Owens Endeavors

Farmington for the Day

Posted on June 28, 2014 by theowenscrew

How many days off have I actually spent in Farmington? I might be able to count them on one hand. So today was dedicated to just that. We had a slow relaxing morning, not making it out of the house until around 11:00am. Our first stop was Hastings, a book store here in town that is a lot like Boarders was in Salem. We each got a coffee and headed for our favorite book sections.

When our coffees were gone, and we both had our caffeine fix, we headed out to take a daylight tour of the town of Farmington. We decided on a pizza place for lunch. With our bellies full, we made a plan of attack for the rest of the day. I have been wanting to go to the junk yard just outside of Farmington since shortly after we got here. I had seen a few license plate Pinterest projects that I was dying to try. We were having a blast finding so many license plates in good shape when a guy driving a giant fork lift came over to us and explained that most of the cars in that lot were impound cars…after clarifying what cars were what we were relieved to discover that we had not taken any plates off the impound cars, but we all three got a good laugh out of it and the gentleman was nice in pointing us in the direction we were actually supposed to be. Phew, crisis everted. We felt like it was a pretty successful trip, as we found several different kinds of plates in good condition. I was so excited and can’t wait to use them, especially the so beautiful turquoise New Mexico plate!

What a fun partner in adventure!
We had a deadline to be back to the house at 5:30pm at the latest, so I would have at least twenty minutes to get ready for work and make a lunch. We made it back into town with more than an hour to spare, so we stopped at two trading posts on Main Street to find a small but pretty Navajo decorative piece for Mary Beth’s book shelf. We found a little something at each store, a tile sand painting and a small pot. I wouldn’t have spotted the second place but I am sure glad we discovered it. I may have to go back and get some Christmas gifts. It was the best trading post type store that I have seen in our two months here. With a half an hour to spare at home I rested my head a few minutes then dressed and gathered my things. It is sometimes hard to go to work, but I am so blessed to have a job that I LOVE. Seriously delivering babies, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Valerie, a coworker who has been so gracious to car pool with me, picked me up. Shiprock has been a good work experience, and I am going to miss the friends I have made here when I leave.
I talked to Chad on face time today too…he was glowing. Mission trips are so good for the soul, and I am so glad that he has this opportunity and is having a good time.

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Honduras day 3

Posted on June 27, 2014 by theowenscrew

As we start another day on the work site we are reminded of our progress by the dwindling pile of dirt that we have left to move.

We spent today the same as we did yesterday, moving dirt to fill the church to the level needed so they can pour the floor. It makes for long days (although we have not been working that late), it is more the heat and the humidity just sapping away our strength. The plus side is, we have been making a difference and are doing the plan that God has for us here.

When we got back to our hotel this afternoon we were blessed with a opening of the skies.

I know it is hard to see from the picture but it is pouring down rain. The thunder and lighting were right over us. I am assuming this is not normal, because the locals were out watching the storm with us. It was a refreshing break from the hot sun on this Friday afternoon.

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What to say about today

Posted on June 27, 2014 by theowenscrew

It was amazing to wake up to the beautiful view of red rocks this morning in Sedona.

I wanted so badly to hike up in the hills and stay there. They are just so beautiful, peaceful and thought provoking. A place to think and get life kind of sorted out. What an amazing gift we have been given in the beauty of nature and all the forms it takes. We got dressed and ready to go. At breakfast Mary Beth invited an older lady to sit with us. I think our breakfast discussion with her may have been the highlight of my day. We learned about her childhood in New Jersey, how wonderful her little sister was as a kid, life as a Girl Scout troop leader and much more. I need to remember to open myself up to those type of opportunities to learn and love on someone else more often. We may have gotten out of town later than we had planned, but it was well worth it. The scenic drive to Flagstaff was also worth the extra time it may have taken and we took advantage of the time to chat. Mary Beth may know my entire family tree now. The Grand Canyon was no disappointment either. As opposed to the rain and snow we experienced when we went as a family, this time it was slightly warm with wind gusts that made you fight to hold your hair back as you smiled in delight. We found a little trail that led down into the canyon and followed it down a few switchbacks. It was far enough away from the rim to minimize the sounds of talking and laughter from above, and you could actually hear the quiet roar of the river below. What an amazing feeling standing on a ledge against the red rock of the canyon in almost compete silence, only the very faint sound of the river. I could have stayed there all day. It may have been the longest period of silence I have experienced in weeks, or perhaps months. I could feel my heart just opening up to soak in the wonder and beauty of one of the most amazing sights on earth.

