It’s Spring Break in Canada. That time when the Collins Clan (-2) load up their coracle (or Honda Odyssey) and see where the wind blows.
Our first stop was the Moda Centre in Portland, Oregon, to spend a mortgage payment on cheesy nachos and pop and watch the Portland Trailblazers v Cleveland Cavaliers. This game was a big deal! I decided to cheer for the winning Blazers, although, all credit to Lebron crushing a right-handed dunk, drawing gasps from the sold-out arena. They were almost as noisy as our own Heritage School supporters.
We’ve haven’t spent much time in Portland, so, before we continued our journey we caught the MAX light rail into the city and explored for the morning. It was 10.30am and we noticed restaurants rammed with diners – turns out brunch is a big deal in Portland. We decided there was only one place for our brunch and lined up for 30 minutes at the Voodoo doughnut shop – quite the quirky, gliittered walls, cash only, pink experience. We even got to the meet the well-known owner Kenneth “Cat Daddy” Pogson.
Onto some tax-free shopping and a whole bowl (redemptive) lunch in the square, listening to stories of Bill, and his long history of martial arts, his children, and his knowledge of Jesus. Security moved Bill on as his perceived harassment was an issue.
As of January 2015, Multnomah County, which includes most of the city, had 3,801 homeless people. Some in temporary, others transitional with more than 1,800 are “unsheltered”—that is, sleeping under bridges, in parks, and on sidewalks. Grateful that Portland has several organisations supporting the homeless, Portland Rescue Mission, Union gospel mission, R2D2 (right to dream too)
Our journey continued on Highway 26 to Cannon Beach. With eyes wide open, absorbing the scenery and catching our breath, open fields became tree-lined roads, where we admired the fluorescent green, moss wrapped trees. We were brought to an abrupt stop as one of the first on the scene of a horrific car accident. Phil was able to communicate with emergency services, prise open crumpled cars and help the injured out of their vehicles. The sounds and sights you don’t want anyone to experience or witness. Emergency services eventually arrived and we drove on. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their 19-year-old, Kendra and Grandpa, and for those who were airlifted to hospital.
We arrived at our little lodge awaited us in Cannon Beach, the Bible open on my bedside to Psalm 104. Everything I am will praise and bless the Lord! O Lord, my God, your greatness takes my breath away, overwhelming me by your majesty, beauty, and splendor! You wrap yourself with a shimmering, glistening light. You wear sunshine like a garment of glory. You stretch out the starry skies like a tapestry…
….later we walked on the beach with Josiah asking questions, mostly about God being with people in their last moments, and eternity.
And as the sun began to set, the verse unfolded before us, and we stopped, thankful that God promises to be near, He knows the beginning from the end and every breath we will take.
You are Loved!
Michelle xo
*all pics mine 😉