We have another half hour to go.  If they haven't showed up by then (8 p.m.), we'll know that they won't be coming until 8 a.m. tomorrow.  Or maybe not.  They could phone at 8 a.m. to cancel their reservation altogether.

Welcome to Shiloh!  People make reservations to stay at our Spiritual Retreat Center.  Some of them turn  into "No Shows".  Some phone and cancel.  Or send an email or text message canceling their reservation.  Sometimes we turn others away because reservations are taken on a first come first served basis.  And then if they end up not coming (no-show or otherwise) we feel kind of bad for the ones we turned away.  

Of course we haven't started talking about the drop in guests.  They ring the door bell; we open the gate; and there they are, bag in hand, confident that we will have a room just waiting for them!  And sometimes we actually do have a room.  But how many times have we had to say "We are soooo sorry, but Shiloh is full up."  We've had tears, begging, pleading, and all sorts of pressure put on us.  But our "no" is really "no", no matter how bad we feel.  So we give them our business card and urge them to phone ahead next time and make a reservation.  (Some actually take a several hour bus ride to come to Shiloh for their week of vacation from their job, without ever making reservations ahead of time!  It boggles the mind!)

But this particular case is different.  They notified us a handful of hours ago that one of their children just spiked a temperature.  If aspirin takes care of it, they will go ahead and continue on with Plan A, and come in tonight by 8 p.m.  (Don't know who will be taking care of the kids...but am confident they have it all worked out.) However if their child's temp continues to climb, they will (Plan B) spend the night at home and watch him closely.  If things improve by morning, they will (Plan C) arrive at 8 a.m. to have their looked forward to weekend get away from the kids.  We graciously told them that even if they have to cancel out at 8 a.m. (Plan D), there is no problem at all.  Several of us here at Shiloh are parents.  We fully understand illness that hits without warning.  Besides, we're just so glad they have contacted us, instead of leaving us dangling like so many others do.

So Welcome to Never A Dull Moment Shiloh!  Welcome to Never Two Days the Same Shiloh!  (It's a bit crazy at times, but we wouldn't have it any other way.)