Out with the old and in with the new

I think this is my last post for this blog.  Since this blog was about our Great Adventures on the road and hopefully that has come to an end, I would like to move on to a new blog called, 'Where We Belong'.  (also a song by Steven Curtis Chapman)

I loved our time on the road, but I'm glad it's over and that we are home.  I'm thankful for the insight and journey GOD put us on and in our path, but it's time to move on. So with that, thank you for reading my blog for the past several years. 

If you would like to continue to follow me, please leave a comment and a way to contact you, so I can direct you to the new blog.  :)

Whole....

So apparently, when DH and I thought all the big dishes dropped and busted all over the floor, it turned out it was only a couple.  The large bowl was shattered and some of the small and middle plates.  I really never used the small ones. Boy!  did they ever leave a mess though. 
I was so happy when DS looked in the cabinent and saw the big plates and said, "Mom, there's a bunch of big plates in here!"  I made him count them.  LOL  There was like 6 or 8.  I was elated!  :)


In other news, on our way to Freeport Sunday, dh got a call from a friend offering him a better job in Houston.  After praying and weighing the options, we decided to take that job.  The pay is a little less, but there were more pluses.

• Dh wouldn't have to work in the office and the field (in a chemical plant)
• We would be even closer to family and friends
• We aren't on the immediate gulf coast (always a plus during hurricane season)
• Lots of overtime
• Direct hire with benefits
• Long term
• Gets to work with a group of Christian men!!!

GOD is SO good!  When our economy is the way it is, DH had a job in Amarillo, got another offer which we were going to take in Freeport, and still got a better job in Houston!  I think that's proof of serving a GOOD GOD, and a testimony of if you abide in HIM.  ;)

We drove to League City on Sunday instead of Freeport, so DH could go in and talk to his friend on Monday.  After he for sure got the job, we stayed there until yesterday, visiting some of our favorite friends.  Yesterday, we moved the RV to a super nice RV Resort.  We have all kinds of nifty amendities.

• exercise room
• wifi
• cable
• our dog can be outside during the day, as long as we are here at the RV
• swimming pool
• spa
• dog runs
• dog wash
• trash pick up
• propane refills-yeah, they come over and pick up your bottle!
• store
• next door to a park with a fishing pond
• full hook ups
• level concrete pad with picnic table
• Nice, clean laundry facilities
• Clean restrooms and showers (not that we would use them often)

Might not be a big deal to some people, but after you live in an RV for a long time, you appreciate some parks more than others.  Just ask the boy!  LOL

Still need an apartment for Doodles by Friday morning.  That's a little stressful, but I know GOD will figure it out.  (wish I would let it go, and not worry about it)
Have to go up to KS and help her move and be a hand model for her on Saturday.  I'm leaving tonight, driving as far as I can before I get tired, and finish up tomorrow. 
Prayers would very much be appreciated.

Blessings!

Broken....

While driving on Friday, we had a minor setback.  We stopped to replace the other two tires in Amarillo.  After we went to get lunch.  When we got into the RV, there were broken dishes everywhere. :(  Apparently, someone left the cabinent open and they slid out hitting the stove grate and smashing into pieces all over the place.  I used to pack them, and then one time we forgot, and found out they were fine.  Well until the other day.  No more fancy Corelle Sunflower large plates.  :(  Sad, I liked those dishes.  Not much I can do about it, other than get some new dishes. 

Okay, so slight change of plans...

We are going to drop the RV off in Brenham today at DH's parents, make our way back to KS, get dd an apartment, get some stuff out of storage in Arkansas, bring the boat down and settle somewhere in the Freeport area this week.  I'll try to post sometime on the road.  PLEASE pray for a smooth and safe trip...I'm not in the mood for the "adventures" that we had on the way here.  OY!

Thanks and blessings!

"Rolling, rolling, rolling"..."keep them doggies rolling"

"On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again"

Do you sense the theme?  LOL

We are headed to Freeport, TX. Dh is leaving this job and headed down to start another one on 8-1. Things here have been interesting to say the least. The company has made promises, not followed through, etc. So it's a good time to move on, since the opportunity arose. We will be closer to family and friends, even if it's for a short period of time (3-6 months).

We are headed to KC this weekend to pick up some things and also find Doodles a new place to live. She needs to move closer to school, and get a job near there. Currently, it's an hour away. Oy to the gas prices! She has a interview on Friday at 3pm. Prayers would be appreciated, not only for favor and a job, but the hours she needs to pay for her new place....where ever that may be.

