Big Skies and Big Adventures

Being in Montana has been an incredible blessing.  There is space, both physically and mentally, to settle into the changes of the past weeks.  In the quiet beauty of this transition I am able to see what incredible adventures we have had in the past few weeks.  How blessed we have been to make this journey together, to see old friends and family, and to see so much of the United States!  Three weeks ago today we left a house of boxes for our vacation on the East Coast.

Two and a half weeks ago...Eleanor jumps waves with cousin Molly in Duck, NC

Ten days ago we were cruising the Chesapeake Bay watching a sailing regatta...

Nine days ago we stood on a replica of one of the ships that came to America's first colony- Jamestown, VA...

...and explored the 'Governer's House' at Jamestown..

Eight days ago we had a sleepover with my old friend Susan, her husband Paul, and their four children...

...played cards with aunt Jane and Uncle Frank in Arlington, VA...

Walked the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 100 degree DC heat...Rynn wanted to stay and draw Lincoln in her journal.  She was really touched by the whole thing which was fun for us to see.

...and a week ago we took one last swim off the dock at the Bay (thank you Clay and Mike!!!) before heading back to the West Coast..

...where we arrived back in Portland for two quick days of goodbyes.  Caitlin Clark, a member of HOPE, has taken some beautiful photos of some of Hope's events.  To see some of the wonderful folks who are a part of a church we will always love and for whom we will continue to pray click on Hope's Flickr Page

...and a blurry Iphone picture to document our last Portland houseguest- my cousin Leigh on her way to Canada for a conference- Leigh got to embrace the chaos with us on our last night in Portland.

And then on to Montana...

Last night we roasted marshmallows and made S'mores around the firepit under a bright pink Montana sky.

Dad sporting his Western wear and giving a marshmallow roasting lesson...

...and this morning while Jason and I drank our coffee on the back deck the girls made Indian head feathers and proclaimed they were "Daughters of the Chief."  Jason now has a new title- Chief.

Eleanor builds her fire...

...while Rynn works on her teepee.

and an Indian village is created.

The Chief tries to catch some World Cup soccer while making slingshots out of rubber bands and sticks.