Bittersweet April 2014

We are now in Tampa, Florida having completed one week at the Hope Children’s Home project.  It has been a while since out last update, but we had a few computer problems.  We are the only Sower’s on this project but that’s because we chose to vacation for 11 days of April in the Cayman Islands with Sarah, Vince and Evangeline.  The Cayman Islands are everything you have heard that it is!  The water is so beautiful and the weather was perfect.  If you are an avid snorkeler or diver, Cayman Islands are calling your name.  We were able to visit the Botanical Gardens, ride a glass bottom boat, visit the Island Museum, watch windsurfing and sailboarding, and experience many “firsts” with Evangeline while we sat with her when mom and dad were diving!  She loved riding on the back of G’Pa’s bike and running through the water spouts in the outdoor mall with G’ma!  She ate her first gelato and slurped her first milkshake!  So much fun and beauty surrounded us for eleven days.   It was a bittersweet vacation because when we left Edith, Wayne’s mom, was literally struggling in the later days of her battle with cancer.  We never expected to come back to Florida to find her still living but she did and we were able to spend one more precious week with her and Wayne’s family before she passed on Wed., April 23^rd.  Watching her in the last days was tough – her family was so loving and gave her the most sacrificial care during those last months and days.  During those last two weeks of April we continued to help out at Camp Horizon, Wayne mostly as he was deep in a plumbing project for the lodge.  He was able to finish the tiling of the wall and floor of one of the bathrooms as well as some sheet rocking.  The last weekend at Camp Horizon, Wayne’s family was able to drive down for a cook out and a relaxing day by the lake.  We were thrilled that his cousin, Rick and Kelly came from Cincinnati and spent some time gator-watching from the dock.  How many pictures did you take Rick? J

Now here we are in Tampa at the Children’s Home – whew!  Gail has worked in the kitchen/cafeteria since Monday for an average of at least 6 hrs/day.  It’s hard continuous work but these children’s faces when they come through the line for their food is worth it all.  Many look you right in the face and say “thank you for fixing my lunch today”.  These kids are so polite and never take anything for granted.  They are well groomed, clean and very happy.  Wayne has worked various jobs this week from cutting a hole in the wall and installing a door, rerouting the electrical conduit that was on the wall where the door now is, well chemical checks, sheet rock repair, applying molding in the bathroom foyers of the gym and painting of the basketball goals for an average of 7 hrs/day.  Today Mr. Stan took us on a formal tour of the campus – we were “WOWed”!  The cottages that house siblings are grand – reminds me of plantation homes.  Dormitories were spotless and well kept, neat and everything in its place.  The kids were still in school as we toured their living quarters – we were told that school does not start until 9:00 a.m. in order that the children are able to do their chores before leaving for school.  They do not finish school until 4:15 p.m. – their school is on the same campus.  This is a top notch operation, after 45 years I think they have this well under control and everything works like clockwork.  Even the day care area was under control with 2 babies napping while others were doing crafts and watching an educational video.  Happy faces and even the teachers and house parents were smiling.  In just four days in the kitchen Gail has been able to experience “George Mueller” moments.  Everyday a van comes by with donations from 2 grocery stores, and 1 health food store.  A truck owned by the home picks up donations from individuals and businesses, brought to the Home for needs (clothing, toys and furniture) and then the remainder is taken to their 2 stores similar to Goodwill or Salvation Army.  The proceeds help to support the Home.  Occasionally the children are taken out for public appearances as advertisement for the Home and to greet business owners that support the Home.  These children come from all walks of life and it is a blessing to watch others devote their lives to help grow them spiritually, mentally and physically.  They are well loved and cared for in this place.

Florida is finally getting hot!  Next month we will return to North Carolina to work at Harvest Bible Camp during the months of June and July.  Our son, Philip should enjoy a reprieve from the yard work that he has been doing the past couple of months for which we are grateful and know that our home is in very capable hands.  Grannie and Grandpa need their Lily fix – the only downside to this constant travel, we are without either grandchild to help us laugh!  We will definitely kidnap Miss Lily for a few days and show her camp life at Harvest!  Hopefully we will get her on one of those horses before July 31^st!

Camp Horizon project completed............

Camp Horizon project finalized, March 2014

Isaiah 40:31

Done!  We survived and they survived our first project…….Camp Horizon on Lake Harris in Leesburg, Florida.  Working with Sowers was exactly what we expected but the benefits greatly outweighed the expectations.  We were part of seven SOWER couples that worked this project in March.  Other couples were from North Carolina, Pennsylvannia, Illinois and Wisconsin. We have met lifelong friends while laboring daily side by side – all of which we hope to work with again in the future. One of the couples, the Bowlings, were the ones who first introduced us to the SOWER ministry. 

Our RV remains at Camp Horizon while we continue to visit with Wayne’s family in the area and we will do odd jobs at the Camp while we park there.  All of Wayne’s siblings were here last weekend and posed for pics with Mom, Edith.  The sparkle in her eye never diminishes regardless of her physical state.  We are thankful that we have been able to be close as her health gets worse.  The Hospice nurse says that she may have about another month on earth.

