Good in What We Think is Bad

Recently I was feeling overwhelmed and weary, and I thought, “I need a vacation.” BUT, I knew that was a very unrealistic need. (Can needs be unrealistic?) Where would I go, and moreover, I didn’t want to spend any money. So that was the end of the story.

But it wasn’t the end. In fact, life got worse, and after valiantly fighting and hoping, I got sick. Mostly I breeze through colds with mild symptoms, but this was a little worse and I had to stop and rest. But that is when the good, in what I thought was bad, happened. I only felt uncomfortable for about two days, and then while I definitely wasn’t well and still needed to rest, I could actually enjoy this break thrust upon me guilt free. Furthermore, spring weather arrived, and with it a renewing of hope. Here is a quote from an e-mail I sent to a friend:

“This morning as a cool breeze from the outdoors stirred through the house and sunshine shone brightly outside, I felt reenergized and renewed, the promise of spring outdoors resonating with an emotional spring in my soul. I have been weary, but these days of rest have been like a drink from a cold winter well.”

That is what is was like, and it was almost ethereal. Resting all day, letting myself forget all the work I should be doing and indulging in “fluff” reading while wrapped in a blanket to ward off any chill from the invigorating spring air. I made one exception to my “no working” rule and did some hand sewing to finish a project I had wanted to do since Christmas, but that was it. The rest I just let go for a few days.

So often if find it hard to let go and place things back in God’s hands, but this gift of a rest period, packaged with beautiful sunshine and crisp air was a reminder to me of God’s goodness, of his control of even the smallest things, and that he can use even bad things to good purpose.  

The foolishness of thinking that I can do a better job if I keep control boggles my mind, and yet in a blink I forget and want things to go the way I plan them. Why do I so often and so quickly forget to trust Him?

Sometimes a vacaction isn't where we go, it's how it makes us feel. 

T.W.

 

 

A couple weeks ago.....

We got up early in the morning and drove a long way, curving around a scary winding road that was 25 MPH in places and took us way off into the country. We were going to visit very special friends that had flown into the area for their brother's (& sons) wedding. I honestly wouldn't want to hike in this area but it was awe inspiring - when you opened your eyes. :) This picture is the straight stretch. Once we got to our destination someone said, "You actually feel like your in the middle of somewhere." But the answer to that was, "yes, the middle of nowhere." It was a cute town, but, well, you're off the beaten path. The friends were worth it.

We packed a picnic lunch and ate it in a beautiful gazebo on the courthhouse grounds. These little cookie/tartlets were very popular. They tasted good too.

Then after going back to the bride-to-be's house and helping to wash window screens and clean up the yard, we hit the town a'walking. Because it's what we like to do when we're together. (We walked miles and miles and miles together in downtown Washington, D.C. - and it is a terrific memory!)


We saw a cute vintage VW Beetle

The coolest old doors....

....a flower shop window....

...took our picture in the middle of the street - well, hey, the're were hardly any cars to use it...

...the beautiful courthouse building and the gazebo where we ate lunch....

...roses....

... there weren't any "no trespassing signs so we climbed the rickety stairs and found these apartments...

...and then we came back down....not altogether...the stairs didn't feel so secure....

And then we said goodbye until we don't know when, and wound our way back home.

This was another visit filled with teasing, laughs, adventure, working together, pictures, and funny things!

We weren't supper hungry as our day together drew to a close, but we had to wrap it up with some sort of meal and ice cream! So off to a recommended local hamburger joint, all six of us girls perused the walk-up menu. Finally, after much cogitation we gave our order off the kids menu: 1 order of chicken nuggets with fries and 1 order of nachos. The girl is looking like "is that all", and the guy looking over her shoulder commented, "wow, we thought we were about to get a big order."

Well, we'll be back for ice cream we explained.

And then we sent Theresa back to ask for ketchup. And we thought about asking how much they charged for water. And then we divided the five chicken nuggets between all of us. They might have thought we were nuts, but we thought it was pretty funny. "Should we all count our change out to pay for this

And for dessert? We ordered three milkshakes and shared them.

(City folks sure are strange. They don't eat nothin'.)

It was in a way sad that two of the "sisters" have married since our trip back East, but they are happily married to wonderful men and have an adorable baby each! So while we missed them, they have moved on to another stage in life with different joys and blessings. So while our numbers have dwindled, it was for a good cause. :)

Five Little Ladies and How They Flew

Our tickets were booked four months in advance and then we anxiously awaited the arrival of our departure to visit three sisters on the East Coast.

Our visit took on even more excitement when we were invited to attend a ball while we were visiting. Eight girls and a chance to dress up! Actually, one of my sisters wasn’t too happy about the idea. But then of all five of us, she was asked to dance the most, and I think she changed her mind and had lots of fun.

We decided to make all our dresses for the ball so the last few weeks before our departure was a mad rush of fabric purchases, humming sewing machines, spools of thread, gathering yards of tulle for petticoats, etc. I think the threads were still settling as we finished packing and headed to the airport.

Of course we were expecting to have fun on our adventure. That was why we went, right? But we were not expecting to have that much fun! It was incredible!

