A funny thing happened on the way to Pennsylvania...

Rylie never did come back to our campsite the next day. Micah and I packed up and headed out with more memories to add to our mental scrapbooks.
These memories were partly more "Lucy" moments and partly another opportunity to see how God can use anyone he wants to provide help to His children.
When we packed up in Ohio that last morning (before arriving in PA) I was assisted by a very well meaning man with no shirt on and some very tiny shorts. When he bent over to check my hitch connection for me and I read on his backside the words "Buck Naked" I realized he was at our campsite in his underwear! It's OK though, we decided he must be some kind of super hero as I didn't even get his name! He probably wants to keep his identity secret.
We arrived in PA late and on fumes (see previous post for three hour side trip in West Virginia).

The next morning after tackling laundry and working to pack kids for camp, I decided I was going to tackle learning how to put up the awning. I prayed first, which is always wise because that saying "What goes up must come down" may not apply to awnings, and Micah and I were leaving for Ohio's Amish country the day after the kids left for camp. you can't very well drive a trailer with the awning still up. Well, I think our instructions were written in Chinese and then translated to English, because what the book said did not match the book pictures very well and the book's pictures did not match what my awning really looked like. Well everyone that knows me well, knows I am really good at playing "Wonder what this button does", so I decided I would get to work. After pushing buttons, pulling levers and climbing up the side of my trailer, we finally got the awning to open. Thank you Lord!
Hannah discovered, however, that our door wouldn't shut--the awning was too low. I knew there must be a way to extend those arms, so I started pushing on things again. Next thing I know, the awning came unattached from the trailer, Nathaniel started rolling up in it and I was in a heap of trouble. Hannah and I could not get the arm reattached, so I decided since the pull cord had rolled up in the awning that I would climb up the ladder and hand roll it down. Midway through, while Hannah is holding up one arm, I realized the flaw in my plan. I am not very tall, and while I can unroll the awning by hand, my height stops when it is only unrolled halfway. So there I am hanging from the awning, with my feet on the top step and the top half of me ready to splat on the wet ground. Suddenly, out of nowhere two heads were below me. One man grabbed the awning arm from Hannah and reattached it in a second and the other man was pulling the flap down (without even a ladder!) so that I could stop hanging in the air. Without a word, these two men fixed the angle, the arms, the pull cord and fixed a bent locking pin, that was causing part of my problem. Marion and Joe were their names--my neighbors.
I baked them cookies later to thank them and once again made new friends. I had no idea God would use so many unexpected people to help me out of my scrapes. What a blessing these men were. Marion even came over the day I was taking down to make sure everything came down OK.
As if that wasn't enough, when I took the kids to camp Thursday, we were all a little nervous. The kids about the new place and me about leaving them there and also seeing a place I hadn't been to in 20 years and had felt so much a part of, was strange.
Well, we got to know people pretty quickly. First, because there are a lot of people that read lisence plates. Everyone noticed the family that had come all the way from California. Second because I caused a traffic jam stopping to hug my old mentor, Jim Welch. Thirdly, because this lady that drove a trailer all the way from California, ended up getting stuck in the mud at camp (no trailer, thankfully just the truck). Yes, I have four wheel drive. Yes, it is a great big truck with all terrain tires. Now you know why I've earned the nickname "Lucy" from my husband after "I Love Lucy". Well, my kids were certainly going to be well known at camp.

Thankfully, Timotheus, who knows how to drive in four wheel drive was able to get me out without a call to AAA. Once again, I was rescued. I really could not survive a day in this world without God's sustaining hand upon me. I would accomplish no good thing and would make a mess of everything I tried. I am so thankful I have a God who cares about every detail of my life. I can't even take a breath without His providing it. I told you I would do some growing and stretching on this trip. I am learning how utterly incapable I am. That's alright, though. Where I am weak, He is strong.

Thoughts in PA

(From June 11) Well We arrived in PA two days ago. We are staying about 30 minutes from where the kids are going to camp. We had a day to swim a little, do lots of laundry and repack and get everyone ready to leave for camp today.
A little more later on what a time warp experience it was to go back to the camp where I worked as a counselor over 20 years ago. I'll include pictures hopefully, but there is a link to Summer's Best Two Weeks below.

