Walking in the Light: June 2010

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Pooped!

We have been shuffling around like crazy lately. We got the older 2 kids in their grandparents'/auntie's care, so I've had almost a week of being the parent to only one toddler. Today we're leaving for Mankato for synod convention, so we've been packing and taking care of business before we leave---Shawn also has Bible camp 2 days after we get back, and then after Bible camp we're leaving on a 10-day trip to Cincinnati, so he had many shut-in calls to make before leaving. One member took an unexpected turn for the worst, so we're praying that Shawn is not needed while we're gone. We got the title/license for the new camper, which we're bringing home on Friday. I cleaned out a garage stall to make room for it. And, no one wants to come home to a messy house, so we had to do some cleaning/vacuuming/etc. Of course the recent storms/tornadoes left water in my basement, so I had some piles of laundry that I had not planned on doing before leaving that had to be done because they were wet.

In one moment of exhaustion yesterday, I fell on the couch and said, "Mama's pooped!" Anju came over to my rescue and asked if I needed one of her "pooping" gummies to help my "owie poop". She had just taken a fiber supplement an hour or two earlier to help with her constipation problems. Uff da!

Then in the bathtub, this exchange:

Anju: "I no want be born India anymore."
Amy: "Oh? Where do you want to be from?"
Anju: " I want be from Tsina."
Amy: "China?"
Anju: "Yes, Andu be Kai-Lan."

So, instead of having some adoption-related identity stress, my daughter desires to be a Chinese cartoon character. THAT I can handle.

Now I'm off to make sandwiches to eat for lunch when we hop in the car after church out of the homemade, organic bread I bought from my Russian friend, Natasha, yesterday at the farmer's market. I just didn't find time to make bread yesterday!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Happy Campers!

Due to a childhood full of wonderful camping memories, I've been wanting to buy a camper for some time now. I always wanted a tin can or teardrop trailer with shiny, aluminum sides like Mickey and Minnie Mouse had---and this comes pretty close. It's a 1977 Serro Scotty Sportsman--- and weighing under 1,000 pounds, it should be a do-able tow with our station wagon.

Last weekend I picked up our new camper from it's previous owner in Viroqua, WI (SW WI not far from La Crosse) and brought it to my parents' driveway in Monticello, MN with the help of my parents and brother. Solveig, my dad, my brother and I made the trip, while my mom entertained Jonah and Anju.

We had to stop a couple times at Fleet Farm to get some needed supplies (new chains, lock, towing ball, etc.) but it looks like a great starter camper for my family. I'm hoping to get it polished up and make a few improvements before our first major camping trip---but the kids and I tried it out and really enjoyed it even as-is. Shawn and I will hopefully be able to bring it the rest of the way home in a couple days. He's anxious to see it!

Thanks Mom and Dad for all the wonderful trips we took in our camper-- Colorado, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, of course our regular campout at Pathfinder Village near Hinckley, MN, and all the other places we went. I'm looking forward to making the same types of memories with my kids!