ROL- Days 21-25: We are on a roll!!!

Day 21: Olympic National Forest – Port Angeles
Smiles and Trials:
• Woke and played
• Russell made us a Chocolate chip pancake breakfast
• Russell turned his attitude from grumpy bear to happy bear- yeah Russell!
• These crazy birds swarmed our site- and had the audacity to take food off out plates! Crazy birds and they come in numbers. We heard this type and the Stellar J’s are killing off an exotic native bird because they eat scraps and populate and feed on the exotic birds eggs. Horrible.
• Went on a log hike – just a fun walk around our campsite where we made up a game that you could not touch the ground but only travel log to log – there were a lot! Rohan did so good.
• Went to Hurricane Ridge - one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve done!
• Too short -but incredible views of pristine glacier, mountains, trees and ocean.
• Rohan hiked the whole thing, unbeknown st to us, while grasping a little helpless grass hopper in each hand. “One died and one is alive.”
• Met a Christian family excited about our work- we talked with for a while and of course they played with Rohan. They were on a trip to celebrate their grandma who is turning 80. She raised I think it was 8 kids as a single mom...single but a strong believer.
• Busted it down the 7% grade mountain (where in 2007 an RV crashed and the driver died) in time for me to lead Web Camp.
• Laundry mat- Seems like I am always working when it is laundry time. oppps! But it is better Russell does it with some of the "interesting" people that hang in and around the laundry mat. He actually talked with a guy, Mike who is about celebrate 10 years sober! Russell asked him if he could pray for him and they did in the parking lot. We are pray for new and greater love to come into his life. (He divorced years back during the tough times). He said one of the best things that happened in his sobriety was that he found God and his mom recieved the son she new was in him before she died a couple years ago. That still brings tears of joy to Russell to recall that time spent with him. If you recall we did laundry 2 days ago. In my mind, I accounted for laundry once a week. Figuring we would re-wear stuff if we needed. Um, Mrs. Ill-prepared, try 2 days, 2 loads: pee 3x, 1x juice spilled in bed (an entire sippy cup), maple syrup and spit up!
• After fighting with Rohan to go to bed, while we were down below hanging out – Russell took Royce and I went up and read and scratched Rohan’s back and he was asleep in 10min! Duh, that works!
• We hung in Port Angeles and drove to Peabody RV park – super sketch! There are some RV parks that are like parking lots that people park their trailers they live in. Can you say drugs?
• We weren’t sure where to go. We went to the local Red Lion hotel, well I went, with Russell’s idea of a baby on my hip, pleading that the RV park was unsafe for my family- I asked Mario if we could park our RV in the lot. He obliged and kindly wrote a pass valid until the next day. Miracle #? Lost count. We can now park our RV in this lot and WALK to the ferry in the am! I took a business card and will write his manager that he went above and beyond for us and we were impressed with Red Lion Hotels.
Day 22: Victoria- Suquamish
• Jumped out of bed at 7:25am for an 8:20 ferry! – we, of course, were the last ones on board and 4 minutes later they raised the dock.
• Took ferry to Victoria, B.C. – a bit cold and misty
• Rohan befriended 2 girls on the ferry- at this point he “don’t got game” his way of flirting (to which neither Russell nor I claim came from us) is banging his head into chairs or falling on the floor. Of course they still play with him, but yikes.
• Went to Empress Hotel – stunning.
• Visited Swan brew pub – unique espresso porter and seafood chowder
• Russell met a traveling writer- with some mental issues he prayed for.
• Walked around quaint street and shops (china town, narrowest street, lululemon, tourists shops)Which at Lululemon, Russell had an in depth conversation with Martin, who was helping us.She was bright a cheery even after having lost her loving husband of 3 2 years ago in an accident. We are praying for her continued strength to raise her kids (which she is doing awesome) and for God to bring in closer to him.
• Took Rohan to Victoria Bug Zoo! Oh the drama – Royce fell asleep and you couldn’t bring in strollers – so I stayed back with him. Some unhappy customers came in. Owner broke down and cried. Owner made a bad business decision while I sat in waiting area. Owner blamed everyone else. Owner consoled herself with her 4 doggies at her ankles and former employee. Rohan and Russell saw some amazing, spiders, stick bugs, and praying mantis’. I planned on tag teaming with Russell when he came out- even for a peek. Owner denied me.
• We walked around a path along the harbor
• We ran out of time to have a meal
• Met Vicki-elderly lady who was thrilled about our journey and clapped her silk gloved hands on many occasions, exclaiming “oh goody!”
• Caught ferry back to US at 4pm – there with time to spare.
• Drove to Kathryn and John’s in Suquamish, WA.
• Talked and took hot baths!
• After putting boys to sleep I took a hot soak myself (always feels good after a cold damp day). In fact it felt so good; the warm water was nestled under my chin like a cozy blanket, I fell asleep!
