Portland!

I spent a great family and sightseeing week in and around Dupont, Washington, and today made my way to Portland for the PCUSA General Assembly. This place is CRAWLING with Presbyterians! The first familiar face I saw was Moderator Heath Rada. He has been a wonderful representative of our denomination over these past two years.

Highlights from last week: my two beautiful granddaughters! They are charming, witty, and very loving children. There is nothing better than hearing two little voices scream, "Grandma's here!" We spent a morning at the Olympia Children's Museum--very cool! Aaron and Mary had to work on the weekdays, so I went adventuring on those days--Seattle (Pike's Place Market and the Space Needle), a Nature Trek out in the woods, and a real adventure up as far as the car could go on Mt. Rainier. It was snowing there! In June!

I am now at the Doubletree in Portland with lots of those other Presbyterians--we are scattered over the city in many hotels. The Convention Center, where most of the action takes place, is impressive. They are getting all the electronics in place--we will e-vote and be wired in through our computers--the Assembly is paperless, so everyone needs a tablet or laptop.

I met a YAAD (Young Adult Advisory Delegate) at the airport and we navigated the light rail to our hotel together. We were a bit worried about identifying the "red line," but one of the Assembly volunteers said: "Every train is the right train right now." I love that! We go in so many directions so much of the time, and wonder if we are on the right track. Maybe we can claim that, in God's gracious guiding, every train is the right train. Wherever we are heading, God is going along, and will bring us to the completion of God's plan.