Considering it Pure Joy

We are only on Day 3 and are feeling our faith being tested. You know the saying, “You know you are in God’s will when the enemy is throwing all kinds of trials at you”? Well, that’s us! Not but one hour after our departure on Thursday (6/9) we found ourselves on the side of the road with a punctured air bag in our truck’s BRAND NEW air bag suspension system. But thankfully, the Lord provided and Jason got us to “limp” into Siloam Springs, AR where Loves Truck Repair (just ten miles away) had us fixed up in no time and back on the road! We set up camp in Roaring River, Missouri. The following morning we learned that one of our properties that we had just purchased a couple months ago for Jason’s mom to live in and care for our pets had flooded. We are so thankful to family and friends back home who are helping with the restoration and temporarily moving her to our house until her home is habitable. Please pray for wisdom and next steps as Jason and I work with the insurance to get this restored, fully repaired and financially resolved.

In the midst of all this I’ve been leaning on this verse. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1: 2-4). So for now, we are considering it Joy knowing that we are right where God wants us. We have peace.

Trials aside, we are really enjoying Roaring River, Missouri! This is a place we frequent as campers and are members at Paradise Valley Resort which is only 3 hours from our home in Claremore, OK. In fact, we are surrounded by friends and family here! My mom, stepdad, and grandma are camping with us in their RV. Jason’s dad and stepmom are also next door in their RV. Jason’s brother & sister-in-law have their new truck tent set up across the way. And then our close friends (like family) the Stimson’s are here with their RV. So it’s been nice to get our feet under us on this first stop being surrounded by our family and friends. I’m happy to report I’ve successfully washed & dried a load of laundry already in our new washer/dryer combo machine! And Jason was able to cook breakfast yesterday on his new Blackstone griddle for the first time. In true camping fashion, both of our dinners so far have been cooked over the campfire. And the kids are loving the freedom to ride bikes and explore the creeks in the campground! I’m also happy to report that we’ve already caught over 20 rainbow trout in 2 days between all of our fisher people. Jett in fact caught 4 by himself yesterday and loved every minute of it! I’m sure more fish are being caught as I type as the boys got up early this morning to hit the streams! Excited to have trout for dinner tonight!

Overall, the start of our journey has been good! We are soaking up time with our loved ones here in Roaring River and plan to do some sight-seeing and shopping today in Eureka Springs, AR. More family and friends are coming this evening and tomorrow to visit. And then we’ll head out on Monday heading north for St. Louis! The adventure has begun!