The goodness of water

This past spring was full and wonderful and challenging and exhausting. With my three jobs, I was working way too much, but one incredibly bright spot (in addition to getting to work with great kids every day) was that I made two lovely friends in the process. Connie, the ESL teacher I assisted, and Cathleen, the other ESL assistant I spent my days with at the elementary school, are incredible people who made going to work fun (honestly!). We enjoyed collaborating, shared lots of parts of life with each other and laughed a lot. It helps that kids do and say hilarious things pretty much constantly.

So this past week, while Eric was on a mission trip in San Francisco with a bunch of youth, Cathleen and I spent a couple of days relaxing and exploring at Connie's place in Eagle Crest, near Bend in Central Oregon (about 3 1/2 hours away). We had such a wonderful, restful time and were amazed by how gorgeous the area is. All of our activities centered around water, which has a magnetic-like pull anyway, but which seems even more refreshing on hot, dry days in a high desert climate.

Our welcome (and evening ritual): margaritas and guacamole.

Our first morning there, we drove up to the Metolius River and enjoyed a hike along this gorgeous water. I could not get over the color and the clarity! Incredibly gorgeous! At some places, the flow was peaceful and slow and at others, it rushed over rocks and swirled around logs and sent a light spray up around our dusty legs.

Our lunch spot. A cool mist coming off the water, springs pouring out the side of the hill across the way, a delicious sammy (plus salt and vinegar chips and dark chocolate-covered fruit). Just perfect.

On the way back to Eagle Crest (where we would park by the pool with our books, then make more margaritas and guacamole), we stopped by the Suttle Lake Resort (across the street from the Suttle Lake United Methodist Camp) and walked around. Pretty nice place to hang out, I'd say.

Suttle Lake from the resort restaurant--that's probably a kayaker from the church camp out there.

The next day we spent staring at mountains from Sparks Lake near Bend, where we floated and paddled happily in Connie's kayaks. I can see why this is one of her favorite activities! Here is the South Sister (one of three Sisters for which the town of Sisters, OR is named).

Cathleen and that mountain again. Just gorgeous.

Our lunch and swimming spot with a view of Mt. Bachelor, the main skiing mountain in the area.

Connie paddling off toward Broken Top, a volcano that is her favorite mountain around.

We ended the day with our drive back northwest, aiming at Mt. Hood nearly the whole way. I am so thankful for these friends and for the beauty of Oregon and for life-giving water all around!