Our hosts were wonderful. We felt right at home the moment we walked in the door. They are incredibly fun, inspiring and witty people. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but very soon we were not less friends, but more sisters. And there were a few times when we accidently referred to each other’s parents as our own. It was fun to see how many things that aren’t usual that we had in common. They don’t have a microwave, we don’t have a microwave. They don’t have a toaster, we don’t have a toaster.

The father of the girls took a day off work to escort us all to D.C. We walked for several hours solid taking in as many landmarks as possible. The trip culminated with a tour of our Capitol and then a very long walk back to the car. And then we ate just about every scrap of food in the car. We’d earned it. But because there were so many girls, it was perhaps surprising. Do you know how good it feels to eat food you really feel you’ve earned?

My sisters and I had never been to a ball before and didn’t know any of the dances, so before we left a friend came up and coached us in the two she knew and then once we got into town, Tricia, Theresa and Hannah dedicated many hours to teaching us the dances. After our adventures in D.C. the next day we still practiced the dances and then went to the Ball that evening. My legs actually didn’t feel like falling off, somewhat to my surprise.

On Sunday we went to church and then we had company over for lunch. I mean, they had more company over for lunch. :) It was fun to get to know their brother and his wife and little boy better, and two family friends that were a blast. We played volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee and shared our “intellectual game”. This was really funny because all of us had figured it out earlier in our visit on the way to D.C., so the only people that didn’t know the rules were the three guys. We had them calling for “men’s rights,” and “what about men’s suffrage?”

Our fast paced trip wound down with exploring the ruins of an old factory, learning some more new games, watching movies, deep talks, looking at pictures, singing together and discussing our week. I knew it was going to be a week of many wonderful memories, but they are sweeter yet than ere I expected. Such a blessing was an answer to prayers for a very special trip that would uplift us all.

On our way home our plane had engine trouble and we ended up missing our connecting flight. After the substitute the airline had arranged wouldn’t take us, Delta paid for two hotel rooms and meal vouchers so we could catch our flight the next morning. We saved the PB&J sandwiches Mrs. M had sent for our dinner for a quick breakfast and tried the hotel restaurant. Which I’m afraid was a disappointment. The food was good, but the service was very inattentive and then we had a little more trouble with them. I think perhaps because it was five young ladies, but I can’t say for sure.

All five of us wore hats to travel, and as we were getting off the shuttle from the hotel the next morning, the driver asked if we were a singing or dancing group, “No, sisters,” I replied, and he asked, “nuns?”

Vacation

I'm home again after a delightful week visiting at my married siblings!

On the road trip down, father had to stop to get internet service so he could order a part and it would ship and arrive in time. After having my sister pull over, back up and then cut across to the libary parking lot trying to get a good signal for his laptop, he finally decided to go into the local library and use one of their computers. Well, my sister and I had to check out the libary in a large wide spot in the road sort of town. I of course had just painted my nails and couldn't look at the books, but my sister found one on the Queen Mum and we flipped through looking at the pictures. That is until we thought father was ready to leave and we made a quick departure. It turned out he wasn't gone yet, but we never got back to the book. Which is too bad, and perhaps I shall run across another copy of it someday.

At the same large wide spot in the road town at the gas station I walked into the convenience store to be confronted by a cardboard silouette of a race car driver advertising a soft drink. I walked to the back of the store down the hall to the restrooms where another driver was advertising a different soft drink. I smiled. My sister asked me why and I told her, "the other one was better looking." She laughed and told me that is exactly what she had thought, which made us both chuckle because my sisters and I don't notice guys and we thought it immensly amusing that we had the same random thought. Maybe it was only because the second guy reminded us of somebody that I wouldn't classify as be all he is cracked up to be.

Once in town I visited the mother of a young boy I tutored a couple of years ago. My former pupil and two of his sisters were there too. It was fun to see them again and we had a nice visit. There is actually a bit more connetion than just the time I tutored the son. We were neighbors for years and two of my brothers work for his father, as well as one of them being a roommate to the boy's older brother. I had really enjoyed my chats with the mother while tutoring and it was very enjoyable to visit with her again.

We managed to make a girls trip to the beach where we tried to find some maturnity clothes for my sister-in-law, with no luck. I ran into some friends and it was fun to walk up and address them out of no where. They didn't know I was in the state and they were hardly expecting me at the coast. After purusing a few stores at the outlets, we made a quick stop at the beach to brave the cold weather and get our feet wet.

Catching up with a special friend.....relaxing and reading.....visiting with my new sisters.....country walks....listening to my brother telling stories...... lots of laughs......ice cream and watermelon and donuts.....watching my brother work on a beautiful and rustic frame for a mirror.....coming home to some new room arrangements and....

....Rain! The perfect end to a relaxing week. I love rain! I think fresh rain is one of my favorite scents! As one of my sister-in-laws said, her three favorite smells are: fresh rain, cut grass and garlic french bread!

I had a wonderful week, but there is nothing quite so sweet as home. Sometimes I think it is nice to leave, just so you can come back.