Yesterday morning I sat in the early sun watching cactus wrens and hummingbirds flit among the wildflowers and Saguaros. I soaked up the warmth (85 degrees F, baby!) and listened to the birds call to each other. I read my Bible and journaled in a peace punctuated by the distant braying of donkeys.
WHAT?
WHAT?
Yeah, you read that right. Donkeys. Wild ones. We are at Lake Pleasant State Park outside of Phoenix, Arizona and I am told there are about 300 donkeys in the area. We saw them once. We also saw collared lizards and heard coyotes and experienced our first cactus blooms. From the moment I stepped out of the truck when we arrived I knew I would love this place. It was time for a stretch of several days with no big hikes or activities, just some respite and chillaxin’.
A few weeks ago we were contacted by Mike Boyink who runs TopFamilyTravelBlogs.com, a collection of blogs and websites from families who are traveling full-time. He linked our site to his and when I looked at his blog I noticed they were also in Arizona when we planned to be there. We made a plan to meet up (they actually unhooked and drove up to the same park) and spend time together. GREAT decision.
The Boyinks have two kids, and my kids were missing other kids. AND their son is close enough to Joel’s age AND he likes Legos. And their daughter loves to write. And I could go on but I’ll cut to the chase.
There are days out here when I miss my friends and family so much I can’t let myself think about it or I will have to lock myself in an under-trailer storage compartment and dissolve in a puddle of hot tears surrounded by camp chairs and bug dope. All my introvertism (spell check didn’t fix it....must be a word) counts for nothing when I just need a Lisa hug or a Kelli belly laugh or Tracey time. Facebook and texting and phone and email cannot replace hugs from Mom and Dad. I don’t know how my overseas missionary friends handle this. When you are missing your peeps and craving real relationships, you just need good humans in your space.
A few weeks ago we were contacted by Mike Boyink who runs TopFamilyTravelBlogs.com, a collection of blogs and websites from families who are traveling full-time. He linked our site to his and when I looked at his blog I noticed they were also in Arizona when we planned to be there. We made a plan to meet up (they actually unhooked and drove up to the same park) and spend time together. GREAT decision.
The Boyinks have two kids, and my kids were missing other kids. AND their son is close enough to Joel’s age AND he likes Legos. And their daughter loves to write. And I could go on but I’ll cut to the chase.
There are days out here when I miss my friends and family so much I can’t let myself think about it or I will have to lock myself in an under-trailer storage compartment and dissolve in a puddle of hot tears surrounded by camp chairs and bug dope. All my introvertism (spell check didn’t fix it....must be a word) counts for nothing when I just need a Lisa hug or a Kelli belly laugh or Tracey time. Facebook and texting and phone and email cannot replace hugs from Mom and Dad. I don’t know how my overseas missionary friends handle this. When you are missing your peeps and craving real relationships, you just need good humans in your space.
God has a way of showing up big when we need Him, even when I don’t think to call on Him. He gave us these past six incredible days when our kids all played board games for hours on end, created Lego stop-motion videos (school credit) and took hikes together. We shared dinners and conversations about church and the road life and home (where ever that really is). We shared our creative S’mores recipes and they shared Bob the Casserole. Beyond the Saguaros and profusion of wildflower blooms, I was not overly excited about Phoenix. But the blessing we received here was far greater. We experienced fellowship and the rest that comes from being able to let down and be real and feel understood.
I know how my missionary friends manage. They trust God and watch Him provide.
-Jenni
I know how my missionary friends manage. They trust God and watch Him provide.
-Jenni