After some major traffic, we made it to Tuba city around 2:30 and got lunch. We had wanted to see the Hopi Mesas, but did not see them on our map nor any signs anywhere, even after driving through the Hopi reservation. It was a pretty long drive, but with the hymns playing on the radio we could sing the miles away.
Gallup for dinner was an interesting experience. I had been told that there was this restaurant named Earls that had good food, and the Navajo people came to your table and showed you their wares as you ate. I am not big on buying things because of our limited space, and I hate to have to say no thank you, but I was assured it was low pressure and a worth while experience to have. It wasn’t at all what I thought it would be like. It was an older looking place and the food was OK. The people selling their wares were low pressure. It may have had something to do with the time, but there wasn’t much variety, and nothing that really caught my eye. We watched the sunset as we drove towards Shiprock. It wasn’t as much fun to show Mary Beth the area in the dark but we do have a few more days, and a few more opportunities to see it. For now we are just glad to be off our bottoms and wondering with all this car time if we shouldn’t be more proactively trying to prevent a DVT.
Goodnight from Farmington.

Categories: Friends, National Park, national parks, new mexico, Road Trip, Travel | Leave a comment

Honduras day 2

Posted on June 26, 2014 by theowenscrew

Today was our second day here in Honduras. Got up this morning and had a traditional breakfast of eggs, ham, cheese, beans, and fried bananas. It was very good, and after that, we headed out to the work site.

Our job was to fill the church with dirt up to the line about 3-4 blocks up. We did not make it that far today, but we are to the point where we only have two more blocks to go. We are hoping to finish that tomorrow, then move on to our next project.

On a side note, wanted wish my daughter Hannah a very merry happy birthday.

~Chad

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Laughter is Good Medicine

Posted on June 26, 2014 by theowenscrew

I woke up this morning in Phoenix, or, should I say Mesa, at my aunts house. It was already pretty warm outside at 7:30 so I took Myra on a short potty walk.
I may have to stay around here a little longer as I have been completely spoiled. Check out this breakfast of champions!

Sliced strawberries and pineapple with whip cream on top (it has to have dairy to be a well balance meal right?). We stayed out on the front porch and enjoyed the warmth and slight breeze, as we talked for several hours about life and all that entails. About 11:30 we decided that Mexican food sounded really good, and so we got all put together and headed for lunch on the town.

I was keeping an eye on my watch, as I was scheduled to pick up a friend at the airport at 2:30. Towards the end of lunch the minute hand was moving closer and closer to 2:00pm. I was thinking we were pushing it as it was going to take 20+ minutes to get to the airport from my aunts house. We payed and quickly got out to the car and on our way. A few stoplights into our return drive from the restaurant Aunt Heidi says, “you know it’s only one here right?”. I had forgotten about the time change between Farmington and Mesa. I didn’t have to rush, I didn’t have to sweat it.
We got back to her place and I refilled the water bottles and packed the car. We talked a bit more about drawing and art, and before too long, it was time to say goodbye.
The directions to the airport were very straightforward, so with the address plugged into the GPS, off I went. As an Idaho farm girl raised at least an hour away from the nearest freeway, you would think Phoenix traffic would be a bit intimidating, but this GPS thing makes me feel like I have a super power. Well, today it wasn’t quite as helpful as usual. As I sat in the front parking lot at the address given me looking for my friend and talking on the phone we realized that I was not at the same building she was at. I drove in a few circles, and about three U-turns later found her on the other side of the street in a rental car return maze that could have only been dreamed up by airline staff out to have a good time at my expense. All dressed up cute in her business clothes Mary Beth was ready to kick off her heels and head out of town. It was now three and the traffic was starting to slow, and we just wanted to get out of town before true rush hour hit.
We had discussed the “plan” and changed it a few times before we decided to head towards Tuzigoot, so we could take the scenic route to our Sedona destination. About 11 miles out of Verde Valley we saw a sign for Agua Fria National Monument. I kind of have a personal goal to see all of the national monuments and so I couldn’t exactly pass this one up.

