I just wanted to mention that late last week, we reached a Smithellaneous milestone: 20,000 comments in a little over 5 years. (About half of those comments were me replying to your comments.) Sharyn McDonald was the one who left the 20,000th comment. Thanks everyone, for making this such a great, interactive community.
I think I’ve posted this old poster of Steve and me before, but I just ran across it again and got a chuckle out of it. It is inconceivable to me that we were ever that young. (OR that skinny!)
For those of you who may be new to Smithellaneous, let me give you a little history behind that poster. For sixteen years, Steve and I and our family lived in RV’s full-time, traveling to about 30 states doing concerts and preaching in services in churches across the country.
This is the last rig we had; we started out in the old rattle trap below.
In those earliest years, Steve and I traveled in a 31 foot trailer with my two sisters. Oh the joy.
As you can probably imagine, there were many happenings of happiness and many happenings of hardship living on the road with no permanent home to go back to. It was incredibly difficult at times and incredibly joyful and fulfilling at other times.
It was actually my dream from the time I was a small girl to travel and sing with my family and I’m so thankful I got to do it for those 16 years.
Last Sunday, we ate lunch with a family who serve as missionaries in a central Eurasian country. (I can’t mention the name because of security/safety concerns.) They spoke in our Sunday morning service as part of their fund-raising process to enable them to return to their country in September.
During lunch, Sarah and I chatted with the mom and daughter while the husband and two sons talked with Steve at the other end of the table. She told us that if one of them was to need any sort of serious medical care, it would require a 5-hour plane ride to the nearest city with a major medical facility. When I heard that, I immediately thought that I would never again complain about us having to drive two hours to our nearest large medical center.
They have had to learn two incredibly difficult languages and they live under the constant stress of living in a country that is hostile to what they believe and what they have dedicated their lives to.
The three kids are well-adjusted, smart, funny, verbal and well-mannered. While their stateside counterparts will head back to school this fall and go to football games and proms, the three of them will get on a plane with their parents and spend the next four years in a country that is beautiful and difficult and isolated. And yet I didn’t get the sense from any of them that it was something they dreaded; they have lived there already and it seens a natural thing to go back and set up housekeeping once again. (The family also served in Africa for a couple of years.)
I can’t even imagine the lives they are headed back to– the living in a different culture, the raising and educating of children far from people who know them and love them. It is truly a calling and a dedication of one’s life to something greater than their own purposes.
Our family lived in RV’s for 16 years and had joys and adventures all along the way.
And our new missionary friends live out of the country full-time, having their own set of joys and adventures.
As I think about the differences and similarities between us, it is amazing to me that each one of us born to this earth walks such completely different paths. When you look at a wrinkled, wailing newborn, no one knows where her feet will lead her or where her heart will instruct her to go. She may live her whole life within 300 miles of her birth place or she may wander the world like it was her own backyard.
The great joy of it all is that we have the privilege to choose the paths our hearts lead us on. And when we take wrong turns on those paths (as all of us do) we learn it is never too late to begin again.
So here’s a post to honor my new missionary friend as she and her family prepare to fly away to a distant land.
It’s also a post to honor the women out there who hang their apron on the same hook in the same kitchen night after month after year and find sweet joy and fulfillment in doing so.
In the end, all the roads of our lives will hopefully lead us home–even if home turns out to be places we find along the way.
What about you? If money wasn’t an issue, would you prefer to set down roots somewhere and stay put, or would you prefer to travel and see the world?
And speaking of traveling, what countries have you visited? Do you have a favorite?
Hi Becky! You won’t remember me after so much time passing, but my daughter Juliet and I used to follow Sarah’s story on Caringbridge a long time ago. We just fell in love with that lovely girl of yours! Glad beyond all words that she is doing well now.
Anyway just thought I would add a comment here as your Q of the Day was about Travel – I’ve recently had a lot of wanderlust going on and travelled with one or the other of my daughters whenever we’ve had the chance. Mostly in Europe – we absolutely love Portugal, especially Lisbon (such a lovely city) and the Algarve – but my best trip, bar none, was to the USA last year – we flew to Boston (from London) – took the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago – and then the California Zephyr all the way to San Francisco. Three nights on the train, with the most glorious scenery passing by the windows!
