Day 3 - The Quirkiest Town in America

Travel Tip of the Day - To prepare for grooming at campgrounds: take a cookie sheet, nail it to the wall, now apply your makeup.

We are getting travel days down to a fine art.  I wake up early. I take Yuuki for a 40 - 60 min walk. I wake everyone else up and we head for the shower house. We grab a "road breakfast,"  button up The Caboose and take off.

Arielle specifically told Yuuki she could not have the seat by the window - 100 miles later Yuuki had the seat AND the blanket.

 

Eventually, they shared.

We stop for lunch at a Pilot or Flying J. Michael fills up while I run the kids through the restroom and get seated at Denny's. We order. I get Yuuki and walk around with her - good for both of us - until the food arrives. I've been getting 10 - 13K steps a day - even with sitting for 10 - 12 hours in the van. Denny's makes a special veggie skillet for Arielle and me - we just had to figure out what to ask for.  Today, we extended beyond both sides of the RV parking space. LOL

 

We saw a lot of this.....

 

Until we saw this - proof that Walmart is an alien tool

 

At the campground, Yuuki vows to protect us from all aliens until Michael returns.

 Yes, we are spending the night in America's Quirkiest Town - Roswell, New Mexico. We arrived, set up in TEN MINUTES, and then walked around town and enjoyed the sights.

 

INTERNATIONAL UFO Museum and Research Center - unfortunately, it was closed. I really wanted to check this out.

 

This business sign cracked me up.

Zander, Nolan, Arielle, "Bob", Me and Stacia and "Larry"

 

 Another Christian Store

Weather Balloon Pilots...

 Funny to see the town war between Southwest and Alien themed decor - they go so well together

 

Primitive Baptists meet at the UFO center

 

 

We finished the night with evening snacks, tea and UNO.....and a bit of "minor surgery" for Nolan.

 

Stacia hid in her bunk and yelled out helpful statements such as, "Is it bleeding yet?" and "Are you done stabbing Nolan yet?"

 

 

tomorrow we'll get an 0600 start and arrive in San Angelo. 

Day 2 - Edwards AFB, CA - Holbrook, AZ

We started the day in our $5 budget RV spot at Edwards AFB.....

 

Some roads really do lead nowhere - and this is one them at EAFB

 

Yuuki enjoys a seat to herself while the kids watch Frozen

 

The highlight of the day was a whole BUS LOAD of Japanese Senior Citizen tourists we ran into in a desolated spot in AZ. I wanted to tell them all America is not like THIS. To be honest - America IS beautiful, but we've seen a whole lot of ugly today.  It was hot, run down, dusty....and they were SO impressed with the trailer and the big trucks. "Sagoi, Sagoi....Oki".....and Michael sat at the wheel and had many photos taken.

 

 

We stopped for the night in Holbrook, AZ.  Odd RV park - looks like they leveled 1/2 of a trailer park and built an RV park..... Arielle and I quickly spotted "Creepy man" as we headed to the showerhouse. He has no tent or RV....just pulled his car off across from us and sits......

 

I thought it would be nice to bring the fruit "bowl" into the trailer....nope...going to need to find something smaller when we move in. LOL

 

Chilling.....

 

In her space bubble

Valet Parking - for a TRAILER

Our adventure began in Roseville at Sutter Medical Center.  Travel Tip of the day: "Valet Parking" does not include 31 foot trailer pulled by 15 passenger vans.

We were early and still had time to drive around the medical complex a few times; then the general area. We settled on the back row of parking in a ginormous gym. Wow - this place was huge. It was very busy too for a Monday mid-day.  Michael walked to his appointment and the rest of us settled for about an hour long wait. It was 1115.

I realized this would be the perfect time to make some lunch so we could hit the road without delay after the appointment. 

After lunch the kids elected to remain in the van, "where it was warm,"  and read. Yuuki and I got in a quick mile. We expected Michael back at any time.

Hour two the kids came out of the van and displayed their exceptional inventiveness.


Various versions of Follow the Leader on the curb

Curb Gliding

I shudder to think what would have happened with another hour. We hit the hwy around 1330 - such as it is. We drove until nearly 2300 and ended up here....the overflow parking for Edwards AFB Fam Camp. It's not too bad....we have no electric - but we have lights, a bit of water, left the caboose connected to the trailer for a quick departure in the a.m.