This sign was almost immediately off the freeway off ramp, and was accompanied by a rather washboard looking dirt road. Thinking there must be a visitors center just up the road a ways, we headed on. Now, I haven’t done a lot of dirt road or gravel road driving in a while, and found myself going much too fast. After a sharp turn/ loose gravel combination that made our lives flash before our eyes, we decided on a slower pace. Maybe 5 miles into our gravel road we turned around because there was no sign of a visitors center and I had less than a quarter tank of gas. Being stranded in the desert on a gravel road in the heat of the summer seemed like a scenario to avoid at all costs. It was very beautiful though, and I promised myself I would look up more on the significance of the park later on.

The drive into Sedona was as beautiful, just as it was last time, and I enjoyed getting to share this jewel with a friend.

We found our hotel and then quickly headed back out to explore.

It got dark quickly, so we returned to the hotel, took Myra for a walk, found a cool bug, and then it was time to crash. Looking forward to a few more days of laughter. Thank you Aunt Heidi for being such a wonderful host, and Thank you Mary Beth. I may have laughed to the point of tears a few times today, and like you would say, “it is good for the soul.”
Love you guys!

Categories: Friends, national monument, Road Trip, Travel | Leave a comment

Honduras day 1

Posted on June 25, 2014 by theowenscrew

Today we arrived in Honduras and made it through customs. Had lunch at the airport then headed off to see the work site.

After a quick tour of what we will be starting on we headed to our hotel.

Our home away from home may not have hot water but it a does have air conditioning. I think we have the better of the two choices.

Greatly looking forward to a wonderful trip and to be used by God here in Honduras.

~Chad

Categories: Travel | Tags: Honduras | Leave a comment

Gallup, Window rock, and Canyon de Chelly

Posted on June 25, 2014 by theowenscrew

A crazy drive, three shifts and now another crazy drive (pale in comparison to the last). I woke up this morning, made some toast, did the dishes and took Myra for a walk. We wanted to get out early as it was going to be a long day. Starbucks and gas for the car were our first stops getting us out of Farmington around 10:00am. I was headed to Phoenix to visit my Aunt and pick up a friend who had traveled there for work.
The first stop on my “to see” list today was Gallup NM, a historic town on the reservation along Route 66. Gallup is mentioned frequently in “The Code Talker” and I really just wanted to see it for myself.

Gallup was bigger and cuter than I thought it would be. There appears to be a mall and Home Depo as well as other big chain stores, then you get down town and you can just see the age on the buildings, but they don’t look rundown at all, just dated. And in this case dated was good. My next stop was only slightly out of my way and that is Window Rock and the Code Talker Memorial. I met a Native gentleman there selling pots who grew up in Salem living with his grandfather. It is a small world.

Only seven more miles up the road was Fort Defiance, where the Navajo people were herded and marched to concentration type camps down in the south near Fort Sumner. Many pregnant women old men and children died on “the long walk” because if they stopped for anything, including labor, they were just shot as the rest were forced to continue. It also was and may still be a boarding school where Navajo children were sent to learn English. At one time all Navajo children were sent to these schools where they were treated poorly by the matrons. I asked a Navajo friend when they stopped being sent to boarding schools and she said they haven’t, still on the reservation 50% of Navajo children go to boarding school but now at least
they can come home on the weekends. Fort Defiance was very run down and looked like a poor oppressed community.

At this point I wasn’t all that close to Canyon de Chelly and it was north and I needed to go southwest but it was the closest I had been and I just couldn’t resist so I turned north for the 1+ hour drive.
In front of the visitors center was a hogan so you could look inside and see how it would have been set up.

I have to do some more homework on Canyon de Chelly but I do know that the Indians put up a good fight when Colonial Custard cornered them in this canyon.

