Yep! We are headed to see very dear friends up at Hume Lake Christian Camp in the Sequoia National Forest, Art & Beckie Melli. Art was our youth pastor in high school and they have mentored us through the vast ups and downs of life. But wait, before we get there, or to that, we are loading up and putting everything in it's place so we can put in the slide and drive without injury by falling and sliding items.
However, we had one small problem.... the SHOWER won't drain! This shower has a small short lip on it, not enough to be considered a tub, but tall enough to hold a few inches of water - standing water, that's not supposed to be standing but swirling down the drain. So much water that there's no way we could drive down the road without it all swishing out and splashing all over the bathroom. Now I will admit, I'm taking full responsibility since...
A) I was the only one to take a shower that morning
B) I, I mean, my hair, regularly clogs the shower drain at home
As you can see, we started scooping out the water with a large glass measuring bowl but that wasn't cutting it. So we resorted to the mini shop vac we carry with us on board. Our brilliant idea was to use the 'blow' function to hopefully push the clog through the drain pipe. But we knew this was potentially hazardous to the brave person that took on the task. So son #1 put on the required uniform and showed up for work. It was a fine line between hitting the 'ON' switch and having the tube positioned down in the drain just right or it was going to end up being a water storm. lol Fortunately, I had the 'on' switch job, not the tube in the drain job. ;)
I know you are all on pins and needles so I will get to the end of the story.... our attempt to 'blow' the clog through was not successful so we just emptied the tub by sucking all the water out with the shop vac - emptying it several times in between.
We solved the problem temporarily just so we could get on the road and son #1 helped save the day! He's hired! 😍
While the chauffeur buttoned everything up to his satisfaction, I took the littles to the park to run off some energy before being cooped up in the tin can.
This doesn't show it, but it's a team effort. One in the back watching for the upcoming semi's, one on the side to do the 'honk pull' and everyone to remind that person to wave or thumbs up a 'thank you' to the semi driver. Oh ya - and another to put a tally mark on the chalkboard for another score. I believe they are up to 18 so far. 😉
So after some yummy In n' Out and shopping in Fresno, we headed up the hill to Hume Lake Christian Camp.
However, we had one small problem.... the SHOWER won't drain! This shower has a small short lip on it, not enough to be considered a tub, but tall enough to hold a few inches of water - standing water, that's not supposed to be standing but swirling down the drain. So much water that there's no way we could drive down the road without it all swishing out and splashing all over the bathroom. Now I will admit, I'm taking full responsibility since...
A) I was the only one to take a shower that morning
B) I, I mean, my hair, regularly clogs the shower drain at home
As you can see, we started scooping out the water with a large glass measuring bowl but that wasn't cutting it. So we resorted to the mini shop vac we carry with us on board. Our brilliant idea was to use the 'blow' function to hopefully push the clog through the drain pipe. But we knew this was potentially hazardous to the brave person that took on the task. So son #1 put on the required uniform and showed up for work. It was a fine line between hitting the 'ON' switch and having the tube positioned down in the drain just right or it was going to end up being a water storm. lol Fortunately, I had the 'on' switch job, not the tube in the drain job. ;)
I know you are all on pins and needles so I will get to the end of the story.... our attempt to 'blow' the clog through was not successful so we just emptied the tub by sucking all the water out with the shop vac - emptying it several times in between.
We solved the problem temporarily just so we could get on the road and son #1 helped save the day! He's hired! 😍
While the chauffeur buttoned everything up to his satisfaction, I took the littles to the park to run off some energy before being cooped up in the tin can.
If you are curious, some of our driving time is passed with a favorite activity...
This doesn't show it, but it's a team effort. One in the back watching for the upcoming semi's, one on the side to do the 'honk pull' and everyone to remind that person to wave or thumbs up a 'thank you' to the semi driver. Oh ya - and another to put a tally mark on the chalkboard for another score. I believe they are up to 18 so far. 😉 So after some yummy In n' Out and shopping in Fresno, we headed up the hill to Hume Lake Christian Camp.
If you have never heard of Hume Lake Christian Camp, please do look them up. It's an incredible camp with a rich history of God's hand at work from it's inception. Our boys attended their summer camp last year for the first time and had the time of their life. It's a very well done camp professionally yet not lacking in spiritual depth at all! And the testimonies of God's miraculous works there, even as recent as saving the camp from fire last year, are amazing and faith stretching to say the least.
However, Hume Lake has one itsy bitsy, minor detail...
You can choose to purchase some wifi time at the general store but it only works there, which was a bit of aways from where we were staying. And honestly, after wanting to refer to your phone just a few times to reference something, you do actually come to enjoy it. Have you heard the saying, 'be where you are!' Well that easily happens when you don't have the distractions of electronic devices. And you don't have the opportunity to share your time with people who are not right in front of you. It's quite refreshing! 😊😊😊
The drive up and back down to Hume Lake is quite interesting in a rattling, long, tin can, to say the least. Here's one perspective about half way up....
So we just keep reminding the driver to keep his eyes on the road! :O And he can look when we get to the top... 6000 feet in elevation!
Our time with the Melli's was short, sweet and precious but well worth the drive up the mountains! You see, they are full time missionaries in the Black Forest of Germany. They were only back for a short time to prep their home for summer renters. However, they were made aware a couple weeks before returning that the bottom floor of their home had flooded. What's ironic about this, is that when we were visiting with them at this same house the end of 2014, we received a call (land line phone call) that our house was found in water also. I'm not sure if we should start avoiding each other, or unite together!?! lol At any rate, we knew their pain and frustration, to some extent. So we helped out how we could...
Kevin and the boys helped Art rake up pine needles and clean up the landscaping while I helped Beckie reorganize displaced bedding and try to bring some sense of orderliness to the parts of the house still in working order. And #4, well she was somewhere in between inside and outside, 'helping' a little here and a little there.
We went on some walks up and down the big hills, met some friends, road skateboards (uh, excuse me... LONGboards), enjoyed the sunshine, ate yummy food, played some games and chatted deeply and honestly about life and Jesus.
And so, until next time, hugs & kisses Art & Beckie!
🎔🎔🎔🎔🎔
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