Here Comes the Sun
Well, Nate and I are back to real life in the wind and the rain here in Portland. I’m already missing the cacti and sunshine.
It’s crazy that the only real answer I got when I posted the picture of the cactus and asked you all to guess where I was (other than “somewhere warm” or “the desert”) was Arizona! Yes, that’s exactly where we were. Is that the only state with cacti? I would have thought that Texas, New Mexico, and probably a few other states have cacti as well. I guess they don’t. Congratulations to all of you who picked the right state. You all get a gold star!
Nate’s parents moved down to the Phoenix area a year ago and so the hubby and I decided it was high time we went and visited. We thought a mini, four day vacation was called for.
Since we honeymooned in Leavenworth, Washington and drove for our huge vacation last summer, Nate and I had never flown together. It was so fun! It’s the simple things in life that I love!
Friday, Nate’s parents took us to Sedona. It was absolutely breathtaking! Of course, when we stopped for lunch, I made Nate take a picture in the cutout. I have a thing for cutouts. This one made my heart happy… Can you tell why?
The other side of the cutout was a little more modest so Mike and Sheli agreed to get their picture taken too.
The red rocks of Sedona were breathtaking! I’m so thankful I serve such a wonderful God who created such a majestic landscape.
One of the places Nate’s parents were most excited to have us see in Sedona was the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It is an amazing feat of architecture, with the cross and building built into the rock.
Before entering the chapel, there is a plaque describing the architect’s desire to draw people to the Lord through her design. It was so moving to read about her desire to honor the Lord and create a space of wonder and beauty as worship to Christ.
As I walked into the chapel, I was struck with a feeling of awe. Even with people bustling around, taking pictures, using the hill as an echo chamber, I could feel the Lord’s presence. I wanted to sit at the foot of the cross and worship, giving glory to God for His majesty. The details present drew me in, welcoming me as a worshiper.
That evening, I got my first taste of In-N-Out! Boy was I excited! I’ve heard people rave about it, I had friends in college who drove from Portland to California just to eat at In-N-Out, and I was excited!
I was so excited, I made Nate wear a paper hat with me! (Ok, you’re right, it doesn’t take much excitement for me to get Nate to do something childish with me)
Stephen, Nate’s younger brother, told us what to get. I guess there’s a secret menu? Yeah, the Kelloggs are in the know. When Stephen described them to me, I knew I wanted the animal fries REALLY bad! I also didn’t want to eat a million carbs. Sheli then told me something else that was on the secret menu, the protein burger. A hamburger wrapped in lettuce! (Like I said, Kelloggs are in the know.)
What’s my review of In-N-Out? Well, I’m sorry to say, it was disappointing. I didn’t feel like it was much different than any other fast food restaurant. (Sorry to all you In-N-Out lovers out there!!!)
On Saturday, Stephen didn’t have to work, so all five of us went on a hike, about half an hour out of Phoenix. We hiked up to a waterfall… That didn’t have water flowing. Woop-woop. I guess it only has water when it rains. And I, for one, was super glad I was out of the rain so I wasn’t complaining one bit!
Part of the hike took us by rocks with ancient Native American carvings. Those were super fun to look at but me, being the very relationship oriented person I am, wanted so much more information. Who were the people who carved these? What were their families like? What were they saying? How did they survive the incredible summer heat without air conditioning? You know, all the questions that can’t be answered because I didn’t live then.
There were so many cacti on our hike! I didn’t realize how huge they were in real life!
Sunday we watched the Super Bowl, of course, and Monday we were on a plane back to Portland to make it in time for Nate’s evening class.
All in all, it was an amazing weekend! I decided that Nate and I are going to be snowbirds. We’ll live in Arizona all winter and move back up for the summer. Seriously. It’s happening.
24 Comments
Adventures in Dressmaking
February 8, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Fun! My dad's family is from Arizona so we used to go there all the time. Sedona is beautiful. And that landscape is very different than anything up here! Great cactus pics!
Kayla Moothart
February 8, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Hooray for a gold star! I looks like you had such a great trip. Arizona is one of the places that I have always wanted to go!