I was not able to go in the canyon, or even see all the overlooks as I would have liked, but as it was I got out of Canyon De Chelly at 5:00pm and still had a 5+ hr drive ahead of me. I had some how turned a six hour drive into an all day affair. I have now made it to Phoenix and need to crash. Tomorrow is another day but this one will be filled with friends and family.
Goodnight

Categories: Family Time, national monument, new mexico | Leave a comment

Trip to Salem

Posted on June 24, 2014 by theowenscrew

After finally meeting up with Paul and Debbie in Boise we headed out to Irrigon. I am so thankful that they were able to come and get us. It was a blessing. When we were heading back to their house they informed me that they had a project that they needed some help with. They had a small leak in the bathroom and needed help pulling a tub and installing a new one. Since my dad was not due for another day I had a free day to help them out. We pulled out the tub and found that the leak was worse than they had expected, in addition the toilet had also been leaking. Long story short, we had to gut the bathroom to the studs and concrete floor. The plus side was I was there to help them with the demolition and start on the construction phase. By the time my dad arrived I was putting the finishing touched on the new floor in the bathroom. I am glad that I was able to be there to help them out.

After making it to Salem it was nice to see old friends and family at church on Sunday morning. I am looking forward to a great trip in Honduras.

So tired from playing Eve fell asleep eating dinner.

Categories: Family Time, Oregon | Leave a comment

Got Me a Keeper

Posted on June 22, 2014 by theowenscrew

Look what I found in my new sketch book…

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The Longest Round Trip of My Life

Posted on June 20, 2014 by theowenscrew

We left our apartment in Farmington NM at 6:30pm 6/18. After deciding the best plan of action to get everyone to Oregon was to drive the family to Idaho where we could meet up with my parents, who would drive them to their house in Central Oregon where we had a few different options of ways to get them to Salem. We were mostly packed so we threw everything in the car right after dinner, I grabbed a uniform for work in case I couldn’t make it back and needed to get a hotel and drive to work from there. There was pretty much no complaining from the kids the whole drive, because everyone was so eager to get to Oregon to see Grandma and Grandpa, Hadassah, and Cyrus. Chad drove first. We drove right into the sun and were so relieved when it finally set as we crossed into Utah.

We planned to drive into Salt Lake, spend the night, and then meet my parents somewhere between Burley and Boise early the next day. We stopped in at three different hotels in the Salt Lake-Ogden area, but none had vacancies so we had them call the other hotels in the area of the same chain, and they were all full as well. At this point we were in Ogden or Logan, I can’t remember which, and we decided it’s 2 or 3 am, so by the time we find a room and get the kids in it, it will be 4:00, and then what’s the point. By this time I was wide awake in my nightshift groove, so I took a turn driving. We got into Twin Falls around 5:00am. I had been told by my parents to stop in Burley, so I was already pushing it. Since everyone was still sleeping, I figured let’s go see craters of the moon while were here. By the time we get there and have breakfast, the park will almost be open, and we can see it, then get back to Twin in time to meet the rest of the relay team. So I headed north. After about 30 min. we got ahold of my parents and permission to meet them in Boise at the outlet mall. So we turned around and by the time we got back to Twin falls it was 6:00 everyone was awake and ready for breakfast. Thanks to IHOP, which was just over the Snake river, we could grab a bite and got back on the road in not too much more time.

Chad drove our next leg. He had not slept too soundly in the previous four hours, but he had gotten some sleep and he was worried about me trying to drive back on no sleep (rightly so). I took the opportunity to sleep from Twin Falls to Boise although again, although it wasn’t very restful sleep, and I was wide awake by 44 miles out of Boise. We texted our teammates who we discovered had just left Baker and were a little over two hours out from our rendezvous location. We pulled in thinking we could possibly keep going and meet them in Ontario I supposed then I could say I made it to Oregon, but I knew I needed a little more rest and I was already pushing myself in miles that I would have to drive home by myself on minimal rest. So, we stayed put and took a nap in the car. When we heard that mom and dad had made it to Meridian we got the kids and dog out of the car for a run, to get some energy out and stretch and maybe use the bathroom. The kids were excited and very cute to watch. I am going to miss their energy, laughter and smiles these next three weeks. I am looking forward to some sleep, reading, and contemplative time. I have not been getting that alone time with my creator since we embarked on this adventure.
My parents pulled in around the corner in a white 15 passenger church van around 10:00am only a second after Caleb told Hannah, “they could be here any second.” It was pretty funny. And as soon as Eve recognized the faces she came running. Nothing like a I’ve missed you so much I’m going to sprint and dive into your arms kind of greeting to let you know how much you have been missed.
After talking and catching up, transferring bags and car seats and a potty break for them, feeling the time crunch I gave all the adults good bye hugs and we all got buckled in. Realizing as I turned to wave my good bye that I had not hugged the kids good bye it sunk in how much I’m going to miss them. Three weeks is a long time. I know they will have lots of fun so I won’t worry too much. I know they know I love them but still a big missed opportunity to get in a good bye hug.

