The Newest Oregonians

A month in Oregon and we're not running away yet. So far we are loving it here in Hillsboro. We are just about 20 minutes west of Downtown Portland so we get all the advantages of the city without actually being in it. Besides, we have everything we could possible want surrounding us just blocks away so it's not like we need to go into Portland for things, just entertainment purposes. Our home is comfy and fits us well. We both love having the garage downstairs and can't wait to save up enough money to start a miniature workshop in it. We have one bedroom upstairs with the bathroom and -one of my favorite parts- the washer and dryer. Eldon is still loving his work and enjoys every second of it. He is excited to be learning new things and meeting new people (the other day he even went to lunch "with the fellas"). I am working only four hours a day as a math tutor for two of our Bishop's kids. It's fun and good practice for when I start teaching so I'm enjoying it.

We had the chance to go see the Oregon coast, about an hour away from where we live. Below are some pictures of the fun we had in Astoria (the place where the Goonies was filmed). However like most days in Oregon, it was dreary and wet, but we still had a great time. We went up to an old lighthouse called The Astoria Column -at the top of which was VERY windy-, and to the Columbia Maritime Museum all about the ships that have to cross the Bar (which is apparently where the Columbia River meets the Ocean and when the two bodies of water meet, it gets pretty gnarly. Crazy rough waters and winds and huge waves. Just to cross you have to have a special captain trained in crossing the Bar.) We had a fun day and are excited to see more of what Oregon has to offer (I've been told there is pretty decent surf, I'm just not sure I'm willing to freeze to experience it).

Our ward is the Rock Creek Ward and it's pretty big, yet Bishop was able to find us after only a week or so and give us callings. I am the Beehive's adviser in Young Women and Eldon is the Decon's adviser in Young Mens. We start going to mutual this Tuesday so we'll see how that goes, but we both really excited- we keep coming up with fun things and ideas to teach or do with our youth.

So....so far so good here in Oregon.

Here is our day at the coast...