Vacation Part 1: Our Journey North

So our second day of our vacation began after another late night at Nick’s house. It has been chalk full of activity and preparation to hit the road. We woke up leisurely, and got coffee at Starbucks that was delightful. We talked to my mom. We then got chains for our little pick up because we are anticipating snow in the Siskiyou Mountains.

We packed the car with all of Nick’s stuff, and talked with my mom again. Then we picked him up from work about 2p.m. Our drive started with power food from Adalabertos Mexican Food. Nick had a delicious California burrito. I had a chicken chimichange that was smothered in sour cream, and Ricardo had nachos loaded with guacomole. We started the trip off right. Right after we got on the 5, Nick remember he forgot his Christmas cards, so we had to turn back. So thankfully Nick has his Christmas cards, which are pretty funny, and I am glad he will be sending them out.

So we were on the road, headed north. I immediately had to go to the bathroom and Nick told me to suck it up and wait ‘til we needed gas. Kind, huh? We drove about four hours. Traffic was terrible in L.A. Shocking, I know. However, we talked to my mom again as we slowly moved through the traffic jams. After we got through L.A. we stopped in San Clarita so I could go to the bathroom and we could get some munchies. Our power foods continue with yogurt, apples, bananas, and donuts.

6:32 p.m. I am currently in the backseat of the pickup, thinking of all the American luxuries I have been missing. They include the following:

         -root beer                                    -Starbucks

         -toilet seat covers                           -wireless internet everywhere

         -clean produce                           -stop signs

         -sparkling grocery stores         -indoor heating

3:36 a.m. We enter the State of Oregon. There was snow in the mountains, but we didn’t slide at all or have to put on our snow chains. So that was good. We drove and drove. Southern Oregon seems to go one forever. 

6 a.m. We received a phone call from my dad asking how we were doing and if we were going to pull over and take nap. I was like no way, Dad. We are nearly there.

7:06 a.m. We stop for breakfast at Dennys in Eugene. Denny’s was a welcome stop, as we all needed a bathroom break and were so very hungry. Our power food this morning included bacon, eggs, hash browns, and French toast.We are nearly to Salem, just one hour more. And thankfully we will be able to get out of t his little truck and spend some time with my good friend Mary. We have been listening to a variety of Nick’s colorful music. Not all of it’s been bad and we have listened to lots of Christmas which is fun.

Nick at Denny's half asleep.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed.

4:38 p.m. So we are on the road again. We spent a couple hours in Salem. We visited my friends Mary and Lindsey. It was so great to see them. We got to Mary’s about 9 a.m. And kinda hung out there for a while. We  brought all our stuff in the house, took showers, and then went to Dutch Brothers for coffee. Oh it was wonderful.

We had planned on spending two nights in Salem, but due to the weather, we aren’t spending any night there are working to head for Camano Island right now. We had lunch with Mary and Lindsey and David, and it was great getting to spend a little time with them. We are so thankful we were able to see them even though it was only a little snippet of time.

We also stopped by the Woodburn outlet mall. I got some great deals, but our shopping was interrupted by the snow and freezing temperatures. So we took off for home. On the freeway, Ricardo had his first snowy experience of this trip. He helped Nick put snow chains on our tires. He was freezing, but got to use his new snow gloves so he was happy.

Lindsey, my best friend ever, and I at her apartment in Salem.

Nick putting on our snow chains.

Ricardo in the snow.

The rest of our drive took a while, but we finally arrived home about 10:30pm. It was a long time to be in the car, but we were on vacation!!!! Yeah for being on Camano Island! Yeah for the snow!! What a great beginning of our Christmas vacation.

Vacation Part 1: Our Journey North

So our second day of our vacation began after another late night at Nick’s house. It has been chalk full of activity and preparation to hit the road. We woke up leisurely, and got coffee at Starbucks that was delightful. We talked to my mom. We then got chains for our little pick up because we are anticipating snow in the Siskiyou Mountains.

