As the verse yesterday said:

• I can be confident. You can be confident.
• He – who began a good work in you. who began a good work in me.
• WILL carry [the good work] to completion in you. WILL carry [the good work] to completion in me.
• then,
• you will be complete in Christ Jesus. I will be complete in Christ Jesus.

While I wouldn’t wish some of my life experiences on anyone – I can also be thankful for them.

We spent about two and a half years in Portland, Oregon. They were not good years, but the Lord provided everything my soul needed. My gracious Heavenly Father provided a friendship with an amazing & beautiful woman. She was my safe person thru the ups and downs. She helped me save face so many times in the worst of times. She was the one who told me I was pregnant. Life was in such an upheaval, I didn’t realize what was going on in my own body. She saw me. She cared about me at a time when I was uncertain if I even wanted life to go on. She coaxed me through the birth of my son. Six months later we drove back to Alaska. To this day, she remains my dearest sister-friend; twenty years of friendship and we’ve spent no more than two weeks total time in the same room. She has known both extreme happiness & extreme pain in life. She has known hardship. She is beautiful inside and out. I aspire to learn from her faith. her trust in God and in people.

The hardship of living in an abusive marriage provided me an opportunity to strengthen a closer relationship with Jesus and my Heavenly Father, and I have two wonderful children. Children I would never, ever, in a million years trade for a different marriage. Don’t get me wrong, if I could have the same children with a different marriage – then, yes please! I would like to think I could have learned many of the life lessons I’ve learned in a different way :-)…but, I do believe my Heavenly Father does know best what is for His Glory.

He, who began a good work in me is working it through to completion in Christ Jesus. Some chapters of my story I wouldn’t mind if they’d been edited out – but not at the expense of the lessons I learned.

I am God’s masterpiece.
He created me new in Christ Jesus.
He created me so I could do the good things He planned.
Specific good things He planned long ago. Just for me.
Ephesians 2:10

The stories of my life have not taken my Heavenly Father by surprise. In fact, He created me just for this story.

I can’t say if the move back to Alaska is what saved us from his poor choices, or if they intensified his poor choices. Life was far from easy. May I suggest, if you have a family member who doesn’t seem like themselves and you think there are marriage problems – without prying and controlling, try to learn more. Don’t decide what you know based on what you think you see. When we moved back I was in full-on survival mode. I was also a first time mom of a six month old who had been mobile since four months, and started walking at seven months. It was what I knew in my marriage relationship. My family did not understand the change, nor did they imagine the source of the changes in me. I came across as paranoid, irrational, and controlling. So, my behavior is what was pointed out.

Once again: Please, if you or someone you know needs help – if you don’t have a church family you can go to – contact Focus on the Family. It is important to get Godly counsel. Make sure the help you get is actually going to help, aligning Biblically with what is in Scripture. Each situation is unique.

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Merry Christmas!

Yes, it is a couple days past Christmas, but it’s not too late to say and I didn’t get to say it to you. So, I’ll say it again, “When I say: Merry Christmas! I really mean: I hope you had a very blessed and merry Christmas.” Remembering the reason we celebrate Christmas and the purpose of the season.

I really do hope this was a true realization for you. I know I had to do a lot of mental readjustment this year. With no cash flow for gifts, it made me realize something interesting about me: while I LOVE making gifts, when it’s a choice because I want to is a lot different than because I have to. Why do I/we have to be so fallen, sinful, human about doing something with the right heart? 😀

Just goes to show and proves: I NEED Jesus Christ. Every day. Every hour. Always.

I wasn’t able to wish you a Merry Christmas on Christmas because {yes, here are my excuses/’reasons’}, leading up to Christmas I didn’t choose to make the time to schedule a post. I thought I’d do it at our friend’s home. But I didn’t. I couldn’t get online on Christmas Eve night and on Christmas day I chose to focus on those I was with face-to-face, rather than worry about figuring out how to connect online. I did write a post late Chrismas night, but it seemed so shallow after the day spent, I chose to remain ‘unplugged’. But, it wasn’t because I didn’t think about you – I prayed for you. I prayed you would know the real spirit of Christmas – Jesus’ love for you. I hope your day was blessed.

Leading up to Christmas Eve I was sewing & crafting until 1am, just 8 hours before I’d planned to leave. Then I started to wrap gifts – I climbed into bed at 2am after wrapping & cleaning the living room. {NOTE: when you aren’t giving a lot of gifts, wrapping doesn’t take long. This is not a bad thing…} I slept until 8:30, then got up on the run. We were blessed to head into town for a couple days with some very dear friends. Friends I have only known a couple years compared to the 20+ years I’ve known most of our other family friends. It was such a blessed time. It was a time of relaxing.

