Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
I was already homeschooling so taking my family on the road was no big deal. It was a dream I had for years. We launched as a full time RVing family on Jan. 28, 2014. It was not without it's problems; however, we loved it. I loved it so much that I gutted our RV and customized it to fit us comfortably full time. Even on the rough days my one son, Arthur, would wake up excited about wherever we were, in new places, with new things to see. He'd say to me daily, "Isn't this great? This is so much fun!" It was hard not to be excited around him.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In our travels, we've been from Massachusettes down to the Florida Keys and over to Texas. We've visited and volunteered at many great churches while traveling, met a lot of great people, and learned how God is working in other people's lives everywhere. We've been to almost half of the states, not just on this one trip, but over the past few years part-timing, as well.
(red: passed thru, yellow: stayed a night/did some activities, blue: spent quite some time in, green: spent lots of time in)
We stopped full-timing on July 15, 2014, just 2 weeks shy of 6 months on the road. Leaving was not planned nor intentional. When we were in Texas, we intended to visit my children's siblings then continue moving toward California. Upon visiting one, we were told TX was ready to place him with us immediately; so, we needed to get home and complete the paperwork and homestudy. Many people think I adopt while "on the road". Not so. You do need a sticks n bricks house, at least for the homestudy and placement process, which takes 8-12 months, or more, depending on how long it takes you to identify a child and have them placed in your home. I tried to sell my s&b house before we hit the road but no one even came to look at it (after I had spent a whole year renovating and upgrading). God had other plans.
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. Psalm 25:1
You see, when I adopted my son, Daniel, I knew he had a brother. They weren't living together any longer. Separated in foster care. I saw both of their pictures and knew they both belonged to me. It has taken many years but we are finally awaiting ICPC approval for this next adoption of this sibling. I won't lie, I'm a bit nervous about this placement, as we attempted it once before but, if it's God's will, it will take place and I will try to be obedient in the storms and keep my eyes set on Jesus.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
If you're a prayer warrior, you could pray that I will submit to Jesus as my Lord daily and have the strength, courage, patience, and perseverance necessary to endure the storms so God can work miracles in this boy's life, as He has done in the rest of our lives. It is a blessing that God can use anyone, even me, to work His miracles. He can use you, too.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15
We have been using our RV to raise awareness of the need for forever families for orphans waiting in foster care, especially teens ready to age out.. It is something I am passionate about; however, I realize that adopting children from hard places is, well, hard. Sometimes, getting through a day, or an hour, or a moment, is one of the hardest things I've ever done ... but oh so worth it to see God work in someone's life and heal hearts.
The dove below is what we painted on the sides of our RV. The triangle and heart are the symbol for adoption. The triangle represents the adoption triad: birth parents, adoptive parents, and child. The heart, obviously, represents love. The cross represents Jesus, who we try to keep as the center of our lives, and the dove symbolizes God for us and He is carrying the adoption triad. A bible verse will be in the ribbon. I wanted the verse to be related to adopting orphans and, in turn, how we are all orphans and adopted into God's family through Christ but I think it will be 1 Peter 4:8, which says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." I think that one just covers it all.
God had another use for my RV for now, though. Since I believe we will be 'grounded' for the next 7-8 months, I offered my RV to a woman I know. She was left alone at 4-months-pregnant with twins and her 3 other children, had to take off from work at the end of her pregnancy, then had to take off again when her babies were hospitalized. She fell behind in her rent and lost her rental home. She tried staying with family but that didn't work out. She was on the verge of homelessness. That was unacceptable to me. She is a Christian woman who thanks God daily for her blessings. Even in her storms, she finds the blessings. She works so hard. She inspires me. Even when she was without a job she proceeded to hold yard sales daily, all day long, to make ends meet. She is a go-getter and her children are awesome, always happy. So, I offered my RV. It was all I could do to help. Her church set up a 30 amp RV hook-up for her, and now she lives comfortably ... for now. She does own a piece of land that needs a double-wide mobile home on it. I found a free mobile home an hour from her land in NC - a real fixer-upper but we are both skilled in all areas of construction. We are now hoping to find someone who can move it for her or scrape up the $5,000 to have a moving company do it for her. I know God will take care of her needs. If you feel led to help her by praying God provides permanent shelter for her, or donating a double-wide in livable condition, or moving the free fixer-upper, or helping to fund any of these options, please feel free to click my donate button.
If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. 1 Timothy 5:16
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
So now we are back in the s&b. I'm a little fidgety and cranky being in one spot this long but I'm trying to adjust, trying to accept my current situation and my new direction in life, whatever that may be. I don't like limbo but I'm praying for patience until God shows me what this new chapter in my life will look like. While I wait, we've plugged back into our home church programs: bible studies, youth activities, volunteer work, etc. We're still learning and growing and trying to find God's will for us, even in stationary mode.
Those who know Your name trust in You, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10
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