when I was ready to leave said to me that she thought our meeting was a “divine meeting”. She felt it was meant to be. I felt the same way. I don’t think this is the last I will hear from Annie and Richard and I know it will not be the last I reach out to them. They again helped me pack up and I was on my way out to meet a wet, rainy, overcast, foggy day of driving along the coast of Oregon’s most notorious beaches and I couldn’t even see them as I passed. A few weren’t quite as glazed over so I did see a couple. I hadn’t had enough sleep the night before and I was fighting sleep. The roads are curvy and with them so wet I decided the best thing for me to do when I felt the drowsiness come over me was to pull off and take a nap. Trouble was there was not place to pull over or turn off. I kept going with God’s help and finally there was a trinket shop with a few parking spaces in front. I pulled over, pulled my coat over me, set my time for 30 minutes and immediately fell asleep, woke with the timer and was wide awake the rest of the way. I thanked God for that. I drove through some the most beautiful forests with trees so high that they touched in the sky and darkened the highway. These trees were the sequoias and redwoods and grow so strait and thick and tall. Again, this beautiful creation reminded me that if nature praises the Lord, then these trees were doing just that with arms lifted high.
Arrived at my destination on time. I met Daralyn for the first time and became reacquainted with her husband, Don, who I went to church with until my family moved away when I was twelve. My next stop will be at his sister’s home in Washington. Charlene and I have kept in touch over the years.
Don made a delicious dinner, we talked too late and then all retired for the evening.
And that was my day. Most of it.
Don’s advice: “As I look back I would have taken time to nurture friendships more intimately and to a deeper level.”
Wife’s advice: “Take advantage of your youth and do more while you can.”
Sunday Sabbath May 31 2015 SUCH A BLESSED DAY!
What an awesome day was this day. First of all it was Sunday Sabbath, which I love. Secondly I had a long drive ahead of me and the music of David Hollandsworwth accompanying God’s visual poetry. What more could I ask for (except for my husband beside me to enjoy it with)? Beautiful and warm as I left the beautiful home of my cousin Daneece and headed for the mountains. So many mountains I have traveled and so many national forests I have gazed at. Today I traveled through Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Below is an excerpt I found with some facts on the internet you might find interesting:
“The Shasta-Trinity National Forest (STNF) is the largest national forest in California with a diverse landscape ranging from 1,000 to 14,162 feet. The 2.1 million acre forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and 6,278 miles of streams and rivers. Hikers, backpackers and horseback riders will find over 460 miles of trails to explore. They range from wide trails with easy grades to rough rocky steep grades. The employees of the STNF manage a healthy forest by enhancing wildlife habitat, maintaining clean water, producing timber products and safeguarding communities at risk from wildfires. Pivotal in the economical, tourism and recreational aspects of Northern California, the STNF is a land of breathtaking beauty and a place for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors.”
It was absolutely awesome to drive through. Sheer drop-offs, high pointed mountains, rock formations jutting out from unimaginable places and dropping down to the valley floor. The park wasn’t as user friendly as Yosemite was, nor was it as magnificent. But it was well worth the drive just for the exquisite beauty and experience of being there.
I drove over the mountains on I-299 because Monday thru Saturday there are two hour delays to go across the mountain range. I thought if I went on Sunday I would not be bothered by a two hour layover. Well…I had two layovers. The first layover was indeed about two hours long but it was not by happenstance, rather self induced. I drove into Weaverville, a small old town with a few thousand population. What caught my eye as I drove through the little picturesque town was the white steeple of a little old fashioned church. I had a hankering to stop and check it out. It was about 10:30 and I saw people walking into the building so I deduced it must be service time. Well, I was hooked in the first moment I crossed the threshhold. The service had already started and it was a very small crowd so when I walked in it felt as if every eye turned my way. So much for coming in quietly.
The Church is the Trinity Congregational Church on the highway going through downtown Weaverville. The pastor is a lady named Jean. I do not remember her last name. It was an excellent service, very quiet, peaceful, and personable. It seemed more like I was walking into a family reunion, a true body of believers caring for one another. Small town flavor. Pastor Jean asked if anyone had a joyful report to give. Several people did. I raised my hand and asked if a stranger could speak in the church. I was given permission. I was joyful for just being there with other believers who loved Jesus. I also said I was joyful because this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I mentioned that I was traveling and would carry the memory of being there in my heart. Such a sincere sweet group of people. The Pastor right then and there asked me to eat with the members afterward in the fellowship hall because a dinner was being prepared. I wasn’t really hungry but wanted the fellowship so I accepted. The dinner was delicious and the company was wonderful. A delightful spry 89 year old woman named Pat was an excellent conversationalist and a joy to be with. A couple across from me were also very pleasant to converse with. Everyone I met was awesome. I asked Pat what her wisdom is. Here is what she said, “I wish I learned and believed in the Bible at a younger age. Jesus is so special.” I also sat with a another couple and it was great to just to be a part of God’s family.
Along side the wall of the fellowship hall, which had the appearance of being a house next door to the church, sat three large imposing chest freezers. I was curious as to what their purpose was. Well, I was told that two of them were filled with 232 homemade Berry pies (and I think some pies may have had other fillings) all made in 2 hours and 20 minutes! WOW! That was impressive! I wanted to know how. A lady named Donna told me how it was done. Three long rows of tables were sat up. All the men and women of the church were called to come help. The pie crust were already prepared so the three rows of people worked assembly line, One row filled the pie shells, the next row put the crusts on the top of the pies, cutting the little air holes and the last row of helpers wrapped them up for freezing. They were big pies. And these pies have an important purpose. They will be baked and served in slices at the Trinity Congregational Church’s annual 4th of July Fundraising Ice Cream Social located in the vicinity of the church. I will include a picture of a freezer full of pies. Let’s pray there are no power outages before July 4th. What a great illustration of many hands make light work. That is a church body working together!