This family has five children – the oldest was first my sister-friend, then she introduced her two youngest siblings to my children, then we parents met. My sister-friend is 10 years younger than me, and her parents are about 10 years older. Her mom and I are friends as well. Only a mom-friend can truly understand the life of being a mom.

Mom-friends, such a beautiful God-given gift.

The four are only 3 years apart – with my two being the bookends: boy (Vince), boy, girl, girl (Christine). We all homeschool and genuinely enjoy being together. These four haven’t seen each other in a while – so off they disappeared. They really only came around every once in a while for food :-), when we went to the Christmas Eve service, and opening gifts.

Christmas morning was a meshing of our two families traditions (which largely were the same: Christ, food, gifts slowly and intentionally, one-at-a-time). Mid-day a couple other singles came to enjoy the rest of the day together, cook together, fellowship together, and eat together. The evening was spent taking a gorgeous walk in the falling snow & playing games. I didn’t play games. I sat on the couch, in front of a beautiful tree and fireplace, and read. As a single parent I can’t state or express how incredibly refreshing it is to hear/see/know your childrens’ love tank is being filled. and not by you. It was truly a blissful Christmas.

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So much emotion – good or bad – can come from this one word.

You might have been hurt by a friend in the past.

Or maybe, you’ve just met a new friend. and you aren’t sure if you should trust completely yet.

Regardless, Jesus is our friend. He is constant. He won’t ever pull away or hurt you.

I have been blessed by working alongside new friends this summer. Change isn’t easy for me, I am not much for social activities. So, anytime I meet someone new, you can bet they’ve done the work for it to get to the point of us having a one-to-one conversation.

Some friends we meet because of similar circumstances. (health issues, location, sports)

Some we meet in Bible Study. (they may become a friend. or not)

Some friends we’ve never met in “real” life. (hello, blog friends!)

I have learned this year it really doesn’t matter how a friendship starts, it’s about the common ground we share. It doesn’t even take much, I have gained many I would call friend this year. I have always known “I have a friend in Jesus”, but knowing this in my head is different than realizing it in my heart.

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have call you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” –  John 15:15 (NIV)

“I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” – John 15:11-15 (MSG)

I found the word choices between the versions interesting:

know vs. learned (I don’t typically equate knowing something with actually learning something.)

understand vs. heard (When I hear something, I don’t necessarily understand it.)

These are differences I’ve learned (now know?). If you put the verse in it’s context and look at this section as a whole (about His commands & us being friends)… it. is. powerful.

Let’s look at the whole passage in the NIV (New International Version) and (MSG) The Message:

