Hi, you guys! Janine and Sam here, asking for some help. We know that this is a super hard thing to ask, especially with inflation like it is right now, (thanks Brandon), but we’ve been asked to provide a few needs for our extended family. Lola and Lolo (Margaret and Tom) have not been able to leave the Philippines to come home to their family since COVID. Meaning, they are really feeling the affects of missing their loved ones and the supplies that the US has to offer. In normal circumstances, they would come home to the US to itenerate and raise funds to provide for their needs in PI. As an extension of them, we are reaching out for your assistance. We have a list that has been provided to us by them. Any help is much appreciated.

We are needing to raise $800. This will go towards Margaret and Tom’s visas to stay in PI.

The shelter is in need of several items, here goes:   

*OTC cold and sinus tabs or liquid, *multivitamins (adult and children)                *OTC acid reflux tabs                                           *OTC nasal spray                                            *Tylenol                                                             *Motrin                                                                 *Advil                                                                               *Benadryl                                                               *OTC allergy tabs                                              *canned goods such as SPAM, corned beef, kidney beans, pork n beans, campbell’s cream of chicken and mushroom soup                          *strawberry and lime jello                              * chocolate and vanilla pudding (the kind that you cook, not already prepared                                *Nestle and Swiss Miss hot chocolate packs           *chocolate candies.                                                       *peanut candies.                                                            *grape, strawberry, and apricot jam                                  

We will be posting this on our FB page as well as our own personal pages. We will be happy to meet for any items that are collected and will post a link to our missions account if you wish to donate. We can make sure you are provided with appropriate paperwork for tax purposes. Please use the link below to donate.

Samuel and Janine McNair

I generally start out a new post with a picture, usually related to my present post. This one will be no different. Sam and I are asked on a daily basis, “When are you guys heading to the Philippines?” The answer is, “We’re not sure, but we hope to get there soon”. Even though we are not able to be with our Filipino family physically, we intend to support them any/every way we can.

Many of our friends and family give in support to our ministry. We sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With that being said, I wanted to make sure you guys know what goes on at the shelter on a regular basis. Even through the Covid challenges, they are still able to support the community by providing food bags and sharing the love of Jesus. They have taken the time to personally prepare the meals, package them, and then deliver. The impact they are able to make during this time is especially uplifting, and the lives they are reaching is exceptional.

Margaret and Tom Tioaquen are the current missionaries at the shelter. They have devoted their entire life to serventhood and I for one cannot wait to learn from them. They love unconditionally just as Christ loves us and only want for the lives they impact daily to succeed. Because of their obedience to the Lord, they are able to prepare enough food to feed the community and reach about 200 children monthly. We are so proud to be associated with such an amazing organization and cannot wait to celebrate victories such as this with them in person.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as well as the shelter. Thank you all for the love and support you show us. It means the world.

If you’ve been reading my posts, then you’ve likely learned I haven’t posted in quite a while. Partly, because I haven’t had the time and the other part… Well, I just plain haven’t wanted to. I let myself get wrapped up in a torn and shattered blanket of self pittiness where I was never warm or comfortable, and never comforted. I stopped doing things for myself because I stayed focused on everything and everyone else.”Covid hair” is foreal a thing, and we’re not even going to discuss the “Covid 15”. Being a healthcare worker during a pandemic has it’s struggles. Being a missionary trying to get to your “called” destination is worse. I’ve felt like we’ve been in battle now for over a year. Battling to save lives, battling the masks, battling the airlines, battling the government, battling the pharmacy’s, and insurance companies. Trying to keep patients out of the hospital, trying to convince patients to go to the hospital, trying to figure out how to get into another country… It’s been a vicious cycle. So, I finally did what most would do when they reach their breaking point. I fell apart. Straight up ugly cried. I realized then that I was carrying a burden I wasn’t meant to have to carry. I had been trying to keep everyone else afloat and was silently sinking the whole time.

I’ve seen this same senerio more times than I can count. You don’t have to be a healthcare worker/missionary to be feeling the same way. Pastors are going through a hard time, small business owners, large corporate companies, your neighbor even. Give that burden over, don’t hold on to it. Ask the Lord for guidance and direction. He’ll lead you in the path where you need to go.

I haven’t taken a vacation for just me since the pandemic started. Mostly because I felt guilty for potentially leaving my comrades in war or for feeling guilty having a good time when others are struggling to get home to their own country. This weekend, Sam and I headed out to Helen, GA. Let me just say, it was exactly the getaway that I needed. I was reminded that in order to continue where I’m needed, I must be healthy. Mentally, physically, and spiritually. I cannot effectively perform my job in the secular world or spiritual world if I’m not in my right mind. I was also reminded that even in the midst of heartache and struggle, there are still beautiful things to behold. This weekend, I took it all in.