Warm weather in Florida is late arriving this summer as is all over the nation this year.  That is fine with us since we will be here till the end of May.  We have had highs in the 60’s and 70’s with lows in the 40’s to the low 60’s.  It has been good weather to work in, so we have been blessed.

Our home church will soon have a home project for us located at Harvest Camp outside of Polkville, NC.  Hopefully the paperwork will become final soon and we can sign up for the month of June to help the Brackeens.  Then we will start making our way west for the Fall.  Unbelievable that at our age we plan so far ahead!

It is hard to believe that we have been retired for a month now.  We do more physical labor now than we did in our normal jobs.  That should help us keep fit.  We definitely are not putting as many miles on our vehicle.  Since we live at the sight of the project we don’t have to drive anywhere except for groceries or any sight-seeing we want to do. Thus far, most miles have been to visit with my mom.

We have met two couples who have done projects for 19 years.  I don’t know if we will last that long, but this first project did not diminish our goal to keep going.  There still have been a few challenges such as getting our mail on a consistent basis.  Still working out all the logistics.  Much of that will disappear once our house sells.

Camp Horizon, March 2014

Whether sunrise, sunset, rain or shine what's not to love about the scenery here on Lake Harris in Florida (about 40 miles north of Orlando).

  

Half way through our first project – whew!  After many retirement parties/dinners and saying good bye to friends and family we were on our way to Florida on Thursday, March 6^th.  We had worn ourselves ragged packing, selling and giving “stuff” away from the house, organizing and cleaning out the existing house on Moss Lake and the RV of which we are now calling “home”.  Amazing that we accumulate in this lifetime regardless of how focused we try to be so as not to clutter our homes!  I now shop and watch advertisements with a new perspective!

A short stay in Savannah and off to our first project in Leesburg, Florida.  The men have been painting, wiring, lawn care, and general clean-up and organization of the camp in order to get it ready for the summer camp season.  As an added bonus, the director’s son is being wed this weekend and all the preparations will make the wedding very memorable.  The women have been cleaning cabins, dorm, lodge, and chapel, washing windows, and general cleaning and helping decorate for the wedding as well.  Next week they will be hosting a “Reactive Attachment Disorder” group of families, some by court order.  So sad to realize that there are people actually suffering from a resistive love/attachment disorder.  They have warned us that we may witness strange behaviors – if you have a “normal” family life, be thankful, hug/kiss your children often and remind them they are loved.

While working in Leesburg we have had the privilege to be within 1 hrs. drive of Wayne’s family so that we can visit his mother most especially since she is working through the last stages of cancer. It’s hard to sit back and watch and wait.

Within ½ mile of our RV is a huge eagle’s nest with 2 eaglets and we get to pass it every time we go somewhere in the car.  The last time we passed one of the eaglets was raised up spreading and flapping his wings…….will not be long till mom and dad boot them out!  It has been inspiring to watch – one of our devotionals was centered around the eagle.  God places many pictures in nature in our paths to remind us of His loving care, God still amazes me!

Philip, Amanda & Lily are coming this weekend for a visit…………..this is great as these g’parents are going thru g’baby withdrawal!  Be prepared for g’baby pics posting to soon appear!

Embarking on an Adventure

Today we embark on an Adventure.........one that we feel God has called us to.  Perfect timing would be to leave around Noon to avoid a mix that will fall from the sky this afternoon in the Piedmont area.  Final cleaning of the house in case it is shown by a realtor, pack last minute things in the RV, deliver Stormin' Norman to his new home and we should be off to "infinity and beyond".  We are exhausted - we have worked harder the last 5 days than any one job we have had in our lifetimes - so when do we get to enjoy "retirement"?  :)  I think when we "start our engine"!  RV crazy? Gail

It has been a busy last couple of weeks.  Retirement lunches from friends and co-workers have kept me off my diet.  The one thing that has kept me on the straight and narrow is dental work that I have had to have done.  Three root canals in the last 3 weeks and more things to come (crowns, extraction and implant).  Why did not this happen when we had insurance?

We have been selling a lot of our things out of the house, but have kept a good bit of the major furniture as we will be back if the house does not sell. This will still be our home base.  It has been interesting trying to fit all we need in an RV.  We will see how successful we were as we are on the road.  We look forward to actually getting busy on those projects and maybe we will actually be able to rest a bit instead of getting ready for the travels.

Timing on the retirement is good as it looks like my mom (Wayne's) may not be with us much longer.  The first project is within about 30 miles of her, so we will be able to spend a good bit of time with her.

Looking forward to our adventure. It is funny how many people say they don't know if they could be in that close of quarter with their spouse for that long.  I am looking forward to it. R V Crazy? Probably yes, but the Bible describes Christians are a peculiar people.  I guess that aptly describes us as well.  Wayne

T-Minus 2 weeks.........

