What are your plans? I hope that you all spend time making those important family memories. May your scrapbook become overloaded with great stories to be told for generations to come!
June 11, 2013
We left for our six-week road trip today. Finally! It was
difficult trying to decide what was important and what was the “fluff”. I guess
we will learn what the necessities are during the next six weeks. We suspect
that this will be a lesson of various objectives. First, we will be living in a
27 foot fifth wheel. (Did I mention there are no tip-outs?) So, space will be
limited and nerves will become very short. The question is, how long will that
take?
We are grateful that we don’t have many definite plans. With
the exception that we need to be in South
Dakota by the 5th of July to pick up the
oldest boys at the airport, we are on no time frames. I have never been good
with uncertainty, so this will be a lesson for me.
As we prepared to leave, the youngest daughter was the proud
owner of the flu. She had it two days before we left, then got rid of it the
next day (or so we thought). The day we were pulling out, guess who got sick,
AGAIN! She was a true trooper. We asked her if we should wait at home until she
was completely better, and she said no. She traveled so well, I am a little
embarrassed to say, but she probably did better than I ever have!
On the first night we stayed at Canyon Point Campground just
outside of Forest Lakes, AZ. We didn’t make it far, but at least we were out
the heat! Some of us ate hot dogs and others ate soup. Then after dinner we
watched a movie called Series of Unfortunate Events and ate pumpkin bread
muffins. The kids and the parents settled in for a nice, cool, long nap.
June 12, 2013
So, we were up bright and early this morning. Mady was
feeling much better, but now Naythan was taking his turn with the flu. Poor
kid, he really had a harsh case, worse that Mady. He too was a trooper! We
continued on with our trip and he rested (with the help of Dramamine).
We didn’t have plans for where to stay tonight. Actually,
the original plan was to stay the night in Oklahoma, but with Naythan sick, we didn’t
want to push traveling too hard. Dad recommended we stay at a truck stop, said
it was cheep and they were everywhere so we wouldn’t have trouble finding a
spot. So, we found a spot just outside of Santa
Rosa, New Mexico.
June 13, 2013
The truck stop idea worked well until a semi parked next to
us. He/she blocked our air flow and the air brake was beyond annoying. I barely
slept because of the consistent air brake release and the sweltering weather.
So, dragging ourselves out of bed at 5:00am, we set off for Oklahoma. Next stop would be Amarillo, Texas.
In Texas
we stopped to eat breakfast because it was 11:00 in the morning. We ate at
Panda Express (healthy breakfast, right?) and went across the street to
Wal-Mart and got some stuff for the trailer. After Wal-Mart we stopped off at a
laundromat where we had some laundry to wash (from the sick ones) and we needed
to eat. We met a nice lady there who said that she had visited Phoenix and really liked it. Makes you wonder
if she visited during the summer? She told us about her son that lived in Clinton, Oklahoma.
She said we should be in Oklahoma
in about three hours. She was close on the time estimate, and maybe had we not
been pulling our fifth wheel combined with the high winds, we may have been
close. About three and a half hours later we arrived in Foss, Oklahoma. That was of coarse after our
traditional stop at the state sign for our picture ops.
It has been a long day, but we finally arrived at camp (Foss Lake
State Park). According to
the park information, Foss Lake is the largest lake in Oklahoma. There weren’t that many people
here, but maybe that is because it is a Thursday? I made a simple dinner of
frozen lasagna. The park host was kind enough to tell us about an ice cream
shop in town, and everyone knows how my family LOVES ice cream, so after
dinner, we were off!
It was a beautiful drive through Clinton, OK.
Farm fields everywhere! Some gorgeous houses! We had the most delicious ice
cream at a restaurant called Braums. It wouldn’t take long for this to become
our new favorite place. J
June 14, 2013
The day turned extremely muggy, humidity is obviously high.
No use in showering, while you stand here dripping. We looked for some type of
water activity. We did find a water park, but they obviously really like their
water park, as it was ridiculously overpriced. So, we started to use our
noodles and found a city pool (via the assistance of a nice clerk at the
convenience store). While the pool wasn’t resort worthy (the AJ city looks like
Scottsdale
compared to this one), it did have a slide that everyone partook of.
Thankfully, the pool cooled us off and we were able to make it through the day.
We prayed that the air conditioner on the trailer (we borrowed from my sister)
has cooled off the trailer enough to be able to stand it.
