CHRISTMAS AT THE COAST(and more bizzare events!)

 “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.” (Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)

In our case, that has literally been where He has led us! First came the Bomb Cyclone, which I mentioned in my last post! 

Then on December 5, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California, which prompted a tsunami warning for parts of the California and Oregon coastlines. Praise God, nothing came of that warning.

That was followed by a recent UFO sighting on December 7th. Multiple pilots reported strange, red circular lights zipping around in the sky during flights over Oregon. The sightings occurred near Eugene, with pilots describing the objects as moving erratically at various high altitudes and in corkscrew patterns at extreme speeds. But Air Traffic Control could not see anything in satellite images. The sightings continued along the Oregon coast, up through Washington and even into Alaska over a short period of time!!

Finally, last week we had a second "King Tide", which in some areas brought on another bomb cyclone.

With that being said, I can truly say God has put us here to remind us that He is still in control and man can't predict, nor do we understand a lot of what happens around us!

I'm also reminded that:  "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber." Psalm 121:23  

“So, I will"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!” This verse encourages believers to trust in God’s timing and faithfulness, even in the midst of uncertainty and waiting." Psalm 27:14

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The Lord has also led us to find a house and get an accepted offer on it, which was officially confirmed TODAY!!!We have been so excited, yet the path to get us to have a closing has been anything but easy. The sellers weren't able to have everything moved out by closing, so time was allowed for that. We had a home inspection done, which identified many serious issues with the property itself. We are currently working on getting those issues addressed, which has also extended the dates we had hoped for….which has been to move in by Christmas. Unfortunately, it will be a few days after Christmas till we will close on the house. We know God has led us thus far and He will continue to lead us in His timing.

So it looks like we will most likely spend Christmas in our RV by the coast (or at least nearer to the property). 

Being near the coast, we have been able to enjoy a beautiful Christmas light event.

Shore Acres State Park, located on the Oregon Coast, offers a spectacular holiday lights display every winter season. With over 325,000 holiday lights (almost all LED), this dazzling spectacle attracts approximately 50,000 visitors each season to Oregon’s Adventure Coast, making it a beloved “community tradition” and one of the top “Best Of Oregon” destinations. There were SO many displays, I am only sharing some of them below!

There were lots of lighted Christmas pine trees, but I was drawn to this palm tree in the middle of the gardens! 

The Gardener’s House, located within the garden area, is open to visitors, who can explore the house and enjoy the beautiful views of the garden and the Pacific Ocean, while enjoying free cookies and hot cider or coffee.

Guests may also buy tickets to win a unique opportunity to a Christmas Eve overnight stay.

Every room is decorated for the Christmas season….

View from the upstairs bedroom window.

Here is a short video of some of the animated lights caught in motion….

Holiday Lights video

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Where I go today, I pray it be only in the path You have directed for me.

If I stumble today, I pray it only be into the deep waters of grace You have provided for me.

No matter what storm comes my way and no matter where You lead me, I pray that my eyes will only be focused on You; my Rock and my Stay. Please, God, guide me today for I don’t know what the day may hold, but I do know that You are holding my day! Now, as the Christmas season has once again arrived, may we all dwell upon and be thankful for the ultimate gift, Your one and only Son, Jesus, who came to this earth as a baby, to save each and every one of us!!!

Lord, keep my family and loved ones safe the remaining days of 2024 and in the new year ahead of us.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

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"You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip.

You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,

you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.

No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions

that doomsday’s just around the corner,

Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound."

Proverbs 3:23-26 (MSG)

When God Takes You Into A Once In 50 Year Bomb Cyclone!!

I decided to take some time off from my "house hunting" updates, which is about the same anyway, to share what has been going on weatherwise close to our campsite. We've been in the middle of a King Tide(a common thing on the coast), as well as a "Bomb Cyclone"!!!

"The powerful bomb cyclone, considered the biggest to hit the Pacific in 50 years, has brought severe weather conditions to the West Coast, particularly in California, Oregon, and Washington. The storm, which made landfall on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, has resulted in the deaths of two people and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents. The bomb cyclone has broken records for rainfall and snowfall in several areas.

 A bomb cyclone occurs when a cyclone undergoes rapid intensification, with a pressure drop of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. This type of storm is different from a hurricane, as it forms when cold and warm air collide, often over cool ocean waters."

Below is a satellite view of the powerful storm this past Tuesday evening along the West Coast. Gladly, we were on higher ground and inland far enough to only experience a fragment of the harshest part of the storm. 

To see cool video satellite footage of the cyclone, go to: https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/regional/satellite-video-of-bomb-cyclone-off-oregon/video_9d186e35-47ce-5152-a84d-bf7e71dab763.html

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1. Life is Often Like a Cyclone

   Just as a cyclone is a powerful and a dynamic weather phenomenon,life can be likened to a whirlwind of experiences, emotions, and challenges.

   The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all aspects of life, including natural disasters like cyclones. While these storms can bring destruction and chaos, they can also serve as opportunities for spiritual growth and refinement. In Psalm 29, David writes about the power and majesty of God’s voice, likening it to a cyclone: 

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Psalm 29:3-4).

1. When faced with a cyclone or any challenging situation, we first must acknowledge God’s sovereignty and trust in His goodness. 

