Monday, September 1, 2008

Manzanita Beckonded

On Tuesday night, after a day full of root canal fixings, a permanent, and out to dinner with good friends, I decided it was time to get out of town.....so my daughter Tammy and I left for the coast Wednesday morning. Manzanita has been my favorite beach town since I was a little girl. Fortunately I had the generous offer of the use of a home there, so it was a good and quick decision.

A trip to the beach is always a treat. As we get onto highway 101 we are treated to some spectacular views of the ocean between Cannon Beach and Manzanita.
There is no place like the northern Oregon coast line. It is rugged and majestic, beautiful and inspiring, and has wonderful walking sand!








Manzanita is a sleepy little beach town much of the time, but it comes alive during the summer and holidays. It has one main street with a post office, a grocery store, several very interesting little shops, and a few eating places. It houses many, many cozy cottages, and up on the mountainside, many luxurious homes with panoramic views.

The grocery store, which has been there in some shape or form, since I was a child.

The main street coming into town off highway 101.

The view from the end of Main Street, with a path to the waves and sand.

My favorite activity is to walk along the beach and sing, "How Great Thou Art" at the top of my lungs, because with the ocean's roar, no one can hear me except the Lord!


My sister and her husband were at their cottage as well as one of their sons and his family.
Bill and Carol

The door is always open and the welcome mat is out.



My nephew's four kids livened up the week-end, with "boogie boarding", wet suits and all, on Saturday.

Fortunately the home where we were staying was only three blocks from the cottage, so we were included in lots of the "happenings", and the kids dropped in to visit.

We came home Sunday afternoon, as I didn't want to drive on Labor Day.

The closer we got to Portland, because I wasn't feeling good, all I could think about was getting to my home and my "comfort" chair. I felt an intense longing to be there. I cannot describe it, but my mind played with that feeling for a little while, and I went further with the thought.... how wonderful it would be to have that same longing for Heaven...and then I realized that the better we know the Saviour, the greater the intensity of our longing will be-- to be with Him.

....and so we begin a new month, September 2008.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

GOOD GRIEF JOAN.....by the time I finished reading, it I thought you were going to change the title to "Heaven Beckons"

NONONONONONO.....

YOUR PICTURES ARE FABULOUS. As good as any I've seen of the Oregon Coast. America/Oregon the Beautiful!!
Thanx!
EJM

Michele said...

Joan...your pictures are absolutely beautiful...I was in Oregon last year with Glenn and I so want to go back. Mt. Hood was my favorite, as was fishing!!!

Hugz,
Michele

Michele said...

Joan...I love everything hand made, so don't worry about me being able to make things!!! I can't wait to put your package together either. I wish I didn't have to work...just craft and shop!

Hugz,
Michele

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

It is all sooooo pretty. I am so glad you all excited about the swap as I am too...m....

Anonymous said...

Wow Joan...the coast of Oregon is indeed majestic. So different from here! Maybe we'll get to see it one day! We also took a little beach trip this weekend. I'd been itching to see the ocean! We must be kindred spirits because my favorite thing at the beach is also walking along and singing. The one I always sing is "I know my redeemer lives"...a contemporary song....One line says "Who told the sun where to stand in the morning? Who told the ocean, you can only go this far..."

I am SO sad to hear that Bert is slowing down, though I am glad to know ahead of time. They have been on my heart so much for prayer. I do so hope that we can be of service and encouragement to them while there. He is such a loving man, and that is an understatement. Both of them are such a model of simple love of Jesus and of others.

Margie said...

WOW what a wonderful trip! The pics are awesome and so beautiful!! I am glad you had such a great time!

Kim said...

Yes, beautiful pictures! I feel so blessed to live in this part of the country, indeed, this part of the world!

I actually have the reenactment on my calendar already, but my son has a ballgame that day (every Friday and Saturday for the next eight weeks), and I'm not sure we can do both. I have been considering going on Sunday after church, but I don't know if there is much going on Sunday afternoon? I'll check with hubby and see what he thinks. Were you planning on going on Saturday?

Pam said...

What a wonderful pictures. I really enjoyed seeing it all- thank you!

Thank you, too, for stopping by my blog and for the encouraging words about Mama.
Blessings and hugs,
Pam

sister sheri said...

Thanks for taking me to the coast with you... vicariously!

Oh... yes, how sweet it is to dream of the day when we will be with Him.

Karol said...

Hi again,
Thanks for letting me know about more "Oregon friends"!!! I hope to keep finding others! Your manzanita trip looked awesome by the way.. Karol

scrappy jen d said...

Dear Joan,
Thank you so very much to share these wonderful pictures with all of us!
How BEAUTIFUL our BELOVED OREGON is!!!
My heart is longing to come back and to enjoy all GOD's beauty there....
We will take care of Björn very well and with GOD's HELP we will see each other next summer!
Can't wait to give you a huge HUG!
I just love the photo's and what a wonderful time you must have had!
Enjoy life, dear.
Sincerely, Jen.