We packed the car with all of Nick’s stuff, and talked with my mom again. Then we picked him up from work about 2p.m. Our drive started with power food from Adalabertos Mexican Food. Nick had a delicious California burrito. I had a chicken chimichange that was smothered in sour cream, and Ricardo had nachos loaded with guacomole. We started the trip off right. Right after we got on the 5, Nick remember he forgot his Christmas cards, so we had to turn back. So thankfully Nick has his Christmas cards, which are pretty funny, and I am glad he will be sending them out.

So we were on the road, headed north. I immediately had to go to the bathroom and Nick told me to suck it up and wait ‘til we needed gas. Kind, huh? We drove about four hours. Traffic was terrible in L.A. Shocking, I know. However, we talked to my mom again as we slowly moved through the traffic jams. After we got through L.A. we stopped in San Clarita so I could go to the bathroom and we could get some munchies. Our power foods continue with yogurt, apples, bananas, and donuts.

6:32 p.m. I am currently in the backseat of the pickup, thinking of all the American luxuries I have been missing. They include the following:

         -root beer                                    -Starbucks

         -toilet seat covers                           -wireless internet everywhere

         -clean produce                           -stop signs

         -sparkling grocery stores         -indoor heating

3:36 a.m. We enter the State of Oregon. There was snow in the mountains, but we didn’t slide at all or have to put on our snow chains. So that was good. We drove and drove. Southern Oregon seems to go one forever. 

6 a.m. We received a phone call from my dad asking how we were doing and if we were going to pull over and take nap. I was like no way, Dad. We are nearly there.

7:06 a.m. We stop for breakfast at Dennys in Eugene. Denny’s was a welcome stop, as we all needed a bathroom break and were so very hungry. Our power food this morning included bacon, eggs, hash browns, and French toast.We are nearly to Salem, just one hour more. And thankfully we will be able to get out of t his little truck and spend some time with my good friend Mary. We have been listening to a variety of Nick’s colorful music. Not all of it’s been bad and we have listened to lots of Christmas which is fun.

Nick at Denny's half asleep.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed.

4:38 p.m. So we are on the road again. We spent a couple hours in Salem. We visited my friends Mary and Lindsey. It was so great to see them. We got to Mary’s about 9 a.m. And kinda hung out there for a while. We  brought all our stuff in the house, took showers, and then went to Dutch Brothers for coffee. Oh it was wonderful.

We had planned on spending two nights in Salem, but due to the weather, we aren’t spending any night there are working to head for Camano Island right now. We had lunch with Mary and Lindsey and David, and it was great getting to spend a little time with them. We are so thankful we were able to see them even though it was only a little snippet of time.

We also stopped by the Woodburn outlet mall. I got some great deals, but our shopping was interrupted by the snow and freezing temperatures. So we took off for home. On the freeway, Ricardo had his first snowy experience of this trip. He helped Nick put snow chains on our tires. He was freezing, but got to use his new snow gloves so he was happy.

Lindsey, my best friend ever, and I at her apartment in Salem.

Nick putting on our snow chains.

Ricardo in the snow.

The rest of our drive took a while, but we finally arrived home about 10:30pm. It was a long time to be in the car, but we were on vacation!!!! Yeah for being on Camano Island! Yeah for the snow!! What a great beginning of our Christmas vacation.

A Prayer Request

So our Christmas Vacation got off to an interesting start. 

Before we left the Mission yesterday, we were informed that four of our co-missionaries in the state of Oaxaca were being interrogated by Mexican Immigration. The immigration officials decided to deport our missionaries due to discrepancies in their paperwork. We are exactly sure what happened.

Please pray for these four young women as their plans have changed very abruptly. For these women, they have prayed and dreamed of serving at the orphanage in Mexico, and now things have changed so quickly. They are very tired, sad and probably confused as to how all of this could happen. They are traveling up to Texas to leave Mexico. Pray that God would give them peace and reassurance of his call on their lives. That they would not be discouraged, but that God would comfort them in this challenging time.

* * *

Ricardo and I arrived in San Diego last night. We were welcomed with a Christmas party that Nick had at his house. It was fun to see and meet more of his friends. We went to bed late, and were up too early. Today we went shopping, and hung out with Nick and tonight we are going to a play, "The King and I." I am so excited to see it. And it will be Ricardo's first taste of live theater. It's going to be a great night.