I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. – John 15:9-15 (MSG)

~~~

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. – John 15:9-15 (NIV)

Do you notice how much more personal it is when you look at the context of us following His commands and as a result, Him being our friend?

• He loves us the same way the Father loves Him. (MSG & NIV)
• He says to make ourselves at home in His love. (MSG) <- this makes me think big chair, in front of a fireplace, with a good book
• He tells us when – NOW. (NIV)
• IF we keep His commands, we WILL remain intimately at home in His love. (MSG) <- intimately. it makes me think of a closer form of loving  – more than just, “I love [fill in the blank with whatever, at the moment].” Which we say so quickly.
• IF we keep His commands, we WILL remain in His love – just as He has kept His Father’s commands & remains in His love. (NIV) <- We see evidence of Jesus keeping His Father’s command (crucifixion) and His Father’s love (resurrection among many other evidences)

Why do I want to follow His commands? Why is this important? Why does He bother to share these facts with me?

• His purpose: that His joy might be our joy AND our joy will be wholly mature. (MSG)
• He has told us this so that His joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete. (NIV) <- this implies any other joy is incomplete.

What is the command we are to follow?

• This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. (MSG)
  • This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. (MSG)
• My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (NIV)
  • Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (NIV)

You are my friends when you do the things I command you. (MSG & NIV)

What is His command? Love others. The way He loves us. and how does He tell us to love?

• To lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (MSG)
• Put your life on the line for your friends. (NIV)

NOT a whole list of do’s & don’ts.

Love others the way He loves us = Him calling us ‘friend’.

What do you think? Can we trust loving others is enough to be friends?

I wonder, am I obeying His command – Loving others as He has loved me – well, with purpose? Do I lay down my life for my friends?

Day 2 of 31 Days

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I just had a lovely coffee date with my “other mom”. She is actually my mom’s friend (roommate?) from college – but we’re friends too. This morning we met for coffee, then went shopping for her Christmas Shoebox. My children chose to stay home – so I was ‘just’ an adult!  Now, my son is in the shop working with my dad and brother; and my daughter and I are watching White Christmas…and now I’m going to go sew!  I LOVE this time of year! My heart is Giving Thanks for the slower pace.

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{Important Note} I want to make a simple statement with complex depth – I know I am incredibly blessed.Not only does my immediate family get along well and love each other incredibly; my extended family is no different.There are now 29 of us (first cousins, spouses, and children) plus our 2 sets of parents; we have an amazing family heritage that none of us take for granted.We currently live in 3 states; 6 towns/cities; and 2 countries.

(our 2011 continued…)

mid-June: We landed late Friday night the 16th, my cousin J picked us up and took us to their house. My aunt & uncle were there as well for overnight because they’d driven up from Madison, WI. Saturday morning we all (11 of us – 5 adults + 6 children) piled into two suburbans and drove to N & C’s, house 2 hours away.We spent a couple days there with all of us (18) in one house and had a blast!

A little note of explanation: I grew up with my two brothers, three boy cousins (there are two more cousins, but I didn’t grow up with them), and family friends with three boys. At the time my cousins lived just up the road from us, I have many fond memories of all our family gatherings. They were good years with many good times. Now, 25+ years later we all have children and our kids all get along very well. Eight years ago my kids and I were living in my old childhood home to help take care of my grandparents (my dad’s parents). Three weeks after we got there my grandma passed away; shortly after my grandpa started kidney dialysis three times per week. My kids and I were able to stay on and help with his adjustment of not having grandma after nearly 60 years of marriage and the effects of dialysis. At that time N & C lived across the field and we got to know each other real well; it was so much fun.It was fun to have an adult relationship with my cousin; his wife, C, and I get along real well and have similar interests.

Then we went multiple directions for the week. My aunt & uncle returned to Madison and my kids and I followed J & K back to their house, near the border of MN and WI. It was really fun to hang out with J & K and their kids. We didn’t know them as well because we hadn’t had the chance while living with Grandpa to spend time together. On Monday evening K & I, with the kids, joined J at the Science Museum in Minneapolis. WOW! We’ve never been to such a big museum – it was a ton of fun. J explained so much more to the kids and made it so much fun – Science is his thing. 🙂 The rest of the week was spent getting to know each other better, late night visits, and my first antique store visit – in general lots of just hanging out together. It was cool & rainy and so much fun to spend the time just drinking coffee, visiting, and holding baby Gregory. One day we went to walk along the river, but there was a painting class all set up along the bank and at the “mouth” of the trail we had planned to walk – because it was cold & windy we decided not to disturb them to get 6 children past, just to turn around and come back … but we got good cousin pictures by the bridge :-)!

