Weekly Update: 11.18.23
We made it to the weekend -- and I almost didn't notice. It's been such a long couple weeks of sickness, the days have all started to run together. We don't know if it is a cold or a flu. Some of us have had milder symptoms, while others ran high fevers and developed terrible coughs. So far, I'm the only adult who doesn't seem to have had it. I don't know whether to sigh with relief or brace myself for my turn. I'm just taking life one day at a time, doing my best to soak up November. It's going by so fast.
Life has been a balancing act of regular camp chores, cooking, filling in for sick people, taking care of sick people, trying to make progress on the bunkhouse, and prepping for the next phase of the build. There were days this week that we just survived. Other days we made some real progress -- installing windows, putting up a wall, and starting on the roof. We even muddled through some festivity, as we celebrated a niece's birthday last weekend.
Earlier in the week, Bonnie-Jean continued to struggle with sick dogs. This was the first time we have ever had dogs with Parvo, and from what I read, we were very blessed that the German Shepherds' cases were fairly mild. Dagger and Tilde were sick, but not as deathly ill as they could have been. Praise God -- the dogs are finally better now. Poor Bonnie-Jean was having to take them out several times each night, as Parvo causes diarrhea and vomiting. Thank goodness, that all was over before poor Bonnie-Jean got sick herself.
We hope we will all be better in time to celebrate our first Thanksgiving on our land next week. We had hoped to be in our bunkhouse before the holidays, but part of me is glad we get to spend this first holiday season in our tent. Our lifestyle is such an adventure, and I want to relish this phase of it. It has been a rough couple of weeks. Some days, it has been a battle to trust God and not be discouraged. We know He has a plan, though -- even in small trials like these. It has been exhausting, but as we all settle into our wall tent each night, I'm just so thankful to be here, to be living this life. No matter what our first Thanksgiving ends up looking like, I know we will be thankful for the abundant blessings God has showered on us.
Photo Credit: Grace Gage