This would have been our first Christmas in PI, but COVID. Christmas would have looked a lot different for our family this year, but the Lord saw fit that we celebrate it together with most of our close family members. I know one thing, they are not complaining, not even the least. I showed up to Grandmama’s house this year with a fake tree and she didn’t say a word. We’ve had a real tree, cut down from the woods since I can remember. All of my early childhood memories are of me, my brother, father, and grandfather scavenging the woods to find “that perfect one”. She never moved a single ornament on that tree either. It didn’t matter where my brother or I placed them. She wanted it to stay exactly where it was because she knew it made us happy. This year she (and Grandaddy) are happy, just because we’re here. While we know that the Lord has a calling on our lives, spending as much time with our family before we go is something very important to us all.

My kiddos were able to make a memory tonight. Decorating the tree (Nana helped too), with mostly all hand made ornaments while picking out their most favorite one. Mine is a small crocheted teddy bear. Those memories flooded my heart tonight. Remembering making most of the ornaments in school or crafting at her house after school. Remembering the smell of the fresh cut tree mixed with the smell of USA Gold cigarettes, because Dad and Grandaddy had to smoke at least one before using the chainsaw to cut the tree down and another on the way back home.

I wanted to make this year memorable and special. For my kiddos and family. I have no idea what next year holds for us. Hopes and dreams can change in the blink of an eye. We just have to have faith and believe that the Lord will lead us in the right direction, in HIS time. Please continue to pray for our PI family. They are ready for us to be there. Warmest wishes this holiday season! Merry Christmas one and all!

We decided to change things up a bit this year, so we loaded up Amos and Big Mama and left for the beach. This was my first year in a very long time to not host our families at our home and spend hours cooking and cleaning. I’ll be honest, I missed it. Well, maybe not the cleaning part. We did, however, get to spend some much appreciated time with extended family at their RV resort in Foley as well as my Aunt and Uncle’s house. Shout out to both, you guys rocked at cooking this year.

We would have been celebrating the Holidays in PI this year, but COVID had other plans. When you guys pray, please say a prayer for them. Especially during this time. The world is dealing with so many things, and we’re still unsure of so much. One thing is for certain though, we still have faith. Our hope is in Jesus, and we know what he has promised us. We’re just waiting on his timing.

This holiday season will look very different for many families. I encourage you all to look past the surface. Look into the heart and soul of those around you. Forget about the politics. Forget that someone’s beliefs are different from your own. Love them. Pray for them, because that’s what Jesus would want you to do. Many are struggling to pay bills, buy groceries, find a job, and are just trying to survive. Be that person with a kind smile, and just love them. Just because.

Happy Thanksgiving from The McNairs

It’s been another busy week for us McNairs. I don’t know about you guys, but I was struggling trying to tackle things the last few days. Shout out to Amazon for helping out this mama and getting the kiddos costumes on time. Couldn’t have done it without you. This was our first year not to trick or treat from house to house, but I can promise y’all our campground did not disappoint. How have I lived 31 years of my life and never known that the campgrounds are where it’s at??? I feel like I’ve been robbed. Seriously. I mean, everyone knows that the kids get candy for the parents right? It’s like their remittance for us carrying and birthing them. I can’t be the only mom that tells their kids this.

On a side note, despite all the challenges that have occurred this year, it was nice to feel normal again. Bless Scarlett’s heart, she was so glad to be out doing things she didn’t want to go to sleep for fear that it would end, and she would miss out on something. If you know that child, you know she turns into a pumpkin about 7:30- 8pm every night. 9pm came around and she was crying because she WAS NOT TIRED!!!

I try super hard every year to be that cute matching Pinterest family and have huge intentions of coming up with a really creative costume. I fail every year. Mostly, because the kids have their own opinions and Sam wouldn’t be caught dead in anything that’s not hunting related. So, this year we ended up with a “Nerd” and “Aurora”. Not to be confused with Sleeping Beauty though because “That is not her real name”, per Scarlett McNair. They had a great time and really that is what matters. If you need me after work at all this week, I’ll be at the camper stringing Christmas lights and channeling my inner Griswold. “We’re gonna have the hap- hap happiest Christmas!”.

Hello, All! It’s been quite busy for us McNairs the last couple of weeks. I haven’t had much time to sit and gather my thoughts due to recent events dealing with “Big Mama”. I have a few moments now so I better take advantage of it! We’ve had several things to take care of camper related, which by the way, campers seriously require maintenance. We had to replace our glass pantry door where somebody’s foot went thru it because they were “surfing”. We’ve also had some newbie uh-oh moments. That makes for a trip back to the shop. If you’re planning on buying a camper, just go ahead and put those said moments into your budget. You’re going to need it.

