It's Times Like These.....

.....that I get to experience in a very real way the enormous Power of God's Love through the people He has placed in my life. Last evening was a case in point, as my good friend Kim in an effort to hide any hint of anything going on, volunteered to go hiking with me up to Multnomah Falls. Now, to know Kim is to know how much of a love offering this was! She is many things, but a hiking enthusiast she is not....yet here she is hiking up 620 feet of merciless uphill switchbacks just to throw me off the scent of what was to come that evening! I ask you...is that love or what?! :o)
Here we are at the top of the falls with the first little fall behind us. The next one looks like this:
This is taken from the bottom looking up, but we were standing at the very top where the water first starts to crest over the cliff....the lookout is on the left where you see the trees. The next view of the waterfall looks like this:

It is an incredibly beautiful waterfall and a strenuous but gorgeous hike! Some of my favorite views: This is the Columbia River from the Oregon side looking down from about halfway up the trail:

Ok, so after the hike, we had a lovely lunch at the Multnomah Falls Lodge, (which I neglected to get a picute of, darn it!), and then we headed back to Vancouver where we parted company to each run a few quick errands before meeting up again to drive over to Diana and Steve's for pizza, (they had invited us the day before - oh yes, they were in on the surprise!).

So Kim is trying to keep me busy so that I don't go off on my own and try to meet her at Steve and Diana's, (cause she wants to ride with me for the full effect of the surprise!)....and knowing that I can get a little antsy, she called me to see if I wanted to go to her daughter's house, who had just moved into a beautiful home they had built overlooking the Columbia River from the Washington side....so of course I wanted to see that! It was a very beautiful home! Anyway, off we go, a little later than we planned but on our way nonetheless....and though I had thought maybe something was going on.....I think I just know my friends pretty well....those thoughts were quickly dispelled when we pulled into Steve and Diana's driveway and there wasn't an extra car in sight! Ok, I thought, it will be just the 4 of us - that's great, I love spending time with my friends and we haven't spent time together in far too long......but as I neared the front door I heard a lot more than 2 other voices inside!! What fun it was to walk in and see friends from far and near gathered to bid me farewell! It was like being gathered up into a warm embrace - an embrace not only in the love of friends, but as an example of the warm embrace and utter love poured out on each one of us in the Person of Jesus Chist.

I have pondered on last evening a bit today and I think the Words of our Lord in Matthew 12:50 when he said to those who brought the news inside the crowded house that His mother Mary and His brothers were there to speak to Him, and He said "whoever does the will of My Father is my mother and sisters and brothers". That's how I feel - all who were there, and even those who couldn't be there last night - were doing the will of God. They were, are, and continue to show His love to me, His Care for me and His provision for me. Each one of you are my family - and I am so grateful to God for you. Thank you my dear friends....I wish I had pictures of you all!

Patty, me Lois, Diana, me

Mari, Bill and Brenda Shannon and me Melanie Larry

Diana, Pat, Trish, Bill, Dave Lois, Dave, Martha, Shannon, Marty in the kitchen

Lois, Diana Bill, Brenda in the dining room