We got away!!! After six weeks of nearly continuous illness in our household, Salt Racer is still recovering from pink eye, but thankfully the rest of us haven't gotten it this time. And our wonderful, stupendous family all decided to go ahead and watch our kids anyway so that my hubby and I can get away together for a week in Las Vegas. (He has a conference to attend for work and invited me to come along so I can rest during the day and we can hang out - alone together! - at night.)
This morning we got up early and had breakfast together before he went to his conference for the day. This was fun: I got up while he was still sleeping and went on a trek to find coffee for him. At home the past couple of weeks I've been getting him hot tea in the morning to help him wake up earlier, so it felt really good to still be able to do that for him this morning even though I had to be more creative in finding where to get it in a casino at 6am when everything is mostly closed.
Coming here has been such an adventure already! Surrounded by so much that is really bad, we were feeling a bit out of place last night as we were arriving and getting checked in. Then, as we stood in line at registration, I remembered how when I was a kid traveling with my parents, we could go anywhere and it never fazed me at all because I was with them. So many strange places that we ended up sometimes: casinos, bars, even beaches in Europe with people who didn't think the top parts of their swimsuits were necessary. But as a child, I was hardly affected by my surroundings because I was secure in my parents' care. When I told Paul what I was thinking, he said, "There's something to learn there." We began to realize that we still don't need to worry because we are with our God-Daddy, and He is just as much with us here as anywhere else.
As we continued discussing this (mostly me philosophizing and he nodding his head agreeably), a lady motioned for us to follow her to register. We followed her past all the computer stations and then she motioned for us to go through double doors at the end of the counter labeled "VIP - Invited Guests Only." Our mouths dropped open. We grinning at each other as we realized that our Abba was telling us very plainly, "Yes, you are here with Me, and I am taking care of you. Don't be afraid. Trust Me." It was so powerful that we just sort of walked away on a cloud. We felt surrounded by His favor and love!
Anyway, now I am making my schedule for the day so I don't wonder what to do by myself in a hotel room all day. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm so used to having my schedule dictated by others' needs that I feel a little lost. I thought a schedule might help me feel a bit more grounded (even if I don't follow it strictly, at least it gives me something to come back to when I finish whatever I'm doing). I've got all our stuff unpacked and arranged so it feels a little more homey here. I'm looking forward to reading my Bible, praying, reading a book, resting, and taking a long bath! Then this evening Paul and I will have dinner together. We are thinking about possibly doing a couple of fun things together this week if it's not too expensive. And, of course, it has to be innocent which is hard to find here. I'm going to look into the possibilities today.
Our very loving Heavenly Father has always been our provider and shelter even when we weren't aware of it. We kept Him very busy! :)
ReplyDeleteWe sure could get ourselves into some crazy adventures. I wouldn't trade them for anything though! (well maybe the beach in Italy, but it had been SO long since we saw ocean! And we had an awesome time looking for Venice.) I trusted Daddy to look after us. :) He was really good at that!
I am so glad you are having fun. I wondered if your body would still wake you up early. Didn't know casinos ever closed!
Good analogy, my little philosopher!
We are having a great time with the kids.
ReplyDeleteKole did some gardening today. First he tried to repot my plant inside. He was having so much fun...and I was only gone a second to go potty! So out came the vacuum. Then Daddy set up his play yard on the cement pad by the garden plot so he would be nearby while they planted. Well after he got bored with his toys he maneuvered his play yard over to the wheel barrow full of dirt. When they chanced to look he was covered in dirt and eating it! LOL
I was in the house sleeping (nasty cold that I have) I woke up to Kole screaming bloody murder. Daddy was giving him a bath which was an adventure in itself. When Daddy pulled his diaper off he thought it would only be wet...wrong...poopy! He stood Kole up to take care of that mess and Kole relieved himself on the floor. ROTFLOL. It was while he was rinsing Kole's bum under the faucet that I woke up. But Daddy hung in there. I did dispose of the diaper for him and rediapered and dressed Kole but Daddy did good.
Reesa was helping in the garden too. She was digging out rocks. Fortunately she isn't aware what a hopeless task that is. She could work on that one plot all her life and still not be rid of them! She has colored and watched a movie. She is a sweetie.
