(Too many kilometers to count)

Lamentations 1
v.7a …Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old….

And I did too. We were away from home for almost two months, something we’d never done before. It was hard leaving Chris and Krystle and screamy little Calvin in Spain. It was uncertain how we would get home and how much trouble that would be. It’s always a little hard getting back into the routine of regular life, but that is where we have treasures in the midst of the mundane that we might forget to appreciate. We missed our family, our friends, our church, our garden and home, our projects and regular responsibilities. And our sweet little cat–would he even remember us? Then there were the treasures of the Camino. It wasn’t a “fun” trip but it was valuable. The Camino was interesting, it was challenging, it was invigorating, it was instructive, parts of it were quite satisfying, but it wasn’t “fun” in the “let’s-take-a-vacation” manner. It was full of treasures. I see them when we talk about our adventure, when I look at our pictures, when I think of the people we met and the beauty we saw. I think treasures will become clearer as we process the whole pilgrimage. Thank you, Lord, for all the treasures you give us in this life. Help us to value them and use them well, for your glory.

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We packed up one more time, hiked to the bus station, rode to the airport and got our flight to the south of Spain. Keep reading

(Lorca to Villamayor)

It’s the day we’ve been waiting for! Calvin James was born this morning in Rota, Spain, to happy but tired parents Chris and Krystle. He weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and is 22 inches long. Calvin has so much long dark hair the doc they could braid it!

Meanwhile, back on the Camino, you haven’t missed the posts. There haven’t been any posts. I am incapacitated by extreme fatigue, a deep heel blister (suggestions for relief welcome), poor internet and, at the moment, a very small 12-bed dorm room. It is after ten, so that means the lights are out. I and the two young men in the top bunks to my right are propped up with our devices glowing. Three people are snoring gently. It is way too much trouble to access any photos. Once I get up here I am not coming down until morning. Actually, the structure of this bed is such that there isn’t much to grab onto to hoist myself up the ladder. As I paused to ponder on my way up tonight, a kind young Iranian-Brit came and offered his hand and strength. “Take your time, slowly, slowly,” he said. I must look decrepit.

I certainly feel decrepit. I had to walk in my sandals today, to keep the heel pain bearable. My two pairs of walking shoes are crammed into my backpack. Since one shoe weighs as much as my pair of sandals, I have added to my weight considerably. My shoulders hurt pretty much all the time, but it’s hardly noticeable now with the pain of the heel blister. We definitely must be nuts.

In other news, the pilgrim meal this evening at the only bar in town was incredible! We had three choices to select from for the first course; I chose gazpacho, fresh and cold and garlicky. The main course was roast chicken, perfectly seasoned, with a small salad and boring looking but amazingly delicious potatoes sliced thin and layered with big flakes of salt. Dessert was creme caramel, which is usually pretty bland, but this one came piled with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Local red wine rounded out the meal.

The young men have turned off their devices. Morning comes too soon, and Maurice will crack the whip. Buenas noches.