I came home from the pool on this nice sunny morning, excited to be going camping! The refrigerator stuff is packed, all of our vitamins and supplements packed, and shh, I am bringing: the vacuum cleaner. Paul said, "The BIG vacuum cleaner?" It's not THAT incredulous! We have an electric site, and it's very sandy, so why not? I did go out and vacuum that camper the other day, but there were chairs in there, and the bunk ends weren't unfolded so the bed cushions that go on them were stacked in the way, so it really needs a better cleaning. I actually like vacuuming, and it's vacation, you should do what you like. I do feel like Mrs. Potato Head from the Toy Story movie...
A frying pan? Garbage bags? Pot holders? I have a brand new table cloth and table cloth clips:). Ben and Ashley got us a new outdoor rug for Christmas, which will be nice to put under the awning. I have my new chair too. Oh, this is first world camping! (am I allowed to say that?). Well, it is, because I bought a new coffee grinder from Amazon, so we don't have to leave the girls without one. oh dear. Fresh ground coffee, twenty bucks...fresh ground coffee...yup.
After a while my brain won't work anymore, and what we have is what we have. I'm taking a nice break now, while Paul goes to town to gas up the truck, and get a bag of ice. Our little refrigerator/freezer in the camper runs on electric and propane, so we can turn it on for a few days before we go, and start packing it. It's not a fancy camper, and it's 13 years old, but I do love it so much. It has a three burner propane stove, an oven which we haven't used, a sink (we fill the tank with water when we get there), and a little bathroom with a shower, which I have used for really quick rinse-offs, the campground is a state park and actually has really nice hot showers. The camper has air conditioning too, but I don't think it'll get that hot this trip. (My favorite is having that bathroom! We tent camped for a few years, and ugh, I barely made it to the bathroom some mornings!)
Did I every tell you about my dad? He was kind and generous and hard working and honest, but he had a temper. He had mood swings. My mother figured out that he was bi-polar (can we still say that?), but he wouldn't see a doctor for it. He'd get in a really good silly talkative mood, then he'd crash and be miserable and quiet for days. We avoided him on those days, and my mother would warn us. My little brother didn't always get the message, and he would throw a tantrum and my dad would yell and it would be so stressful. My father: he basically ignored me my whole life. I adored him. I would kiss his stubbly cheek goodnight, and he'd wave me away. I'd bring him his dinner because he always ate in his chair in the living room, and he'd say in a grumpy voice, just put it down! But I never gave up, and sometimes he would give me the time of day and it would be worth it.
I thought all dads were like that. Then I'd go to a friend's house, and her dad would look right at her and talk to her! And to me! hmm.
I'm bringing this up because it shaped who I am. I look back and feel sorry for the little girl that I was. And I find myself continuously testing the waters with Paul, expecting him to yell, but he never does. When he's quiet I'm tiptoeing around wondering what I did wrong, but he is just quiet sometimes, and has nothing against me. Believe me, I've asked. He's in a very good mood today, he's glad to be going camping too. My dad loved camping, but my goodness, when he had to back up and hitch it up, we heard every bad word there was all strung together. (we could imitate him pretty well too!). We tried to stay out of his way....but then when we got into that station wagon and started down the road, he would sing The Bear Went Over The Mountain!, and all would be well.
Anyway, I think this is why the gospel has so much appeal to me, why it's apprehended me. For people to live before God's face in their daily life, and be kind to one another, forgiving one another...it's how I want to live! My favorite verse: Oh how good and blessed it is when brethren dwell together in unity. (Psalm 133). I've been blessed to be married to someone who lives like this too. It doesn't mean it's always smooth sailing, we need to work for our salvation, and for peace. He's different than I am, and I don't always understand him. (I think the "spectrum" is on both sides of our family). But. I am learning more and more to let it be when he's quiet or seems uninterested. I am learning to give him freedom and to love him as he is, without having these demands that he is this way or that way. It's good this way, and freeing, and happy.
I had no intentions of going so deep on this fine day, but then I never know what will be coming out when I start typing. It's my therapy.
Sunny knows something is up. Paul put her bye-bye collar on her, and she sees us bringing stuff to the camper. He's not here, and she's not letting me out of her sight. Of course I told her there are special treats in the camper, and she did that little head tilt. She's a giant pain in the rear end, in the tiny little camper. She has assumed the couch as her little throne, so we gave in and just put towels on it. She's a giant Lab and the camper is 17 feet long (not including the bunks). But this time I can at least vacuum up the dog fur! To be fair, she does make it fun. She's getting old and it's sad, but she does love the beach.
Ah well. I don't know what to make this evening for dinner...I have four meals packed and we're going for five nights, was thinking to make a quick beef stew in the instant pot and heat it up when we get there...
I really really want to bring this MacBook. I really do. I'll have electricity, and I can get wifi through my phone. I am not sure...it's nice to get away from it, in a way, but also nice to blog...I might need the therapy ha...
You all have a really nice day!!!
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