Speaking of edge of reason, or should I say insanity. I just did a very spontaneous trip.
Andrew is still gone to Birmingham (an eventful place these days). Well, we were planning on visiting alot of the smaller islands this summer and havent done so yet. So, I decided to do one with the kids and no Andrew.
This is the way it went. Found out about the trip and decided to go on Tuesday night. The trip, Hoy, amazing hilly island half hour ferry ride away. Knew there were no shops where we were going so had to pack all our food in. Knew I didn't have enough money to bring the car so decided to bike it. Miriam took my tents and sleeping bags and a bag of semi-perishable food on the morning ferry. I went on the afternoon ferry with our 4 kids (minus number 5, Elizabeth, who is in Spain). We intended to bike it across the island to a "bothy"/free campground on the beach. Feeling very vulnerable but knew it was right to take this adventure.
God hasn't been teaching me that, with Him calling the shots, I can do alot, alot more than I think I can and my perceived point of exhaustion and the end of my rope is only the beginning, for nothing.
So, Arrived in Hoy and heard someone calling my name. Dave offered to take the younger kids with bikes and packs. Only me and Samuel left to bike across the island, a hilly but still wimpy 5 miles. I am so out of shape.
Here I am, cruising on my vintage, golden, german one-speed bike through absolutely amazing views of wildflowers, heather and peat fields where recent harvesting has been going on and, did I say, mountains. So my front tire began to go flat. very flat. Oh no! my pump was in the pack I put in Dave's car. Samuel seemed to be fine til his handlebars began falling off. No lie! And yes, we did check our bikes before we left.
Miracle of all miracles we arrived at the Stockham's holiday croft instead of the free campground we were expecting. Miriam and the Morrison family (Dave, Jillian, Aiden, Griegger and Craig) with a cuppa tea waiting for me.
All went well, kids getting along great (First extended time with Morrison Family) until I walk out the door of the croft to (what we suspect was) a cloud of assorted grass pollen from the foot high grass surrounding us. Our tents were also pitched on this same cushiony bed of grass. Within 10 minutes my eyes are almost completely sealed shut from swelling. Took an antihistamine, ended up needing to get taken to doctor at the other end of the island the next morning by Dave because my eyes were still swollen almost completely shut. With hourly eye drops the swelling slowly decreased during that day but all in all the worst hay fever ever.
We are now back home and I am running on adrenaline alone, ready to completely crash but waiting for kids bedtime. What do I think of the trip? Do I think we shouldn't have gone. Absolutely no doubt that we should have gone.
God was just allowing me to have the right posture. For what? I don't really know but feel quite at peace. I know, doesn't make any sense, but there you have it. BTW, I normally dont give in to feeling at peace so easily, typically I thrash about a bit, but this particular situation has a familiar ring to it.
I had to be helped by others, others that I didn't even know well. Do any of us like that. Seemed like a bit of overkill on the "making me pathetically vulnerable" department, if you ask me, but I know that I can be quite stubborn and independant and I was feeling quite pumped up on determination and "I can do anything, I am woman with a capital W" to get the nerve to take this trip in the first place. Looking forward to asking God about this one in heaven or do I already know the answer to this one if I am honest with myself.
a kind of restlessness comes upon me and off I go again with my three under four. i identify with your 'being moved' to do the trip despite rational knowledge of one's physical and pyschological limits. I have rules that seem to work, and then just up and throw those away and take those kids out into the world with me. thankyou for mumjones.
Posted by: rachel | August 01, 2005 at 02:48 PM
Debbie Hi! I find this post very interesting and suspect that a lot of empathy is happening deep down for that brave little daughter of yours on pilgrimage in Spain!!! I heard from Cindz this morning and as I haven't found that important number I put in a safe place, I pass it on. Sent 8.00p.m. 2 Aug "In rabanal. 2moro we hav 2 cross the area that had weird spiritual vibe last yr. Prayer apprec!Also i hav a yucky sore throat. Liz is gr8. True pilgrim! Cx u" There is an entry in her scrapbook. Manjarin refuge run by Tomas, a modern knight (templario) weird vibe. Please pray. love from fleur
Posted by: the blicks | August 03, 2005 at 01:25 PM