Thou art not yet as Job...

I'm chuckling to myself right now as I think back on this crazy summer, and marvel at the blessings we've received. 

I wrote here about our trailer nearly blowing over in the wind a few weeks ago.   What I didn't mention is that the next week the same thing happened again!  This time, Todd moved our trailer to a new spot.  Dillon never says a prayer now, without praying for our trailer while we're away.

In addition to the wind, we've also faced floods, fire, insects, cankers, and let us not forget the 100+ degree temperatures, and the swoobs* that go with it.

Before the kids and I left for our recent trip to the trailer, we had a major downpour, and water started leaking from the ceiling vent in the bathroom.  Here's Justin playing in it:

I took this picture of our backyard so Todd could see what it looked like as we left:

 We had a river in our driveway

 And when we got to the RV resort, we discovered there had been a fire on the mountain (1/2 block away).  It's hard to tell in the picture, but everything in the background was burned.

 Here's a better picture that I took a little ways down the road. I'm not sure if the park was evacuated.  If it was, we weren't here to move our trailer anyway.

While Todd was driving down last time, he ran into a mob of mormon crickets, and at night there are cockroaches everywhere (so far only outside of the trailer).

I think the stress of our situation has caused me to clench my teeth at night...with my tongue in between, so I have cankers all along both sides of my tongue.

The funny thing is, that even with all the craziness, I feel more relaxed and have spent more time with my kids than the past two summers combined. 

The days when we are home are a little hairy.  With Todd away I'm a single parent, while trying to keep the house "show ready" and finish the quilts I've had for way too long.  

The days when we visit Todd at the trailer have been really good for us.  The kids have been forced to be more creative in making their own fun. This morning I found them outside playing charades :o)  Cleaning the trailer takes about 30 minutes (with dishes and floor mopping) and then we're free to go to the pool, or the library, or do laundry at the clubhouse (I love doing 3 loads at once!).  I've enjoyed spending time with my kids without the stress of quilting, or yardwork, or the constant "Is it 3:00 yet? Can we play wii?".  The boys love to walk down to the garbage/recycling center at dusk to watch the bats flying in the air, and I love living close to a craft store :o).

All in all, it's been a good summer.  Not at all like I expected or planned, but good.  Honestly, if I had to choose it again, I would.  There are parts of it that really stink, but as always the blessings have outweighed the trial.  We have been stretched, molded, and pulled out of our comfort zone. We've been forced to rely on the Lord more, and focus on the things that are most important, and I believe we are better for it.

*sweaty + boobs = swoobs