Third week of sabbatical

Arrived at Austin's family vacation home at Ocean Shores.  One morning heard a strange noise.  Looked outside and saw a beautiful pheasant.  Then one afternoon we discovered a lovely deer grazing in the front yard.  On the way to town we also saw rabbit, raccoon, weasel, and eagle.  WOW!!!  During mediation time I spent time reading on the Saints of the Celtic tradition:  St Patrick, St. Brigit, St. Non of Wales, St. David of Wales, and St. Columba.  Continued morning and evening prayers, plus added prayer walking with St Patrick's Breastplate Prayer.  We spent time playing games and working a beautiful puzzle.   During the day we took walks on the beach collecting treasures like shells, rocks, drift wood, and even found whole sand dollars. One day took a trip up the Quinault Rain Forest.  We saw the wonder of God's creation in the Valley of Giants where we saw the world's largest Blue Spruce, and Western Red Cedar trees.  We even got to walk inside the Cedar and experience God's creation close up and personal.   We were in awe of in the beauty of the rain forest.  We didn't get to travel to Scotland but we got to shop at a Celtic store and enjoyed an evening of live Celtic music at the Irish Pub.  A week of rest, renewal!

Second week of sabbatical

On the second week of sabbatical was spent with friends.  First we visited Judy and Bill Forbes at their home in Spirit Lake, Idaho. Bill and Judy are friends from Spokane since our children were little.  On the way home we visited Sue and Gordan Jackson, teaching friends from Whitworth University, and with Ray and Sharon White, past choir director at KFP.  It was a wonderful week of renewal, including morning and evening prayers, reading, hiking, visiting, laughing, playing games, and enjoying great food.  I ended the week by worshiping at St. George Episcopal Church in Maple Valley where I received a blessing for the 20th anniversary of my ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).   Enjoy the pics.

First week

Left home on June 2.  Arrived at Haney's cabin on Lake Thomas, north of Spokane.  Spent the week practicing morning and evening prayers; hiking Frater lake Trail, and Leo Lake Trail; reading; eating; fishing; and just relaxing and decompressing from work.  Each day I was "reminded of God that is within" me.Worshiped at Colville UCC Church.  Their welcome reminded Tom and me of Kent First.  They send their greetings!!!!