Della and Don - Crater Lake

We woke up and took showers, finished up the laundry, and Della made us breakfast that included 12 grain hot cereal, her homemade bread, with homemade blackberry jam, homemade grape juice, fresh peaches…well needless to say it was a feast. After breakfast Della took me outside to pick a bag full of apples growing from the tree’s in the front yard, she also sent us down the road with a loaf of her bread, some blackberry jam, A Bible, and a copy of the Desire of Ages, and Don gave us one of his Tripods for our camera. This only touches on the many kindnesses that this couple showed us. We want to THANK THEM once again! Before we left they had prayer with us asking for safe travels and further discoveries. We then headed down the way. We were off to Crater Lake. We had considering bypassing this National Park because it was a bit out of the way, but decided while we were here we might as well see it. I am so glad we did! The roads in and out of Crater wind right alongside a beautiful rivers and creeks, and Crater Lake itself is breathtaking. It is the deepest and cleanest lake in the U.S. and one of the deepest in the world. It was a volcano that basically caved in. The water in the lake is from years and years of melted snow. There are the bluest-blues and greenest-greens I have ever seen (Not sure that makes sense = ). We stopped at one of the viewpoints to cook quinoa, chicken, and some spices. We did not eat alone. It started out with one little cute Chipmunk, and then she went and told all her friends and we ended up with at least five very friendly/brave chipmunks! We sat there for a while, I wrote in my journal while taking in the view and the fresh air, and then we headed down the road to do some more winding on the road beside the river. We were headed towards Roseburg, Oregon where we are sleeping tonight. It was so beautiful we stopped several times to take in the views, and finally I just had to stop to play. We parked and while Sandy caught up with her best friend Kate on the phone I went exploring. I climbed a small hill that overlooked the river, collected a few rocks/wood pieces I found interesting or beautiful, I skipped rocks, and really just felt free and like a kid. The water in these rivers were also so clear and the colors so vibrant. The leaves are beginning to change so all the different colors between the water, moss, trees, rocks, red clay, etc…an artist dream! I loved it along these back roads of Oregon! The sound of the river, the wind…The river would be running strong and then you would drive just a short distance and see it had turned into a still body of clear water, small and large rock formations, …I just need to stop because I do not have the words to describe all the beauty that is there. I see and feel God so strongly on there places that we visit, it can almost bring me to tears at times! We are now in Roseburg. We spent some time cleaning up the van, and are going to try and sleep in a near-by hospital parking lot. I cut my finger rinsing out a tin can to recycle, so typing this has been difficult. We hope you all are well and at peace tonight! We love you and miss you!!!