Melissa Marie Head
February 8, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Gorgeous photos – that looks like a fun place to visit.
Life, Loves……
February 8, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Oh the pics are so beautiful. It has been ages since I saw a blue sky
You look like you had fun!
J
http://lifelovesand.blogspot.ie/
McKenna Ryan
February 8, 2013 at 7:45 pm
What a fun getaway!! I love the pictures. Happy weekend! xx. McKenna Lou
http://www.lynnandlou.com
blsmith6
February 8, 2013 at 7:56 pm
your trip looks like it was lovely! I miss the sun 🙂
Robin
February 8, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Beautiful pictures! I've never been to an In-N-Out.
Kira
February 8, 2013 at 11:13 pm
That chapel is beautiful! If I ever go to Arizina, I have to go there!
Kira
February 8, 2013 at 11:14 pm
Arizona is of course what I meant to type 😉
Angie
February 9, 2013 at 1:56 am
What a fabulous trip! Sedona is on my bucket list of places to visit. It looks absolutely breathtaking.
I've never been to an In & Out either although I too have heard good things about them. Personally I think all burgers are pretty much made equal but I'm not a huge burger fan. My husband would TOTALLY disagree with me. He loves burgers
Bee Talmadge
February 9, 2013 at 3:31 am
We were just there in January last year! My grandparents live in Carefree–NOTHING IS BETTER than AZ in the winter 🙂 I love it! That church you visited I have been to almost 2 dozen times–it's my grandparents' favorite. What was your favorite place there? Hope your trip was wonderfully restful!
Linnea Castro
February 9, 2013 at 5:07 am
Your trip looks like it was so much fun… and it's so awesome that you got to take your first plane trip together and soak up the sunshine! Love those cutouts, too! Hope you're both having a great weekend :o)
Amy
February 9, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Get out of here, that church is GORGEOUS!!!!!!
Looks like y'all had fun, cut outs, cactuses, disappointing in&out haha.
Glad the trip was fabulous!
Betty
February 9, 2013 at 3:50 pm
Ok…I want to go to Arizona now!! And that chapel is absolutely amazing!! Have a great weekend…and welcome back to the northwest!
Jill
February 10, 2013 at 2:42 am
How fun! I would love to go on a little vaca. right about now and escape this cold and snow!!!
Emmett Katherine
February 10, 2013 at 10:49 pm
I've never had In-n-Out (we don't have any here in Canada) but it's good to know it's not that great! Looks like you guys had a great trip and enjoyed the warm weather!
Brittany LeSueur
February 11, 2013 at 3:46 am
AH! can you believe I have lived in AZ my whole life and have never been to Sedona!?? I know. But don't worry, It is on my to-do list for 2013!
Rachel O.
February 11, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Haha glad that you liked AZ. We haven't made the trip up to Sedona yet – we're planning on heading up there sometime soon! We've heard it's gorgeous.
And I'm the same way about In-N-Out. My husband's from California – he thinks I'm being blasphemous, haha. But I just don't think it's all that great. Okay, but not great.
LEIGH
February 11, 2013 at 10:50 pm
Wow! Looks like a beautiful and fun trip! Welcome home 🙂
Laura Darling
February 12, 2013 at 3:52 am
What beautiful scenery! That chapel is amazing!!
Katie Cook
February 12, 2013 at 3:55 am
Yeah, i'm so glad you found my blog! That church really was amazing in your picture! Sorry In-N-Out disappointed you. haha!
Richelle Lynn Garn
February 12, 2013 at 4:30 am
What a stunningly beautiful church. I love visiting churches when they display such beauty and worship to God. It looks like you had so much fun. Glad you are safe at home.
Amy
February 12, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Looks like such a wonderful time! Beautiful pictures!
Micaela
February 26, 2013 at 2:17 am
I can just imagine how magical and moving it felt in that beautiful chapel. I would have had goosebumps!
MMMM In-N-Out! I ALWAYS have to have it when I visit my brother in AZ.
xo
ps. your comment on my last blog post made my day. Is it okay that I'm still beaming DAX SHEPARD tweeted me?!?!
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