11 June 2014

The Coastal Welcoming Committee

Not far from this area is a nice long sandy beach that has its own welcoming committee...
 
 
You don't have to hunt for them...
they'll find you!
And they don't come bearing gifts to welcome you to their fair city
(but would love you to bring them some).
 
 
They're also not known for being shy--
in fact quite the opposite could be said about them.
 
 
In our numerous trips down to the sandy shorelines of Oregon I've seen
elk,
horses,
dogs, various seabirds,
a whale...
and not too long ago--
a baby otter--
(did I forget to post my photos of it?)
but this was definitely a first.
 
 
I have a feeling it won't be our last time here
(after all there's a pirate 'ship' here too...)
 
 
one that even comes equipped with play slides, a ship's bell and more.
 
 
Just a little ways from here I went to a summer camp...
I don't remember any squirrels at that camp--
although I do vaguely remember having to be towed back to a certain dock
when I couldn't get our canoe back there
(since it's a 'vague' recollection, maybe it was just a bad dream--lol).
The camp however was not a dream and it still exists to this day.
 
 
Actually thinking about camp reminds me of s'mores
(is there such a thing as a gluten-free s'more?),
campfires,
rides along the beach
and being young.
 
 
It is normal to think about your youth so much when you get older?
Perhaps it's the stressful, sad times of this current time that make me look back upon those days
with so much fondness.
Perhaps.
 
 
It seemed to be a whole different world then--
a kinder, gentler place.
Yes, there were sad, horrible, stressful times back then too.
But still, it seemed to be a much more innocent time when one didn't hear the sort of news
we hear on a sometimes weekly basis now.
Makes one's heart weary and sad.
 
At the young age of 17,
 I arrived in the 'Emerald City'...
a whole different place then where I had grown up in.
It was there,
in this beautiful city in the Puget Sound,
that I would roam a tree covered campus,
watch the ducks swim by on the many waterways of the area
and eat the best ice cream ever at a place near the University of Washington
(Go Huskies)!
It was there I would fall in love with a certain 'Needle' that stretches into the sky
and it was there that I would hear Corrie ten Boom speak.
 
It was there a note would lead me to change the spelling of my name permanently
and it was there where so many memories were made--
memories to last a lifetime.
But sadly it was also there where a man chose to take life this last week.
 
Prayers and much love to the families of my beloved alma mater.
May God be with you during this time and those to come;
may God be with our nation and its people.
Dona nobis pacem.
 
Blessings,
Aimee
 
Photos:
Rockaway Beach, Oregon
 

 

20 comments:

Teresa Kasner said...

Wow, your ocean shots and great and it makes me want to head off for a road trip there. At the place where we camp on the beach, we have squirrels living in the rock bank there and it's been fun to see them come out of their little rock homes to say hello. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Linda W. said...

Lovely beach photos! Yes, it is sad to see events such as what happened up north becoming more commonplace. Even yesterday in our own community....

Noelle the dreamer said...

Oh Aimee, what an unusual sight!
Thanks for sharing. Squirrels nearby are very, very tiny (easily nestled in the palm of your hand)and very dark and no where near the beach either.

aimee said...

@Teresa~
Thanks, so glad you enjoyed them! The coast is indeed a wonderful place to visit. I bet your grandkids enjoy seeing the squirrels you see when camping out at the beach too! Our little granddaughter really loved them:)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Linda~
Thank you! I heard about the shooting in your area yesterday when we were out on our road trip-very, very sad:(
Blessings,
Aimee

@Noelle~
You're very welcome. Aren't squirrels quite wonderful? They were a lot of fun to watch! I would love to see the tiny squirrels you describe--I love critters:)
Blessings,
Aimee


Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos, Aimee! How very special to get to hear Corrie speak! She had a wonderful testimony. The violence around us so shows our need for Christ, the Prince of Peace. Blessings on you and yours xx

aimee said...

@Gracie~
You are most welcome and thank you! It was a privilege to hear Corrie speak. Wish I could find a tape of her talk but I am not sure if they were taping the talks back then. You are SO right about Christ!
Blessings,
Aimee

Lorrie said...

Our world is so broken with sin. Sadness and tragedy everywhere. Yet creation reminds us of God's presence and power and of his beauty.

Betsy said...

Hi Aimee, such fun, cute squirrel pictures. I don't remember seeing any of them at our beach campsites near Newport. I'm so saddened to hear the news of the shootings in both Seattle and Portland. We have removed God from so much of our lives and without His love grounding us, I'm afraid that this sort of thing will just continue to escalate. I pray that more people will discover the love of Christ and turn their hearts back to Him.
Blessings,
Betsy

aimee said...

@Lorrie~Yes, it certainly is. I agree with you about creation--it definitely speaks of God and His attributes and love for us. Gives me hope and refreshes my soul when I walk in God's gardens.
Blessings,
Aimee

@Betsy~
Thanks--they were adorable! I agree-our nation so needs to turn back to God. Thank you for your prayers for our nation.
Blessings,
Aimee

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

So many sad and tragic deaths in the news lately. I don't know if there are actually more than ever or if the news tells about them more.
The squirrels are cute- they look a bit hungry! You live in a pretty part of the state.

aimee said...

@Terri~
There really seems to be :(
The squirrels were cute AND hungry, although people had been feeding them (there were a lot of peanut shells on the ground).
Thanks! We really like the variety of regions here in Oregon, but I think our coast is very special!
Blessings,
Aimee

Willow said...

Here's to your beautiful memories and photos Aimee!
It was so charming to see the squirrels down by the sea.
Prayers to those that need consoling with the tragedy.
Be well my wonderful friend,
Willow

aimee said...

@Willow~
Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed 'my' critters by the sea! Have a blessed weekend Willow;)
Blessings,
Aimee

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Beautiful pictures of those squirrels! I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. The bible tells us that the days will become more evil as it nears Jesus's return. All I can say is "Come quickly, Lord Jesus, Come quickly, please!"

aimee said...

@Jackie~
Thanks! They were willing subjects:)
I have thought about those prophecies also. One wonders just how much worse things will become. I long for a revival in our land and across the world.
Blessings,
Aimee

aimee said...

@Jackie~
Thanks! They were willing subjects:)
I have thought about those prophecies also. One wonders just how much worse things will become. I long for a revival in our land and across the world.
Blessings,
Aimee

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

loved the photos and I too remember times past when I was growing up.Times have changed. More news out there than when we were young, so many news media now, giving opinions on all things. My daughter went to college in Edmonds and it's lovely up there. I've only driven the interstate thru Seattle. Have a good weekend, my friend!

aimee said...

So glad you enjoyed the little coast critters and other photos! You are so right as to how news has changed...
I didn't know your daughter attended college in Washington state. It IS beautiful--I miss it.
Wishing you a blessed weekend also!
Blessings,
Aimee

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Beautiful ocean. I hope its peace and beauty are helping you and everyone to heal. An act of violence such as the one you mention affects everyone but must be especially hard since you went to school there.

Remember all the good there is in the world!

aimee said...

@Sallie~
Yep, the ocean is very healing, as are the mountains, and I am always drawn to one of them at times like these. How our world has changed, but the oceans and mountains, are still much the same as they were when I was little.
Thank you for your kind words.
Blessings,
Aimee

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