North to Burley I set my sights. I do so love the higher speed limits in Idaho and Utah. In an inky two and a half hours I was pulling into my childhood best friends house for lunch and a chance to get off my backside. I knew I looked like crap and probably smelled like crap but Colleen didn’t mind and after a hug I asked if I could take a shower and she said, “make yourself at home.” I took a quick and wonderful shower and felt human again. Thank you so much Colleen for lunch and a shower!
I couldn’t stay as long as I wanted, as I was already worried about tiredness and I knew I had 10 more hours of driving to do. I have never thought that eastern Idaho ever offered as much beauty as the rest of the state but it really was such a beautiful drive through there.

I filled with gas at Maverick which is my new BFF (for this trip at least), and grabbed some snack food hoping to use it to ward off any afternoon drowsiness. I then grabbed a coffee at the Golden Arches and headed down the road. Here is a bad picture of the beautiful Snake River flowing through Burley.

I hit I-84 east feeling like a whole new person. I’m pretty sure it was the shower, and the coffee probably helped too. I turned my phone to iTunes Radio and filled the car with lively music. The construction between Burley and Salt Lake allowed me to play dodge the cone as I took in the sights of the amazing mountains. Man we are so blessed to be surrounded by such beauty all the time.

I lost my cell connection so I changed to the stored Christmas music on my phone, and stopped at another Maverick in another little town well before Brigham City to go to the bathroom and was so surprised when I got back on the freeway to discover stop and go traffic already. For the next two hours I was in stop and go traffic. I knew I would hit rush hour but I didn’t know it would be starting so far out of Salt Lake or last so far past it. For the most part we went faster than you do in Portland rush hour traffic but it just kept going and going and going. Wow. Now I was looking at an after midnight arrival time in Farmington according to the GPS but I was also wide awake now so I didn’t want to get a room yet.

The sunset again was beautiful. It got dark as I pulled into Moab for dinner.

In Moab I stopped at Paradox Pizza for dinner, and a few phone calls to various people to check in and let them know I was doing ok. I was only three hours from home (New Mexico that is). The first hour into my drive from Moab to Farmington was filled with eating pizza which is very messy car food, drinking ice water and watching the lights in my rear view mirror. Then came the hard and tired time. I sang CC songs from cycle one off my phone, slapped my face, wetted my eyelids from water out of my water bottle and attempted to call a few people to talk to on speaker phone because I didn’t feel that area was all that safe for me to pull over and take a nap. I thought if I can get to Cortez I can get a room. I did make it to Cortez it was pretty shut down looking as it was almost midnight. I stopped at another Maverick gas station and filled my tank. I chatted with the clerk inside for a little bit and grabbed a BIG gulp sized cup and filled it with Ice. Enough ice I could eat it all the way to Farmington. I added a few Big Hunks to the ice as insurance. Surely chewing on that sticky stuff should at least get me to Shiprock which is right between Cortez and Farmington and if I was going to take a nap in the car the hospital employee parking lot there would probably be the safest place. The ice worked great but wasn’t going to last me as far as I had hoped but between the ice and 1st Big Hunk I made it to Shiprock. Being on familiar roads somehow helped me to pull it all together enough to make it the last 28 miles to my apartment. That and the Dave Ramsey show played from my phone. Walking into the apartment at 1:05 am I felt so much relief. I had made it but not with out a few scary moments. I don’t plan on ever pushing myself like that again. Thank you all my friends and family who where praying for safe travels because I am sure that is what made the difference. Now after most of the night and day of sleep I am still a little scared that I pushed so far. I have to remind myself that I made it. And promise not to push that hard again.
-love you all and I’m so thankful for this beautiful day that I’m safely in Farmington for.