Chapter 3: Moving Out/Tub Tales: Life in a Tub

My next tub was in college. We shared a bathroom between five of us girls. One of the girls did not like me, for reasons unknown. I could not do anything right, in her opinion. She constantly complained that I left the tub dirty (even though there were five of us sharing it). Things finally got so tense and difficult between us, and could not be resolved, that I transferred to another school.

This next Bible College had no tub, just old mineral encrusted showers lined up in cement cubicles. It was my job to scrub these out. It was disappointing to never see results; it looked the same before as after. The school did have something going for it, though, since I met my husband there.

On our honeymoon, we rented a log cabin complete with fireplace, quilt, and cozy feeling. The tub there was so high that I banged my shins on it. We also rented the Victorian suite that boasted of a 4 poster bed and jacuzzi-now that was a tub!

We newlyweds moved into our first apartment, a newly redeemed building from the druggy era. It had badly warped walls (did they use to stash drugs there??), a missing window in the outside door, and the bathroom window had been painted with gaudy flowers to allow for privacy. But it was ours.

Our next apartment had carpet in the bathroom-who carpets a bathroom? Yuck! But it did have a beautiful large clawed-foot bathtub. It was deep! Lovely! This was a comfort especially during my time of miscarrying our first child.

Our next move took us from New Brunswick to Alberta for more Bible schooling. We had made the move with only what we could fit into the car. We drove until we were tired and called local churches for a free place to pitch our tent for the night. We only slept in that tent only one night,as most churches found us homes to stay in. One lady even let us have her room!

The four-plex that we moved into had everything in it: furniture, silverware, plates, etc. All that we needed God had abundantly provided. The upstairs and downstairs were divided by a communal landing and 2 flights of stairs. Awkward if you want to go to the bathroom at night and your bedroom is upstairs. We finally moved our bedroom to the less finished downstairs, since being pregnant with our first son made for many more trips to the bathroom.

We moved from the apartment to a rented house just weeks before our baby was born. I don't remember the bathroom. I don't remember much of anything, since I was so busy with a colicky baby.

my boy (right) all grown up with his friends

Chapter 2: Growing Up/Tub Tales:Life in a Tub

We left the Bible camp and moved into "the old house". For us kids, it was an adventurous place full of secret stairs, winding halls, and hidden rooms. For my parents, it was a a dilapidated old house whose chimney caught fire twice. Perspective.

I don't remember much about the bathroom, except I preferred to avoid the bathtub and bathing in general; it infringed on my play time. I do however remember my mom telling me a bath story of her own. She and dad had just been married and she was over at a friend's house taking a shower before a party that was to happen there. She took off her wedding ring and forgot it on the edge of the tub. Someone stole it during the party. Dad bought her an identical one to replace it.

all dressed up with my cousin (far left) and siblings in the "old house"

Later, Mom and Dad put a bid on a house that the government was selling off because it was in a flood zone, and won the bid. They bought land and placed the "new" house on it. Lots of work followed; it was a renovation war zone. Nothing was safe from being potentially ripped up, torn down or updated. Carpet left in clouds of dust, soggy wallpaper rolled sloppily down the walls in strips, and there was lots of painting. The bathroom was one room that was the least renovated, though, until one fateful day. Mom was commenting on how small the bathroom was and wasn't it a pity it couldn't have been bigger. We couldn't expand into the porch, because it was not heated and we wanted to keep the porch space. A small light bulb flashed in my brain. If they tore down part of my bedroom wall that bordered the bathroom and expanded into the bedroom, it would afford more space and even get the washer and dryer up out of the basement. No sooner said, then it was done.

Chapter 1: The Younger Years/Tub Tales: Life in a Tub

*Note: I got this idea from one of my former posts. My hubby and I were reminiscing the other night about all the different tubs we have had over the years and thus Tub Tales was born. :)


My first tub was actually not a tub at all; it was the kitchen sink. Mom had to pump the water by hand and heat it on the wood stove. The round house we lived in was built by my father and grandfather. It had a wrap around porch that I enjoyed playing on with an old tea pot. One day mom heard me screaming and yelling like something was wrong. She ran to see and found me hanging off the edge of the deck by my hands! Then she let me down the two inches to the ground. I had not realized I could let go and touch the ground.

