People and God's Creation - To the West!

This Blog covers July 5-19.    Leander, TX, Davenport, IA, Prospect, OR.  About 3100 miles.

We continue to meet good people; visit friends, relatives, and farms and just gasp at the wonder of God's creation.   We are more aware of God's hand everyday!   

We are reminded of the vision and struggle of pioneers as they made their way west.  

The following quote is from Paul Harvey:

"When America's early pioneers first turned their eyes toward the West, they did not demand that somebody take care of them if they got ill or got old. They did not demand maximum pay for minimum work, and even pay for no work at all."

So without further ado, here goes:

First, the Fun - The wedding of our nephew, Harrison Thompson (sister Marianne's son) to his bride, Jaclyn Norton.  A extra blessing was seeing our daughter Tracy and granddaughter, Layla from Harrisonburg, VA at the wedding.

Bride and groom, Jacey and Harry with John and Linda

Not like the receptions we had 49 years ago!

The bride, Jacey with our daughter Tracy and granddaughter, Layla and Linda

We love this shot of daughter Tracy, granddaughter, Layla and us taken at Lavender Crest Vinyards, Colona, IL.

Second, the Farms - As a member of Harvest Hosts, many farms, wineries, orchards, museums offer free overnight stays for RVer's traveling along the way.

Hidden Hills Farms - Auburn, KS.  An award winning farm for land conservation and grass-fed beef cattle,

We enjoyed a 1 hour tour of the pasture land and great explanaton of  their award winning conservation processes.  They shared their miracle story of how the Lord allowed them to acquire this farm.

Here's looking at you, kid! 

Scatter Joy Acres - Omaha. NE.  An animal therapy farm for hurting people.

Ever pet a porcupine??!! 

Rocky Hollow Buffalo Company, Harrisburg, NE.  Up close and personal with 200 bison!

 

Red Oak Farms Alpaca, La Pine, OR -- Note: the drive through central Oregon to get to La Pine was like driving 2 1/2 hours through Mars.  NOTHING for miles and miles.  I can't image how early settlers from the east made this trip!   They must have been tough determined folk!

 The alpaca is a gentle curioius animal.   It actually feels very peaceful being around them!  Their fiber coat they provide is stronger and softer then wool.

Third, Friends we met along the way

Becca has been a friend of ours for years and long time member of our PrimeTime SS Class at Hill Country Bible Church,  Good to see her for brunch in Lincoln, NE 

Becca Thompson, Lincoln, NE

 Larry and Kathy Miller are speakers, counselors, authors in the area of marriage and family.  Their new book God's Intriguing Questions: 60 New Testament Devotions Revealing Jesus's Nature is now available on Amazon.  We are being blessed reading through this devotion daily.

                                            Larry and Nancy Miller, Boise, ID

God's Tremendous Creation

Rolling hills of corn fields and wind mills as for as the eye can for miles and miles - Gorgeous!

Many wind mills on farms.  People dont realize how huge the blades are!

Mountians and Lakes in southern OR - Spectacular!

Facts about Crater Lake:  It was created 7,700 years ago through a volcano.  The caldera (bowl) filled with snow and rain water over the centuries.  It is 1943 feet deep at the deepest point making it the deepest lake in the US.   The blue wavelength is visible to the human eye while the rest of the colors are absorbed, making it a visually brilliant blue.   By the way, blue is the one of the colors that is most pleasing and restful to the eye.  Praise God for that! 

 

Model of the crater

Vidae Falls on the East Rim Drive of Crater lake Nationall Park, OR

The water at the bottom as ice cold and clear as this water was snow pack a few minutes prior.

Mount Shasta, CA as seen from the patio of Rim City Cafe at Crater Lake National Park, OR

For this trip we are appreciating our farmers, the beauty of God's creation, and people we meet.  We are continuously learning new things.   We are experienciing God's peace. 

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Thats it for now, as we take off today for the infamous Oregon Coast stopping first at Coos Bay.