On Friday, my kids & I headed out to Madison on our own. It was very strange, it is landscape I recognize, remember, and love – so much farm country; yet it seemed so foreign too. We drove it several times when we were living there six years ago, but this time it was just us – without Grandpa. We went to Madison to celebrate my Uncle’s retirement. It was a wonderful weekend with many friends and family. Saturday morning a family friend (my aunts best friend) invited all of us to breakfast, then she took Christine & I to the capital for a tour. I didn’t know this was an interest of Christine’s but she LOVED it!  Then we went to Hobby Lobby (my first time ever!), we had to be quick …it was so hard. There was so much that was fun, but it wouldn’t fit in my luggage to get back to Alaska! When we got back to the house, N & C had arrived with their kids. My aunt & uncle’s landlord are very good friends of theirs; they have lived side-by-side in the duplex for nearly 20 years. Anyway, the landlord’s friends had invited us (kids and our children) to use their pool on Saturday afternoon. All of the kids loved the heated pool on a beautiful, sunny day. They played hard for a couple hours. Then we all went back and started to get everything finished up for Sunday’s party. C and I ran out to get a few more groceries and other items needed for the party. We did sneak another quick trip into Hobby Lobby, then Wal-mart, and brought back dinner. Sunday after church was the retirement party, clean up, and a late evening bonfire. So many friends and family were there, some I hadn’t seen since I was in 6^th grade. Then on Monday the guys were doing some packing and loading trucks, so we girls (16 of us) went to Olbrich Gardens. It was so much fun. My aunt, cousin, Christine & I went when we visited with Grandpa once and it was fun to go back. The rest of them had gone in different groups over the last year as well. When we got back to the house it was time for lunch and then N, C, and I with all our children (7 total) piled into the two vehicles and headed north. Only two came with C & I in the car, N took the other 5 and pulled the trailer. It was fun – so much happened in such a short amount of time!

N and C live near where I spent many happy childhood years growing up in northern Wisconsin. We spent the week hanging out, they live on a lake and the kids were wet and/or fishing most of every day. Tuesday evening C & I drove an hour to Sam’s Club in Duluth, MN, just to find they had closed a half hour before we got there. We were getting the groceries needed for the upcoming 4^th of July weekend…so we did a little other shopping and headed back home knowing we’d head back up Friday morning when the guys were going to go south to get a bunch of wheat. The weekend ahead was going to be 30 of us all staying at the same house. We spent the next couple days just relaxing and enjoying hanging out, much like the week prior – just a different family of cousins. Thursday night we had a plan and all was going well – my uncle would be coming in early AM, from Madison, and the guys, all of them even the 2 year old, were going to drive south to get the wheat. By noon, C & I and the 4 girls (ages 12, 10, 9, & 7) were going to drive north to do a girl day of shopping and get the groceries we didn’t get on Tues. The other 19 family/friends would then arrive Saturday morning.

July 1^st – 6:45am Friday morning started a bit stressful and not very fun, and the day went downhill from there – with an absolutely wonderful afternoon in the middle. So, very early in the morning N realized the water pump had gone out during the night. He was able to get a hold of a family friend who has a plumbing business, he said he’d stop by on his way to another job. He actually had the part and was able to get the pump fixed and up and running. Then we all loaded up to head out, the guys to the south and the girls to the north. We girls had a blast; I have never been on a shopping trip like that before. So much fun to just go from girly place to girly place and hear our girls’ hearts being filled with love just from hangin’ with us. We even found a few good deals and some more summer clothes (we hadn’t taken cool enough clothes for mid-west summer). When we walked out of the mall it was starting to sprinkle, one of the little ones was so excited to have a new umbrella and wanted to use it….well, the rain went from little sprinkles to DUMPING about half way to the car! She got to use her umbrella and many were taking cover with her before getting to the car. Those of us not under the umbrella were soaked, thoroughly. It continued to dump, hard. We decided to not go to a restaurant for dinner, but just head to Sam’s Club, the girls were all so content they were fine with just eating at Sam’s. We got our groceries and when we were leaving Sam’s it was raining so hard C could barely see while driving down the hill out of Duluth and across the bridge. It was about 7pm and we were headed back towards the house, but first needed to stop at Wal-mart (in Superior) to get a few more items. By the time we got to town we were aware there was really unfriendly weather all around us. Icky colored sky and dumping rain with thunder & lightening. We started hearing on the news there were tornado warnings and the wind was starting to blow like crazy….We were doing lots of praying and singing along with KLOVE to keep from going totally over the edge of being freaked. We knew Who was in control of all the circumstances and we just kept reminding ourselves & each other. C was in contact with her family who were camped at a campground near her house and found out they had just been told to leave, she told them to all go to her house even though there was no power in the area. In talking to C’s brother-in-law, who was on his way to her house (instead of the campground), he had to cut his way down the highway with his chainsaw. Okay, we were freaked. However, God had everything so orchestrated — we met up with our guys at the crossroads of the two highways – us driving south, them coming north, and we all needed to drive east. We were able to pass them some snacks and then we were off; from that