I wanted to share a story even though I don't know the ending. Before we left for this mammoth trip there was a lot of praying and a lot of planning involved. But one of my goals and prayers was to get to know people as we traveled all over the country. I thought I could have opportunities to minister to people that God put in our path and also get a random sampling of where people were at spiritually in this nation. I know what Time/Newsweek is saying, I know what Obama is saying; I wanted to see for myself. So as I have conversed with people I have looked for opportunities to share, witness, pray for, whatever God leads. I have been in many conversations where I try and turn it to spiritual things, only to be shut down, sometimes more quickly than others (except in churches we are visiting). I decided, maybe I was trying too hard to make an opportunity.
So I am going to try less hard, and listen for God's prompting. right?

While we've been here the last day and a half, my kids have been bombarded with attention from a little girl staying here. She does not know an appropriate way to get attention, so whe resorts to ways that are, for lack of a better word, obnoxious. She rides her bike by and screams and yells at the kids. They didn't know what to make of her.
I went out and greeted her and invited her to play with the kids. All it took was a little attention and she is with us all the time now! She's played with them all day, ridden bikes with the kids, had apples and pudding-- she even came in the trailer to "help" us pack. That was yesterday. She is extremely demanding and very self centered, but my kids for the most part were patient and friendly. As we were looking for Bibles (the kids tend to leave them in the car for traveling) I asked her if she had a Bible or ever read one. She shut down on me. Again, I was forcing.

Well, today was really hectic. I thought I had everything ready for camp yesterday, but there are always last minute things. I was putting together the dog kennel, carrying luggage, packing toiletry bags, etc. when I asked if all the kids had their bibles one more time. The little girl (who was there again today)looked at Aaron and asked "What is a Bible?". Aaron showed her his and I gave a somewhat theological answer I thought appropriate for a child that age. I asked her if she could read and if they had a Bible at home. She replied that she couldn't read but they did have one. I said that I was sure her mom would read it to her if she just asked. She replied that her mom wouldn't want to read a book that was so long. I mentally shrugged my shoulders, and hurried back to the packing. As I was lifting one more heavy bag into the car, a weight settled on my heart. I was convicted, as much as if God had actually said "shame on you." to me. Here was a little girl that might be asking her first spiritual question ever. and I basically brushed her off, because why? This was the day my kids were going to camp.
Boy did I miss an opportunity. When I went back to make things right, she was in the middle of a hide and seek game with Micah. I prayed for another chance. This little girl is not in quiet, listening mode often.
When she finally looked attentive I told her, we would be back late tonight, but if she wanted to come around early tomorrow, I would be happy to read to her from my Bible. I told her to ask her mom if it was Ok.
So, I don't know if she'll come, but you can be praying!
That is so typical of me, to ask something of God and then when He sends it I am busy, or preoccupied and I miss it. Lord, help me not to miss the opportunities you give to share you

Driving through a sliver of West Virginia

On Tuesday we drove from Ohio to PA, the last leg of this part of the trip. We were excited when we checked our route and saw we would pass through a tiny little "corner" of West Virginia that sticks up between Ohio and PA just on Route 70. The kids are learning states and facts as well as capitols. Little did we know, once we passed Wheeling there was one of the most unusual stores in the United States. Mark has been a fan of Cabela's mail order a long time. If you are interested in any thing outdoors, they are a great place for supplies. It turns out they only have a few actual stores and those are as fun as visiting a good museum.
We decided to take a short travel break and go window shopping.
Our wildest dreams could not have imagined such a store. They carry everything you can imagine for camping, fishing, hunting, etc, but we did not realize there was so much to see. There are huge displays all over the store of wild animals, stuffed and posed as if in a natural history museum. There were even Canadian geese "flying" over our heads. The adventure continued with a shooting gallery, an aquarium and a restaurant that served delicacies such as smoked elk or smoked buffalo.
Our brief stop turned in to a three hour stay. Oh well, we'll be arriving late again! Enjoy the pictures.

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