Our stop prior to arriving in California was at an RV campground in the middle of the Arizona desert. The community is mostly 55+ but it is not an exclusive park to that age bracket and we were welcomed with open arms and grandparent-levels of affection. Pulling in on a Sunday afternoon we were still setting up when we were greeted with a loud "hullo!" and informed that there was an ice cream social going on and the kids had to come. I politely explained that we had just arrived, we were still setting up, and that the kids hadn't had lunch yet. The silver-haired news-bearer just smiled and waved that all away. "It's ice cream! Let's go."
So we did.
This precious flock of snowbirds became instantly dear to us. They loved on the kids, encouraged their freedom and involvement and have given us a peek at retired life -- and we love it! We learned line dancing, played bingo, swam in the heated pool, enjoyed ice cream socials and numerous rounds of mini golf.
Note: the gallery of pictures is in no particular order. My favorite way of doing things now is no longer perfect, it's just done. Which this now is....so...success!
The land surrounding the campground is BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) and is apparently very well known for the rocks and gems littering the cactus-ed landscape. We went hiking and found beautiful rocks and breathtaking scenery, hidden geocaches and very, very sharp cacti. We also had a valuable lesson that even soft-looking cacti (looking at you, prickly pear) actually are coated in fine hair-like spines that are also toxic. Jack discovered this and it was an adventure.
We were only scheduled to stay a few days and we were all sad to leave. When the opportunity presented itself to come back for a night or two on the return trip from California we didn't hesitate. Pulling into the campground one of the kids shouted, "hooray! We're home!" And all of us felt it.
So we decided to stay an additional week. Because we can do that. We shortened the next stay from two weeks to one and have been enjoying the extra time here.
We arrived the day before the community yard sale and God took the opportunity to show off His provision skills. Josh's bike wheel had broken in California and as it was a free bike to begin with it seemed pricey to spend $100+ on replacing the wheel. We decided to wait until we were able to get to a thrift store or someplace where we might be able to salvage a wheel from a used bike. Sarah and I had been talking about God's provision as we cleared out excess from her home and I told her stories of times that God has provided for us in the past. I asked her if she would pray with me for God's provision with the bike wheel. The morning after we arrived it was the community yard sale and as we moseyed down a row, looking at the various things for sale, one of the kids saw a bike parked next to a rig. "Hey look! A bike for sale!"
"No, I don't think that bike is for sale," I responded, nodding with a smile at the gentleman seated outside with the bike on one side of him and a truck bed full of assorted yard sale inventory on the other.
"Actually, it is!" he announced.
"Oh wow," I said calmly, looking the bike over and knowing he was probably asking more than we would be interested in paying, especially considering it was late in the morning and the bike was still there. "How much are you asking for it?"
"Five bucks."
"Well, very well then."
Good Lord, You've done it again! Josh handed the man $5 and with a "thank you" we started back for our home. "Dad, are you going to replace the wheel on your bike now?" Madelyn asked.
"No need." Josh replied. "This bike is even nicer than the one I have."
I texted Sarah and we rejoiced together. Josh and I have learned to trust God for His provision but still become giddy and grateful when we see it come through so clearly. My guess is that God delights in it as well.
So we've been riding bikes, hiking in the desert, singing hymns with faithful saints at the church service, line dancing and leaning into rest. I'm decently good at all but the last one of those. I'm very poor at resting. I'm humbled at the opportunity to work on that skill.
The only downside of this fabulous park is the next-to-no internet. There's just enough to make you think it might work....while you wait 5 minutes for one "click" to process through. Josh and I have now discovered who we are without internet. It isn't pretty. We're deciding to see this as a good opportunity to access various Christ-like traits and humbly realize how very, very short we fall. Such as in patience.
This was the first park we've been at where the kids have had a few kids their own age to play with during our stay. Two families were visiting grandparents and there were several pool play times as well as Madelyn having the chance to go on an excursion with one family and join them for dinner.
We also met a beautiful couple, Eric and Julie, who gave us the chance for a precious memory. Josh and I met Eric at bingo (where we lost - again) and he later drove by with his wife, Julie, to give the kids a piece of fossilized coral they had found in the desert. Eric had remembered that we home-school and thought the kids would be interested. Forget the kids! Mom was interested! We found out that they are serious "rock hounds" and Eric grew up going gold panning in various desert locations with his parents and family and Julie joined the crew when they got married. They have been married 54 years and it was wonderful to spend time with them and learn a little of their story. They ended up spending their time and energy taking our family gold panning with the original portable dry wash station Eric's dad had built a long time ago. As we said our goodbyes Eric paused and then asked, "Can I pray for you both before we go?" That is quickly becoming one of my favorite questions. These two couples, one married for over fifty years and one not yet married a dozen, joined hands in the Arizona desert and Eric blessed our family, our parenting, our marriage, our faith and our endeavors. Naturally I cried. We hugged goodbye and left, knowing we may never see them again this side of heaven. (Though if we ever make our way to central Missouri you can bet we will be stopping in to say hello!)
The people we have met continue to be one of my favorite parts of this adventure.
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