We are having a lot of fun. They both make me smile and laugh!
We didn't know casinos ever closed either! We actually had a hard time finding anything to eat Sunday night. By the time we checked in and got our room it was 10pm, and by then nearly everything was closed. We ended up getting some triangle boxed sandwiches and a bottle of milk from a casino convenience store. Which was surprisingly good (and we were hungry enough to enjoy it). It is hard to find healthy food here, but we are being creative. It would be much easier if we had a fridge or an ice chest in our room (we've thought about getting a styrofoam ice chest). But Abba is taking care of us.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am still waking up early! I am glad because I didn't want to throw off this great schedule that I've been getting used to. And it was really good for my spirit to just be me getting coffee for my husband no matter what strange land we are in. I felt like the woman who, "like the merchant ships ... brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household" (Prov. 31:14-15).
Sounds like a normal day in the life of Kole! He plays outside while his daddy is gardening and eats dirt too. :) The only part that is a bit unusual is that he usually enjoys his baths. But the rest is all par for the course with him. Paul and I sometimes look at him and think we must have gotten a Turner boy! LOL
Thank you and Daddy so much! We are enjoying this getaway a lot. And we're looking forward to camping with you guys as a family next month! Give Reesa and Kole hugs for us.
Mama, you're making me laugh. Poor Daddy. He must really love his grandkids (or maybe it's you).
ReplyDeleteWe're having fun with Rayne, too. Rebecca is having fun with another girl here. They have put together some pioneer outfits that they are wearing around the house. When Rebecca is busy with school, Rayne plays with Joel. He's been calling her his sister, except for when they are being married.
It's funny, because she must have asked at least five times yesterday to play a video game. I finally looked at her and said, "If you were at home, would you be asking to play video games all day?" She got that cute smile that says, "I've been caught," and shook her head no. I think the cousins think that life at the Stroup house is nothing but video games and movies. :)
Enjoy the time alone! I think we'll be asking the favor in return in October or so.
I know that he for sure loves his grandkids...but he loves me very much too. He did such an AWESOME job of taking care of me yesterday. He would bring me juice and water and Alka Selzer Plus, and he made dinner and he played with the kids and on and on! He always makes me fall in love with him all over again. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is cool how much fun Rayne and Rebecca are having. Daddy keeps thinking we need to have them up one of our GK weekends. We will have to give it a go.
I am so blessed! My girls are best friends, the guys pursue relationship with one another and the GKs love each other and like to hang out, even to being best friends!
I miss Daddy today, but Gramma is taking care of me today. I am so loved!
Thanks for letting me know how Rayne is doing, Christal. I'm glad that she and Rebecca and Joel are having a good time. Very funny about the video games. She's like that at home too, just with movies and computer games, so it's not totally your house. Though she may think she can get away with it more there because you have more of that sort of stuff available. :)
ReplyDeleteWe would love to return the favor later this year!
Don't you know Aunt Christal that each house has it's own flavor? Guess what your flavor is?
ReplyDeleteOurs is:
Snuggling in bed in the morning
Macaroni and Cheese for dinner every night (well not EVERY night)
Ice Cream all day (J/K sort of)
Foster Freeze (trying to switch that over to Old Town Pizza, FF is so expensive for what we get!)
Hot Chocolate with Gopa
Happy Face Waffles with Oma
M&Ms at Grammas
Duck Park
most recently Rope Swings and a fun backyard
We are having so much fun with the kids. Other than he gardening ventures Kole hasn't gotten into anything he shouldn't!
ReplyDeleteReesa reminds me of Savannah in Savannah smiles. Sweet, clever comments etc.
I think Kole may be saying Oma. He is saying Uhma. He may have been saying that at home though. :)
Sweet and clever. Yep, that describes my Reesa!
ReplyDeleteI bet he is saying Oma! He's been trying out a lot of new words at home, but that isn't one I've heard before.
He is walking around saying it all the time. LOL
ReplyDeleteShe is so good with Kole too. She is patient and even engages him in play, unless he is trying to mess up her make believe play. He doesn't play school to well! :)
Wow, I want to come to your house too, Oma!
ReplyDelete