I finally left at about 12:45 p.m. (over two hour delay) . I Loved every moment of it. Then…as I arrived close to where I would turn off 299 I then had another delay. But…good news, it was just one round of light signal. And my day progressed and once again I came up over a crest and out before I beheld the ocean. It appeared unexpected and my breath caught in my throat.
SO GRATEFUL
Kathleen Martens
May 31, 2015
I beheld the ocean
And I thanked God for my vision.
I heard the crashing of waves
With hearing precision.
I touched the wet
And my hands chilled,
With joy and thanks
My heart filled.
I sniffed the air
Pungent and sweet,
And all my senses
Seemed to meet.
The taste of salt
Touched my tongue
Filled me with nostalgia
Of when I was young.
So grateful am I
To see, hear and taste,
What God has created
Does not go to waste!
Wrote just a little poem tonight due to the fact that it exactly midnight and I am fighting sleep.
So, a quick synopsis of the rest of my day. I stopped several places to take photos of the ocean. Not much room to pull off the road so had to be careful and cozy with other cars. At one place that just happened to be a little more generous I met three other travelers. I would have loved to have heard their stories in full but I had to get back on the road. One was a young lady from Australia. She is in America for several months hitch hiking her way across the U.S. Very attractive and small. I asked her if she felt safe. She assured me she did. The two men she was with she had met the night before at the campground where she was sleeping. One was a local and was showing her around. The other younger man was from back east and pretty much doing the same thing as the young lady, Bridget, was doing. They were both inspirational, full of life and health and curiosity and boldness. I asked Bridget for her advice. It went something like this. First of all let me state that she had told me that she was not afraid because she had God with her. Her advice is “Be willing to listen to the suggestions of others who have ideas of where to go and not be so rigid that you cannot open up and let God direct you to where He wants you to go.” She used the phrase “go with the flow” and when I delved further she said “we need to be willing to go where we are led by God and be free in that.” I am hoping I am getting across what she said to me though the phrasing is a bit different. Hmm…I just thought of something. Maybe I should do a 15 second video on my camera and let those who share their wisdom speak it so I can copy it verbatim. Bridget, if you read this please know that I am beginning to understand more and more of what you told me. It has just taken me a few (or maybe a lot) more years than you to learn it. I love the wisdom of the young. And Pat, I loved your wisdom too! Pat, I hope we come across each other in heaven because I am not through with you yet. I didn’t have near enough time! I would love to be your friend.
By the way Rebecca, Dave, and Courtland I met the above threesome in Trinidad. I didn’t have time to find “our” old motel we stayed in when Courtland was so sick but I did see the lighthouse. Watch for the picture to come through when I get my phone working again. At present it is not working
Again, on the road I stopped and bought Chinese food for dinner and started on my way. I’ve heard so much talk of this area having a lot of elk. There are a lot of elk crossing signs and I was bereft to think that I probably wouldn’t get to see even one. Not one minute later I turn my head to the left and see a small herd of female elk grazing along side the road I was on. I pulled over, gazed at them, they kept on eating and I had to leave. I did get some photos, albeit they are very small in the pictures. About 45 minutes later up the road a few miles I look to the left and there were several male elk leisurely having dinner. Two of them where sitting on the ground in high grass so they were not easily spotted. I could see their antlers sticking up and moving around. Two others were standing and moving around a bit. They were about as far away as the female herd had been but at least I saw them and did take a few pics.
I arrived at my Airbnb before dark and boy was I surprised. I turned on the road that my bossy GPS told me to and all I saw were house trailers, recreational trailers, rundown, a bit cluttery, and close together. Oh WOW, I thought. I guess God has another lesson for me. There is nothing wrong with house trailers or even recreational trailers, but the description of the Airbnb add was so totally different I thought I was in the wrong area. I drove down the street (more like a gravel driveway” and old Bossy told me to keep going. “Bossy” is the name I chose for my GPS. (Just thought you’d like to know Joyce). I actually had turned around thinking I was on the wrong street but she kept bossing me as to where to go. So this time I thought I would keep going. So I did. And at the very end of the street (if what I was on could be called a street) sat two stately homes that backed up to the ocean. Two houses side by side. The first house was not my address so I looked at the second one and there it was. Now all I could say in total astonishment was WOW WOW WOW! This place is gorgeous. The entire back wall of the house is glass and creates a panoramic view of the curving shoreline and beyond. The evening light was starting to dim but still beautiful enough to take photos. I took a few pics on my phone so I could send them with this blog. But…like I said before my phone is not working. I plugged my phone in the USB port of my car at the same time I plugged Bossy in to the cigarette lighter and my phone hasn’t worked since. I hope another trip to the Apple store is not in order. I might be without a phone for awhile. Not a good feeling.
I am settled in now and enjoying my stay. Lovely place to be. I hope all of you are in a lovely place as well. Probably all sleeping as I should be doing. Signing off at 12:33 a.m. Good night!
31 May, 2015 00:33
Daneece’s son Daniel and friend Ashlie. Daniel is my 1st cousin twice removed. He is my grandson’s third cousin. His mother Daneece is my children’s 2nd cousin. Just wanted you to know how involved our family tree is.
Visions of Poetry 