Heceta Head - We LOVE the Oregon Coast!

 

Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park is an unbelievable place to visit on the scenic Oregon Coast 

http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=86

 The lighthouse was constructed between 1892 and 1893 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The head lightkeeper’s  house was demolished and the lumber purchased for $10 in 1940 following the move from kerosene to electricity to power the lighthouse. The salvaged wood was used to construct the Alpha-Bit Café in nearby Mapleton. The state of Oregon was granted a license to use the lighthouse and surrounding property by the Coast Guard in 1963, the same year that the lighthouse became fully automated. The assistant lightkeeper’s house, which still stands, is now a bed and breakfast operated by concessionaires of the U.S. Forest Service.

 

Before hiking up to the beautiful historic lighthouse we enjoyed playing on the beach a while. The forecast had called for cloudy skies and wind.. instead it was clear and warm. Lovely!

 

Grady & I with our youngest blessings

 

Laura 7, Grace 9, Grant 15, Ryan 19, Mandy 23, Ashley 25

 

We decided to hike up to the renovated lighthouse and  old assistant light keepers home

 

The main Lightkeepers home had been torn down decades before but the Assistant lighthouse keeper's quarters have been converted to a beautiful B&B

 

Of course we had to stop at the gift shop half way up the hill!

 

Much to Rye's delight!! mmmmm!

 

The view from the pathway up to the lighthouse was breathtaking!

 

We were able to enjoy the last tour of the day. It was very interesting to hear how the Lightkeeper families had lived their lives in the late 1800's here at Heceta Head. Essentially isolated from other people they enjoyed library books that would be brought in monthly on horseback, along with the local and national news.. and occasionally at a very low tide, the families would hurriedly hitch up their buggies and travel via the sandy shore to Florence where they could get supplies. Haste must be made however or they would be stranded in town after the tide came in! 

 

It was facinating to hear about the specialty glass that is used even today for the reflecting light of the lighthouse. Once it was illuminated by oil lamp now is electric. (much easier to keep clean now than in the era of kerosene!)

 

We hiked up the hill behind the lighthouse to get a closer look at the glass and windows.

 

Then it was time to head back down the path to the car!

 

The boys taking one more look from above.  While we were standing there Amanda noticed a large splash out in the ocean.. upon further observation a nearby Park Ranger told us they were Orca whales that were migrating! It had been the first time this year they had seen the Orcas.It was spectacular to watch them surface and splash back down!  

 

"race ya!"

 

Laura, spoiled with her gifts and ice cream from the gift shop (which of course we *had* to visit again on our way down!)

 

Sweethearts, enjoying their blessings

 

It was a glorious day...

 

To be together as a family...

Walks to the Park!

We took advantage of the beautiful late-summer weather and took many walks to our nearby park. It is a little strange living in a town.. especially after being in the jungle! We had many lovely adventures before the changing of the season- where it became a bit too chilly for us to continue our walks!

                                              

 

                                                                                            
                                              

                                                                                 

 

On this particular Fall walk-to-the-park day, the 4 olders bought a half gallon carton of ice cream before heading to the park and thoroughly enjoyed eating the whole thing before heading home! What a blessing that they are all best friends! It has taken a lot of work on their part but it has been so rewarding for them all!

Our rental in Oregon

We looked for a few weeks for a rental house. (Meanwhile our amazing friends the Guses let us live in their home with them!!) Rental agencies in the area would only rent 4 bedroom homes to us because of the number of people in our family. Which of course, just coming from Belize seemed a bit overkill! :-) Plus, the 4 bedroom homes were MUCH more expensive. We really prayed to find a place in the country. What we *did* find was a very nice place, at the end of a dead end street in the city..but on a double lot with acreage next door! Yay! It is only a 3 bedroom but the landlady agreed to rent it to us because it has a separate living quarters which if the girls put carpet down would make for a very nice apartment for them!

 

The 'red' side of the house is the separate living quarters, a.k.a Ashley & Amanda's apartment. It was actually once an antique store! It's fun living in an old historic town!

 

It was amazing to see how the Lord answered even the smallest prayers in regard to the rental.. right next door to us lives 2 beautiful horses! JUST like in Belize! Laura is thrilled to have horsey neighbors again!

 

Grace, Laura & Coco hang out in the back yard

This is the lovely view out of our living room window.. so pretty! We are blessed and settled down for the Fall and Winter. Now we are praying about what our next move will be. The rent here is very expensive.. we hope to buy our own place next year. Not sure where yet but we know that the Lord will lead us on as he wills. We are so grateful for his provision! 

A Man's heart deviseth his way:

but the LORD directeth his steps

Proverbs 16:9

Heading home from Belize & Goodbyes

Our 6 months came fast. It was so hard to say our goodbyes. So many wonderful relationships and friends.. sisters, brothers. It was a long 6 months- many heartbreaks and trials.. but huge blessings, joy and miracles too! Thank you so much brother Milton for taking care of our home. You are such a blessing! We can't wait to see our Belizean brothers and sisters again someday! May our Lord Jesus continue to deepen our Faith in Him and  strengthen our walk with him and may we all understand and experience that exchanged life! Love you all!

Saying goodbye is never easy!

Grant, Edwin, Amuel and Jared

Grant & Edwin

We love you Fehrs!

One last look at our house!

In the van on the way to the airport. We were so blessed that 2 other carloads of people were following behind also to see us off! The Lord has blessed us with such sweet friends and brethren!

SO many tears and hugs!

Saying goodbye to Stephanie King

Waving Goodbye! We see you guys up there!

Grant, flying in style

Poor Mandy got the flu on the way home. It was a terrible flu.. Grady, the three younger kids and I had already gotten it the week before.. we had hoped no one would get sick in flight. But poor Mandy! Sweet girl, never complained. We had been delayed 5 days from our original flight because of the hurricane which hit Houston-our 1st original stop. We were able to fly out to Miami instead.. which just a week or two after arriving home also suffered a hurricane!

Last leg, boarding the puddle jumper in San Francisco heading to Eugene

Getting our luggage!

And yay!! After 2 months we got to reunite with Ryan, who picked us up from the airport. USA here we are again! Belize, we love, miss & will see you again someday!