Exploring and Preparing

A "weekend" getaway

In preparation to do the pilgrimage in Italy Kevin and I did a LOT of walking and exploring. This trip was to the area of Monteagle, TN. No explanations, just cool pictures.

 

Welcome to our new home

 I've tried to upload videos here but they don't seem to be working so here are a few snapshots of our new place and surroundings.

 

looking down the side yard

looking across the back yard and the flower gardens I have to play in

looking up from the entrance 

We have a spacious screened in porch. Yes, that is our laundry. There is no outdoor line so we dry clothes here and if they aren't dry in time we put them in a dryer (might sound normal to most people but here it is the expensive way to dry clothes.)
 

 

I have a place to start seedlings and protect plants from dogs!

 

Living space

 

 

We hadn't quite finished arranging everything but here is the general idea of the place.

In the corner is the very important coffee area.

The best storage area I've ever had!

The view out the back (from our bedroom)

The apartment has two bathrooms and a spacious bedroom.

The story of a Cat

 Unfortunately, the story of many animals of missionaries is one of change. Not often do they travel from place to place with their owners but some do. RFIS's most recent director just left and brought along her little dog. I know of at least two ladies that have returned to the US with their felines. One elementary teacher brought her beloved dog with her to Cameroon!

Most of the time pets need to be re-homed. We had to do that with our fur babies two years ago so we do have a little sympathy where the animals are concerned. 

Kristi decided that Fuzzy needed to stay here in Cameroon since he is such a hunter and outdoor cat. She arranged a new home for him that is just above the apartment that she lived in with him, which is the apartment we now live in. Well, guess what. Fuzzy isn't interested in living in his new home. There are some reasons... 1) Orca - the other cat and 2) Rocky - the large, interested dog puppy. Orca should go to his next home in a couple more weeks so we all decided Fuzzy could sleep on our porch and we'd continue to feed him so he doesn't just sit outside and cry. So that is going ok. Here's some pictures to prove it.

So, that blue chair was one of his favorite places to nap. I decided he could keep that so I put a cover with it in case I wanted to use it.

But did he choose to sleep on that chair?

 Of Course Not. He preferred the cushions which was all well and good until...

And you see that clothes rack in the background? This morning we woke to discover it collapsed. Did he really try to jump up on that unstable, sheet covered rack? 

Well, at least he is not crying outside our window at night!

A Life Without Kids at Home

 As I begin writing this I think the title might be used again and again. After all, this is my new normal.

I was just surrounded by teenagers! Well, their moms were there too. It wasn’t long ago that my own home was buzzing with the activity that comes with a house full of teenagers and I do miss it! I just miss all the kids. So instead of busyness my day is outlined by prayer.

Buuut, there are some advantages to having no kids in the home, like not worrying over schedules and food, not having too much laundry to do, and finding a lot less dirt in the house  (I cleaned my tiny apartment in about 7 minutes.).

Another advantage is travel. Travel is easier with no kids. When we came from Cameroon to the US two years ago our flight was changed, cancelled, I think, while we were in the air on leg two of the journey! We were grateful that the kids that were with us were already 18 years old and quite capable. One of our current but soon to be traveling neighbors have 5 children all quite a bit below 18. Their itinerary keeps getting changed by the airline to include incredibly long layovers!

Before we even left Cameroon in 2022 we had planned our first kid free vacation – to Aruba! Kevin stumbled on an inexpensive ticket and we checked actual prices for Airbnbs and discovered that it was actually an affordable vacation. 

I hope you enjoy these photos. (Yes, they are the same ones that were on FB more than a year ago. So they are really for the less techy people of the world.)

 

 

 

An aloe farm

 

 

Honestly, I can't wait to visit again! It is a beautiful and unique place on earth. (If you want details on how we pulled it off, feel free to write.)

A Long Time Coming

It’s really confusing for me to think of how I spent two whole years in the US and didn’t write one blog. We did so many interesting things! But then again a lot of the time was consumed with intense emotions which doesn’t make it easy to write. 

This might lead you to believe that I am not experiencing intense emotions now. WRONG. Just different emotions. 

Also, while in the US, we did so much driving, always going somewhere, or on the move in one way or another. That also made it difficult to focus and write. 

So, here I am, back in Cameroon, with some time on my hands. Which adventure would you like to hear about? Part of me thinks I should bring the Blog up to current right away but that is what I just wrote a newsletter about so, nope. How about an easy one to begin again?

 

Walking in Italy (an unlikely foundation for fellowship)

 When you put 22 people from a variety of walks of life together and say, “go walk for close to 100 miles,” how likely is it that they will all end up supportive friends? God always has his own ideas that often surprise us humans. We were a group of fit and not so fit, colorful and not so colorful, wealthy and not so wealthy, rural and not so rural, faith-filled, interesting people gathered together for a journey in Tuscany, Italy. We ended up woven together through a common God, shared experiences, crazy connections, shared heartaches and victories. Our connection remains to this day over miles and miles of prairie, grasslands, and mountains, and now an ocean. 

How did this come about? That would be Faithful Workouts. God provided in an amazing way for Kevin and I to join this group for the retreat-pilgrimage in Tuscany, beginning just south of Florence, Italy. The particular route we traveled is called the Via Francegina and if you are interested in some history, go ahead and look that up. 

 

After 3 days of spiritual retreat and getting to know one another just a little bit, we began our walk. The views in this area were amazing vineyards, and olive orchards. Even before we began the walk, some people discovered common ground through some family connections.

 

 

After a few days the topography changed dramatically and it became extremely hot. The day we entered the town of Sienna was particularly challenging for me. And, those Italians sure do love  putting their villages on the top of hills. Good for defense, I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most stunning river I’ve ever walked by 

 

 The most delicious and refreshing espresso and snack I’ve ever tasted

 Why? Because we had just come out from the hills where the walking was challenging and here it was, a home in the middle of nowhere, Italy, where a man has made it his business to help the travelers along their way.

 

A sad place to leave but one of the most satisfying experiences I’ve ever endured. 

 

One thing I learned was this: Never, ever, underestimate God and never, ever, make assumptions. 

 

By the way, if you want to see more photos of the Italy (and Venice) journey you can go on Facebook and look for my page titled Tuscany trip. If you don't use Facebook and still want to see more photos just email me ldcmomof7@gmail.com.