Day 22: Suquamish- Bainbridge Island
• We all walked to Bella Luna’s for a yummy breakfast! (we were here in 2009, so we looked forward to eating there). We stopped and enjoyed the walk home.
• John showed us his art and Kathryn her son’s business for student-athlete travel abroad program (Beyond).
• Went to Battle view park – walked around trail, picked blackberries (they are everywhere in the NW!), fed ducks, chased bunnies, rolled down hills, played at best play structure I have ever seen! All wood- had instruments (that Russell got caught playing), cha cha dance steps, cool rooms, etc.
• Kids napped for 40min while Russell and I frantically got ready for workshop. Why is it necessary to have at least a 10 min freak out period before these? We were unorganized and ran out of time. We ransacked the RV looking for our outline. Had to whisk boys from a dear slumber, both crying, trying to attach car seats and dress them.
• We made it in time. Luckily the Pastor's timing was just behind ours.
• We had a great meeting with Pastor Emily
• John and Kathryn took us to Docs for dinner. Nice restaurant on water. Delicious crab bisque (I have been craving this- being on the coast the whole time) and salmon with cheese tortellini. Great pre-game meal. A bit rich, but hey, “we’re on vaca.” Ugh.
• Workshop – went great! Refreshments were provided in this very intimate and successful workshop. There were 2 pastors in the audience. We again felt, used (in a good way), fulfilled, on purpose, helpful, blessed and alive when complete. Russell loved seeing them work together and share from their relationships. Fellowship ! Amen.
• K & J gave us a date night and we went to Harbor Public House Pub after to see John’s art and get a beer. And why not we are on vaca, Papas Fritas Latinas (sweet potato fries, with mango, red pepper, green onion and sour cream). I find myself saying this a lot on this trip which is a good thing I guess, but best fries!
• Talked with Kelly the bartender- she was a uniquely honest and good bar tender
• Pray for Matt who we talked with about actively pursuing a relationship
• Pray for Hawkins family- triplets, one was 33 and drowned today in the Sound
• Neat connection – the Harbor Public House Pub was once a gentleman’s house that was the charter member of Eagle Harbor United Church of Christ (where we just did our workshop). Neat.
• Sat in driveway and listened to Q-tip and Beastie Boys
• Walked in to find Royce sitting in bed with K & J – had been up for an hour!
• What a gift their hospitality was!
Day 23
• Good night sleep! Ahh a bed and constant heat. Although have to admit for a “road trip” we have had lots of spoiled nights in homes.
• Did laundry, bathed and headed out. (may not think of laundry and baths as big events to note- but when you are in an RV – they are sheer novelties.
• Stopped at Gig Harbor- Historical town
• Met Erin, Ken, Brent, Conner Knowles (friend from 4th grade) at Pumpkin Patch in Kent, Wa! Russell led the way through the Castle and Vampire corn maze. A bit rainy and we cut through cornstalks (“cheaters”). Huh, I thought I was something knowing that ‘staulks’ has a ‘u’ in it, spell check told me otherwise.
• Boys played on hay barrels
• Family Ali back on the road. But wait – not until the Knowles jump our RV! Yup lights left on = dead battery. Easy fix, and the worse car trouble we have had yet so we are doing alright! Russell is doing alright, I have driving this thing for all of 10min.
• Went to Hunts (Jim, Michelle, Zach, Katarina and Spencer) for dinner. Super dad cooked dinner and desert extraordinaire Katarina prepared pudding and brownie parfaits. What a treat! We also love to talk with Jim and Michele, couple to couple.
• Kids played and adults enjoyed fellowship…until 11pm! Thanks for the encouragement and insight – Michelle and Jim!
• Russell drove like a trucker in the rain to Kenso, WA and we camped at La Park de Wal-Mart.
Day 25: Kenso- Wilsonville- Sisters-Bend
• “Waking at Wal-Mart”
• Had cereal, played and debated next move. There is a storm on the coast. We choose to cut out Manzanita, Tillamook, and Newport!- Great Organ coastal towns you hear so much about. We decided we would go inward and escape the storm. Bend and Crater Lake National Park it is!
• We drove back through Wilsonville since Tal took off work to see us, so sweet. We got a bite and went back to her house. Mike is going to make a red neck out of my son yet. He sits down with him and tunes him into PBR. That is Professional Bull Riding for the non red neck readers And then jumps up with excitement asking Rohan if he wants to do something really fun. He took him outside (with my permission) to shoot a paintballs. It is quite a big contraption so it was cute seeing Mike help him as he pulled the trigger and giant pink and green splotches painted a wheel barrow, and occasional, house, roof or neighboring yard. Rohan had a ball. Mike and Tal are so good to the kids…and us! Mike also, again helped us fix the RV. This time a generator/battery issue...thanks Mike!
