January 25, 2007
Wow! How did it get to be 2007 already? I know I said my last journal entry would most likely be the last, but so much has happened this year that I decided to do an update.
This year has been absolutely amazing! I took a trip to Oregon for the first time since 2000 and watched my son Jeremy get married. We spent a few days at the coast and I took the whole clan deep sea fishing. I spent some alone time with my father, and those hours were more than worth the 2000+ miles I traveled. I remember when Jesus said that it was difficult for even HIM to touch those in his "homeland"... because they knew him as a carpenter or as the little boy they used to watch play, and I fully expected it to be the same with me. But it wasn't. My family and friends regard everything I am doing and everything I say to them with warmth and appreciation. They ask me the very questions that I hoped I would have the opportunity to answer someday... and they actually listened. How blessed could I be?
2006 was a year filled with both highs and lows... the lows being illness. But although I am still physically recovering from my trials, (and trying to gain the almost 20 pounds I lost back), I feel blessed to have been reminded to appreciate each and every day that I wake up feeling strong and healthy. Sometimes we get so used to feeling good that we come to expect it - and I , for one, don't mind being reminded just how blessed I am. In fact, shame on me for having forgotten!
I'm also living in a newer and larger RV. I wasn't looking for a new home because Faith has everything I need, but when this one practically came to me, I decided to at least think (and pray) about it. It took me over a month to decide to buy it, but I finally realized that my Lord wanted me to be comfortable and safe. My only concern was that I didn't want Him to think I NEEDED anything more to be content, but then... He already knows.
My first RV, 27 feet with no generator, was named Lucky because I was "lucky" to have a roof over my head and a soft bed to sleep on. Three years later along came "Faith", 33 feet long WITH a generator and a separate bedroom, and I was in Heaven! And now, after five years of living in "Faith", along comes "Joy"...(my name for her), and she is 36 feet long with so many comforts I almost feel strange. It's funny - but it happened to be on my birthday (11/7) when I bought her. Actually, the bank owns Joy right now, but in one year she'll be mine.
So now I feel like I'm living in the lap of luxury. I have a washer and dryer, a water filtration system and a big walk-in shower, with a huge hot water tank. For 8 years, I've been using the public showers because I didn't have enough hot water to wash my long hair and now, for the first time, I don't have to load my shower supplies into the car and drive anywhere. Boy, talk about a luxury! And there are two tip-outs so I have plenty of room for company. I often do spiritual counseling and bible study so I guess the fact that I now have room for more people to sit comfortably is reason enough.
And guess what? I don't have to worry about my tanks freezing up anymore because Joy is the basement model and the basement (where the tanks are located) is heated. Do you believe it? For the first time I don't have to worry when the temperature drops, nor do I have to shower at the public shower or go to a laundromat to wash my clothes. I even have a working oven for the first time in 8 years. Wow! I even baked cookies last night.
My last day at Grand Country was December 31, 2006 and now it's time to get back to work on my book. The last book I wrote (1977) took a full year to write and since I only have three months off each year, it could take quite a while to finish this one. But that's ok - as fast as time flies by these days, I'll probably blink and it'll be 2014.
So... to all my friends out there in cyber-space, may you treasure each and every moment... be grateful for every beat of your heart and love your brothers and sisters in the same way that God loves you! It's a great honor that you have allowed me into your life through this website, and I pray that we will all be together again someday.
May the Lord bless and keep you!
With love eternal,
Abigayle
PICTURES BELOW:
(1) The view from our room at the Oregon Coast as my granddaughter Jasmine and I enjoy some time alone together during my trip to Oregon in August, 2006.
(2) Just look at all that room, and only part of it's in the picture!
(3) A REAL kitchen at last!
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