Ryan & Jordan

with Pioneer Bible Translators

Tag: San Diego

Ned the Silver Bullet Goes South

by ryan

Ned the Silver Bullet is seven years old.  He likes to travel and go really really fast.  I think he is faster than Usain Bolt.  He’s a Honda Civic.

The border guard gave Ned a glance and smiled as he welcomed us home; and our hearts smiled as we saw the USA.  We were thinking about our upcoming year with family and friends, especially the ones we were about to see.

We drove through Washington and stopped in Corvallis to see our Dear Friend and Deer Friends.  The Deer of Corvallis are not skittish.  They came up to our breakfast table and stared us in the face.  Many Corvallisites do not fear predators.  Many of them do not eat meat–let alone hunt–so the Deer roam free in confidence.  And if the loaves of bread had legs they would roam free in confidence too, because eating gluten is not cool there.

Enough about deer.  The purpose of the stop was to spend time with a friend of Jordan’s from college.  It was so nice to see her again and it would have been great to stay in C-Town longer, but the South was singing our names so off we went.

friends

Our next stop was Sacramento to see three of my cousins.  They are three people I wish I saw more.  We had a blast with them and we hope they come visit us.  I’d talk about the hipsterrific place they took us for breakfast, but that would be a whole ‘nother story.  Southward!

Hello San Diego.  Hello seals and sun and beach.

LaJolla_beach_seals

photo by Microsome

There are so many wonderful people to see in SD and we wish we had time to see them all.   We did get to see a favorite uncle and a best friend from college, and got to stay with his parents and sister, whom I call my Southern California Family.  It was tempting to just stay in San Diego for a Decade, but we knew we were being called out East.

the pilgrims went to the east coast

by ryan

A long time ago in a galaxy–this galaxy–pilgrims traveled across the Big Pond to the East Coast.  They had hard times.  And so have we, even if they are smaller.

Milky_Way_Arch

But we all have reasons to be thankful too.  Yesterday we missed being with most of our family.  We missed our parents, our brothers & sisters and their families, our grandparents, our aunts and uncles, and our cousins and their families.  But we had each other and friends–who are family in a way.  And we’re thankful for that.

And we’re thankful for the prospect of being home for Christmas.  If we were trees, family would be our roots and maybe our sun and rain too.  And so thinking about seeing them makes everything brighter.

East Baker Lake June 2013 044

However, before it gets too sunny I need to tell you about the Big L we have to do.  I know what you’re thinking: “Oh no!  The Big L . . .” No, you are probably thinking about losing or leagues, or maybe you are confused so you’re skipping down below to figure out just what the Big L is all about.  Sorry to disappoint you, but it is not a dance.  The Big L is Down & Right, or if you prefer, South & East.

USA-satelliteO

December 13 we head Down to Southern California from Up Here in the Great White North.   Then we take a Left and go Right–I’ve heard it both ways–and go East toward Western Europe.  Directions can be hard sometimes.  Being thankful can be easy sometimes.