• We were off to Bend, OR.
• Funny thing is (or not so funny in the moment) is that we were taking pictures of the beautiful snow capped mountains way off in the distance. It was beautiful with the fall foliage lining the river along side. Then randomly we saw a car with snow on the roof and chalked it up to the car traveling all the way down the mountain…until another snowy car and another until suddenly we found ourselves smack dab on top of that beautiful snow capped mountain pass. It was snowing/raining, we are in a Recreational Vehicle with our family, on a mountain pass during dusk. Prayers were flying upward. So much for fleeing that storm.
• Russell got us to Tumalo State Park and found a nice spot with full hookup. Why is this our first time taking advantage of this? The “arv” suddenly became a tiny condo – with all the amenities. Unlimited water, power, heat! Sweet.

ROL Days 16-20: And more adventure awaits!!!

Day 16- Wilsonville
• At Natalia and Mike’s
• Went to lunch at Natalia’s restaurant
• Mike and Tal took us Thai dinner(honestly, best Thai I have had – I judge Thai by their Tom Kha Soup and it was amazing, and forget about their Duck Curry!)
• We took the Armada – popped in a Shark Tales movie for Rohan, Royce slept and the 4 of us tag teamed the haunted house! Best haunted house I have ever been to! Haunted house, forest and the dark. The scariest was Tal and I alone going through the forest! The creativity and acting is unparalleled. Or I just haven’t been to enough haunted houses. However a creepy girl rocking against a wall eerily singing, “…because the Bible tells me so.” And then a loud crack and some really scary thing in my face. AHHHHH! And we run and turn back and he’s still there- more loud pitched girly screams!
• We left at 11pm – Rohan still awake! At times we feel like it is child abuse, then remind selves we do not have to prescribe to society’s sleeping hours. He gets plenty of rest!
Day 17 – Wilsonville
• We went to the park across the street – played Rohan’s new Bocce set, Mike and Russell played baseball w/Ro, and on the playground
• Kids napped – we hung at house
• Went to Lee’s farm Pumpkin Patch – the real deal! Ok- not joking with the bests – but best Pumpkin Patch I have been to! It was the real deal. Hay rides, farm animals (not just a few chickens and goats brought in and fed $0.25 pellets until their stomachs explode) It had of course a jumpy house and a few rides, but a giant jump hump. It was like a 40’ long hump buried into the ground without walls that was the same material as a jumpy. It looked as if you would jump to outer space or slide down it – but it was rather controlled. Yet very fun for kids! We got a free hay ride because Mike helped fix the tractor. Rohan had a blast and we got some cute pics.
• We went to great BBQ joint – Dave’s BBQ. I went shopping at Old Navy catching big sales – and Tal had to come get me, but within 3 minutes she too was buying things
• Rohan and I carved his first pumpkin! He was so excited to pull out seeds. Which of course we roasted and ate. I carved Rohan in fun letters (per his request), he wrote in permanent marker all over it and we lit the candle – a sheer masterpiece.
Day 18 – Wilsonville
• Guys woke at 5am to go fishing – I kept getting txts that Russell was so cold – “brrrr. Wish I was home snuggling with u n the boys.” I would reply, “when u catch a fish it will warm ur soul.”An hour later, “still nothing, still cold.” Then at noonish – We get the big warming txt! They fished for salmon for 4 hours in the 40 degree windy weather. Nothing. They moved on to Sturgeon and when the captain asked if they want to set up for 1 or 2 they both sneeringly replied, “2!” Russell hooked one at 11:30 and with his bad back, couldn’t keep reeling, he passed the giant bent in half pole to Mike – who has lumbar disc problems. They passed the pole every 5 minutes. And every time Russell had a rest he peeled off his layers of clothing. By the time they reeled this river monster up (50 minutes) – he was in a T-shirt! Not so cold anymore, and this thing did warm his soul. Guys just listen to your wives It was a, ready for this? Are you sure?...450lb 8 ft long Sturgeon! They caught a 450lb fish!!! Unfortunately (depending on how you look at it) you cannot pull them up on the boat on Sundays and she was only about 25 yrs old – they live to 100! They are prehistoric creatures. Why have I never heard of them? I guess Beluga Caviar comes from Sturgeon in the Caspian Sea. Anyway – that catch of a lifetime was worth 4 hrs of freezing his tutkis off! Then they went and caught 16 Walleye in an hour and a half.
• Meanwhile – Tal the kids and I went back to The Lee’s Farm Pumpkin patch. I had tickets to use up and we met Kelly (Sheehan) Wehrung and her kids – I have not seen or heard from her since I was 18! It was sooo good to catch up.
• Rohan and Eli played and played and played – we then all ate pumpkin donughts, corn dogs, kettle corn and cider. Can you say Fall and Pumpkin Patch?
