More reflections on our 6-week Sabbatical (what I don’t love)

So of course I don’t love everything about traveling across the country for 6 weeks, and I want to reflect on these briefly because it’s so easy to think that escaping ordinary life will bring some sort of euphoric experience. And it really has been great. I know we’re right where we’re supposed to be, and we’ve seen God’s hand of kindness on us all along the way. A few reflections:

We’re in an exhausting season of life no matter where we are … and you probably are too.

In some ways, this trip has been exhausting. Toting around two little ones plus two big ones for 10,000 miles is quite the adventure. But honestly–life with littles is exhausting no matter where you are.

At least for me, the jump from 2 kids to 4 kids was a lot. Having teens and toddlers at the same time? Totally awesome and totally exhausting. The bigs want to stay up late with us (which I love, Heidi & Dutch!) and the littles wake up early for us and that means zero free minutes to ourselves. So it’s just an exhausting season. (Side note: As a perspective on how tiring it is to have multiple children, check out this AMAZING story!)

But honestly? Aren’t most people in exhausting seasons of life? While I’m here I keep up with others who I love. My friend whose husband was almost killed in a car accident, and she now cares for him 24-7 as he lost his legs and cannot walk, talk … you get the idea. Talk about exhausting. Or my friend battling cancer with three little ones who spends every day in treatment. Or my other friend whose husband just finished 40 days of cancer treatment. Or my dear friend who has five littles and is covering loads of the work for our church back home so we can be here. Or my other friend who is taking care of her parents as her dad is in his final weeks of life. Or so many of you battling health crises, or just going through the incredibly difficult process of aging. It’s all exhausting.

I was talking to a friend who is in the process of adopting a 4th child. They planned to adopt two. Already at three their lives feel overflowing. Adding a 4th? Seems overwhelming. And yet, we were saying to each other: What else would we rather do with our lives?? Isn’t it WORTH IT?

It is. And yes, I’m hoping to get some naps in during July and August. 😉

It’s hard not having a home.

In 40 days we will be staying in 22 different places. That’s 22 different beds. Twenty-two times figuring out sleeping arrangements. Twenty-two times setting up the pack-n-play and getting Justice settled in and re-calibrating who will get up with which little one and you get the idea.

Switching homes 22 times in 40 days for six people is just really tiring. Just now I laid down for a quick rest during naptime, and my eyes filled with tears as I just found myself longing for home. And then I remembered … we don’t have a home. As you may know we’re living in a trailer, and while it is looking very promising that we’ll be able to build a house (yay!), it’ll likely be another year. I really really miss having a home.

When you’re not in your own home, at least with littles, you’re constantly a little on edge. I’m always afraid they’ll break something, or spill something, or make too much noise. Everything is unfamiliar. Even your body knows the steps around things in your own home. In unfamiliar settings your body is always re-familiarizing yourself with things. And don’t even get me started on figuring out each kitchen! Which knife is the best? Is there a vegetable peeler? Are there plastic dishes because no way am I giving breakable dishes to Ben. The joke with my family has been I’m in a constant state of trying to figure out the stove. Every oven and stove cooks differently and I’m always trying to figure it out. We’ve had a lot of burned food on this trip. 😉

This has made me ache with those who are displaced from their homes. My displacement is voluntary. I want to do this. I can’t imagine how hard it would be for those who are displaced from their homes, especially with littles ones, who don’t know if they’ll ever be able to return. Or who are fleeing in fear. Or in danger. This definitely has fueled my prayers.

Good water is a treasure.

Oh how I miss Oregon water! I’m sure I sound ridiculous but THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERSTATE HOW MUCH I MISS OREGON WATER. I’m so spoiled! I feel like I will do nothing but sit and drink and drink and drink as soon as I get home. I could cry I miss our water so much. Ok, I can’t talk about it anymore, moving on …

Traveling is expensive.

To be clear, we aren’t poor. We are paid generously, and we are so incredibly grateful to be able to own a home, cars, and have the financial freedom to do so many things. No complaints here! But man oh man, it’s hard to be frugal when you’re traveling right now. Gas is expensive, food is expensive, places to stay are expensive. We aren’t even doing amusement parks or other attractions. Angie spent $30 on bug spray in the Everglades just so we wouldn’t get eaten alive. I spent $27 on 9 bottles of Gatorade at the rocket launch so the kids wouldn’t die of dehydration. Crazy! Again, so glad we’re doing it, but I’ll also be happy when we can settle down on our little piece of earth and not in tourist-traps. 😉

Didn’t mean for this to be a complaining session, I really have loved this trip. Especially seeing God’s diverse creation and His wonderful people who are our friends and family. That’s been the best. And now naptime is about over so I’m signing off for some more exploring of Washington DC. Thanks for reading!