With both retirement parties and many other dinners/parties under our belts and today much of our belongings from the house will vacate the premises we are most anxious to hit the road!  RVCrazy? Yes, we do have mixed feelings as some of this "stuff" walks out the door but God keeps presenting before us what we are about to embark on........TO INFINITY AND BEYOND to quote my fav - Toy Story!!!! We tell our children we are doing them a big favor by getting rid of all this "stuff" so they will not have to when we go home to be with the Lord.

Only 10 more trips down Oak Grove Rd. to work, only 1 more visit to Dunkin Donuts on Hwy. 321, only 5 more days to remember copious amounts of passwords, only 5 more times to turn off the alarm clock, chug, chug, chug, I think I can, I think I can.............we know we can!!!! On Wayne's side, no more calls in the middle of the night about process problems.  Actually that helps the wife as well since she is such a light sleeper, those calls always wake her as well.

If the snow will stay North of I-40 and March will come in like a lamb so we can "start our engines"..... in 12 short days we will be headed for Florida.  Someone has to do it!  If you have committed to pray for us....we are counting on you.  If you said you want to stay in touch we will be looking for your e-mail.  And if you said you would show up for game night we will have the fire pit going, even if it is a light outside the RV.

God gave us one beautiful going away present by sending 7.5 inches of snow one week ago.  This will probably be the last time our RV sees snow.  However God may surprise us somewhere else as well.  We are praying that God direct us to the next step with confidence in His plan.............

Wayne and Gail

FELLOWSHIP

FELLOWSHIP - God's children enjoying each other's company while engaging in eating, laughing and praying!  Last night our Sunday School class met for prayer to send us on our journey serving in the next capacity that God has called us to.  With only 14 days left of work, the light is definitely getting brighter at the end of the tunnel.  Excitement is in the air.  The RV is starting to get full with loads more to go in it....yikes, clutter already.  The house continues to be shown and we are dispersing contents at an enormous rate.  If you need it or want it, ask us, we might have it to get rid of!

Plans have changed slightly.  We are moving the Hope Children's Home to May so that we can enjoy a vacation with our daughter, son-in-law and g'baby in the Cayman Islands - gee, somebody's gotta do it!

We never dreamed so much preparation was going into this endeavor.  Mail service, on the road banking account, someone to check on house periodically and saying good-bye to friends.  But it is looking sweeter and sweeter on the other side.......join us soon from the RV! RVCrazy?

Kings Mountain National Park - Battlefield approx. 40 miles from Charlotte

 Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013.........Wayne & I eagerly approached this retirement milestone with great enthusiasm - our "lifetime senior passes" for National Parks!  For only $10 we can visit any or all of them in the United States for no additional costs except if we desire to camp at that location.  We are investigating the possibilities of volunteering at the campsites for free board and in turn we will become history buffs in our old age!  We can cross this off our bucket list!

A visit to this National Battlefield is very interesting while exercising!  We walked the 1.5 miles around the battleground and used our cell phone for a "walking tour" along with various reading informational markers.  We have lived within 7 miles of this historic battlefield for just over 24 years and this was Gail's first visit, Wayne's second.  Never realized what happened in Kings Mtn. changed the course of this nation's outcome.  If you get a chance visit and learn something worthwhile.

Strange that we would visit this place just 4 days before Christmas!  Our shopping done, parties over and the weather was in the 60's so why not!  We are fast approaching the big "R" day - 9 weeks and 5 days remaining to hear the alarm go off in the mornings.  The house is now in the hands of a real estate agent and we have already had one interested family.  Now we are waiting on the Lord to let us know his desire and timing for our house.  We continue to rid our place of "stuff" by either unloading on others or selling.  Big tools and furniture from the lower floor are disappearing quickly.  Until the house sells we need to leave the 2nd floor furniture in case we come back between Sower projects.

We continue to anticipate our first project at Camp Horizon in Leesburg, Florida where we will be joining 3 other couples, one is our mentors that sold us on "Sower's".  We really look forward to working with the Lee & Lib Bowling - we hope they will guide us in our first project to be hard working and hospitible to other Sowers.  We are depending on the Lord to lead us to either the same project for another month (to save on diesel fuel) or we may travel to Tampa to work at a children's home - either is fine with us.

Our motorhome is now equipped with a state of the art audio system for TV, radio, both inside and outside.  Now we have discovered that the airbags that lift the motorhome need to be either replaced or repaired - so glad to have learned this before going on our first project.  Wayne has replaced the slides in the desk drawers - now they will stay closed while we travel!

We are also considering Sower On Assignment at the camp that Steven & Heather Brackeen manage in Polkville, NC.  This would allow us to camp and work there while visiting our son's family in NC.  This is a camp that works closely with our home church in Shelby, NC - a good excuse to come back and visit with all our friends and family!

Hope you all experience God's marvelous grace during this special time of year - the celebrating of Jesus's birth, our Saviour and Redeemer.  Merry Christmas and hoping 2014 brings you all closer to Him as we anticipate RVing for Him!