I’ve been utterly in love with America and its beautiful landscapes and lovely, warm, welcoming people, ever since! We did a shorter trip last month – flew to LA, stayed overnight in Santa Monica, then took the Coast Starlight to San Francisco, all along the gorgeous ocean.
What a beautiful country you have there. And you and Sarah were our first American ‘friends’, in a lovely, virtual way! If you ever come to England, you would be most welcome to visit
Love from Teresa and Juliet (from the Cotswolds, England)
Teresa,
How lovely to hear from our English friend! We are honored to be your first American friends. 🙂
You have done something I have been wanting to do for YEARS–take a long train ride. I can only imagine the joy of getting to sit and and look out windows for days on end at the passing landscape, without dealing with traffic jams, red lights, etc. with just the beauty of nature flowing by. Bliss!
So glad you are in touch and so glad you and your daughters have had a chance to do some exploring in our great big wonderful world. Hugs!
If money were no object, I’d travel constantly! I lived in Germany for a year back in the 80’s with my first husband who was in the military. I’ve been to quite a few European countries, the most offbeat being when I visited Chernobyl in Ukraine in 2012. Very sobering and sad to wander through the abandoned town nearby, and a little alarming standing right outside the old reactor with the radiation dosimeter the guide had clicking ominously! Next on my list, I want to visit Easter Island because it’s so remote, and Barrow, Alaska because it’s also remote and hard to get to.
Melissa,
I have to say that most people can not say that they have been to Chernobyl! I can’t imagine how sobering and fascinating that visit was. I love that you like to go to out of the way places. I agree–those definitely hold a certain fascination.
Happy travels to you!
That is such a cute picture of you and Steve!
Me, I’m completely satisfied at home. My escapes are in books! I give your missionary friends credit, travel to foreign countries is so unsafe nowadays. I hope all goes well for them.
Kari,
Thanks for the comment. Steve and I WERE pretty cute, weren’t we? 🙂
Yes, books are definitely magical when it comes to arm chair travel. I especially love reading stories from people who visited other places and who write about it well. Such a delight!
I’m a stay on my turf girl! Traveling has never been on of my favorite things to do. I really like to learn but I much prefer to travel via my educational channel on tv. 🙂
Mary,
Those educational channels are wonderful, aren’t they? I could watch them all day. For a non-traveler, they are the perfect way to see the world!
Well, if money wasn’t an issue, I would love to travel abroad to some of the places that my parents have been to. Australia, Switzerland, France, Greece, Asian countries, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, just to name a few. We also want to explore the U.S. when we retire. We could never be snowbirds and go away for a whole winter. That would be too long away from our kids and grand kids. However, we would love to go for a few weeks at a time and see how many states we can see and cross off our bucket list. We’ll throw the golf clubs in the trunk, find new golf courses to play and really see some of this amazing country we live in!
We have been to Mexico, the Dominican Republic and to Belize in Central America. We’re kind of partial to sunny, sandy vacation destinations. 😉
LeeAnne,
Wow–your parents got around? Were they in the military? It truly would be fun for you to follow in their footsteps and see some of those same places.
In the meantime, enjoy your U.S. trekking, golfing and sunny, sandy vacations. 🙂
I am the cricket on the hearth. Can you name that book? Of course you can 🙂
Lesley,
Hmmm. Once I Googled it, THEN I could name it! 🙂
It was just fun to open my comments and see that one line, “I am the cricket on the hearth.” It certainly grabbed my attention with its succinct, poignant simplicity.
I enjoy traveling and would like to take a trip monthly if I didn’t have to board our pups. I have visited Germany, Japan and Guam. Japan was my favorite. My nephew’s sister-in-law and family are missionaries to Iceland.
Ann,
I know–having dogs does complicate travel a bit, doesn’t it?
How cool that you have visited three different countries. I can only imagine the memories and stories that those travels generated.
I like day-dreaming about having an RV and traveling throughout the country with a precious little doggy to keep me company. Truthfully, i’m not much of a traveller. I loved the trips I took to Edinburgh, Scotland, and to the 100 acre wood in England, and to Paris and Giverny to see Monet’s Gardens. NYC is a great place to visit, too.
Mrs. Pam,
Well, I DID do the RV thing accompanied by a dog–definitely a worthwhile adventure.
Even though you’re not much of a traveler, I’m glad you’ve had the chance to visit a few of those special places you mentioned, places I would LOVE to visit!