Blessings!

Amarillo by morning

Well...The saga continues.
Instead of KC, we are headed to Amarillo in the morning. 
Today, dh went to NM with the new/old boss to do a walk down at a job site.  It gave him something to do for the day. 
After posting, and dh got back with the new tires, we were headed to the tire place to have them check the other tires.  On the way over there, the boss from KC called and asked dh what happened in the meeting.  Dh really isn't sure why the guy did what he did.  He has some thoughts on it, but I'll skip on explaining those.  Then the boss asked if dh would mind going to Amarillo.  Dh said, "Nope, as long as I get to keep working."  So the um "adventure" continues.

Because I can't just have a "semi" normal life..............

Nope....I have to have a life of "ADVENTURE"  or most people would probably call it life's mishaps....


First of all, DD did find a place to live until the end of July.  She was at work Thursday night, and I was hanging out in the Bistro section.  A co-worker of her's walked by as she was working in Starbucks.  I happened to be over there chatting with her at the time.  She asked him if he knew anyone looking for a roommate or had an apartment avaliable.  He said his sister was trying to sublease her apartment.  To make a long story short, it all worked out and dd is still in KS.


Now for the continuing saga of my great adventures....
We left KS yesterday morning around 5:30.  It's a 12 hour drive to Midland from there.  We had been on the road approximately an hour before the "adventures" begin. sigh~

We had a blowout outside of Topeka.  We got it changed.  Back on the road. DH informs me that we are going to go to Dallas to meet some friends for lunch. 

Uh...honey, we've been up since 3:45 am.  We've had a blowout.  Dallas is 2 hours out of the way.  Then there will be dinner and visiting time.  So the 8 hours we had still to go (from the destination at time DH told me about Dallas visit) now we have at least 12 hours more to go!!!!  UGH!

After the visit in Dallas, we had 6 hours to go.  We traveled 2 of the 6 and were totally pooped out.  DH talked to his supernice boss.  Boss said no worries, be careful, etc. 

We stopped in Ranger, TX at an RV park.  Spent the night.  On the road by 7:30.  Stop in Big Spring for lunch.  On the road 30 minutes or less....ANOTHER BLOWOUT!!!!  This time no spare.  Midland about 30 minutes away.  DH and DS take tires to get replacements.  $300!  YIKES!!!

While waiting to get tires mounted on rims, and as I am typing this....DH goes to office and meets the boss and the client. After the meeting I get a call from DH. The client doesn't want DH on the project, SO after all this "ADVENTURE", we are now heading back to KS in a few days.  DH is going to NM to do a walkdown tomorrow with the new/old boss.  DH still has a job in the KC office, though.  That's certainly a plus!  (Thank YOU, LORD!)  and the company is paying for all the expenses, minus the tires.

I wonder if I can have my job back at the park?  ;)

House deal etc.

The house deal fell through.  :( The owner decided he didn't want to owner finance or lease.  Not good for us, because DH is suppose to start work in Midland on Monday. Now we don't have a place for oldest dd.  We have to leave our stuff in storage-spread all across the country.  :(  We have no idea how long we will be gone. This really cause a problem because dd works here after months of searching for a job-is she suppose to drop her job only for us to be gone a few days, weeks, months? 

Thanks all for praying.  I've kinda come to the conclusion over the past 2-3 years it doesn't matter....GOD's will is done either way and we can't change that. 

The Stars at night are big and bright....

Dh started a new job today in KC.  We will at some point be going to Midland for him to solidify the relationship with the client and work on the project. We could be there six months to a year, then dh would return to work out of the office in KC. 

In the meantime, Doodles plans on staying here to go to Beauty school to become a nail tech....eventually wanting to own a salon....and working at the grocery store and Starbucks (inside the grocery store).

We need to find her a place to live.  We'll of course be taking the RV with us.  We found a cute little 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house, on the outskirts of town, on 10 acres.  DH spoke to the  owner about owner financing or leasing.  Hopefully he will agree to one or the other.  Doodles would have a place to live, we could finally pull our stuff out of storage, and have a place to call home when we return to KC.  So prayers would be appreciated that we have supernatural favor in the matter.  Thanks!

God Morning, etc

Part of my lack of blogging was because I was/maybe still am angry with GOD. I didn't want to post negative things, even though I'm struggling with my faith and life in general.  I can't explain all of it, but I know I'm getting pretty tired of living in an RV and never knowing what's next.  I know I should just accept the fact that that's the way my life is, but I want a "normal life".  Yeah, I know, "what is normal?"  Normal to me would be, living in a house, having a daily routine, hubby going to work and coming home.  Living on the road is sometimes like that.  Sometimes it's not.


