We spent the day driving from Seattle to McKinleyville in CA so we could spend some time at the redwoods. We made our drive straight down just a little south of Portland, Oregon and then headed to west to drive on the coast.

            The hotel clerk told us about the Avenue of the Giants and since it was more on our way we decided to take this route to see some redwoods. It was a 30 mile stretch of road through some redwood forests and along the way there were little trails where you could get out, hike, or just walk around. We walked four different trails. The first one was just perfect because it was still early in the morning so there was still a little mist and fog and it was just a tiny trail that just went all over the place in this forest. It was kind of a choose your own adventure trail because the trail would just split and go to random places. There was so much green all along the forest floor, it was covered in clovers and ferns. It was to say the least magical.

Seattle is kind of out of the way but of course it had to be a stop since it was my home for the summer when Daniel and I were first dating. We drove straight to the temple on Sunday and walked around the beautiful grounds. The flowers were gorgeous and it was the perfect sunny day. I think Hydrangeas are my new favorite flower of all time and I just want them to spring forth from my garden when we have a house of our own.

            Then we headed over to the Allreds. Keith was Daniel’s dad’s old roommate from college and he and his wife were nice enough to give us food and shelter for our time in Seattle. We were starving when we made it to their house and they had the most delicious Mexican chicken salad/ burrito all ready for us. After dinner we went out on the back porch and talked and talked and talked. Again I had never met them and the only thing Daniel remembers about them is one time when he was little Keith asked him to recite the first article of faith out of nowhere and he froze. Don’t worry he can recite it now J. It was very enjoyable to sit with the Allred’s and talk to them. They had a trait I do not believe many people have these days which made our time with them great, and that trait is they made you feel interesting. For an introverted girl like myself it is easy to ask the questions I hear all the time, what’s your major, where are you from, what are you doing. Since I don’t have great or interesting answers to those questions I often feel like people leave me and think I am pretty boring, and since I am kind of shy I often don’t know how to expand on my kind of boring life. Well with the Allred’s I just felt interesting and like my comments meant something to them and that my life had more than just what I did in college and what I will do in Pittsburgh. They asked about interests and ideas and quite frankly posed some hard questions that I didn’t really know how to answer and yet they allowed me to give it my best shot. Overall it was just a wonderful time to talk and get to know each other.

            So our trip could have been complete just spending time with these great people but I also needed to show Daniel Seattle. We started out at Pikes Place Market because it is awesome! The flowers were gorgeous we tried a few tasty treats and just enjoyed the atmosphere of this great place. 

           Then we headed to a beach that I had been to and just relaxed. It was pretty cool because this guy was windsurfing and it was amazing to watch. When he hit the wave just right he could get some serious air with a good amount of hang time. 

          After getting our fill of the waves and sunshine we drove to the place I lived that summer and I showed him my apartment. Then we decided to get some ice cream at Molly Moons since it has some interesting flavors. I got strawberry balsamic ice cream and Daniel got salted caramel. Mmm it was tasty. I took him over to Gasworks Park to get a nice view of the city. We hung out on the grass and decided we would go to Ivars for dinner that night. It was not to far away and we sat on the water. I had a piece of salmon and Daniel had a little salmon, halibut and a crab cake. It was good to taste a little fish while we were in Seattle. 

         Finally we headed down to some shops on the water and grabbed a little chocolate from Frans to end our day. It was the perfect little treat. We drove past Pikes Place on the way home and it was so interesting because it was totally closed up and deserted. It is amazing how everyone comes and sets up every day.

            Seattle was more fun than I expected and I am so glad we made it a stop on our trip!

We stopped in Spokane to break up our drive from Montana to Seattle. We looked up a restaurant on Urban Spoon and it took us to The Onion. Oh my lanta it was delicious. Daniel had a hamburger topped with BBQ pulled pork and bacon and I had a grilled chicken sandwich with brie, spinach, apple, and a fig jelly. It was divine.

            The next morning we headed to church and everyone was really nice to us and asked us about where we were from and where we were going. It was really great. Afterwards we drove down the street to see Daniel's Grandma's half sister and her daughter and son. Kind of random since that last time Daniel met them was probably never to when he was really young. We had a great time visiting with these old folks (great aunt Hazel is 98!). Seriously it felt like we were old friends and I am so glad we stopped by. 

Already I am overwhelmed with this beautiful world that God has created. My soul was touched on this drive as I experienced a testimony of the truth that Alma writes: “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.” (Alma 30:44)