2. We also are called to humbly recognize our limitations and dependence on God.

3. We must choose to exercise faith and trust in His promises, even when circumstances seem uncertain.

4. Also, we should continually seek comfort and peace in God’s presence, and praise Him for His character and power.

5. We can use the experiences as opportunities to worship God and ascribe to Him the glory due His name.

6. Seek to embrace Uucertainty: Recognize that life is inherently unpredictable, and cultivate flexibility and resilience in the face of uncertainty.

7. Find Moments of Calm: Identify and cherish moments of peace and clarity, even amidst turmoil, to recharge and refocus.

We must reminded ourselves that the Lord uses cyclones(literal, as well as in an analogy) in our lives to refine us, teach us, and draw us closerto Himself. May we respond with faith, trust, and worship, even in the midst of life’s storms.

I’m especially working on embracing and cherishing the moments I have within the stormy days….through photos. 

The beauty and creativity of God in sea life...

 Loud sea lions, gathered on a rock. 

I learned something about the purpose to their loud barking!!

"Sea lions, especially females, produce loud vocalizations when they sense danger or perceive a threat to their pups. During a king tide storm, the loud sounds of the storm may trigger alarm calls in females, leading them to bark loudly to alert other females and pups." 

The power of God in the mighty waves. We were at this spot a few days before the cyclone and king tides hit the hardest, but we did still see some awesome splashing waves!!

Check out this video I filmed on Youtube... 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X4K-_D_nqkA

The promises of God in a rainbow we saw over an area lake, while a drive.

 It's the beginning of Thanksgiving week, as well. 

In spite of the "cyclones" we may have had or are currently experiencing in our lives, may we focus our hearts and minds on what He has done to show His goodness, kindness, and love to us and He desire to bless us.

The song below is one I am focusing on this week!!

May we all make it a point to count every blessing !!!

go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rYalhQNgI4

 

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"You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip.

You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,

you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.

No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions

that doomsday’s just around the corner,

Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound."

Proverbs 3:23-26 (MSG)

The Freedom to Live One Day at a Time

 

Starting out on our moving adventure, I had my doubts about whether we made the right choice. We’ve definitely had our challenges getting here and the process of knowing where God wants us to settle has been anything but easy. But, I can honestly say that our time here has been a blessing from the Lord!! I find being an “Oregonian” relaxing and awe-inspiring. The pure beauty and variety of nature in this state has me wanting to get up every morning with energy and a readiness to try something new! From seeing giant waterfalls, to experiencing unique ocean views, I feel like we’ve often found paradise on earth.

⛰️🌲🌄

At this point, I don’t feel like we are on vacation anymore. But, I also don’t feel like a full-time resident yet. We are still on the search for the house and area we want to live. We have come so close, but the offer we made on the house we thought was possibly our new home was rejected. We are praying for a definite answer to finding where God wants us to be. We are committed to taking one day at a time and not being too anxious. That’s the beauty of being retired and living a simple RV life.

The Oregon weather in the fall is cool and crisp, with average highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s Fall foliage is stunning, as we get to view autumn leaves on some of the trees turning many colors, as well as enjoy the giant pine forests, mountains, and sandy beaches. We’ve had our share of rainy days already, as well as some gorgeous sunny days. The variety in weather keeps us wearing layers of clothes each day. When it’s sunny and just a few miles inland, we are in short sleeves and sunglasses But, once we get to the coast, it’s jackets and hats. The wind can be wild one minute and calm the next. As we are entering into winter, Oregon’s monsoon season, also known as the rainy season, will pick up and we will get more rainy days. Fortunately, it rarely snows or gets below 40 degrees here, at least until you get inland and up in the mountains, which gladly are aren’t staying in. The valleys and coast stay extremely mild, compared to Indiana. That’s one of the great advantages of living here!

Below, I am sharing some more pictures of our fun-filled days here. 

Waterfalls and forest trails:

Lots of unique mushrooms (who knows how dangerous they could be!!) 

Also many inland lakes. We hiked the Lake Marie trail,, which took us a full

 mile around the lake! Incredible views and unique plants!!

The Umpqua Lighthouse, Oregon’s first lighthouse, offers a unique experience combining history and wildlife viewing.

The lighthouse overlook features a whale watching platform, providing an ideal spot to observe migrating whales along the coast. This vantage point also offers stunning views of the nearby dunes and sea.

Whale-watching starts around mid-to-late March and coincides with the beginning of the spring gray whale migration, so we obviously didn't see them this time of year. I would love to come back in the Spring to see the whales!

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We also visited the Coquille River Lighthouse.

 It was really peaceful sitting here and watching the waves crash against the rocks.

More interesting views 

Thousands of oyster cages in the background....they are actually called "Oyster Gardens" for growing baby oysters before harvesting them to sell.

Our first sighting of a harbor seal coming somewhat close to investigate us....

Gorgeous sunset!!

Today is also Veterans Day. As we honor our vets, may God have mercy on the people in the U.S.May we be reminded that without Him, we would be nothing.  May we turn our hearts to Him and serve Him alone!!

"You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,

you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.

No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions

that doomsday’s just around the corner,

Because God will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound."

Proverbs 3:23-26 (MSG)