point on we followed them. As they drove north they saw the mass destruction from the storm, where we came from the north and it was just rain. As we followed them, we often had to drive on the opposite side of the road because only the tops of the trees had been cut and that was just to clear one side of the road. By the time we got to the house it was 10pm. (what should have been a 30-45 min drive had been nearly 2 hours) There were three trees across the driveway that C’s BIL cut to get into the driveway. We then had to unload all the groceries in the pitch black with just headlights and flashlights to see with. All the freezer/frig food was sorted so it could all be put into the frig/freezer at once. As we drove and saw the destruction we knew the power would not be back on any time soon. The next morning the guys got us a generator and the rest of our family came. We proceeded to have a wonderful weekend! We spent the 4^th of July floating down the Namekagon River (and getting majorly sunburned!).

The rest of our time was spent enjoying each other; coffee and diet coke with lime; lots of hanging out; visiting; coffee and diet coke; swimming; fishing; enjoying the pontoon boat, with coffee or diet coke (of course) depending on time of day – morning, afternoon, or evening. After all the other families returned to their homes and we got the house back into order after a weekend of no water or power, but LOTS of fellowship; C and I took the kids into Superior. Superior is where I spent seven wonderful years of childhood; it was so fun to see places that are familiar and things really haven’t changed much. It’s not a city. I got to go into my first ever quilt store with the intention of buying material. We let the kids watch a movie in the car while we went in – it was soooo much fun to see all the variety, choose some, and then actually purchase it! {That could be addicting!!!!} I’m used to going in to touch and feel, but not buy. I’ve typically purchased fabric from Jo-Ann’s and their selection of good feeling material is much smaller {sigh} Anyway, the next day we went to another town half way to J & K’s (we had to do some return kid swapping) and went into an antique store, another quilt store and then the three of us took all 11 children to see Cars2. In the end the three youngest didn’t do so well in the movie, so it was eight children and myself who watched it all then walked the couple blocks to the scrapbook store……oh, the fun of tons of kids and family and all being together. Love it! After that, we had just a week of hanging and being slow when it was time to pack and head to J & K’s again for the last couple days. J was gone on a business trip so C and her kids joined in staying at J & K’s. The last couple days was more hanging (with coffee and diet coke with lime), packing (with coffee and diet coke with lime), and visiting (with more coffee and diet coke with lime) – what we didn’t do was sleep. The last afternoon K took the kids & I to the airport – it was so hard to say goodbye. Is it not a most amazing blessing to spend a month with family and still have it hard to say goodbye – on both sides?! Thank you C and K for your amazing, generous, and kind hearts – I love you both so much!

Rest of July & August:We flew back to Alaska on the 15^th. Within 18 hours of landing (at 11pm) we had come home, unpacked, washed laundry, slept a couple hours, got up, re-packed, re-loaded the van and headed to our family cabin six hours away. It is a six hour drive, then a half hour boat ride, then a half mile hike up the hill…At that point, I slept. Two days later Vince turned 14! Two days after that Christine, my mom, and I headed back home.Vince stayed to work on the new cabin with my dad. Once home again I started some house projects and minimal organizing…as well as finishing unpacking and actually putting some stuff away.(Finally, just three days ago I finished putting away some things from our trip that I’d unpacked, set down, and never got back to!) I actually started my first house project I’ve wanted to do for several years. I will post more on this later, but the end of July I ripped out my living room carpet! My dad wasn’t (still isn’t) impressed. I love it! My living room is just the plywood sub-floor (now painted), but I love it, Love IT, LOVE IT!

September: Before I knew it, it was time to start school! Then an opportunity came up for Vince and I to join my dad on a trip to Washington DC. I was so excited! I have wanted to go to Washington DC and the East Coast for forever (seriously, since I was like 8). Many hours were spent deciding what we would do in our time there. September went really fast with all kinds of life – cleaning, school, the fair, work, some projects, and lots of DC planning.

October: We had four days of exploring and a day before and after for travel days. Did you know that it takes 10 hours to get from Anchorage to DC and that was with a fairly quick stop over in Seattle; the trip back took us 18 hours! (we had an added stop over in LA) Christine stayed with mom; she didn’t want to go with us – she didn’t want to do the massive walking we were going to be doing. It was really cool to go and be with Vince; he was amazing on the subway! There were times I got a bit freaked about how far below ground we were – and going under a river – ack! We never got lost- once we were a block off from where we thought we’d come up from underground, but yea for my iPhone – we were able to find our location in moments. We didn’t make it into as many of the Smithsonian’s as I would have tried to see; I let Vince be the ‘driver’ of where we went and what we saw. We went to the Air & Space Museum – twice :-D! We stood in line and went into the Capital, but once we were inside we decided we really wanted to wait for someday, with Christine. She loves seeing capital buildings. It was close to 70* each day, we didn’t bring cool enough clothes – it was October. I brought layers, but the lightest ones were more than we needed. We were warm and walked lots! By the time we returned from DC we were four weeks from my brother Zach and his wife and kids to come home from the Philippines. This was the magical month I got to get my new camera – a Nikon D3100! So excited and anxious to learn more!! Lots more house projects, organizing, and cleaning were started, but I also had an unexpected increase in my work load which really changed things up.