• The kids napped and Tal and I hung – waiting for the men to bring home their daily catch!
• Tal cooked us a great dinner
• Russell, Tal and I thoroughly enjoyed some fresh pumpkin farm fudge and donughts! It was pretty comical to hear the amount of groaning and savoring of these treats.
• They were sooo spent. I have never seen such a thing. Mike laid around and slept. Russell lounged – yet of course stayed up til 1 or 2 am.
Day 19- Wilsonville, Portland, Astoria, Aberdeen
• Pack, laundry
• Russell took Rohan to Mike’s shop to fix odds and ends on RV
• Left at 2:30
• Drove “The Arv” through Portland – yup cruising the city streets. We stopped and got a slice and brought it to a park across a charter school and ate and watched kids play. While dealing with Rohan having dumped his juice on the tempurpedic mattress pad and Russell being a hungry- grumpy bear- and trying to talk to Janel about her new baby and life
• We drove past Pioneer park – where our team visited in college and a giant flock of birds flew overhead- Hoyt ran and screamed like her life was about to end. We laughed. It was good to see that park again.
• We went to Astoria – a little coastal town – neat but eerie to us.
• Saw house ‘Goonies’ was filmed in. Very cool. It is inhabited.
• Went to the Astoria Column – a 164 step column to a 360 view of Astoria…at sunset. Pretty cool. Great pics.
• Went to Port George Brewery for a sampler and amazing cup of Tomato, bacon and blue cheese soup. Incredible brews! Rohan had a plethora of cool toys to play with there and we shared a table with some fellow upstate New Yorkers!
• Went to Astoria Brewery for another sampler and dinner. Gross brews.
• It was late and we didn’t have anywhere to stay in town and wanted to get up north so we drove to Aberdeen.
• Russell said he saw an elk (though he also at one point saw a large deer run into the forest and exclaimed, “what was that, a horse?” – funny. First of all – we were deep in the forest and the beast was on the side of the road, secondly, it has a white puff for a tail…no long 6’ whisking black tail
• I said, “I better see an elk on this trip”(meaning before our return home). Just then I looked up and what to my wonderful eyes should appear but a big giant field and 15 large grazing elk! Russell at midnight slams on the breaks as much as possible without sending our sleeping babies flying across the RV. We backed up, they were gone. Fast fellas.
• We listened to Joyce Meyer’s Overcoming Fear with Faith series.
• We had a giant plug in spotlight out looking for more elk to photo
• Nothing too impressive to park at, scary rather…so we camped at our first Wal-Mart. Apparently they advertise that they are free RV parking.
• We settled in just in time for the Wal-Mart parking lot cleaning machine. Lovely.
Day 20: Aberdeen – Cresent Lake – Olympic National Park- Heart O’ Hills Campground
Smiles and Trials:
• Woke at Wal-Mart to a very loud, big and long train.
• Royce woke every 1-2 hrs (though is back to going to sleep awake at times)- having a fit because his clothes were too bulky and constricting. That was fun, let alone him moving to horizontal positions. How on earth do people co-sleep? They love it! We’ve tried! We cannot.
• 1st shopping at Wal-Mart in over a year! – we got Rohan a sleeping bag and costume- he was super excited.
• Sat in front of Starbucks and Russell did some urgent work for 1.5 hours.
• Drove to Olympic National Park!
• Stopped at Cresent Lake
• Hiked Marymere Falls – great little hike. Cool bridges, rivers, trees, moss, and neat landscape, tunnel and of course the epic waterfall.
• Camped at Heart O’Hills – pretty primitive. But did have fire pit. We cooked dinner - some yummy meat but I screwed up the mac n cheese. How do you do that?
• Kids wouldn’t go to bed. Very frustrating. Found myself asking “What are you supposed to do when you are frustrated? I know our white trash way of dealing isn’t exactly “What Jesus would do”, “The Rhythm of Love” or what we want.
• Royce kept waking up…because he started a runny/stuffy nose NO wonder he can’t sleep! It’s always sad when a baby is sick. They don’t know what is going on, they only know they don’t feel well. We were all excited to get a good nights sleep with the first time we set up the pack n play. He lasted 1 hour. I figured if he is going to be up every hour needing a cuddle, butt pat or a nurse, it behooves me to just roll over rather than get my booty up outta bed and lean over to pat or nurse him (well, lean over to bring him into bed to nurse – I cannot just lean over a pack n play and nurse – my breasts aren’t that saggy.
• I have been slaving over spicy Maya Hot Cocoa from Chuao Chocolatier so I went out to enjoy some while Russell bolted in to get Royce (he thought he heard snapping in the woods).
• No sooner I spilled on myself and went inside too.
• When babies were settled – we broke out the telescope and looked at the moon. Romantic.

Introduction Video for Pastors and Small Group Leaders