To say I was startled to see my name mentioned to be the 200,000 commenting person, is an understatement. I don’t post as often as some, but enjoy communicating and adding my 2 cents worth. My husband and I have a time share and love to travel. Got back at the end of April after being on a 5 week vacation out east. I am VERY grateful to the Lord that we are still able to do this, We have about 4 friends/relatives who cannot travel because one of the spouses is in ill health, and yet the other is able to travel. I don’t like to tell them or others that we are going on vacation because I feel bad that they cannot experience the joy of traveling around our country and or other countries. I never take it for granted that we are still able to do this. We are both in our middle 70’s.
Sharyn,
It’s nice to be startled in a good way! YOU are the special commenter! 🙂
Five weeks is a long time to be gone; what an adventure to be able to take an extended trip like that.
I admire your sensitivity in regard to not talking a lot about your trips with friends who are no longer able to travel. You have a compassionate heart.
Happy trails!
If health wasn’t an issue I’d travel far and wide. My spirit yearns for new cultures, varied ideas, different foods and unique geography etc. If I had my way I would work in a refugee camp for diplaced peoples or in an orphanage in a poor country to help children.
Its actually one of the hardest things I’ve faced in my life to have a spirit that craves adventure but to live in a body that cannot do what I wish to do.
I’ve learned that that in itself is an adventure and challenge to overcome.
I cannot currently easily leave my home/ neighbourhood to go on an outing for an adventure (unless my husband or dad is present to carry my wheelchair out the front steps and load it in the van and drive me off in the van etc). But I’ve learned that I can make my home a place of welcome for others so i try to have a variety of people over, usually once or twice weekly. I have everyone from young college kids over to women much older than me to a creative group and a small grouo and more and I try to use the time to encourage each person who crosses my threshold in their lives and adventures. It is a tiny ministry.
I’ve also found a way to use my arms to pull myself down the steps and then onto my wheelchair (which my husband will leave at the bottom of the stairs on sunny days) and then wheel out to a lawn chair on my front lawn. I make it my mission to greet as many neighbours as I can who walk by and wave at the driving by cars.
And in the summer I have a power chair I can take a few blocks on my own throughout the neighbourhood. I just returned home from one such a ride. I met an interesting older man named John a big fluffy, friendly golden retriever, and a mom with adorable little kids. I also took photos of pretty flowers. It’s amazing the adventures we can have close to home if we open our hearts to the possibilities 🙂
Jenna,
I read somewhere that we cannot choose our circumstances but we CAN choose our response to those circumstances. You comment was the ultimate example of that truth.
I love that you have the pluck and spunk and spirit to insert snatches of adventure into your life. I love that you so inentionally take the focus off yourself and wave at passersby, invite people into your home, and make the acquaintance of fluffy golden retrievers. They are small joys to some but they become huge joys when they are intentionally sought and joyfully welcomed.
Here’s wishing you a day full of sunshine and further adventures.
If money weren’t an issue I’d like to be doing humanitarian work in the refugee camps of Jordan and Palestine. I’d also like to be on the front lines of the non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The people of the Levant (Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon) are some of the most kind, generous, steadfast, and persistent people in the world. It would be an honor to serve them.
Brooke,
Kind, generous, steadfast, persistent. What beautiful, strong words to describe beautiful, strong people.
And what a beautiful heart you have for wanting to help them. Thank you.
If money was no issue, I would like to travel a bit but I am pretty happy living in Canada. I have been on a plane once to go to Jamaica and then we travel to your beautiful country all the time. My bucket list does have seeing both the East and West coasts of Canada. We have such an amazing country, I would like to see more of it before going elsewhere.
Mel,
I know exactly what you mean about wanting to see your own country before venturing anywhere else. We could spend a whole lifetime just exploring what’s in our own borders, couldn’t we?
I have only traveled through a little of Canada but the pictures I see are stunning. We are blessed to live in a beautiful world!
When I was growing up couldn’t wait to get off this Iowa Farm. Went to college, moved to Florida & Tennessee, and traveled to Europe, loved the adventure. There was always a nagging feeling I was to be somewhere else. Then life happened and I moved back to my Century Family Farm. Farm life is hard work and if not for my wonderful husband wouldn’t be able to live this life. I feel a sense of peace here and appreciate the life we live.
