We're Home!

After 15,031 miles and 114 days, at 4:20 pm, we inched our van into the driveway of our home in Tigard, Oregon.

On the final day of our trip, we drove through 6 hours of pelting rain, on mountain curves and busy freeways. It was the worst weather on our trip and a rainy welcome back to our home in the Pacific Northwest.

Through the rain, we noticed again how green everything was, Green grass. Green trees. Green mountains. Green fields. 

And, we noticed the familiar shops and coffee kiosks that dotted the towns through which we passed.

Finally, we drove up the hill to our house, eased our van into our driveway, searched for our house keys which we had not used for four months, and walked into our house.

Thanks to Joe and Alisa, who had cared for our house the past four months, we found the water turned on, food in the refrigerator, chocolate bars and oranges left in our slippers for Sinterklas day (Dec 5) and "Welcome Home" balloons everywhere.

After four months in a 20-foot camper van, our house seems huge. It has flush toilets, hot water, showers and a bed that we can get into from both sides. The wi-fi works. The closets are enormous. The kitchen countertops seem to go on for ever.

Well, you get the message. We've been in a small, tight setting for so long that it will take us awhile to adjust to our house again. 

We absolutely enjoyed our trip, without any regrets or reservations. 

But, we're glad to be home.

In the next few days we have laundry to do, a van to clean and wash, mail to process, and a life to resume. 

But, we hope to write a few more posts with some reflections on our trip and the past four months. We had an unforgettable experience. We're so grateful for God's blessings along the way. 

So, stay tuned a little longer. We've got a bit more to say. 

Then, it's on to the next adventure.