What a wonderFULL week! Strap in, folks!

Tuesday evening, Darby and I met up in Old Town Alexandria. She chose The Warehouse and since I enjoyed it so much last time, I didn’t refuse!

While I chose a different dish, I still went the surf-and-turf route and was not disappointed.

Afterwards, she was excited to go to an ice cream place nearby while we walked along the waterfront. At first, I didn’t recognize the name, but once we arrived, I realized this was Pop’s, the place I had gone to before following my time with Ifrah. I wasn’t mad about visiting it again!

Wednesday evening, Carly and I headed over to the Vaida’s, who hosted us this time! They served us homemade lasagna, homemade cheesecake, and Tillamook ice cream (which wasn’t homemade, but so good that we didn’t care).

I will sorely miss these hangs and these friends.

Thursday, Ling brought a dish for us to try: jellyfish salad! The jellyfish was raw and the salad served cold, which didn’t really give a strong first impression. However, it was good! It really didn’t taste salty like I thought it would; closer to cooked cabbage than anything.

Can’t knock it until you try it, folks!

Thursday, after work, I took a Lyft straight from the hospital to the airport as I embarked on a long-anticipated weekend adventure: NavCamp!

I was looking forward to this conference, as Rusty and El would be sharing as the main speakers and I would be seeing several Washington friends again from my visit back in June!

Not to mention, it was a legitimate camp- we would be tent camping! I hadn’t done so since when I lived in Virginia (before high school), so a year or two has passed since then!

I arrived in Seattle late Thursday night and was picked up by Jessica and Bianca. The Abrams let me stay the night with them, so I hit the hay at midnight local time, 3 AM EST.

This trip would have been very difficult, and may not have been able to happen at all, if it weren’t for the kindness of others. My dependence was admittedly uncomfortable at times, but once I got past my pride, I was able to more fully appreciate the love of Jesus that was made evident through my friends.

Friday morning, the Abrams treated us to Starbucks as we hit the road to head to Coupeville, where NavCamp was taking place. It was good to catch them up on life since I last saw them in June and vice versa.

We stopped for lunch at a Korean restaurant, which was a first for me!

I ordered bibimbap, which was delicious!

You can’t beat good friends and good food!

We also stopped by Deception Pass on the way, which was a gorgeous spot.

I think I’ve determined that Washington state is the most beautiful state I have ever been to. The mountains, the evergreens, the colors are all striking. It’s the place where I have felt the most wondrously small and reminded the most profoundly of God’s might and vastness.

Made even more beautiful when enjoyed with friends!

Another person I have to credit to making this weekend possible is Seth. He lent me an extra tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and lawn chair, so that I wouldn’t have to buy my own and shlep them across the country.

He, Bianca, and Trinity helped me pitch the tent and I gotta say, I slept pretty well! I think I might have to hunt down some opportunities for more tent camping in the future!

Rusty and El shared over the weekend. The first night, they shared their testimonies of how God brought them to Himself and what He’s done in and through them since.

Listening to them, how they endured and sacrificed much for the sake of following Jesus, left me utterly inspired. How fortunate am I, to be surrounded by such God-fearing people!

The rest of the weekend was spattered with conversations of depth, s’mores, being stalked by campfire smoke, and a bunch of laughter, none of which I captured on camera. I hope their effects will remain captured in me nonetheless. Rusty shared twice more and the note-taking was furious, as a result.

Early Sunday morning, Seth came through again by he and a guy named Simon taking me to the nearby Navy base where a shuttle would pick me up and begin my trek home.

I finished “Band of Brothers” on the plane ride home, so I started my backup book (avid readers will understand).

I’ve seen the most recent movie, so I’m excited to see how the book compares!

I even was able to capture when we were flying over Ohio!

It’s wild to think that this next week will be my last of this contract and that I will be heading back to Ohio on Saturday.

There will be more thoughts to share next week. Until then!