The Beauty of Rest

The Sun Rises Again

    Up in the night, I grappled with the gods of Isaiah 46 and the God who sustains me. This business of salvation, of deliverance, is and must be, new each morning.

   Each new morning, I am invited to embrace God, and to leave behind the gods who are failing our broken world. Today, He still offers you and me another way.

   And let us remember that man's brokenness and evil in the world, will never ever surpass God's hope. Hope, love, joy, and truth will one day win. They will.

   As the sun rose again this morning, pink on the horizon, so too, are God's mercies new every morning. But we must carry these mercies to the hurting, even while we are hurting shattered vessels. 

   While He yet mends us, may His love pour from our shattered places.


   And let us never forget that God's heart throbs, screams, and aches with ours, and still, He invites us to create with Him each new morning. We are called to be creators under the light of His sun, through the light of His Son.

   What are we creating, living, and breathing today that brings His hope into a shattered throbbing world?

  I needed Tonia's words today.  Maybe you do too?

Timbers and the Fire, Chicago

   We took in our first Timbers game last night. An auntie was very gracious to share two tickets, and we were able to pick up two more cheaply through StubHub.

   Unfortunately, we didn't make it to Portland in time to eat at Kenny and Zukes. Maybe next time. I also missed seeing the sawing off of one round of the Douglas Fir log they keep behind their home goal. This, after their first, and only goal. However, the sound of the Timbers chain saw kept the game humming along. FYI, the game ended with a 1:1 tie.

   It felt like the Timbers did a lot of standing around last night, but it was a pre-season game. We learned where to sit, and where not to sit, for future games, i.e., behind the goals. Ear plugs came in handy, but I sense things were pretty sedate last night. Thankfully, we didn't hear much inappropriate language. It's amazing how a little beer in the mix makes people messy. 

   The stadium was a homogeneous green. Amusing. Portland is known for its eclectic individuality, but one didn't see that within the environs of Providence Park last night. I bet it's a riot of green when there's a St. Paddy's Day game.

   While it was great to finally watch a Timbers game, we love the quiet sportsman like Oregon State games. OSU has some highly competitive players, the game pace is very fast, and the environment in Corvallis is a bit more kid friendly. Oh, and the games are free!

   The Timbers may have headed home as pictured above. Thankfully, we did not! Where's brother? He doesn't make an appearance here because his head was in the game. He didn't want to be disturbed and mostly kept his eyes on the futbol. Here's to the beginning of a great futbol season!

On Valentine's Eve: Oregon's Birthday and Kitzhaber

Sadly, Salem has seen better days. 

We worked our way to Salem today. 

In order to see the Oregon State Constitution, rarely on display.

Oregon's birthday is tomorrow.

We wondered what we would see.

 

Knowing, all has not been well.

It was a sad day for Oregon, its citizens, and its leaders. 

 We watched this news outside the Oregon Senate Chambers.

Thirty feet from the Governor's door.

   We had some interesting conversations last night about what we might see today, but in the moment, they were not at all concerned with the state troopers and camera crews literally camped out behind their heads. They were focused on seeing the Oregon State Seal.

   Here's to spring in the capitol. 

May the new year bring citizen leadership and healing.

 May Oregon's citizens learn, act, pray, vote, and give back.

Let us live intentionally within the communities we call home. 

What we plant, will bloom.

A Pearl in Portland, The Center for Architecture

   After weeks of working to arrange schedules for five very busy families, one Executive VP/CEO, and one amazing historian and tour guide, we got it done! Friday, our First Lego League robotics team visited The Center for Architecture in Portland. 

   Set in the heart of the Pearl District, The Center for Architecture encourages architects in their inventing, designing, and building.

   A dual purpose building, it hosts the offices of the Architectural Institute of America, AIA Portland and AIA Oregon, and The Center for Architecture. In what was once the old Mallory Stables, you now find a space bringing Oregonians pivotal new designs, inventions, and buildings for the next generation. 

    Our day began with a quick talk and presentation by Robert Hoffman, the Executive Vice President/CEO of The Center for Architecture, AIA Portland, and AIA Oregon. He was incredibly kind to arrange this tour for us, welcome us to Portland, and give the kids his time. While his presentation was short, it was almost impossible to keep the kids from rolling around in the fabulous AIA chairs. I think architects must enjoy rolling around on their ideas until they gel.

   Next, we headed out the door with Portland expert Eric Wheeler for a tour of the Pearl District. A historian, teacher, and expert on all things Portland (and many other cities), Eric generously shared his time, showed us around the Pearl, and taught us why the Pearl is so very special in terms of modern urbanization. 

   An old warehouse area, east of Burnside, the Pearl District was not an area we ever explored when I was a kid, as it was not considered safe. These days, it's a fabulous example of modern urbanization done right.

 

Looking and learning in the EcoTrust Building. 

Portland still has her Mounties, and they are loved.

 

Snack time on the loading docks. 

We did not need snacks; we had cupcakes before our walk.

 A goofy art installation in the Wieden and Kennedy Building

Does this remind anyone else of the Seattle Gum Wall?

The Gerding Theatre is located in what was once The Portland Armory.

 Of course, we had to make a stop at Powell's.

This oldie, but goodie, was also spotted in the Pearl.

Portland in the News
The new Tilikum Bridge - the first of its kind in the nation.
Portland Design Week, Portland fosters partnership in design
ADX, a Portland Maker Space 
The American Institute of Architects

Oregon State Lego Tournament

We survived the Oregon State Lego Tournament this past weekend. Would you be surprised to know that many of the teams were from Hillsboro, Beaverton, Bethany, and Portland? Let's note, there were a few Intel influenced teams. Shall we? 