I really would appreciate prayers and encouragement here on my blog if you stop by to read.  Life isn't always peaches and cream.  I, too, need encouragement. 


A friend of mine on FB posted God Morning....I wonder if she meant God Morning or Good Morning?  I thought it was interesting.  It made me think, It is a GOD morning.  Every morning is.  I wonder how many times I think that though?  Do I wake up every morning thinking, "This is a GOD morning!"  I'll have to admit I don't.  I really don't wake up all happy and joyful in the morning, usually.  I kinda wish I could sleep all day most days.  It usually takes me awhile to wake up.  I don't drink coffee, either.  Once I'm finally up, if I don't have anything to do, I usually just drag. Somedays, I read the WORD, other days I don't.  (hey always trying to keep it real, here) 


GOD morning reminds me of the day is what you make of it. 

Blessings for now!

Common Sense

Maybe it's just me...but I really thinking this generation lacks common sense.  sigh...

For example there is this sign when you enter the park:

Then there's this one:

or how about this one when you get up to the front of the booth:

So if that's the case, why do I get questions like:

Do I need a permit to come into the park?

I'm just dropping off so and so, do I need a permit?

I'm going over to the marina, do I need a permit? (the marina is in the park)

We just want to drive around the park, do we need a permit?

Or how about these pictures-what do you suppose these mean?

or this one?

or how about this one?

But instead, what does a car do today, right in front of the ranger? 

Yes, I'm serious!

And how about this sign?

This is by far the most annoying!  Because I get questions like this:

The beach is closed?  (um that's what the sign says, the beach has been closed almost all summer)

When will the beach be open? (um, now how would I know that?  maybe when the water goes down?)

Why is there high water?  (um perhaps because it rained for days?)

AND before we had due to high water and the sign just said, "Beach closed"

we would get things like?

Why is the beach closed?  It's not because of e-coli is it?  (Seriously if it was e-coli, ONE, wouldn't it be all over the news?  TWO, would we even have the park open?  THREE, would we allow you to go boating?)

Sometimes I wish Jay Leno was standing by to record these....LOL

Blessings until next time!

Hey for all you people that think I'm nuts...

LOL!  For all you people that think I'm nuts for living in an RV, check this out:
http://vitality.yahoo.com/video-second-act-jay-shafer-20910192
I think it's a great concept, and everyone should give it a try!  :)

Free Rent!

We are staying at a state park.  They needed volunteers to help  at the gate.  DH and I got information, thinking it might mean we could stay at the park without having to move every two weeks. (You can only stay at a state park camp for a certain number of days.  You then have to leave for 5 days and can come back for another 2 weeks).
We are now volunteers at the gate.  We help sell fishing licenses, annual passes to the state parks, day passes, etc.  We get a 50 amp site for free and we don't have to move from site to site or park to park.  PTL! 
Yesterday was my first day.  I did okay.  I only messed up twice.  :D  It was fun.  The woman that is training me is an older lady, and she's very kind and nice.  We enjoyed visiting with one another.  It's also entertaining meeting the people that come through the gate. 
Blessings until next time!

Lots of right and wrongs...

Apparently, there are right and wrong ways to do all kinds of stuff.  Today, I found out there is a right and many wrong ways to make cinnamon toast!  who da think it?  LOL
I knew there was a right and wrong way to make grilled cheese, my friend Marian's way-the wrong way and my way-the right way...lol, but cinnamon toast? 
Go to the Pioneer Woman's blog and find out for yourself!

BTW I was out of town this weekend...we went to Fargo one last time to gather the rest of our stuff.  I didn't feel the need to cry tears of saddness as I left-lol-only tears of joy!  LOL 

We left Thursday night around 8 pm, drove to Iowa City, and stopped for the night.  We ended up dwaldling the rest of the drive and got up to Fargo around 6:30. Worked until about 10:30...the rest of the weekend is a blur...we got up Saturday morning at 6:30 and worked and worked and worked until around 1:30 am when we finally left.  Then we drove and stopped and drove and stopped a few times until I was rested enough to drive most of Sunday. We got in around 7 pm, showered and plopped ourselves in bed!

Now we just have to go down to Arkansas and gather the stuff from there and put it all together in one storage unit...work, work, work!  I told DH, if we don't have a house in a year, we are getting rid of it all, and living in the RV from here on out.  It's too much work and money to gather up stuff and move it from storage to storage!