When we arrived at the trailer, we found that the a/c had
really cooled off the trailer (PTL). The dinner menu consisted of steak and
veggies, however tonight there would be no ice cream trip. Instead I surprised
the kids with banana cream pudding (a treat that EVERYONE of my kids has loved
since the first time I have made it). We ended the evening watching a movie
called Flight Plan, and then we were off fish. Mom and dad spent a few hours
relaxing and fishing (we both caught some fish). It seems strange that at 9:30pm
it is still light outside!
July 15, 2013
Well, today was the day we planned to move on to our next
location, but where? Well, Lloyd found this website that listed free RV spots
all over the United States.
I know what you’re thinking, dumps, but I am just cheap enough we gave it a
try! We made our way to El Reno,
Oklahoma. We figured this was
close enough to Oklahoma City,
Ok that we could easily get back and forth between the two towns for sight
seeing and all. The RV site was in the parking lot of a casino. I know, I know,
it sounds horrible, but look at the pics, it’s really not bad! We even had full
hook-ups! Plus, they gave us credits to use in their establishment. So, in
reality, they paid us to stay here. The weather is warm, and a little muggy,
but we will march on through this!
Because we arrived so late in El Reno (we really had to go slow with the
winds pushing us all over the place on the interstate) we didn’t have time to
go do a lot of sight seeing. We did however, travel down to Moore, Oklahoma.
As we drove through the town, we were left speechless. The damage is
indescribable! Here we were in the middle of this tornado destroyed zone. I can
only imagine what the people were thinking/feeling as they hunkered down in
their storm shelters waiting for the storm to pass. As we walked the site of
the second school (we learned later that there was a different school that was
hit first, but because there were no deaths, there wasn’t as much media
attention given to it), the mood was somber. There were seven crossed on the
site of the elementary school, one for each one of the children who perished
that fateful day.
As we walked around, we were able to look inside of the
storm shelters. We were able to
see the houses, some of
them were merely the concrete foundation and others there were some walls still
standing. The most amazing part of this walk was the fact that not all the
houses in the path were gone. One would be nothing but the foundation, but the
house next door would just have roof damage (or so it appeared). Cars were
crushed, laying in the middle of a living room. Glass and debris were
everywhere.
We wanted to volunteer, but there was a bunch of red tape
that we would have to go through first. The town was having issues with people
digging through the rubble to find treasure that they would steal in the hopes
of selling for a profit at a later date. I can’t imagine the thoughts of
someone trying to profit off of another person’s misery. (But this is America, and I
guess in more ways that one we do that on a daily basis.) The worst part for
our family is that because of someone else’s bad choices, we are not able to
help in a timely manner.
As we left Moore,
the lesson that became very clear to me is to not attach yourself to things.
Those things can be gone in an instance. Attach yourself to the memories, keep
those in a safe place in your heart. When the day comes that you must face your
own storm, you won’t have to worry about loosing them. Think about it, what
would happen today if you house literally blew away? Instead of leaving this
work with a bunch of stuff, leave a legacy that can’t be destroyed by weather
(or anything else). Leave a strong, faith-ground family that will leave the
same (or even stronger) legacy of their own.
July 16, 2013
Today was the day that the kids were overly excited for. We
promised them an amusement park, and so they got their wish. They had two
choices. One was an amusement park with roller coaster rides and a small water
area, The other was sickly a water park. The kids chose the first. So, we
headed off to Frontierland, a Six Flags park. I think the park left a lot to be
desired by all of us. There weren’t a lot of rides, and the water section was
small. We did ride some roller coasters (even I did, and with my habit of
getting motion sickness easily, I did well). The kids had a good time, they
seemed to enjoy the park. They even enjoyed the water area. It was a great way
to cool off when things got too humid!
June 17, 2013
Today was the day we set aside to view the Softball National
Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma City Memorial. Our first stop was at the ASA
Softball National Hall of Fame, the place where all the rules of the little
league come from. I learned today the difference between pitching when I was in
high school and pitching for today’s high school girls’ team. It was amazing to
look at the last 100 years of softball (ok, maybe less than that). Mady was
really excited to see memorabilia from players who we have watched play on TV.
The last stop for today was at the site of the Oklahoma City
Bombing. While this site was somber, there were some amazing features. First,
what was the street where the bomber drove up is now a pool of water. At one
end of what was the street, there is an archway (where you enter). On the arch,
there is the time stamped 9:01. (The picture is the back side of the arch. For
whatever reason, I forgot to photograph the other side of the arch.)
On the far end of what was the street is another arch, and
stamped on it is 9:03.
According to the park ranger, the bomb detonated at 9:02.
