As many of you know, our family went camping last week in south western Iowa. I think that we had a great time though there were some trying moments. It started raining on Monday afternoon and didn't quit until the middle of Tuesday afternoon. As you can imagine, this put a little stress on Karen. Sometime around the middle of the night, our tent fly succumbed to the constant barrage of water and started leaking. By the time Tuesday morning rolled around, Karen was on my cot (with me) and two of the three girls had abandoned their bags as well. The floor of the tent was soaked, all of our clothes were soaked (they weren't in water proof bags), and most of the sleeping bags were wet.
Well, if you are wet in the tent, you might as well be outside. If you are outside, you might as well be fishing. This was what Audrey, Emily and I decided anyway.
Karen and Kaylin figured that if it was raining, they might as well be at Wal-Mart. This meant a 70 mile drive so we didn't see them again until lunch time. They came back with a tarp (that we promptly put over the tent) and a screen pavilion that we put our food and our picnic table in.
Tuesday evening was very mild so we were enjoying a campfire and the girls were cooking smores when we had furry guest with a ring tail explore our screen pavilion. One minute I was calmly sitting in my camping chair next to Karen with the girls chatting around us, and the next second Karen was yelling at me from the top of a picnic table 20' away. This caused quite a clamour among the girls and quickly led to a flurry of directives being thrown my way. Apparently each was concerned for the safety of everyone but Papa.
Wednesday evening the same visitor(s) came by for another visit. This occurrence was quite different than the first. This time the visitors were bestowed names. Frank and Francine. It was amazing to hear the way that the raccoons were fawned upon the second evening that they came by.
"Oh, there soooo cute!"
"Let's feed them."
"Emily, give them a marshmallow"
"Don't scare them off. Let's name them."
It is funny how our perspective can change so quickly.
Speaking of perspectives, it is the same fish that Emily and I are holding. I caught him Wednesday morning. The size discrepancy is in the field of view.
Hebrews 12:1-3
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
II Corinthians 4:17-18
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 comments:
What an adventure. Has enough time passed so that you can look back and laugh?
Wish I had read your post yesterday. I needed to be reminded of II Cor 4:17&18.
II Cor 4:17-18 are two of my favorite verses, along with Rom 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." What comfort in times of suffering when we think it will never end....
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