She Rescue Benefit - Champion

Hanging out at a She Rescue Benefit - "It's not okay" child exploitation in all its forms - (rape, trafficking, prostitution) Rescuing girls from age 5 to 15!

A Night at the Drive-In

"A Night at the Drive In...."

For Beloved's birthday weekend we spent the weekend going to a museum, doing a few fun errands and also going to a DRIVE- IN movie theater.  The kiddos love it!  I love it. We had a good time.

We piled everyone in the back of the car with lots of pillow and blankets.  We brought a bag of candy (which we took from Beloved's lunch stash) and Beloved went to the Drive- IN movie theater's concession stand for drinks and pop-corn.

This must be one of the last Drive-In movie theaters around. I am glad they got to experience it.

Resting during our Vacation

Resting with your family should be an activity in which every now and then,  everyone just enjoys their time with each other yet can be also separately engaged!- Family Quotations

Today, Beloved made sure I just rested -- all day long!

The Little Ones played in the play room, read books in the reading room, jogged on the treadmills in the exercise room,  road go-carts in the garage, and ate ice cream on the veranda.

Then, we spent the evening on the third floor as a Family watching a movie - complete with popcorn - in the theater.

Several Restful Days

Relax your body, Calm your mind, Renew your spirit - Unknown

 Beloved rented a house, for this week only, up near one of the closest cities to our new military installation. His plan is for us to hang out at some museums and parks and also do a lot of relaxing during his birthday week.

A Southern White Snow Blanket

"January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow." - Unknown

A business trip for Beloved had us going to Alabama where they were going to get some snow. We fully expected that the whole town would close once Huntsville was covered with a beautiful white blanket. Despite everything being closed -- and I mean everything except the 10 engineers/editors for the company that Beloved had a meeting with -- He ended up going to work and amazingly he finish up early. So, out the door went our plans for the Little Ones and I to take a NASA tour while here. But, there is no point in sticking around when things aren't opening until some time after tomorrow. We are headed home now. The Interstate is clear although we are the only ones on it!
How strange it feels...

A Backward Glance

"...the water that I shall give you shall be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14

Along the Smokey Mountains

"For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land."
(Psalm 95:3-5)

Pennsylvania Excursion

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

-- Helen Keller

Beloved has another business trip.

So, he packed us up in his suitcase and took us with him! ;)

Okay, not really!

But, we are on a trip with him.

I think he has a lot of things planned for us on his down time.

Crayons? Hershey Chocolate?

Amish Farm trip?

Maybe, a Bell and a Statue?

Who really knows?

We normally drive everywhere but this seems to be the Summer for flying.

A fun treat while waiting for boarding is to watch our luggage go to the Airplane.

I wonder what sort of Adventure we will find?

Goodbye Cascades

In the hope to meet

Shortly again, and make our absence sweet. ~Ben Jonson

Saying "Goodbye" to the West.

(The view from our plane)

I will miss hiking these Mountains!

Astoria Excursion

Astoria is on the south shore at the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. The city is served by the Port of Astoria which is a deep-water port.

~ Astoria, Oregon City Facts

Two days ago, we traveled from Sequim, Washington to Astoria, Oregon. In Astoria, We met up with some family, got settled into our hotel, and enjoyed an evening swimming, pizza and a movie.

In the hotel, the boys have spent a lot of time watching the boats (tugboats, towboats, oceanliners and huge fishing boats) coming underneath the bridge that is outside our window. Our hotel is right at the mouth of the Columbia River right before the ships go into the Pacific. While the boys enjoyed watching the boats and birds, I enjoyed watching some otters play right at the base of the bridge.

Beloved always does a fabulous job finding great places for us to stay on our trips. He used to make reservations for 100's of Men when they had a "mission" in other places. So, I think he is quite a pro at just finding great spots for our little family to stay!

The Little Gentleman

The view outside my window just as I was about to say "Goodnight!"

Around The Corner From Dungoness Spit

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside still waters,"

Psalm 23: 1 & 2

The best part of Vacation is having the opportunity to relax.

The Little Miss and Beloved know just how to spend an hour or two!

The second past of Vacation is seeing new things!

So, since the Dungoness Spit is just around the corner, we headed out there to see it.

Dungoness Spit is a 5.5 mile long sand spit which jets out from the Northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula.

It is the longest natural sand spit in the United States.

(Do you see the Mountains over in Canada?)

A Summer Week At A Log Cabin

Sequim, Washingtom is know for their lavendar. - Sequim Facts

Beloved rented a 3 story log home for our week in Sequim, Washington.

We are so thrilled with the comfy coziness of this home!

The Little Ones are excited about staying in a loft at this Mount View Lodge.

I am happy about the comfy spots to relax and do a little reading and writing.

However, with a view like this I might be doing more daydreaming!

Apparently, I am not the only one wanting to claim a spot!

I am sure we will have a bear-y special time exploring this area.

North West Mountains

"Shout to the lord, all the earth let us sing.

Power and majesty, praise to the king.

Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar,

At the sound of your name..."

~ Shout to the Lord By Hillsong

Beloved’s business was completed in Idaho a few days ago.

So, I said, “Goodbye” to my old friend, Laura and her Family.

Then, we began our trip back up to Washington.

The scenery is gorgeous.

The Mountains are Majestic.

Mountains in Oregon

Mountains in Washington State

1st Flight for 3 of the 4 Children

“We should come home from adventures, and perils,

and discoveries every day with new experience and character”

~Henry David Thoreau

The past two summers we have driven across the United States for two separate business trips. (All of which has been documented on our xanga blog.) The first summer we hotel hopped from the East coast to the West and ended up in Los Vegas. Last year, Beloved’s trip had us going up to Washington State so we rented an RV and camped all across the US. This year, due to a crunch in time between business trips, we decided to take a plane ride.

This was the Little Lady’s 6th time on a plane. However, it was the first time she will remember her plane adventure. For the Little Man, the Little Gentleman and Little Miss it was their first time ever. They were very excited.

The airport was very busy!

The CMA and Bonaroo had just ended and so the airport was hoping with Country fans and stars!

Everyone did really well on the plane. At take off and on the landing the Little Gentleman got a little nervous. His eyes got really huge and he held on tight to the plane seat. I don't blame him though, I don’t like take offs either!

During the plane ride, we pulled out the lap top to let them watch a movie with the head phones, books, and some quiet toys. They took naps and of course they had snacks! The airline flight attendant passed out sodas, peanuts and crackers! They enjoyed having their personal trays. They giggled when they discovered that they came down out of the seat in front of them.

Simple things, I guess?!

The views that you see when flying are always so breathtaking! I took a picture as we were flying over Illinois. We were experiencing a little turbulence due to the winds. You wouldn’t know it from those fluffy white clouds!

Flying over the Cascades! Do you see them?

Just minutes before we landed in Washington State...

I can’t wait to blog about this year's summer adventure.

Because, as usual the Military always changes up there plans! Once we arrived it was confirmed that we wouldn't be staying in Washington State for very long. Just days before we got here, we learned that they might be moving the business trip to Idaho. So, we are now going to drive to Idaho instead! We don't mind. We have never been to Boise.

Traveling in a Snow Storm

"Bad weather always looks worse through a window." ~Author Unknown

We hit the road this morning for another business trip. After hours and hours of a smooth ride we drove right into a Winter Snow Storm. It was a snow storm with lightening.

It didnt' take long for it to turn into this! The black is look out through the window. Not good huh? This is what memories are made of, I suppose.

We were glad when the snow stopped. We settled into our hotel but first the Little Man had to feel snow for the very first time!