THURSDAY, JULY 2

THURSDAY, JULY 2:

        Had to move today, as they were completely booked for the 4^th of July weekend. We only had to move almost literally across the street, to another RV park. This was certainly yet another instance of God's providence, and a lesson for me that He takes care of us in ways that I can't imagine.

       We knew that we would have to leave here Thursday morning . .. but Bill had arranged back in St. Louis to stay in the Oceanside home of a new acquaintance of his – apparently he was moving here, but not yet. However, arrangements were somewhat loose, and the guy only barely mentioned that “there was some work being done on the house,” Well, when we drove over to look things over a week or so ago, the entire house was being remodeled. No usable kitchen, no furniture, concrete floors, etc. But we still thought it was doable – we'd park the RV on the street (which the friend assured us was fine), and maneuver our living between it and the house for 3 nights. Not quite dry camping in a WalMart parking lot – but close. Not pleasant, but doable for 3 nights. At least there was a working shower and bathroom. Well, when Bill drove over this morning to have a final look, he discovered 2 things: (1) the key was missing (it was there the other day), and (2) the house was in an association, and there was no RV parking allowed. He just lifted up an SOS prayer: “Lord, this plan has fallen apart. We need help!” It came in the form of a thought as he was driving “home,” prepared to give me the bad news. He suddenly remembered that there was an RV park about ¼ mile north on the other side of the highway for which we'd noticed the sign a couple of times while driving by. He stopped and asked about open sites for the weekend. Yes! They had a few. What was so remarkable is that this RV park wasn't even on my radar. I had been trying to think of alternatives to the unfinished house plan, as I knew it wouldn't be pleasant, but could find no campground down around San Diego which had vacancies. This one never occurred to me! So that's why I say that God takes care of us in ways I literally can't imagine . . . paving the way for provision we aren't even aware of needing at the time, and powerfully reminding me that I can't anticipate, control and solve every problem with my own tools, even when I'm worn out from trying to keep on top of it all, as I've sometimes felt trying to keep track of all the details which need to be taken care of for Jason (financial, appointments, insurance, etc.) But IT”S OKAY, He dramatically reminds me. TRUST ME WITH BETTER PLANS & OUTCOMES THAN YOU'VE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT. “My ways are not your ways” - even in things as prosaic as finding a place to stay for a weekend.

       So we had the typical hassle of backing in to a fairly tight spot, but we've had worse. This campground is several steps down from our one at “Paradise” (the appropriate name of our previous one where we'd been for 3 weeks). Older, a little worn looking . . . many long-term or permanent residents. But a nice pool, and extremely laid-back, nice managers. And if the weather clears, we're still only a few minutes walk from the beach.

         So once we got settled, just rested a lot. Bill wasn't feeling good at all – the result of his fall was finally catching up to him, I think. I finished my book Wolf Hall. A really astonishing work – a sweeping, yet detailed, portrait of English society, politics, and culture in the throres of disorienting change during the reign of Henry VIII, anchored by penetrating character studies of people like Henry himself, Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, and the central character Thomas Cromwell. The novel helped me see that it was during this time that England really ushered in the modern era, as distinguished from its medieval past – a fiefdom ruled by despotic kings transformed into a modern nation-state ruled by law. Of course, a prime evidence (or was it a cause?) of this transition was England's break from the Roman Catholic church. The beginning of a secular Europe and the beginning of the end of Rome's stranglehold on virtually every aspect of society. The author (Hilary Mantel) left us at the end of this novel with Cromwell at his height of power and influence. But we know that's not the end of the story . . . so now I want to read the next in this triology: Bring up the Bodies. But not right away – I need some lighter reading now.

       Leftover grilled chicken for dinner, a little more relaxing, and then an early bedtime for both of us.

     

      Wi-fi is in and out here.