Mom and dad decided to move, when I was a year and a half years old, to go to Bible school. We lived in the trailer park on the grounds of the campus. Our trailer was a small affair that got smaller as we were joined by my younger sister and baby brother. Here we had a small tub, but the sink was occupied by the younger siblings. On the wall hung in the living room hung this painting on velvet:

I looked at it often and thought about it. 

My dad graduated and we moved into a Bible camp. He built another house-this one was with an all natural rock exterior. The tub here was a large claw style...but no running water because there was no electricity. Mom had to heat the water needed for these baths as well. We did eventually get running water. It was gravity fed, so it took a long time to fill the tub with the water that trickled out-and it was cold. There was a fresh water spring fed creek nearby that we would go to to get a drink. A box was built in the stream that had a hook and a cup hanging from it. The box was our fridge (the water kept things cold) and the cup was frequently dipped into the stream for a fresh, cold drink.

Missionary Survival Kit

So you wanna be a missionary ? Here's a list of things you will need:

• Chocolate-any essential in any vocation or circumstance, this helps you remember the sweet times in life.
• Ear plugs-sleep is a rare commodity for you in this vocation, but these are also good for daytime noises. A quick get-away from the culture (especially combined with the next item)
• Eye Mask-to block out those blinking and annoying lights...or neighbors peering into your house, or housework....
• Water Filter-I know "they" say that water is odorless and tasteless-they lie! Each place you go to has a different taste and scent. Some even change daily! Hence the need for a filter.
• GPS-you will have a love/hate relationship with this tool, but it has got us out of detours and road blocks. Map updates are a good idea but usually expensive (yep, they get ya there)-sometimes you look at the map to see that you are driving in the middle of "nowhere".
• Maps-for when the GPS isn't helping or to get the big picture of where you're at
• Thank-you Cards-get a lifetime supply of these, you will have so much to be thankful for as God supplies all your needs through His Body.
• Envelopes and Stamps-is it time for newsletters again?! Yup, you can never have enough. Also, get the envelopes that peel and stick (trust me, you do not want to lick 600 envelopes-neither does your dog ;) )
• Phone Cards-helps to keep track of your now distant family, you will likely have to change phones and plans frequently, depending on your travel plans
• Facebook-a necessity in keeping in touch with all your old friends and new friends you meet along the way-one of the blessings of being a missionary
• Blog-a great way to give a window into the life of a missionary
• Email-for those in your life who don't facebook
• Bible and Journal and time with God-the only way we will get through the difficult times is to pour out our hearts before Him. I am so thankful He cares about us!

Pics from Texas

mailboxes

"fisherman"

feed the birds

bird of paradise plant

our first palm tree sighting

Mourning Part 2

I like to soak in the tub, sometimes for hours. I take a book or my Kindle and read and relax. It's my little get-away. Since we've been living in the RV (1 month now!) and the tub being so tiny (I can sit in it cross legged with my knees up around my ears-not really relaxing), baths have been few and quite time to myself has been precious and scarce.

We are, however, able to use the bathroom on campus here. Last night I brought my Kindle and read for a while. I was so into my book, that when I looked up, I didn't know where I was. For a split second, my brain flashed through all the tubs I had soaked in, trying to place this one. There have been a few ;)

I realized that in this tub, I lacked that homey, cozy, safe feeling I've had in other tubs that felt more like "home". I had me a good cry.

Psalm 61:1-3

 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Our tub at Jungle Camp

Mourning Part 1

I dreamed that I was in my old flower gardens-except they were as resplendent as the garden of Eden. I walked around and touched all the flowers and cried, asking, "Why can't I have my flowers? Why can't I be here? Why did I have to leave this?"

Then Todd got bit by a huge snake and all was chaos and panic and I woke up.

I thought I was over the loss of my flowers but I guess a bit still remains.

Philippians 3:8

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