4th Sunday of Advent, from Klamath Falls!

Hey everyone, we’re back in Oregon!  We’re staying with my younger sister, Lauryn, and her family in their new/old home.  It was built by a doctor in the early 1900s, and amazingly a bunch of his stuff is still here – his doctor bag, his license, his class picture, etc.  The house itself is very beautiful and has lots of character.

Flashback to this morning:  We went to church one last time at Crosspoint Community Church.  Pastor Doug gave an impassioned sermon on Isaiah 52 and 53.  He spoke about how God loves us so much that God sent Jesus, knowing He would be humiliated and go through agony to carry our grief’s and iniquity.  He spoke about how we are all sinners and Christ traded his righteousness for our sins.  We had Communion this morning and I was moved by the juxtaposition of Christ’s birth and death.

The pastor’s wife invited us out for lunch after church, but we declined because we had to get back and check out of the RV park and hit the road.  As it turned out, when Mark was unhooking our power and water, he noticed that one of our tires had gone flat.  Since they’re brand new tires, all we can assume is that it deflated due to the cold weather we’ve been having.  We stopped at a truck stop in Sparks and put air in it and it held all through our trip.

Shortly after we left Reno we crossed the border into California.  Not far into California we passed the Shoe Tree.  We didn’t stop this time, but I remember the first time we saw it and stopped.  It’s a lone tree by the side of the highway.  They’ve made a pull out around it.  It’s a large deciduous tree, although I’ve never seen leaves on it.  Instead, people have hung all kinds of shoes from the branches.  I remember even seeing a leg cast up there.  Some people have written on their shoes — their names and/or where they’re from.  I remember even reading a mention of the Shoe Tree in a YA book, Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson.

There was almost no civilization most of the way to the Oregon border, but the scenery was spectacular.  We went from desert scrub brush to sweeping expanses and low pines even while driving through the mountains, I think the Sierras.  There was a ranch house that was set on a slight incline overlooking a huge lake surrounded by mountains.  Lucky people!

When we got to Klamath Falls we parked the RV at Walmart and came to Lauryn’s and Rob’s house.  They had dinner waiting for us, which was most welcome because I had gotten a headache from low blood sugar.  Then they gave us a tour of their house.  They put us up in their guest bedroom and we currently have the kitties in the closet.

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent.  This is the Sunday we read Matthew 1:18-25.  This is the story of Joseph.  He had been betrothed to a young virgin, only to find out she was with child.  I’m sure she told him how it was that she came to be with child, so he had two options: either believe her story, or disbelieve her story.  If he believed her story, would he have doubted his ability to be a father figure to the Promised One?  It was easier for him to disbelieve her story.  Still, you would think he would have then been angry with her and wanted to expose her sin.  He was confused, for sure.  What should he do?  Fortunately an angel was sent to clarify a course of action for him.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all got clear messages from God when facing tough decisions?  I believe that in some circumstances we do.  I know that God has been leading us from job to job since we’ve started this lifestyle.  I have learned something in every situation we’ve been in.  Some lessons have been harder than others, but I have felt led by God through it all.

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