I Ain't Missin You At All

Someone asked me the other day if I missed my house. And I was able to honestly say that once we sold it and moved into our motor house (what my 3-year-old granddaughter calls it) I have never looked back. I think that is a good thing.

Has this new life been everything I imagined it to be? Mostly, yes!! We have had an incredibly fun time reconnecting with friends...BBQ's, Happy Hours, Wineries, prayer times, swimming and hanging out.

Have there been times where I felt like this little house is too small? Yep. But there are frustrating things no matter where you call home.

We spent most of yesterday swatting bugs. Our spot is next to a green swamp that seems to be a breeding ground for every type of insect in this state. We have been attacked by stink bug type beetles that while they don't seem stinky, they do seem to want to take over the world...starting with our RV. Sparky keeps busy outside with a fly swatter hitting them off the rig as they try to cover the outside, then squeeze their way in. We can't sit out and enjoy the patio anymore because the yellow jackets have gotten so aggressive. We killed 10 fairly large black spiders in the bathroom yesterday. I was about to move out of this thing until hubby found a place they must have been hatching from, and sprayed it. Then there's the flies. We have perfected the lightening fast pass of the swatter from hubby outside to me inside hoping the fly stays on the window long enough for me to get it.

The neighbor gets up early for work and starts the engine on his diesel truck, letting it idle for 10 minutes. The other neighbors don't know you can turn off the horn honk feature of their car and truck keys, so every time they come or go we get to hear them.

Still...it's been a great summer and the good outweighs the annoying. (Oh great, it's raining now and we have things to load into the car and RV and hubby has to put the tow car on the trailer...and this is a test isn't it?)

I feel like we (is it just me?) have been given this HUGE life expectation...all of the books and preaching tell us we should be living a bigger life, fulfilling our destiny; feeding children in other countries, volunteering, becoming involved in politics, protesting everything unjust in the world...on and on it goes, as if these are the only ways we can make a difference in this world. And these things are all good and I'm not saying we shouldn't be doing them. But if EVERYONE was busy doing big things who would be left to listen to the stories of the big "doers" in the world? Who would be available when someone runs out of gas getting to the thing they are doing? Who would be around to love and comfort someone who tried to do too much?

I don't believe life is meant to be lived the same way by everyone. There are big lives and accomplished people in the limelight. There are huge churches, and TV ministries and authors who write best sellers, and epic stories told by creative movie producers. There is so much greatness in each of us! Some greatness is on display for the world to see...but most of it is not.

Much of our greatness is in the day to day little things...acts of kindness, honesty, helping others, loving the unlovable, working through offenses, dealing with really hard family relationships, and sometimes just staying sane amidst the humdrum boredom of most days...

Do you think maybe God uses a different measuring stick than we do for our lives? Or how about this...maybe He doesn't use one at all! Maybe He loves it when we are content just going with the flow, and growing with the flow, and being thankful every day.

So house...I ain't missin you at all. I've been on an amazing adventure these past 10 years. I've learned that the destination isn't really the point. I've learned I can trust my Tour Guide and enjoy the trip. 
And lately, it occurs to me...what a long, strange trip it's been...

Wisdom for RV Living

After a month and a half of RV life (has it only been 6 weeks?) I believe I have figured out the trick to getting along in tight quarters. Please allow me to share some tips I've learned so far.

Prayer is a very important aspect of living like this. (Dear God, pleeeeeese make him stop chewing so loud he's driving me freaking nuts...)

Fasting can also be a tool to help maintain one's focus on a Higher Power. (You ate the last chicken strip? Seriously? I'm fine...I don't need to eat anything.)

Exercise is critical to the RV lifestyle. (You have the A/C on so high I'm freakin' freezing! I'll just go sit outside. Man, it's hot out here, I'm going back in. Ugh, my hands and feet are so cold, I'm going back outside...)

Cheerful submission to one's mate keeps the peace and maintains order. (Really, golf then baseball, then boat racing? GO SPORTS!!! No, by all means...watch what you want...stupid white male privilege...)

Restful days enhance this lifestyle. (How long is he gonna nap on the couch? Where am I supposed to go? How can he sleep sitting up anyway? Is his snoring getting louder?)

Doing little chores helps to pass the time productively. (Would you please bring the vacuum in for me? Now you're gonna tell me how to vacuum? As if you're an expert? Leave me alone! I've got this!!!)

As you can see, the RV life is a wonderful way to strengthen marriage relationships if we are careful to maintain a respectful and cheerful attitude. I hope these tips have been helpful. You're welcome.

Not That Patriotic

I'm OK with our 20 year old motor home with its faded and cracked stickers and paint, and broken windshield. It runs well, and is pretty cozy inside.

I'm OK with our 20 year old tow car with its dented back bumper and passenger door, and torn up driver's seat. It runs well, and gets us where we need to go.

But when we go to Dollar General and my hubby starts looking at clothes because they are 50 percent off...and he holds up a pair of red, white and blue flag shorts and thinks they are great and wants to buy them because they are "only 5 dollars"...I AM NOT OK!!!!!

"Stand down and back away, Sparky. Have you lost your damn mind???"

There is such a fine line when living as we do. Yes, we are on a "fixed income"...(if I hear that one more time I'm gonna...) and I realize we must be frugal and watch our spending. But no...dear God, we are not going to start buying our clothes at Dollar General. NO WAY!!

Call me superficial. I don't care. NO FLAG SHORTS WILL WE WEAR!