Blessings until next time!

Oh the drama!

After yesterday, I wonder, am I the only one that has drama in my life?  It just seems like I have more dramatic things happen than most people?  Is it me?  or is it the enemy trying to come against me? 

Tuesday, dh got an advance on pay.  The vp (dh's boss) understood that we were going through some financial situations and advanced dh pay.  I used the instant deposit online for our credit union.  Now mind you, we haven't had a lot of money, so some things have had to wait to be paid.  One of them was one of our vehicles.  We have a loan with this particular vehicle at the credit union.  Apparently, they are at liberty to take the money out of our account, without our knowledge, to pay their loan.  Unfortunately, that was going to go to our house payment.  That's okay...dh got paid on Wednesday a full pay check.  The VP said he would have payroll deduct the advance over the following two pay checks. 

Because I already made a deposit online, I couldn't deposit the other check online.  You're only allowed to deposit a certain amount of money per number of services you use with the credit union. 

So yesterday, because I couldn't deposit the money online, and we needed to get our house payment made, we first tried to open an account at a local credit union.  That didn't work...didn't understand the whole situation, but nevertheless, it didn't.

We go to where the paycheck is drawn from.  We were going to open an account.  That didn't work...we don't have a local address, other than a mail box (even though it's a street address, because remember I got an $80 mail box through UPS? LOL)

So we go back to the credit union, because on their site it said they have shared branching.  Shared branching is so you can use their services as if they were your credit union.  Well guess what?  It's only for their members.(don't ask...it didn't make sense to me either!)

The saga continues...
We go back to the bank that the check was drawn on, and decide to get it cashed.  The girl that told us we couldn't open an account because of the address situation, was hesitant to cash the check.  I could see dh's face beginning to boil...he was going to explode if she hadn't cashed that check. Fortunately, she cashed it.

I finally was able to get a cashier's check and mail the house payment.  Praise GOD! 

So seriously, am I the only one with this much daily drama?  Please tell me no.

Blessings for your weekend!

Complaining-not okay

I'm afraid that through my posts on Facebook and here on my blog, I've mislead people into thinking I don't complain or gripe about moving.  That's not true.  I gripe and I complain, sometimes often, especially if it's a place I don't like, or don't connect to.  Sometimes it's because it's new, and I'm (we're) having a hard time adjusting.  I'm human, I make mistakes, I complain.  Please don't think that I always handle moving with grace.  It's not easy living on the road.  I try to make the most of it.  You know when life gives you lemons, make lemonade...instead of throwing them at the neighbor.  LOL  ;)  But there are times I want to throw the lemons. 

But I try to keep things all in persceptive too, this is only a temporary situation.  This is only a temporary home.  My home is heaven.  Change is good, we need to learn to embrace change and be flexible to what GOD wants from us.  It's all learning to die to self.  NO, it's not always easy, AND believe me, it's not always fun!   It's a process, like anything else, in coming up higher, for the kingdom.  I don't want to be going around the mountain 40 years either because I grumbled and complained the whole time. 

GOD hates when we complain and grumble.  The other day, Thursday, the night before Good Friday, I started to complain, and then I realized what day it was. JESUS went to the cross for me, beaten and battered, to the point HIS body was mangled and HE didn't look human anymore.  HE was hung on a cross afterwards with long, sharp thrones pierced in HIS skull...I could go on, but at that moment, I realized I had no business complaining.  I started crying.  I repented and asked the LORD to give me strength and remind me not to complain.  I thanked HIM for HIS sacrifice and HIS love and commitment to me, that HE never leaves me or forsakes me.  I've commited myself to focus on HIS death and resurrection and what HE did on the cross as a reminder to not complain.  My goal is to continue to do that each time I think about complaining, because it could always be worse.

Blessings until next time!

There's no place like home...

Remember in the "Wizard of Oz" where Dorothy said that?  Well, now we can say that too, and be talking about Kansas...well at least temporarily.  Dh got a temp to possible perm job here in Kansas. 

Dh interviewed for the company back in January.  The company has been waiting to hire him direct until they have long term projects.  Currently, there is a contract project for dh to do.  We don't know how long it will last, but at least it's something for now to pay the bills until other things get started-Dh wants to build a BBQ pit and sell sandwiches, along with other treats,  as a vendor to fairs, festivals, etc. 


