Smokey

We have a new addition to our family!  Her name is “Smokey”.  She’s all aluminum, 17’ long, and glides like a champion (when both people are paddling…Eric ;o) You guessed it!  God answered our prayers for a canoe!  As we were literally driving into Bemidji, MN we found a post on Craig’s list for a steal of a deal that “just happened” to be in…you guessed again!  Bemidji.  Now we tow behind “Georgia” our 32’ motorhome, “Black Coffee”, our jeep, loaded down with 5 bikes (“Sea Star” and “Mantis” to name a couple), and, drum roll please…”Smokey”!  We haven’t capsized her yet, but we weren’t brave enough to take her on Lake Superior.  So far, our favorite trip with “Smokey”, was up at Voyaguers National Park in Norther MN.  Our favorite pastime in her is paddling quaint little lakes and cabin hunting for the world’s cutest cabin.  Although we have our favorites, our newest friends have talked my husband into building one of his own someday.  I’m on board as long as we have some good helpers.  So it might be a few years ;o) 

The past few weeks have yet again left us in awe of God’s comfort and encouragement.  Feeling so homesick parked at a Walmart in Wisconsin, my prayers were answered just minutes later when we were visiting at a beautiful duck filled pond with a sweet couple who both grew up in Wheatland.  And just this last weekend, UNPLANNED (by us), we spent Sunday with the uncles and cousin of dear friends back in Wheatland.  God is so good!  We also met an extraordinary family who not only built their own cabin (as mentioned: Eric’s dream), but homeschooled their 6 amazing kids, and all play in a Gospel bluegrass band together.  They also have uprooted several times, selling their homes, and getting rid of their stuff.  Okay we’re not the only “crazy” ones (you are! Try it and you will see how freeing it really is!)  Currently we are on the UP (upper peninsula) of Michigan.  Beautiful!  Much less rain than MN, and fewer mosquitos than Wisconsin.  The kids are enjoying all the berry picking and I am enjoying not meeting any black bears on my morning runs ;o)  Very cool, slow, and rejuvenating here (especially with smores ;o)  Praying this finds you and yours just as happy and at peace as we are.  Remember to stop and smell the roses this summer, it’s short but oh so sweet! 

Peace and Love,

Eric, Jenna, Addalynn, Ethan, Abram, Sophie, Holly, and Slimey (even he is not a pout pout fish!)