November & December: Zach, Jane, and their kids arrived on the 7^th of November. Since then it has been lots of family – all day, every day. Five adults, five children, three generations, three sets of parents, three sets of siblings, two spousal sets, and a set of cousins all living in the same main 1600sf house (my apartment and the cabin in the back yard are not included in that) makes for fun times. When my other brother, his wife, and their little one come here that adds another parental set, spousal set, and cousin set to the mix of our immediate family of 13. We have had an incredibly, abundantly more than we could imagine, family-full holiday season. In November I was able to get my new sewing machine – for 14 years I’ve used a 1942 Viking Husqvarna. I still love that machine greatly – however, I really needed more than straight front and back stitching. {I’m sure more will come on this later :-D} Within three weeks it will be just my brother Matt and his family and my kids and I here. We will be back to living in two countries and two towns in Alaska. Crazy how accessible the world is now. I remember when cheap communication was snail mail and that took at least a week to get from the lower 48 to Alaska…now we can instantly talk to family via video when they’re in the Philippines – for free.

And that wraps up 2011. None of what I have written even goes into all the personal growth I experienced this last year, or even so many things I learned. What I feel comfortable broadcasting on the internet will come out in bits and pieces as time goes by I’m sure. For now though this is a nutshell of the big events of our last year.

….notice none of this very long winded year in review covered anything basic like crafting, organizing, home school, and being a mom to two. :-D! I promise, I won’t have more posts that are this long winded. And, I will start putting in photos of projects that have happened around this house over the last year and new projects I’ve been working on — like the doll clothes I made last week. So fun! Thanks for reading – if you’ve actually read all of this you’ve learned more about me :-).

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This weekend was a true gift – a gift from God, family & friends (& friends’ family). There are 4 of us moms who were able to coordinate 17 schedules (8 children, 3 husbands, a set of grandparents & the 4 of us…18 if you count the cabin’s schedule too) to get away for a long weekend. Truly amazing! I hope to never ever forget the fun, laughter & tears of being with friends.

view from the deck

view from the ‘other end’

Thursday

We went to my mom & dad’s cabin. This included 3 vehicle transfers before the 6 hr drive to our 20 min boat ride. Thank you Dad!

Friday

Dad & Vince left on Friday morning which left us to visit, read, sleep, read, sleep & visit some more – then we had rib eye steaks on the grill, yum! We needed the naps due to lack of sleep Thurs night, there were too many 8 legged guests with us in the bunk house! Even after all the travel & the scream fest induced by these extra ‘guests’ crawling out from between the blankets none of us really fell asleep. There was dozing, but no true rest. These extra ‘guests’ did continue to hold their ground in the outhouse, but they didn’t get the big cabin (which we moved into)! That was the most trying point of the weekend – how blessed is that?!

Saturday

Sat was not a beautiful day, but it didn’t matter & it was warmer than Friday. We drank coffee, read, visited & hung out, took showers in our most airy shower ever — then when we’d eaten enough snacks & wanted to, we went to another friends house there on the island to visit & see the progress on their home. We then walked to the ‘other end’ of the island (2 mi) to take in the isthmus at low tide, the one restaurant & the art galleries. At this point it was sprinkling rain & we decided to make our way back to the cabin. We stopped on the isthmus for some jumping pictures…haven’t seen those yet but I’m sure they aren’t what we pictured we’d look like :). All of this was without any children, quite the novelty for this group. No kid snacks needed – we had dark chocolate, cookies (not healthy ones either) and sour cream & onion chips as the snack to keep us going. We ate dinner as soon as we got back to the cabin :).

Sunday

Time to go home. This time it was the hour boat ride & some shopping on the Spit before the 6 hr drive for just one vehicle transfer for the rest of the trip home…oh, the bonding that comes with laughter, tears, and more laughing (the make you sick to your stomach & crying kind of laughing) together.

How blessed to spend the weekend with friends. None of them really knew each other before going, they just each knew of my love for the cabin & trusted me to believe they’d also enjoy being there. Even though some don’t camp…but this wasn’t camping – just kind of like camping :)….we had an insulated cabin with heat, running water & ‘real’ (not generator) electricity. The only camping part would have been packing our stuff in & out – but we didn’t even have to do that! Dad picked us up & a friend brought us to the boat to leave – I know, we got off easy :).

What fun when we have the unity of Christ in all of us to share & love together freely. I am truly blessed, thank you dear friends for trusting me & putting yourselves ‘out there’, making the effort to come. Most of all – thank you Heavenly Father, for your beautiful creation and who You have made each of us to be. Help us all to live in a manner glorifying to You, to extend Your love & grace to others around us.

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