A few weeks ago, we moved about 1/3 of our stuff and the RV down to AR (all before we found out that we were going to KS).  That meant last week when we got back to ND we needed to finish up packing and loading our stuff, dh needs to sheetrock the ceiling in the kitchen and bathroom of the yucky farm house...guess what?  We didn't get it all done...so now we have 1/3 of our stuff in AR, 1/3 of our stuff in ND, and 1/3 of our stuff here in KS, because this weekend we pulled the lowboy down here to KS, then went down to AR and got the RV...but we still have to go down and get our stuff out of storage in AR and go back to ND and get our stuff and finish sheetrocking...

So much to do, so little time to enjoy traveling...sigh...not even sure if this post is making any sense...lack of sleep because of all the traveling...

Blessings until next time. (oh and prayers appreciated)

Goals for 2010

I'm not one to do make New Year's resolutions.  But I do like to set goals.  My friend, Susan, set her goals for 2010 and said she would like to hear ours...so this post is for her.


1. I, too, will be fasting for 21 days.  It will be a Daniel fast.  I will begin today.  (I would have started yesterday, but that's ds's 14th bday!)
My purpose in fasting is (no particular order):

• direction for 2010
• deeper/closer relationship with GOD
• financial breakthrough
• better relationship with my dh
• to see family members and friends saved

2. I plan on fasting once a week thereafter.

3. I've decided, with our current financial situation, to seriously look at something and decide do I need this, before I buy it.  If I don't, then I won't.  I don't think this is a survivalist mentality.  I don't believe in a survivalist mentatlity.  I do believe in being wise with what GOD gives us, and currently that's enough to pay bills and buy food.  I don't need to go into debt to have something I don't need right now.

4. Pay off the current debt we do have on credit cards.  (We actually were almost done paying off credit cards and then used them here to pay for gas and the rv park, also the roof at home)

5. Get my kids caught up with school work. We have fallen behind because of all our travels and moving.  Not that they aren't learning life lessons and history along the way, but we still need to get caught up in "paperwork".

Blessings until next time

The obvious....

WARNING:  THIS is a MAJOR GRIPE POST!!!

Why are people compelled to tell me the obvious?  It drives me nuts....maybe they forgot (and yes, I told them) that I grew up where it was cold, and have lived in cold as an adult.  It's not winter yet...that doesn't take place for another few weeks...so the obvious, "It's going to get colder"  umm, yeah, is the obvious!


Also, why are people compelled to tell me, "I understand".  You do?  Really?  Do you?  Have you lived in a tent for a summer?  or a motel for months, cooking out of a crock pot and trying to homeschool your kids?  Have you moved 25+ times? Have you lived on the road for the past 10 years, doing what GOD tells you , and yet because of other people's disobedience you are to shake the dust off your shoes and move on?   You understand how I miss my friends?  How I have to go through the process of being friendly and social, even when the rest of you aren't?  How my family has to make new friends and then leave?  Have you had your children rejected by other kids, because the kids are little self righteous brats?  YOU understand?  REALLY??? ARE YOU SURE???????????

Because I don't think you do!!!!  Really I don't...not when you've lived in the same place for the past 20+ years, have friends where you live, etc...I don't think you do, so give me a break!!!

I can understand that you don't understand...but don't say you do, when clearly you don't.  And don't go around and tell people (namely my dh) well she needs to get over it, and it's her fault why things haven't come together for you all yet...because you don't know me well enough to make that judgement call! 

I have been friendly, I have walked in love, yes, I complained (only minor about living here), yes, I have gone the extra mile, so instead of judging me,  will you pray for me? I thought that's what we are suppose to do for one another, lift them up, bear one another's burdens, encourage and help where we can...at least that was my impression of GOD's word...maybe I'm wrong???? and NO, I will not confront this person's ignorance.  I will pray for them, but needed to get this out of my system!

(Climbing off my soap box now)

Home to RV safely!

We got back to the RV yesterday around 3 pm. DD had a very dull birthday...sad...several bdays in a row have been a bummer for her and often we are on the road. This year we even had to do laundry and then went to the store and got a cake. :) Oh well...guess it's all part of becoming an adult!

Dh did surprise us by taking us to Kansas City, MO for a Royals game on Friday night. We got there Thursday, and my sister surprised us (well dh knew). We had a blast and also got to meet one of my Homeschool Lounge friends, Kelly and her precious little boys, that were just darling!

Other than that, not much new...house looked good, TX wasn't terribly hot in the less than 24 hours we were there...lol...um and we got the boat...which made dh very happy!

Blessings!