Camping at Lake Kachess

One of our favorite pastimes as a family is to camp, hence why we made a pact last summer to do it as often as possible. We thought it was probably a little ambitious to camp only 3 weeks post-move, but with so many visitors coming this summer and traveling in August for my sister's wedding, we really didn't think we would have many other opportunities.

Adventuring at Flaming Geyser State Park

Coming from San Diego, a place notoriously beautiful, you would think that I would be less impressed by nature's beauty. NOPE. This area is so fascinatingly gorgeous, I can't stop staring. The trees, Mt. Rainier looming in the distance, the water that is in every nook and cranny of these towns, this is the type of place where almost everywhere you go, you think: wow.

Granted, we haven't had but just a few drops of rain since we have gotten here, so I'm sure we will be in for a shock in a few short months! Hopefully I'll still be singing the same tune at that point. 

Anyway, this past week while Adrian was at work, I took the boys to Flaming Geyser State Park. I am in a Community of Maple Valley Facebook group and they recently had a thread sharing all of the cool short hikes to take kids on in this area, which is where I found this park. 

The trek

Phew, we made it. It wasn't until 6:00 am on Sunday, June 21st that it felt real. I still am a little bit in shock that we live in Washington, but I'm sure the fact that my family isn't just a short drive away anymore will hit soon enough.

Anyway, Adrian came home on Friday night and was able to take the early flight, thank goodness! The boy were ecstatic to have him back and even still today, 2 weeks later, get upset when he leaves for work. On the Saturday before we started the trek up north, my parents threw us the most amazing, fun, wonderful going away part ever. I couldn't have asked for a better way to be sent off. We played in the pool, had yummy drinks at the tiki bar and enjoyed the company of our best friends and family.

A new adventure ahead

The cat is finally out of the bag. We are leaving California this summer and heading to the great state of Washington! After a lot prayer, tears, discussion and research, we have come to a place where we feel like this is the right thing for our family.

When we found out that Adrian might be recruited out-of-state, I immediately started praying. Not really to stay in San Diego, or to go to Seattle or Colorado or anywhere else for that matter. I prayed for discernment. That our path would be very clearly revealed to us and we would feel at peace with our decision.

One by one, doors that we thought were opening kept shutting. Jobs that we thought would be perfect weren't. And very clearly, the path for us to Seattle was laid out. Throughout the process, we were scared. We didn't want to go and we kept saying over and over again, let's just take the easy way. Let's just take that crappy job.

Let's not do it.

Let's not follow the plan.

But something would change and then we would remember that this really isn't in our hands anyway. When we told the kids, they were excited; particularly, Gabriel was ecstatic. He, of course, is thinking of all the fun things in Seattle (the Space Needle and orca watching are one of his current obsessions), but we have still been very frank with him.

Mimi and Tata won't be a 45 minute drive away.

Grandma and Grandpa won't be a 3-hour car ride away.

It rains a lot.

You might not be going to Catholic school anymore.

You'll have to make new friends.

But still, even after hearing all of that, he is game for the challenge. He sees it as an adventure, as do we.

Five years ago, we applied for jobs in Seattle. Adrian's business had failed and we wanted to start fresh somewhere and we didn't really know what to do. We didn't get any leads and so we begrudgingly made the trek down to San Diego and lived with family until we could get back on our feet.

Three years ago, when we live in the Imperial Valley we started applying again in Seattle. Just a handful of jobs to see if anything would happen. Nothing. Then we were back in San Diego and comfortable and we didn't want to leave.

You just never know where life will take you. I feel comforted and at peace. I feel excited and happy and scared and nervous!

One of the exciting things about this new adventure is that we are going to take a week-long trip up the coast to get to our new home. Adrian's company is going to pay for the trip and we get to explore the entire West Coast.

So, when Adrian leaves next week, I will be keeping myself busy by finding the best places to go along the way, delicious restaurants and cool sights, all the while counting down the days until we can make our way to our new home!

A child's prayer

The other day, we were driving to Santee to celebrate Gabriel's birthday and had one of his friends from school in the back seat. They both go to Catholic school, so are required to go to mass weekly, say several daily prayers, and are overall used to learning about God on an everyday basis.

On that day it was rainy and as all locals know, San Diegans can't drive in the rain. There was an accident on the side of the road and the people who had been in the car were outside, crying and calling on the phone. Nobody looked hurt, but you could tell that they were upset.

Gabriel looked at his friend and said, "X, let's say the prayer that we say at school for those people." His friend agreed and they said to us, "In the name of the Father..." and so on proceeded to do the sign of the cross.

"Lord, please be with those who need them."

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Their sweet concern and thoughtfulness actually brought me to tears. Their compassion was so beautiful!