So, 9:01 represents what was, For instance, people getting ready for work,
driving into work, dropping off their kids, etc. At 9:02 their world would change
forever. There would be nothing of the “normal” from 9:01 or earlier. At 9:03
the new “normal” began, and more importantly, the healing began. So, as you
leave the last arch, you go into a new world, with a new understanding, to
create a new “normal”. How unthinkable that is just a few short minutes, lives
would be completely and forever changed. To me it is unthinkable. There are so
many questions. Why? Why didn’t one of the conspirators stop this before it was
too late? Why didn’t he know that he parked that truck right under the daycare
center? Seems like someone as a society we missed the ques. Maybe there were
none to miss. Whatever the case it, April 19, 1995 will forever be one of the
events that will forever be remembered in American history.
June 18, 2013
Today we landed in Marion,
Kansas. Quaint little town, with
buildings that are older than any I have seen around home. This has to be where
The Andy Griffith Show was taped. Well, maybe that isn’t the most historically
correct statement, but this place is a close look-a-like!
We stayed at Cottonwood Point Campground. This is a park
developed by the CORPS. It is a nice park, with hookups, facilities with
running/flushing water, and a great view! Check it out!
We spent the next five nights here. We had only planned to
stay four nights, but due to an unforeseen accident, mom was not ready to
travel until a day later than arranged. You see, my wonderful husband tried to
give me a gift. I have always wanted a hammock that I could lay in when we were
camping. What a great place to lay are read and enjoy the coolness that is the
forest. Well, he found a hammock, found two perfect trees, and arranged it so
that I would be able to lay for hours in silence. When he (and the kids) got it
done, I proceeded to lay it in. Needless to say, that in a matter of seconds,
the plastic ring that held it to the tree and the hammock broke. The board to
the hammock slammed me in the head and the entire contraption went straight to
the ground. My back, which up until this point has been doing remarkably well,
went into spasms almost immediately. So, unable to travel, we postponed our
departure for a day. I guess this is one of those times that you need to be
thankful for not having definite plans.
Right now in Kansas
it seems to be wheat and corn season. Everywhere you go this is plenty of both.
Today, June 22, 2013, we were able to watch some farmers as they began to
harvest their wheat. Talk about work-a-holics. It’s Saturday for goodness sake.
I guess for farmers there must be no such thing as weekends off. Wonder if they
take Sunday off?
While we were at Walmart (needed to replenish our supplies)
we were soon aware that it must be the shopping day for the locale Mennonite
families. The kids were excited to see “Amish people” walking around Walmart.
Funny, I had just done some studies on Mennonite versus Amish so I was able to
enlighten them on the differences, or at least the ones that I knew about. Many
times I have wondered if that is the life we are suppose to lead. I tell you,
with this road trip, I am learning the difference between necessity and
indulgence. I think that the Mennonite (and even some Amish) may be living
right. If only we could rely less on the indulgent things in our world. I
wonder how long my kids could go with that lifestyle.
We also had a movie date with the kids. The boys went to see
Man of Steel and the girls saw Monsters
University. It was fun to
break apart for awhile and let each of the kids pick their own movie.
Kansas
is really a beautiful state. The humidity I could do without, but I suppose if
I had a house here, with real A/C, I wouldn’t really care about the humidity.
We did find a house here that we love. Too bad there are too many things that
hold us to Arizona.
Maybe we could look at retiring here? Who knows.
Tomorrow (June 23, 2013) we will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
This will be the longest part of the trip (the most miles at once). Praying
that the kids will handle it well, or at least not kill each other on the way
there.
We arrived in Lenox. South
Dakota. We were blessed to be able to be “put up” for
the night at a cousin’s cabin. Now, every time they talked about putting us up
at a “cabin” they made it sound as though it were a little shed type building,
nothing spectacular. However, when we arrived here, we were in for a huge
surprise. This place is amazing!
The kids have enjoyed hanging with their cousins, James (4)
and Ashton (3). They have had movie nights and have spent time swimming in the
pond. They have also learned all about paddle boats and floating docks. It has
been an amazing time for them!
We also had a family outing to the Falls. These falls were
once used to power Sioux Falls,
South Dakota. Many, many years
ago.
The next day we had the opportunity to surprise my grandpa
at a local restaurant. He was speechless. Actually, at first I was wondering if
he recognized me at all. It was awesome! He had no idea our family was in town.
The waitress at the restaurant took their drink order and I delivered the
drinks. He was totally surprised.
During dinner we made plans to go to the Sioux Falls Zoo
with my grandpa. It has been years!!!!! The kids made friends!
We had a great time. This was definitely a time I will
always remember. How often does your 90 year old grandpa go to the zoo with
you????