Karen,
I love that you love your life on that wonderful old farmstead of yours. And I also love that you got to travel and see some of the world before you settled down.
Your words that there was always a nagging feeling that you were to be somewhere else were instructive. Sometimes we just have to really listen to ourselves to know what we really ought to be doing.
I’ve always said if travel didn’t cost anything, you’d never see me again. My roots are shallow and my family is small.
It’s very difficult for me to pick my favorite country as all of them have their assets (and liabilities!). I’ve only visited seven countries outside the USA, which is a drop in the bucket compared to so many of my friends. However, I know that “comparison is the thief of joy,” so I am in awe of their travels while planning future adventures, and try not to compare our adventures with those of my friend who has visited all seven continents – all by the age of 30!!!!
I’ve visited Canada, England, Wales, France, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. I also lived in Germany back in the 1990s, for about a year and a half.
So, based on that, I’ll give you my favorite “things” about each one.
Canada: No language barrier and a good currency exchange rate (I’ve not spent enough time there for anything further).
England: What’s not to love? I would up-and-move there in a heartbeat. From the big cities to the countryside, it’s just fabulous. Plus it’s my husband’s home country, so I get to see it through a different lens than a typical tourist does. I cry every time we get on the plane to come back to the States. (We’re going back in September and will actually fly into Scotland this time.)
Wales: The most beautiful place on earth (that I’ve seen with my own eyes). From palm trees on the northern coast (yes, really!) to remote cottages on craggy mountains, it’s just breathtaking.
France: The food. We’re going to Paris in the fall and it’s make-or-break for that city, for me. I’m not a fan, even though I have tried very hard to like the city on our previous two visits. That said, I’ve *only* been to Paris, and nowhere else in the country.
Germany: Oh man. I miss it so much. I miss the food and the history and the people and the mountains and the lakes and the countryside and the ease-of-living. I felt so safe there, even with the immigration problems they were having at the time.
Austria: The music history. Beethoven and Mozart and Haydn and The Sound of Music. Just. Wow.
Czech Republic: Prague is a beautiful, welcoming city. Even with huge language barrier, it’s fairly easy to navigate. The food and the shopping are great.
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We are planning our “big” 2018 vacation now, which will be two weeks or so on the Continent. We are going to fly into some random city (whichever one comes up first on our Scott’s Cheap Flights deal) and drive around and fly back. So many places we want to see, some of which I’ve seen (but Mike hasn’t) and some of which he’s seen (but I haven’t). Must sees: Rome, Geneva, Barcelona, Nice, Monaco, Berlin, Prague, Zagreb, Warsaw. If we can cram all that into two weeks, we’ll be “doing good.”
Please don’t think I’m bragging – we budget *very* carefully for our vacations and use travel “points” for as much as possible (from a credit card). We also buy a lot of stuff ahead of time, like admission tickets for tourist attractions, so it’s paid for before we go. It has taken us a *long* time to get to this point.
Stefanie,
It was so fun to sit back and read the encapsulation of your travels. Your description of each country made me want to hop right up off my chair and start buying plane tickets! What great adventures you and your hubby have had. (Out of all the countries you described, you REALLY made me want to grab my camera and go to Wales.)
And I didn’t for a second think you were bragging! It sounds like you and your husband plan and save and spend your funds wisely and it is wonderful that you are able to go out and explore this incredible world of ours.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences; I loved reading every word!
There is a young couple from my parents church that are missionaries to Berlin, Germany. They have two little ones, Aubrey who will be three in September and Chilton who is eight months old and was born there. When they rented their apartment, it did not come with a kitchen – the room was there of course but they had to add cabinets, sink, etc. Quite different than US apartments.
I like to travel but have only been to Canada and Freeport in the Bahamas (a day cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. I’ve been to 33 of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. Being single, it’s not always easy to find a traveling partner although I have done some traveling by myself. I would love to travel more and dream of just getting in the car and driving once I retire.
Phyllis,
I am definitely in agreement with you in thinking that it would be fun to just get in the car and drive. So much out there to see–whether it’s 15 miles away or 15,000 miles.
I know there are some countries where people can’t cross over certain borders without papers and documents and lots of stress. It’s so wonderful that we can cross state borders whenever and wherever we want–just point the car into the distance and GO!
I hope that when retirement comes, you can add a bunch more states to the 33 you have already visited!