The Lake House

It looked so incredible on line...  Three bedrooms, 2 baths, living and dining rooms, a kitchen, a fireplace, and a large laundry room.  The thing we loved the most was the huge screened in porch that looked out over the lake. Awesome pictures!!  Just 30 minutes from Gainesville!  The price was high, but the house was completely furnished with everything we would need...EVEN shampoo & conditioner!  Another thing that REALLY impressed us was the idea of a "spring fed lake" that the kids would be able to swim in!  We would also have a paddle boat at our dock, and all kinds of beach equipment & fishing gear!  Did I mention we were to have a grill so that we could cook out as well?   The water was to be shallow.  What a wonderful place to stay for a week!!

  

The first thing we saw!

My daughter Jamie, and my grandchildren, Ben & Lily and I took off on Sunday morning for the lake house. Four or so hours later (lunch) we arrived in Hawthorne, Florida. We could hardly wait to get there!!  We pulled into the driveway and around to the front of the house.  I think at that point, both Jamie and I knew why we hadn't seen any pictures of the outside of the house...if there had been, we wouldn't have checked any further. We sat in the car looking at each other, then at the house, then at each other--shaking our heads "no."  Ben & Lily wanted to get out and explore, they weren't bothered at all by the greenish mold/mildew all along the front and the old steps that looked barely attached to the front of the trailer house...nor did the wasp's buzzing around seem to bother them at all!  We finally decided to get out and look to see if there was

We just couldn't believe this!

a "lake view".  We should have just 
gotten back into the car!  We walked around what we think was a porch, covered in slick, shiny, tile. We came to the back of the trailer, and there was the porch, screened in, but moldy as well :(, the carpet on the porch was stained and soft, as in "will we fall through" soft.  In the middle of the porch sat an old aquarium, covered in...you guessed it!  Mold Beyond the porch was a hill that led down to the water's edge.  The dock in our minds didn't resemble the one in front of us, and the slide for the kids....the lake was so shallow that they would have slid off into maybe 8 inches of muck! But because there was a paddle boat, the kids were totally in heaven.  Jamie and I are absolutely speechless.....what in the world have we gotten ourselves into?

Nice touch on the screen porch!

At that point we walked back onto the porch and the owner let us into the house.  It was 94 degrees outside, and 100 degrees in the house!! Jamie and I walked through the house all the while shaking our heads.  We needed to "talk" about what we were going to do.  I kept thinking about the one review on line from 2011.....the only review.  
We did talk and then we talked with the lady owner.  We were so disappointed, and by this time, she was aware of it.  She told us that we were under no obligation, but what she didn't realize was that, we didn't really have a choice. It was getting late, and we didn't have time to run into Gainesville and find a place. 

So, we decided to stay one night.  After signing the papers and writing a check for way too much, the owner began to tell us that the kids could swim, but they needed to put drops of some stuff she gave us, into their ears if their heads went under water.  Sure, right...they will not be swimming.  Then she explained that the shallow lake was at least 30 feet in the middle and that the kids needed to be good swimmers.  Sure, right...they will not be swimming.  Then she told us about the paddle boats, and of course let's not forget the nasty water moccasins! 

Covered in mold!

We made it through the night, and the very next evening a neighbor lady was telling us about the alligator she saw just last week.  She wasn't sure if our land lady had mentioned that little tid bit of info...nope, she hadn't. DRAMA!

Anyway, here it is Thursday night. We've been here since Sunday night. We've managed to keep ourselves from being stung by the wasps, and so far only 1 red ant bite.  The lake is pretty from a distance and we are just fine with that!!  It's too hot to sit out on the porch by the aquarium, and we are just fine with that too! 

We plan to leave on Saturday to head back to Vero Beach.  Jamie's radiation will be done tomorrow!  PTL! We've watched a lot of video's and the kids have been just fine playing with toys or reading or doing puzzles.  We spent time today at a huge pool in Gainesville, and plan to do that again tomorrow. 

Early this evening we were getting ready to head into town for pizza, I was looking out the kitchen window and there in the lake was an alligator.  Go figure!

Do Pastors Wives Need To Vent?

A year or so into my role as a Pastors Wife, I began to feel extremely overwhelmed at a number of "situations" that I didn't have any idea what to do with.  I couldn't ask the ladies at the church for input, because frankly, some of them had to do with the situations I was trying to find solutions for.

After praying about this for awhile, I decided to call another pastors wife (who had been in my shoes for over 25 years) and see if she could meet me for lunch!  She said "Yes!" And we agreed to meet at a nearby restaurant.  I had a whole week to write out my questions!  I could not wait! 

Finally, the day arrived and I put the list in my purse and drove to the restaurant.  We got our table, and after ordering I reached into my purse to get my list.  I was kind of afraid that she would laugh at my questions.  But I needed help, I wanted to vent.  Before I had a chance to say anything, she began to talk. . . and talk . . . and cry.  I realized that my little list of problems was nothing compared to the things this woman was going through! As I listened to her speak, I quietly put my list away.  I didn't need it today. We sat in that restaurant for almost 2 hours.  She wasn't looking for answers for what she was going through, she just needed someone to listen and encourage her, and to pray with her!  I got to do that!  What a blessing it was to help! 

     

You know, I can't remember what was on that list.  I have no idea what even happened to it.  But I do know God had something special for me to learn that day.  I learned that it's not always about me, and what I need.  Sure, I had some legitimate questions and concerns, but they weren't as important as I had thought.  I also learned that listening can also be a great source of learning.  So many times, I don't listen because I'm trying to think of my response to what I'm hearing.  Ouch, huh! 

As for venting . . . I have learned that you shouldn't vent to anyone if it's going to be about someone else---that's gossiping!  I have also learned not to vent to my children---they see it as complaining, and it discourages them.

So, what do you do when you feel the need to vent?  I believe it's best to first bring it before the Lord.  Hello? He knows us better than anyone, and He knows exactly what we're going through.  His Word always has the answers that we seek, and the balm for our hurt.  If you absolutely must talk to someone else, go to a Godly woman you can completely trust,  and just talk. We all have things that we are going through, life is hard and it helps sometimes just to get it all out and to be encouraged.   

I am learning that if what I need to vent about doesn't glorify God, then to just keep my mouth shut.