For those that do not know, our ministry started in Royal Rangers. Sam has been a commander since 2005 and I followed in 2008. Most of our ministerial time has been spent pouring into boys/young men of all ages. We’ve watched many grow up from elementary age to adulthood, and we’re still blessed with the opportunity to sow that seed. Every year there is a LEAD Conference where other commanders and leaders gather to learn, share, encourage, and fellowship, which is where we’ve been this weekend.

We have been surround by several mentors the last few days that we hold very close to our hearts. Most have known us since the beginning of our marriage and have watched our ministry bloom over the years. Even though I no longer have my actual father to rely on for advice or just the regular fatherly duties, I have many fatherly men to fill that gap. Men that would do everything in their power to help me if needed. Men that I want my son to look up to because of the role model they are. I can say that without a doubt, they are who I want to have in my corner praying for me.

Also, Sam and I have witnessed A LOT of love for missions during this event, and I’ve got to say I am absolutely blown away. We were invited to share our hearts and testimony, and in return we were given the opportunity to raise funds for our missions project. Huge shout out to all the commanders who gave selflessly. We love and appreciate it more than you know ❤

The McNairs needed a massive brain dump this weekend, so that’s exactly what we did. Generally, our weekends are jam packed with things needing to be done. We still had our usual commitments to take care of, but we left room for a little extra. I don’t know about you guys, but my week was a tad hectic. I had a lot needing to be dumped out. The kids have been on each other’s nerves more than usual lately and Daddy had a full work load as well. We were tired! Most days we’re up by 6am and truthfully the weekends are no different. Thankfully, we carved out a little bit of time to play a very competitive game of Put Put. It only gets competitive because we all want to beat Daddy. He wins EVERY. FLIPPIN’. TIME.

Hopefully, this week will turn out to
be a little less stressful than the last. I’m asked all the time, “How do you get away from each other when you’re frustrated?” One word… Outside. Y’all, outside is our best friend. Sometimes I just have to send the kids on a bike ride, or we go to the park, or if the weather is warm enough we go to the pool which is where we’ve been today. Fresh air is where it’s at. Breaking up the monotony of doing the same thing every day. I’ve truly gained a new perspective living the #camperlife. Realizing that the life we are living now is really worth the effort it took to get here. I can only imagine the joy we’ll feel once we get to our next destination. Whenever that may be…

This weather, y’all. It feels so good outside. If you know us at all then you know we LOVE the outdoors, and fall weather is our favorite weather. The cooler temps and refreshing breeze is much appreciated. We even have Christmas lights on the trees to turn on for nostalgia! By no means is it Christmas time, but the lights make me super happy none the less.

We’re asked on a frequent basis how life is in a camper. This is it. Living life to the fullest extent possible. Spending “S’more” family time as much as possible. When the kids are grown and have families of their own, I want their fondest memories to be times like this. I want them to have adventures and an imagination. Not stuff. Stuff accumulates to more stuff, and eventually that stuff gets thrown out and forgotten about. S’mores is where it’s at, y’all. Big, fat marshmallows smushed together by chocolate and graham crackers. YUM.

I’ve really felt a burden lately for those families that are struggling. Parents and kiddos are experiencing a lot of changes due to current events. If you’re reading this, know that these struggles are only for a season. You’re building your faith. Know that I’m praying for you. More importantly, know that Jesus loves you. If you can find some time this week in your already packed schedule, I encourage you to go to the store. Find the isle with the S’more ingredients and take them home. These will be the moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

I’ve been dreading this day, hoping it would never come. Wishing the laundry fairy would magically make our piles of dirty clothes disappear. It’s like they just show up in the basket one day and you have absolutely no idea where they all came from! 5 loads. F.I.V.E. L.O.A.D.S to wash, dry, and fold!!!! Good grief!!!! On a side note though, our laundry room at the campground has 5 washers and 5 dryers. Super convenient for that mom living the camper life needing to get her real life together. That mom is me, 100%. Y’all, on a serious note, don’t mention the laundry thing to my GM, she’ll have my hide for letting it pile up like that. 

Turns out, the couple hours of quiet time while waiting on the clothes to finish was exactly what I needed. I had time to reflect on all the craziness of this past month. Heck, I’ll be happy do the laundry EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. if it gets me that!! We’re setting in nicely. Most of our things have a place now and I don’t feel as “cluttered”. If you know me you know that I loathe clutter. Organization is definitely on my love language list. Keeping things tidy in such a small space will be a challenge, but I’m confident that we can make it work.

The kiddos and Sam are at the pool currently and that gave me time to clean up the camper and actually cook a real supper. Thanks for all the prayers this week. I have felt them to my bones. It takes a village for sure. Stay tuned for the next post! Love you, all!!!