The Journey...Part 1

We are on day 18 of a 100+ day RV trip.  I spent hours planning and replanning, all the while knowing that I'd have to replan many times over on our trip.

Here are the changes we've made already...
*Staying an extra day in Richmond, due to weather.
*Going to Myrtle Beach instead of Pigeon Forge, due to weather.
*Boondocking our way from Myrtle Beach to Texarkana instead of staying a few days in Alabama, mostly due to weather.

As you can see, the weather plays a big part in our planning...and the weather is one thing we just can't count on ahead of time!

So far, the only place there hasn't been snow/slush/ice was Myrtle Beach.  The worst of it hit us in Louisiana, which cut our driving down to only 130 miles that day and had us all kissing the ground and praising God we were safe when we stopped for the day.

This trip, we opted to take two vehicles for several reasons...

*Ease of getting into cities or hard to navigate in areas.
*Ability to get parts and not be totally stranded if there is a vehicle breakdown.
*More room when traveling...6 people in a crew cab is pretty squishy on driving days, and the kids are NOT getting smaller!
*Fuel cost is really not higher, as fuel is cheaper everywhere but NY, and we'd be driving both vehicles if we were home, too!

The thing I failed to really consider is...driving two vehicles means Momma has to drive all.the.time.  We've gone just over 2,000 miles, and *I* have driven every single mile!  On our last big trip (51 days), I drove absolutely none of those miles.  Brian used to be an over the road tractor trailer driver, regularly running 1,800-2,500 miles every week.  I, however, reach my limit around 300 miles a day, which is about 5 hours of driving and 2-3 coffee/potty/fuel stops.  My limit also seems to be reduced with consecutive days of driving.

We had four days in a row of driving from Myrtle Beach to Texarkana (just over 1,000 miles).  The first day, we pushed hard, the weather was good, and we  made it over 400 miles.  The second day, we went just over 300 miles and the last hour was rough for me.  The third day was the 130 miles in the snow and freezing rain day, surrounded by people who are not accustomed to winter driving.  The fourth day was only 160 miles, on much improved roads, but by that fourth day, I'm not sure I could have gone more than 200 miles.

Ahead in our travels...mountains.  Big ones.  And I will need to drive through them...yes, this two vehicle decision was both a great and challenging one!

Another challenge related to driving is the reality that most of the time, I am behind Brian as he hauls the camper with his truck.  Every "near miss", I can't not see.  Every car that cuts in front of him makes me cringe.  Every time someone won't allow him to merge, my own anxiety increases.

 I fully admit to dealing with PTSD with car accidents/near accidents being the biggest trigger.  It's not fun, but I am dealing with this by listening to calming Christian music when we are in high traffic areas.  I also quote Scriptures as they come to me.  Most importantly, we are praying...a LOT.  We pray when we start our driving day.  We pray over the walkie talkies.  I pray under my breath.  And we praise God every day for a relatively uneventful journey.  God is stretching us all...and I pray our faith muscles are growing each day.

God is good...we are enjoying the journey.

Peace, out...

Reflections on Bible camp...

We just got back home from a week at Bible camp.  This is the second year we've gone, though the kids have gone to daycamp for 10 years now (well, Noah has...).  Some randomish thoughts on our time away...

• Sticks.  Literally as soon as we got out of the van, Levi had a stick in his hand.  Sticks are amazing.  God was thinking of little boys when He made them, that's for sure.  Sticks are multi-purpose tools, you know.  They can instantly transform between sword, gun, walking stick, golf club, shovel, and on and on it goes.  Levi was not alone in his stick-love, as we were constantly having to take them away from the day camp kids so that no one got accidentally clobbered.
• Dirt.  Lots of dirt.  I'm not sure if I should admit this, but none of my little kids had a shower or bath the entire week.  We did swim in the lake one day, and another day, the slip and slide involved dishsoap.  Filthy, happy little piglets, I mean...kids. And who cares?  After all, pretty much everyone there was just as filthy...
• Hills.  Holy hills, batman.  If you stuck by the camper and the main building like Brian, then you were safe.  I volunteered to help with the 1st and 2nd graders, though, and I do not want to talk about the hills.  So I won't.  Oy.  This is the reason we only went down to the lake once...because I almost died coming back up the hill.
• Falls.  Well, this involves the hills we didn't want to discuss anymore.  Roots and stones all over the hilly trails.  The swelling in my knee is finally going down from my fall.  I'm just glad I could get back up and I didn't break anything while taking 5 little girls to the bathroom.  Esther also had a crash on her bike (this is why I insist on helmets!!!).  I was picking mulch out of her teeth and gums for a while and she got a nice crash rash on her cheek and chin.  But...nothing broken and no stitches needed, so...it was still a good day at camp. :)
• Worship.  Worship with the kids during the day...worship in the services every night.  God is so good.  Really really good, blessing us with everything we need...  
• Bible memory.  As the helper for 1st/2nd grade, one of the main things I did was to help the kids memorize the verse of the day.  I love to make up motions to help the kids learn the verse and the  bonus for me is that after saying each verse 9,394 times...I have also hidden them in my heart!
• Missionary story.  At the pre-daycamp meeting, we discovered that though there was a "missionary story" time slot, no one had actually planned anything for the missionary story.  In a totally cool "God-incidence" (I don't believe in coincidences), I had packed one of my kids' favorite bedtime story books, Missionary Stories with the Millers.  I took over this section for the 1st/2nd grade, as well as choosing the stories for the other groups, and really, really enjoyed it!  I never thought I would be the primary person dealing with 25-30 kids...but it went well and I would be happy to do it again next year!
• Friends.  New friends.  Old friends.  Wonderful, encouraging chats as we sat in the shade.  Good stuff...in fact, one good friend had some very specific, encouraging comments I am holding onto and pondering.
• Food.  One of the very most awesomest things at Bible camp...NO COOKING!!!!  There is a kitchen crew and all the rest of us have to do is show up.  Last year, I cooked/baked an equivalent GF dinner, but this year, I went ahead and ate what everyone was eating, adjusting it the best I could.  Levi ate what he could and had a sandwich on Ezekiel bread if he needed more.  Of course, we brought a ton of snacks, but still...did I mention...no cooking for Momma!  Amazing...

God is faithful.  The road ahead of us is largely unknown (by us, not by God!). Bible camp was fuel for the journey, and I am so thankful for that.  Wherever you send us, God, we will go!

Music of 2013 and 2014

The song that most represented 2013...

Carried by Your constant grace,
Held within Your perfect peace.
Never once did we ever walk alone.

~Matt Redman "Never Once"

The song that has chosen me, going forward into 2014...


"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
Lyrics from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/hillsongunited/oceanswherefeetmayfail.html

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
[x6]

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine