It has been several days since I have written anything. It makes me sad that I didn’t write about driving into Washington State back when I was still feeling all lovey about it. The kids cheered and I oohed and ahhed over the green green green everywhere. I remembered that during my very brief stint as a scrapbooker in Seattle, I constantly bought green paper to go with all of my green pictures. Ferns, Douglas firs, rhododendron leaves. The greens were rich, varied and lush beyond anything I had ever experienced before, and when we drove Highway 20 through the North Cascades (our fifth national park), I remembered loving all that green. Even though we were wet and damp when we camped somewhere along that stretch of highway, I took many pictures of green things to show you just how green it all is, but then we arrived in Vancouver, BC on Sunday evening and I have truly been too overwhelmed to relay much of anything, much less resize all my green pictures. At the moment I am not even sure where my camera is. Right now I am sitting in the pop up-oh little pop up, let me count the ways I love thee…it cannot be said enough how thankful I am for this little haven-all the kids are napping right now except Cole. I think that it just feels so good to hunker down in your sleeping bag when it is cold and wet outside. Taido is gone to the school today, adventures in figuring out public transportation, and so the kids and I tried to venture out a little on our own. It has been raining off and on since we hit Washington (normal), but began to rain steadily last night and hasn’t stopped today. Yesterday we had a few glorious moments of sunshine during which I almost got my clothes and diapers dry. Almost. But today it has just been wet. So this morning the kids and I just wanted to find somewhere dry to hang out for a bit. Bookstores are usually really good haunts for us. Even Simon will sit and listen while you read to him, and the big kids just find quiet spots and enjoy the shelves of books we don’t own. Well, as Dorothy might say, Toto, I don’t think we’re in arKansas anymore! We all got yelled at for sitting on the floor and basically thrown out of the shop before anyone finished a book. I am really a wimp when it comes to strangers being rude to me. The manager of this RV park where we’re staying almost made me cry when he asked me as I was registering our camper, why in God’s name I would ever have four children, only to be followed by, why on earth would I take them on vacation with me? But strangely, my feelings of being ruffled and frazzled by the bookstore lady’s being rude to me were trumped by just being sad that we were being moved along from a spot where we would have been not just happily entertained, but also warm and dry for an hour or so. So when Simon wakes up, it will be back to the laundromat for us to wash all our wet towels and then to the pool (to get them wet again) where I will pretend we are not annoying all the senior citizens with loud splashing and playing. We need to enjoy the pool while we have it. Taido meets with his advisor tomorrow and then we are moving on, because even though this RV Park is in no way heaven on earth, it is psycho expensive because of its proximity to the city. We are praying today and tomorrow that God will show us where we are supposed to go on Thursday. I am certain that He has prepared a place for us. And so the adventure of figuring out life in our camper in the Pacific Northwest continues.
sticks and stones
03 Tuesday Jun 2008
Posted in camping, faith, raising chinos, summer, travel
oh friend what a day (week?) are you are having. I will pray for the perfect dry bookstore to visit, and for the perfect inexpensive close to what you need place to park…and yes, just remember HOW HOT it is here. Getting warmer by the day…
Sunday, the anniversary at the church was so fun, but bittersweet as I looked around to realize there were no Chinos.
Yesterday I went to give Starbucks drinks to the teachers at Pikeview to help them celebrate their last day, but there were no Chinos.
I also finished the first of the Mysterious Benedict Society just to appreciate the red bucket, but there were no Chinos with whom to discuss.
Today I saw Laura at Starbucks and thought about how there are no Chinos at the Chino house.
I miss you all very much and am very thankful to get to hear every detail of your journey.
boooooooooooooo to the rude bookstore lady
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chin up! who was it that said that? poo or piglet? anyway i think your rainbow is just down the road a bit!
oh friend– how i wish i had been there to handle afroementioned rude people! you know i’m never one to back down when reminding folks that children (yes, especially chino children) are the future and that one must be sweet and kind and loving- not only to the children but to the mom as well. to inform folks that y’all are having the adventure of a lifetime and that shan’t be ruined by one nasty bookstore clerk nor by one very rude RV park attendant. i’m sure that God has the right bookstore and RV park right around the corner for you.
Oh bless your heart. Tired,Cold, Wet, Rejected. Hang in there. Sometimes these things that seem so hard at the time are the very things that bring the memories that make you laugh. Sunshine will be around the corner just for you and your family. You are in our prayers. The Lord has great and mighty plans for you.
you know, i think about the duggers and their 18 children (or is it more now? i lose count) and sometimes think they’re a bit loony, but then i realize that i haven’t walked in their shoes and could NEVER presume to question their decision to have a big family. and i would NEVER (i hope — lord help me) say it to their faces, even if i did presume.
hooray for the chino siblings. i love reading your tales, and they will never forget these adventures you’re blessing them with.
Welcome to the NW Chino’s! Hope we cross paths if you ever head into Seattle. God Bless you and protect you and bring a warmth to your hearts!
-jt =o)
i think i’m on my way up to a certain bookstore right now….
love you.
yep, i’m riding shotgun with millie – just wait til we get there…
holla- i ain’t much for the car lately but i can catch a red-eye up…
sure miss you guys! headin’ off to d-camp for a weekend of hot AR summer….wish you were here (or i were there).
we’re praying for you!
it is extremely unfortunate these ugly people robbed themselves of the gift of visiting with such a sweet, adventurious, and lovely soul as yourself – what i wouldn’t give for an hour with the chinos
thank you for sharing your glorious adventure – i miss you