We made our way to Oregon and have finally managed to get our internet hooked up after two weeks of living here. What a roller coaster of events that have transpired in the past few months of the Jenson family. We went from firmly rooted in Iowa and in love with our lives to moving in the most unexpected way to western side of Oregon. When we first got here I wanted to cry for the first 4 days and had decided that I had made the most awful mistake in my life. I really was heartsick. Iowa is the most beautiful place on earth and even more beautiful than the area we lived in are the people that we left behind. I think of the dear associations we had with our neighbors, members of the ward and stake, people we got to know at school and just the good hearted people of Iowa in general. It is a hard place to leave. Iowa is special and we will always have have a tender place in our hearts for the goodness that exists nowhere else on earth like Iowa. What a source of absolute joy to have experienced the miracle of the midwest.
Having left such goodness behind it was difficult at first to gain a love or appreciation for Oregon. But when we moved here I distinctly had two impressions about our move. Firstly, I knew without doubt that in our regard it simply did not matter where we lived, it only mattered what we did while we were there. The kingdom of God needs to be built within the walls of our home first and then shared from there. We can make our home a sacred place in Iowa, in Oregon or in a thatched hut in Samoa. The second reassurance that came was the peace knowing that the Lord made Iowa and the Lord made Oregon and both of them are good. We were going to experience a new facet of the Lord's beautiful creations here on the earth. To top these two very clear and distinct impressions was the advice given to John Clarke, former president of Ricks College, from his parents. Over and over again in his life he was told, "John, make good where you are." And with that we have decided to make good where we are.
So, what do we love about Oregon thus far in these marvelous two weeks we have had here...
1. The gospel. It is the same no matter where you go.
2. BLACKBERRIES!!!!!! Oh my heavens to bessie you cannot fathom the number of berries that grow in this place. It is completely, entirely, out of my wildest imagination. Our second day here we abandoned unpacking and went straight to jam making. We have had muffins, cakes, jams, dried fruit leather and eaten and eaten and eaten until we are all sick. Michael loves the little morsels. He can squish them in his little 8 month old mouth and turn purple faster that wiener pigs in a greased pig chase. Andrew is the most faithful berry picking companion I could ask for and always says, "Mmmmmm Mom, these are good." Adam and Matthew have decided we live in berry land.
3. Peaches for $0.10 a pound. Yes you heard me right. I got up at 5 AM Saturday to be in line at Harry and David for cheap, succulent peaches. All day yesterday was spent blanching, slicing and freezing. Canning comes in the morning. Honestly 270 pounds of peaches for $27. Outrageous.
4. Sisters!!!! Miss Wendy is only 2.5 hours from me as determined by her mad jont to Grants Pass to join me in my peach party. I have family nearly within spitting distance. It is going to take a bridle and reins to keep me focused. I think Cindi will be only 8 hours and Ryan is 7.5. Hooray.
5. BYU Cougars!!!!! Yep, got tickets to the Oregon game in October... just a mere 2.5 hours away. Go Cougs!
6. Medford temple is only 30 minutes away. We went to do sealings yesterday. It is a beautiful temple but a small one. I have to be really honest about this one, the proximity to the temple is a blessing but I'd be lying if I didn't say that a gargantuan piece of my heart was left behind in Nauvoo. Some things just can't be beat.
7. Weather, wow it smells good here in the morning. I wake up, open my windows and it smells like fresh, yummy, new, been camping air. That kind of air doesn't live in Iowa. It just smells good here.
8. The Rogue River. Grants Pass survives off from this beautiful river. We have been walking down by the river and played in parks along it several times. The outdoor recreational opportunities here are unparalleled. We can't wait to get our hands on a few more of them.
9. We are CITY SLICKERS... at least for a time. We are renting a home in town with yes people, sidewalks and paved roads! The first day the bikes hit the pavement both the boys lost the training wheels and they are speeding little demons now. I distinctly remember as a child being so envious of friends that lived in town that could ride their bikes and I remember longing for the opportunity to ride a bike on ANYTHING besides gravel. Well, my bambinos felt the same way. They are in two wheeled heaven here.
Now, there are a few things I don't love about Grants Pass, but we aren't going to worry about those because we are making good where we are and it is good. The Lord really won me over with all those blackberries. I have never seen anything like it. However, when the earth is cleansed and perfected I am going to ask about a thornless variety.
