Oregon Favorites Countdown #1 Our Friends

Thank you so much to our sweet friends and our little goodbyes and our kind goodbye party. I'm praying we visit often, you visit often (and even that we find our way back living here). I've been drinking a lot of wine because I'm awkward with goodbyes. I cry too much or I am stoic. I'm sad, but I am also just so grateful.

We've had so many amazing people with us on this Oregon journey this last 5 years. We came loving walks like this with our young little marriage and a little Lukas in a baby carrier. We leave now with a little family. We love you all

Oregon Favorites Countdown #2 Our Kids' Friends, Friends' Kids

I will miss these kids so much....because they mean so much to us, to our kids....because I can't keep in contact with them as easy as just our friends and they won't remember us. We had loads of playdates these last few weeks that meant the world to me.....Williams' girls (which kills me still that I didn't have my camera for), caregroup kids, Smiths, school friends, church friends....Thank you!

Oregon Favorites Countdown #3 - Our Sweet Little Home

It is going to be very hard to say goodbye to our little home. Adam has put so much into our home. The ivy that has overtaken the ground was originally in a tiny pot in Colorado. Adam has since transplanted it a million times all over the yard. The Purple Plum tree was the tree we put in when Adelaine as born. The red rose bush was given to us by my mother for our anniversary to match our red trim of our house. Adam made the red bench for my 30th birthday. Adam created the trellis on the side of the house to create privacy. It is now covered in vines and one of the prettiest areas of the yard. We have fruit trees along our driveway that are promising amazing fruit this summer and blueberry, strawberry, and raspberries galore too. Inside, Adam made the room under the stairs into and ocean room and painted it beautifully as such. I love this home.

But, of course, I love the memories that happened here:

A week ago Lukas was watching "Where the Wild Things Are". After it was over, Adam looked at him and Lukas was just crying. Lukas said, "The mom was still happy to see the boy." Adam hugged him. Lukas and Adam got out some ice cream. Adam looked over to Lukas and saw he was still crying. Lukas said, "I'm not sad. I just can't stop crying."

2 days ago, Adelaine, in all her genetic self-confidence, was starting to ride her bike was coaching herself saying "I can do this. I will do this. I will ride my bike." She of course, runs into a wall. She gets up, unphased (sometimes I kind of wish she was phased for a little wisdom check), and says more determined, "I CAN DO THIS. I WILL DO THIS". No pep talk needed for that girl.

Oregon Favorites Countdown #4 - Moss Covered Walks

We go on family walks several times a week and particularly LOVE to go on family runs through the Nature Park near our house where you jump over huge slugs, come across dear and sometimes see snakes or frogs or newts.

Oregon Favorites Countdown #5 - The Beach

Sand, sand in your hair

sand sand everywhere

so much fun that don't care

that there's sand in your underwear