Day 2: The paradise

The next morning I spend some time with the dogs who now looked a lot less frightning in the light. One of them especially. He looked so dirty. Last night we was barking the loudest, and now, he was eager to have some attention from me. I played with him, but he was tied up to his doghouse. It was sad. He like me. I wish i could have done something.
But we had to leave, to the IHOP! The International house of pancakes! ( there is also a International house of Prayer, but I prefer to have breakfeast in the other IHOP)
A huge place, not cozy at all. Jeremy told us that we had to pay attention to the lady who was about to help us. In Minnesota you say : "you guys want anything, you guys aere fine..." But in Tenessee, they say : "You all ( but then said as : Youal )fine? Youal want anything?" So I tried to listen, and REally, she said it in EVERY sentence! "youal want some coffee. it was hilarious!

There rest of the day : in the car.
It didn't took much now to talk with one another. We were friends quickly. We played poker with nuts, talked about all sorts of things. AND.. every four hours we stopped, we coudl take some of our clothes of. It really was a lot warmer. Remember we left Minneapolis at -15. In Tenessee it was like 0 degrees ( celcius) but after another 13 hours we arrived at the house we were staying a couple days. It was there 20 degrees celcius. January 2nd, 20 degrees! It was amazing
So, let me tell you something about the practical things. In the National Forrest of Ocala the Rainbowfamily gathers. Long time ago the native americans had something to do with it, and they had a profecy or something about it. That kind of disappeared. The rainbow family is a group of homeless hippy's getting away from city life. Why? I don't know. They smoke, drink, swim, talk, sleep, earn some money, and eat. THat's where we were going.
But before we went into the woods we had some preperation days.
Peter had met the sun of Tom and Anita ( I don't know anymore how he is called) at livingstone ( something like Flevo, only then million times bigger) and they kept contact. The live in Florida, OCala. So when we were going there, Peter had arranged we could sleep in their house for a while, preparing, and afterwards, showering. Tom and Anita lived in that houses vfor 25 years, and I will now tell you what i saw when, finaly, in the dark at 11 pm we arrived at our hostfamily.

First of all, it was dark. All the beauty of nature around the house we could not see yet. That surprised us the next morning.
A big house was in front of us. We walked under a sort of bridge what connected one part of the house to the other.
When we walked in, it was like in a movie. I thought i run in the wrong set.
In the middle of the yard was a immense pool, with next to it a hot tob. music was playing and filling our minds with pleasure and peace. A yardhouse was in the back, including a bathroom ( we heard later). The pool was surrounded by green, soft grass and beautiful plants. There were light all aruond the walls of this little paradise, and de sound of the guitar was overwhelming good. We turned around, and saw a huge patio. Tom and Anita saw us, and welcomed us as if we were the kings and queens of important country's. I loved them instantly. Tim, Dana and Jen already were there before us, and they realxed in the hot tob. We gathered around eachother, and thanked the Lord for bringing us save to this paradise of happiness. Tom and Anita told us that whenever we were hungry, we could ask. If we saw anything we wanted to eat, eat it.
The house was huge, and so was the tv screen. They were very rich. Tom told us he had been building in and around his house for the last 25 years. It first was a little old house, and now.. a paradise. Tom also said once : We have everything, but own nothing.. That was amazing to hear from a guy like that, who REALLY had everything.

Jen and I got to sleep in bunkbeds in one of the many rooms.
I was exhausted, but at peace. Tomorrow would be a day of praying, preparing, and sunshine.

Lydia