Life Lessons from a Winnebago II

Good morning Ohio rest stop. We are well rested and ready to tame the asphalt jungle. Breakfast is delicious at Chelsea's  bed/kitchen table. 

There are times that test a man's soul. There are times that test a man's strength. Then there are times that test his bio waste skills. Today I am emptying  my first RV poop tank. Of course, in the RV world we call this black water because poop called by any other name is not as stinky. I am employing by eldest daughter for the operation. Her job is to step on the hose so it does not catapult out of the septic tank when the gushing begins. Clearly that would be bad. The gushing and flushing starts and the operation goes well and I earn my merit badge. 

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Driving...

We are at Six Flags in Chicago. I am fearfully driving a large white RV avoiding cars, pedestrians, bright orange cones, and cartoon characters trying to find the RV area. I've consulted with 4 employees so far trying to help me navigate to my goal. Though very kind, either they speak a dialect of Chicagoan or I listen poorly because the more they help, the more I get lost. If only Paul Walker was here to translate. God is teaching not to have "that tone" with my family trying to help.  Finally a kindly guard leads me to my destination, and soon we are in the park and the adventure begins. 

We are pulling in to the historic and famous town of Janesville WI. Trolling through its cheddar streets we find New Life Assembly of God church and two small girls jumping up and down in the traditional cheese head greeting. Further in we find the whole Karampatsos family, friends from Maryland, stolen away from us to lead a church in the frozen Midwest tundra. Surely by the grace of God, we arrive on the very day of the famous jello wars. There are teens everywhere covered in red jello. They are tug-a-warring, slip-N-sliding, and even obstacle coursing through the stuff. Somehow we stay clean. Lynne and I tour the facility, notably filled with Jesus and pallet art. In just a few weeks the church will host 30,000 people for Freedom Fest a massive July Fourt event. 

Time for bed. Time to remember, in the words of Michael W Smith, that friends are friends forever when the Lord's the Lord of them. 


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