Sunday, June 24, 2012

A sunken ship

A few weekends ago we were down in Baltimore visiting some family.  I mentioned it here.  It was a rather quick trip, but I was excited as we were going to be going out on their boat.  It was to be a quick ride, so we got the kids all geared up and the men went to ready the boat.


This would be my first time on a boat like this.  Most of our time is spent in a small fishing boat just big enough to hold our family...and nothing else.  I was excited.  We all were excited.  Until...there was trouble.  The men spent quite some time trying to get it going, but it turns out the battery died.  Bummer!  We were slightly disappointed, but were promised a ride on our next trip down in July.


Well, it doesn't look like that will be happening now either.  You see, what happened is this, they got the battery replaced and loaded up the boat with some friends of theirs and hit the water.  Now, you must know that they live on the Chesapeake Bay.  This is not a man-made lake that I'm most accustomed to.  Well, anyway, while out on the water, a seal in the motor went bad and they took on water.  In six minutes the boat sank to the bottom of the Chesapeake.  Yep, you read that right, it sank.

Everyone made it off ok and were picked up by a passing sail boat.  The coast guard has since pulled it out of the water and it is now considered a total loss.  They are looking to replace it, and I must admit I hope they do so before our trip back down. 



Is it me, or is that just crazy?  I mean, how often do boats sink like that?  And to think, that could have been us.  I am soooo glad that the battery failed that day and I did not have to endure a ride on a sinking ship.

Monday, June 11, 2012

The house no one wanted

This past weekend we visited Andy's cousins home in Maryland.  It's a sort-of resort for our family.  They live in a very quiet community with many amenities.  And waterfront!!



Just steps (literally steps) away from the waterfront there is a house.  A house yes, a home...not so much.


The "story" is, that this house has stood empty for some 25 odd years.  That's a long time.  No one has stepped foot in there.  It is said that the furniture is still there and if you look in the windows, there are knick-knacks on the window sill.  If you look closely, you can see the curtains still hanging in the windows.



Who does this?  Who walks away from a home?  I have been trying to wrap my head around it, but I just can't.  Every house has a story.  If walls could talk they would tell of days gone by.  They would show you their scars, the pencil markings of children growing.  The holes from pictures and drawings moved over the years.  The floors show their age.  The dents and dings, the stains and the knicks.  Even the creakings that they feel.



Not this house.  It has no story.  No one to tend to it.  No one to give it love.  No one to pull in the driveway, no sign marking it "Home Sweet Home."  In fact, it is in such a state of disrepair, that it will need to be demolished.  It seems such a waste to me.  Knock down the old to make way for the new.

I love old houses.  I always have.  My preference is not to buy a new home, but one that is old.  Like that comfortable old quilt thrown over the couch, or the old t-shirt that you just keep wearing.  When we're comfortable, we're happy.  My old used home is comfortable and makes me happy.  Someday I hope this home will have someone to love it.  Someone who will make memories and give it a story.  One to make it proud, instead of the sad forgotten building it is.

Monday, June 4, 2012

The land of "in-between"

Last night we had the pleasure of attending church.  We haven't done so in years as the church we currently attend no longer holds Sunday evening service.  Let me just say, it was wonderful.  I sang a song (a hymn) I hadn't sung for a long time.  It was quite refreshing.


A missionary was the guest speaker and his message was written for us.  That's right, just us.  No one else.  Okay, so maybe not, but you get the point.  He spoke about the Isrealites and their time in the wilderness.  The land of in-between.

My husband nudged me and we chuckled as we are definately in the land of in-between.  It's not a fun place to be.  There is fear there.  There are questions and doubts.  There is discontentment and frustration.  It's not all bad.  There is also excitement and a sense of a "starting over."


Well, God used this message as a means of encouragement to me.  In the fear and doubt, He asks "Do you trust me?  Do you trust me?"...Do I?  I mean I say I do, but this is one of those things that I have to really really trust that what we are doing is His will.

The Isrealites wandered for 40 years in the land of in-between.  They complained.  So did I...Ouch.  I'm no different than them.  But one thing I'm so glad about is that in God's grace He did not allow us to wander for 40 years.


It's just awesome because we see Him continually reassuring us to trust Him and follow His will.  And last night was one of those cases.  The whole service was just refreshing and spiritually uplifting.  I am just so glad we felt His nudge and went to church.  And even more, I'm so glad he sent the missionary as His tool to speak to our hearts.