Oregon Coast

Since this was the weekend we would have been in Chicago for graduation from boot camp, we surprised Josh with a trip to the Oregon Coast to keep life moving on. We invited his best friend Austin.

We had a wonderful and relaxing time...walking on the beach...eating at our favorite chowder place....Mo's... Josh and Austin got wet...more than once they had to change clothes...but it was fun!  The weather called for rain, but we had clear skies for the most part...it was cold and windy Saturday but Sunday we barely needed coats!

Driving down the coast to Newport...stopping along the way to see the scenery. Josh was chomping at the bit to climb over the fence...NOTE: Read the sign...I don't want to know what he does when he gets older, I KNOW he would have hopped over had I not been there.

We wanted to take Austin to the Yakina Bay Lighthouse...we took the kids here alot when they were younger.  There was a story told how it was haunted so the kids always liked to go whenever we were there...but now they only tell the story if someone asks...they said it scared too many kids.  I guess our kids are just VERY VERY brave:) The boys enjoyed it...really...even if it doesn't look like it.

We woke up Sunday morning to this BEAUTIFUL double rainbow from our hotel window!!  This picture does NOT do it justice....the entire rainbow was visible from our window...it was too big for my camera!

We went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium...the exhibits are AMAZING!! The bottom ones are called Sea Nettle.  And of course Richard had to act like he was swimming while surrounded by all the fish.

 It was a fun weekend.  We went bowling and swimming on Saturday night and listened to the sound of the waves all night long as we slept. I'll leave you with a few of the pic's I took on the way home of the beautiful northwest scenery. The leaves are finally starting to change...it was so pretty.

Changing Direction

Life seems to be in a constant state of changing direction. When we think we have things figured out....we turn another corner...and we find ourselves on another path. Josh was on his path to a career in the Navy and has been greatly disappointed to have to return home for medical reasons. We tell him to be strong and not let this setback bring him down, but of course they are only words and while well meaning, it doesn't take away the pain he is feeling.

We are grateful that once he got home after 2 weeks in SEPS (separation awaiting discharge) that his spirits are mostly good....

He knew that we loved him and that was a comfort.

We wanted coming home to be a good experience and so with his good friend Austin and his family we all went to the airport to welcome him home. Austins family made signs for him.

We all had pizza at the house and he regaled us with his "Boot Camp" stories. It was a good experience....we didn't want it to be sad... He is now changing direction...making plans to get a job and go to Clark College. He grew up alot while he was gone and those changes are for the better! Thank you to all our friends and family who are still there to love and support our boy...he truely feels it!