Turn your mind from Churn to Burn...

My family are living on the road permanently these days... (see our BLOG over at a-dventure.blogspot.com)

It's been quite an experience packing up all and sundry...and hitting the road. We now have no official Home, no stuff left to store, all we have is what is in our car and camper trailer.

Life is...an adventure!

It's funny how a few weeks living in close quarters affects you.

Our white shirts are no longer white.

Our shoes are very grubby.

I have not slept through the night since we left as now I have to escort little people to public toilets for that urgent call through the night!

Our meals are very simple, we have no microwave and the only Dishwashers we have are the ones on the ends of our own arms!!!

Our children have limited toys but a whole wide area to play in...unless it's raining! They each have their own small toy box. And since the twins have already had a Birthday, whilst we were on the road...their boxes have been re packed numerous times to accomodate their pressies! christmas saw all 4 pulling their boxes apart, cos they knew....if they can't fit it in the box...it goes!

And being a typical Mummy I'm programmed to feel guilty about the slightest thing....

Does that happen to you?

I churn over stupid things like...

• Are my kids going to be worse off for this round Australia experience....having had to leave their closest friends, give away all their toys away, down size their clothing to a handful of sets....? I hope not. 
• Are we even going to like each other at the end of this? We've had many a  Raarrrrrr over simple things like..."backing a trailer", being too exhausted to get up during the night and "could you please go"....? Who's washing up...? Dumb stuff you know. I guess after being together 24/7 a couple of dumb blow ups when we're tired are fairly normal. 
• Will I ever get to dye my hair again?
• How on earth am I going to manage teaching my kids and travelling and keeping them fed, clothed and bathed...?

Sigh.

I have, I confess, had a few nights, and days, when I've cried out to God in total desperation....

Lord I need you!!! I can't do this!!!!! Lord, are you there? Can you hear me? Am I just being dumb? What were you thinking sending us around Australia? How on earth are we going to afford this? I miss my family...I miss my Church family...at least they sang songs that I know.... I miss my MOPS groups....I miss my Neighbour! I'm cold!!!! Are we ever going to get off this Island and back to Mainland Australia?  Sob....

And you know what... Every Time!

Not some of the time...but EVERYTIME He has provided for our needs...

We have had money turn up unexpectedly in our Bank account, just when a Big Bill came in...We've had people offer Daniel work when he desperately needed it. We have been kept safe and secure, our tent got twisted and blown sideways and nothing broke! We've heard people speak in Church that were Missionaries in PNG and wouldn't you know it but they were from the same Church that a fellow MOPS Regional Coordinator attends And the lady was a MOPS Mum...coincidence...hmmm I think Not! The message that day was on: being a part of a Church Family and...wait for it....Doing something Radical in your Christian Walk!

God has been with us every step of the way...
He has been there with me, when I'm bawling my eyes out...as well as when i'm cracking up laughing....
He is with me...
His still quiet voice is the voice I so desperately crave, and when I spend time seeking him....earnestly....somehow the pop and crackle and white noise of my crazy mobile life fades into the background and He comforts me...with quiet assurance that He is with me...I am not alone... He will strengthen and Protect me and He will provide for me....

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

I am quite sure that I will have more days when I lose the plot, and when I wonder how on earth we're going to manage... Life on the road is fraught with a miriad of problems to solve. I just pray that in those moments, I will be able to step back, take a deep breath and get His perspective on things....