Lessons from a lost stuffy, and more of our adventures on the road

When we returned to the mainland we were able to visit Victor's cousin Steph and her husband James. Steph has a magnetism with kids and an openness with people that makes everyone feel loved and welcomed right away. Although our visit was short, it sure was sweet and we were very sad to say goodbye.

We had been travelling east for more than an hour when a heart-broken "oh noooo!" emerged from the back seat. Victor and I had just realized that this would be forthcoming. "Mama, can we go back?" asked the sad little voice. "Why Ben?" I asked. "I left Perry there." Sobs.

Perry, the beloved bug-eyed platypus stuffy had been purchased with Ben's own money earlier in the year and has followed him everywhere since.

Now to be honest, this is where it gets a bit complicated for me as a parent. The sobs of a child wreck me, yet I had specifically told Ben to leave Perry in the bus so he didn't get lost during our brief visit. Do I say "I told you so" and count it as a life lesson? The other complication is...it's a stuffed animal after all! Turning around to get Perry was not an option, and having him shipped home would cost more than replacing him (an issue of consumerism in itself). No matter how I spun it, reuniting Ben & his stuffy certainly fell under the category of "first world privilege." Yet, he was devastated! What's a mom to do?

These thoughts regularly weigh on me and create a lot of internal conflict. I'm sharing this because I found some relief from that conflict in that moment. A quiet thought came to my mama-heart about the compassionate heart of God.

"Which of you, if a child asks you for bread, will give him a stone?"

Jesus asks in Matthew chapter 7:9.

I thought to myself: “If it was within my capacity to do this kindness and relieve this heartbreak for any child in the world, would I?” Yes, absolutely.

Love wins, and sometimes the lessons of grace and kindness surpass the lesson of not giving in to“first world privilege.”

(Of course I am not condoning spoiling children, or giving in to temper tantrums. Wisdom helps us to discern when reactions are heartbreak and when they are entitlement).

Choosing a loving response that demonstrates grace for poor choices reflects the compassionate heart of God and is living by my most important of convictions.

“If you, then, know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:11

Perhaps I am learning that, in this broken world we can't always live by ALL of our convictions at once. Instead, we prioritize those that are most important to us, all while attempting to do no harm.

Having settled that within my heart, and communicated with Steph on how to get Perry safely home, Ben was able to imagine the adventures that he and Perry would have to catch up on when they each returned from their trip across Canada.

Ben & Perry reunited today (almost a month later)

We arrived that evening at my Aunt Sue's home, where my cousins Jordan & Mary and their twin girls as well as my cousin Chase had already gathered. It was a joy-filled reunion with relatives I rarely get to see, but whose sweetness, fun, and great Italian cooking made us feel at home right away.

The next morning we headed for Kelowna. Here we met with our easy-to-feel-at-home-with friends Rob & Jen. They are two of the most authentic, open-hearted, visionary, and giving people that we know. We count it as a blessing to have people like this in our lives that we can openly share laughter, tears, struggles, differing opinions, and prayer with. Leaving each encounter strengthened in spirit and resolve to live lives that follow Jesus more closely. Our kids connected so nicely with theirs and with their brilliant Golden Retriever Buddy and the cuddliest tabby cat ever, Bailey.

Being with Rob and Jen reminded us of how important it is to find people who encourage you to be your best and most authentic selves, and meet with them often.

Since Rob and Jen are Salvation Army Officers, they were able to set us up with some family service projects. We stuffed and sealed envelopes like nobody's business with our kids rushing to see who could get through their pile first, and then were able to do our first Christmas kettle shift of the year in West Kelowna, B.C.

As we headed back out after our kettle shift, a couple came to us in the parking lot intrigued by our bus.

We invited them in to our "home," and by the time they left they had invited us to come and stay with them in their home on their First Nation reserve in Osoyoos.

The hour and a half out of our way did not deter us. We were honoured to accept such an invitation from strangers who we sensed we had much to learn from.

The drive to Osoyoos through vineyard country was quiet and beautiful. We stopped for ice cream at Tickleberrys where a "small" ice cream actually seemed bigger than a large one anywhere else in the world, and we became human sundials at the beach in Penticton. (This may have inspired our next building project).

While visiting with our new friends, we discovered that Ron ("Moose") is a respected artist and leader in his community, and his partner Nancy ("Fancy Nancy") is an artist in her own right, filled with whimsy and an eye for beauty in the unexpected.

These strangers invited us in and blessed us with delicious meals (including fried bannock), a warm place to sleep in an old one room schoolhouse, shared stories of coyote, buffalo, and little brother, invited us for some puppy therapy, and led us on a guided walk of some of the lands that mean so much to them.

We were fascinated to learn that in Okanagan teachings the white man, known as “little brother,” was historically going to come from another land, and the role of the Okanagan people was to teach them that as humans we are meant to be together, to do good together, to be kind to each other, and to respect the land. Yes, we had, and still do have, much to learn from this people.

Later, as we travelled to Vernon, we were able to stop to see the Crystal Teepee that

Moose had created the artwork for. The artwork depicts the history of the Okanagan Indian band, and is embedded with Swarovski crystals that bring the motion in the art to life!

As we were departing, Fancy Nancy showered us with gifts. Some were for us to remember them by, and some were for us to share with those in need along life’s journey; warm knitted slippers and blankets. We were once again moved by the compassion of strangers and how simple acts of kindness and love break down walls and show people their similarities.

As we continued, we stopped in Vernon where we were able to visit my cousin Anita and her little crew. Anita is warm and compassionate and has a peaceful and open home. We had such a nice time just relaxing and sharing meals and laughter together. It was a needed place of rest for us. She also took us to visit her friend who has an incredible tiny home as an airbnb (ohhhh the ideas!) and lives in a yurt. Victor was in his element!

It was late November and there was more than a hint of chill in the air. Signs of winter's arrival sparkled on fallen leaves and tree branches, like the crystals that accentuated Moose's art. We were in no rush for the adventure to end, but we were starting to feel the pressure to get moving, beat the snow, and “be home for Christmas.” We buckled up and hunkered down for a few long days of driving through the very cold but breath-taking and snow covered Rockies.