Sixteen weeks of technology with an Architectural/World Class Learning focus is now over, at least for the competitive component. However, more adventures with architecture await, as does leisure robotics. Is there such a thing?

Our team made a good showing, while learning a lot and growing together. It's been way more work than most of us bargained upon. I hope we've become a team that not only asks for God's blessing, but steps up to the work that God's blessings surely ask of us. Every time.

Certainly, I was struck by the fact that to reach the State Lego tournament (or do robotics at all) there's privilege: parents who care, parents and coaches who invest time and money, parents and coaches who can afford to be present for 2-3 hour (or longer) robotics practices weekly, and parents who are not intimidated by computers and world class learning unleashed. Sadly, access to robotics is not made available to all. Some parents are just trying to get their kids through school and survive. Let us participate in robotics humbly, expecting to give back through the skills we've gained. These blessings of time and opportunity are not to be assumed upon. What are we to do with our new skills? Next year offers a new opportunity to live out our blessings by making our world a better place.  FLL Trash Trek here we come.

We are pondering ideas. How about Wear your Trash Day? Might that motivate us to consume less? Or, how about visiting a local city  in Oregon and learning how they've become so very green? Sorry, Eugene. Further, what about involving ourselves in trash at the state level? As we ponder FLL Trash Trek, we can't help but wonder why dumping trash in the ocean is regulated, but collecting, storing, and disposing of local trash in our communities isn't regulated nearly enough? And there's not nearly enough incentives to recycle. If I produce less trash, there's very little reward. We are pondering, and yes, sometimes pontificating at the dinner table how we produce and process trash.

I'm also pondering how we might participate with our best attitudes in place. There's always room for growth. Lego Robotics is not for the faint of heart. I'm quite sure it draws Type A's. Team work must be focused upon each and every session, for good reason. Thank heavens, we have a team that cares about the Lego Core Values, discussing and seeking to live them each week.

Ramblings from the Two Track

We made it into the wilds, but barely.

She struggled some, but still offered us smiles.

Waiting with an attitude of gold for medicine to arrive so we can depart Bend.

   It's breezy here. The cottonwoods clatter, and ripple in the wind. Ratcheting sprinklers run all day as the lush grass attests. I hear the doves. Their presence is a never ending source of comfort. Like a familiar cloak on a cold starry night, holding me close, they remind me of the vastness of Your love.

   Her stomach is off again this morning. What can we do, but wait and trust? The baby calves suckle at their mama's teats. How I wish I could feed her and food would just fix it. You alone can nourish her right now Lord. Will we make it out on the trail this year?

In Rome, Oregon.  A little sagebrush and Singapore math. (She's a bit math obsessed.)

   Nothing has changed: we are still packed to the rafters, but the gear doesn't tumble out quite so often. Kid list of essentials: survival pack, water bottles, books.

Oh yeah, & a snorkel mask and soccer clothes, for every day of the week.

   What will the desert demand of us, and why are we always so thirsty? Do wild springs fill men more deeply than rural ones? We embark into the desert with some who are yet strangers to us, like a caravan, headed off to trade in foreign lands. Will we be bound by the land or return with a bounty of inner treasure? 

Headed down there!

   In a chaotic, noisy, loud, and fanatic world the rover affords us trails where we find rest. The noise of a cracked culture gives way to the cricket. 

    Clustered on the bank of the river, they surely looked like children's toys to the fighter jets screaming overhead. 

A pristine spring. Not unvisited, but undamaged by mankind. Unusual.

  Riverside, the breeze was just enough to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Overhead, rock formations loomed large. At sunset, young antelope averse to our curiosity, crested up and over canyon walls.

Three Forks cascading into the Owyhee River.

Rovers down low. Three Forks to the right. Stretching our legs.

There is just you Lord, in the sunshine and the heat, and the drum of a child's feet. 

Up and out. I prayed the whole way!

Willow Hot Springs, near Fields, Oregon

    We crawled into our tent as dusk settled on the land. I couldn't sleep, my mind buzzing with the days activities. Alive with the day's heat, the crickets kept up their chirping, to match my chattering mind. The rustle of the tent flaps broke my concentration, or was it a coon in the garbage bag hanging outside? The abnormal chatter, all the noise, portended the 2 a.m. party that would arrive at Willow. What a racket of a night!

Sunset at Willow Hot Springs, Whitehorse Ranch

 

Breakfast in Fields, Oregon. A sweet treat. We licked our plates clean.

4 days without a shower, not to shabby, but we ain't gonna zoom in!

 Home again, a little worse for the wear, but it was worth it!

 Rovering Responsibly

   We take safety seriously, for us and God's creation. We pack, plan, prepare, and pray when we go into the outback, especially with our kids in tow. We go with others. We don't go it alone. We go with great people who also prepare. We prepare for fire, injury, and vehicle issues, because stuff happens while you are busy living life! This year, we were blessed to have a Search and Rescue Coordinator in attendance, a state highway patrolman, a variety of engineers, experienced explorers, and even an experienced Mazama, along for the ride. (The trip coordinator also took time to appropriate and rent a satellite phone. Just in case.) 

   As for our interactions with nature, the primary objective is to leave no trace. The Pacific Coast Rover Club is focused on enjoying nature safely in a way that nurtures nature for future generations to enjoy.  

Rover Girl aka no make up girl.