This is a journal of sorts. So sometimes (like today, for instance) it’ll just be random stories and memories I’ll want to look back on. Sometimes it’s not going to follow any particular pattern or connect to the previous blog… I’m just trying to fill you in on the interesting parts of this adventure.
You know, sometimes things just don’t go right. Sometimes circumstances aren’t what I planned for. Sometimes life can be scary.
Today, I have three tales to tell that have thrown me for a loop but are teaching me lessons.
Tale #1: Lost In The Woods
While in Connecticut for my grandfather’s memorial service this past weekend, Derek and I decided to take the boys hiking at Sleeping Giant. It’s a spot I used to hike as a child whenever I would visit. One should note that I said I hiked it as a child… As in, I’m not particularly familiar with the trails. I just followed my parents, who generally stayed on the main path, and had a great time.
The way up to the “castle” was fantastic. We made it without any issues and had a great time taking in the view there at the top of the mountain. All was well.
Now, we were supposed to be meeting my brother and dad for lunch, so we were on a bit of a time crunch getting back. So, logically, we figured the best thing to do was try to figure out some shortcuts. Any time we could save would be a good thing.
So when we saw a little trail veering off in a way that look like it might cut off some time, we decided that it might be a great idea to take that. But then… It kind of kept going and weaving here and there and roundabout. It got to the point where my poor directionally challenged self had no idea where we were.
So I then turned, with deep seated trust, to my husband (who has a VERY strong sense of direction) and asked him if he knew where we were. He said he wasn’t completely sure but that so long as we followed the trail we were on, it would eventually lead to the parking lot. He said we should just enjoy the trek and see it as an adventure. And that’s just what I did. I didn’t panic, I didn’t lose my cool. I told the boys everything was ok and we happily jumped over rocks, tossed stones in the river and sang camping songs as we skipped happily down our unknown trail.
For real! Well… kind of. I mean… that’s partially true. Like, the part about what Derek said. The part where I said he’s good with directions and kept his cool and adopted an adventurous spirit. And thankfully the boys followed suit, repeating over and over what a great trail this was.
But as for me… Yeah, I panicked, I lost it, I imagined every movie I’d ever seen where people wander for days without food and water (even though this was a fairly small area of trails where no trail is probably longer than a few miles). I simply couldn’t BELIEVE my husband couldn’t tell exactly where we were and my GPS seemed to be betraying me as I tripped over roots and rocks for staring at it so long. In my mind, we were poor, lost, soon to be starving wanderers and worst of all… we’d be late for lunch.
We passed by some really beautifully unique areas that I completely missed for my poor and pessimistic attitude. I felt all the more foolish when we made it back to the parking lot in time to make it to lunch.
Lesson learned: A bad attitude doesn’t fix uncertain circumstances. It simply causes you to miss the beauty of the journey and often causes hurt to your traveling companions.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Phil 2:14-16)
Tale #2: Water, Water Everywhere…
This is a short one. Basically there was flash flooding here in western North Carolina yesterday, and the flooding didn’t want our basement to feel left out. I was on the phone with Derek yesterday when he asked me to go down and just double check to make sure there wasn’t any water in the basement with all the rain we were getting… I went down and immediately saw the water creeping across the floor.
Definitely not what you want to see in a home you’ve just moved into that needs love in all kinds of other ways as well. It would seem we just keep finding one thing after another that needs cleaned up or fixed.
On top of that, Derek didn’t get home till nearly 7:00 last night and as I was juggling boys and making supper, I wasn’t a whole lot of help with cleanup. No biggie, he pulled out the shop vac and made it look like it never happened. (I don’t know how he does it.) Still, we know there’s an immediate, bigger problem to fix that allowed the flooding in the first place.
Lesson learned: Whenever I feel discouraged about all the projects or problems this home keeps presenting, I try to remember that having a home at all is a bigger blessing than many enjoy. The projects we tackle are simply us showing that blessing some love. It’s also an opportunity to steward well what God has given.
…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 5:18)
Tale #3: Eight Legged Freaks
Ryan: Mom, I wished we hadn’t moved here.
Me: Why, bud?
Ryan: There’s too many spiders!!!!
He’s not kidding, y’all. I could tell so many stories about the spiders I’ve killed since we moved south.
Now, let me be clear. We’re not talking about poisonous spiders. Ya know, the black widows, brown recluses, and banana spiders. I’ve only seen a few of those. (No biggie, right???) Generally we just have an issue with these gigantic, big as your face, wolf spiders. They’re not poisonous… They’re just huge and furry and awful.
Now, back in MN, the tiniest of spiders would scare me, so I’d never have thought I’d survive these monstrosities …
Thusly, when I kill these eight legged freaks, I don’t take it lightly. I generally grab a broom, imagine myself as a samurai warrior, and start swinging and screaming with all my might. Don’t judge me. It’s literally the only way I’m brave enough to kill the suckers. If I just grabbed a Kleenex and tried to squish them, I would need counseling and therapy for the next five years. There’s absolutely no way.
I can’t tell you how many wolf spiders I’ve killed since we moved here. And as we work on the house and keep it much cleaner and better sealed than it was when we moved into it, it shouldn’t be so much of an issue. But until that time, I shall warrior on, scare the poop out of anybody in ear shot, and murder every wolf spider that crosses my path.
Lesson learned: You’d be amazed at how you acclimate to your surroundings (even when faced with something you’ve always feared). And if you imagine yourself as a sword wielding Samurai warrior, there isn’t much in life you can’t conquer.
… I don’t have a verse for that.
Except that the Bible tells us (I’ve heard it’s 365 times) not to fear. So there’s that.
So, There It Is
These are the stories and lessons I’m learning as I journey on. I like talking with you guys… it holds me accountable and drives me to seek out what’s good and true even in difficult situations.
Much love!
My Family Freedom 