Yes it IS a fam camp - see the red through the trees - Burger King

As it is nearing midnight, we won't get an early start tomorrow - making for another late night - but each day is a day closer to the Texan Gherkins.

Mother's Day 2015

Texts, phone calls, emails....a holiday celebrated well......

 

I am ALWAYS the first one up. This morning I found Stacia and Arielle up. They were busy decorating.

A Pinterest find.....fun pencils, chocolate and bracelets made by Stacia inside the flower centers.

 

Stacia was in charge of decorating and Arielle graciously helped her.

 

By 0630 she was out.

 Next on our agenda was church. After church we had a celebratory lunch at Burger King - because it was convenient, wouldn't be crowded and I HATE eating out on holidays with crowded restaurants. The men went to finish work on the trailer....bless them...it took all day....but they got er done and saved us bucks in the process.

We spent time in the evening to enjoy the loving touches from the kids....

 

Another encouragement to look forward....flamingos and trailer living.

 

Michael bought me these

 

The boys got me teeny tiny office in a box - for the trailer.

 

Sporting new glasses and bracelets made by Stacia

 

A box came earlier in the week. I thought it MAY be something the kids or Michael had ordered. I waited. No one claimed it. I finally asked. No one had ordered anything. Turns out it was a gift from BreZaak. Check it out.....one of the first things I do after each move is put down and welcome mat - and the last thing I do is take it up.....again reminding me that home is not in a state....

Transcripts, Repairs and Snowmen

Saturday was FULL.....

It wouldn't be a trip without a bit of pre-trip repairs. Michael and the boys spent the day discovering why the front side siding of the Caboose is pulling loose and fixing it......It would seem someone discovered they'd cut the front piece too short.....so they simply adjusted their cutting and covered it with trim....this would also explain the water damage in the front closets. The men filled it, glued all the siding back on and put the trim back.

Meanwhile, back at home, it was finally time to take the Christmas wreath and snowmen down.....all but this one which Arielle said needs to keep bringing cheer until we move.

The girls and I spent the day talking with neighbors  and working on transcripts.  Our neighbor wants to buy our trailer if Michael decides to buy an RV - oy vey!

Inputting all the grades onto the transcript gave visible proof that Arielle is s stealth student. She'd completed courses I didn't even know she was taking. She went through the shelves and did courses all the others had requested from time to time.....a very full transcript....and a very impressive one as well. She has ONE .5 credit class that was not an A.....she has two more classes to finish but at this point her GPA is 3.96. I hate to award A's because I'm aware of the "Mommy grade" perception among non-homeschoolers.....but when the tests add up to 99 - they do.  The fact that her sisters graduated at the tip top of their class from the college she is applying too - may help to alleviate the perception of mommy grades. Honestly, she'll need to learn a new way of learning to excel in college....lecture and notes.....and she tends to fall asleep. LOL

Past Meets Present or Look at us Then

Our very first assignment was Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT in 1995. Arielle and Nolan were both born in Great Falls.    We met many lovely people at our first assignment. Chapel truly was family  - your family away from home. I know this isn't always the case - but it's been our experience at each assignment.  One of the families we met at Malmstrom was the Lynn Family. Their Christmas Open House was legendary. I've yet to live up to the benchmark Charity set.  This is what they looked like back in the day.....



F - Christina and Angel
B - David, Charity, Timothy

We looked like this the Sunday we prepared to hop in our van and drive to our second assignment: Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX.  (Alex joined our family during our second assignment and Stacia during our fourth.)

Arielle and Jared in Front, Me and Nolan - 3 months
Bre, Jamin, Krista, Josiah and Michael in the back

Michael made a comment about gas prices in CA (they are really high) on his Facebook timeline this week. Charity sent me a message asking which base we were currently assigned to. I responded and found out Dave and Charity's daughter, Angel and her family were recently assigned to Beale AFB. They are here AT BEALE helping  them move into a base house - HERE - at BEALE. (I think this may have just been a good excuse for Nana to visit Triston but nonetheless that is what we were told).

We met for lunch - and it was fun to see Angel all grown up and meet her husband and son. It was pure joy to reconnect with Dave and Charity. Dave had advice for Michael in navigating the VA system and enjoying retirement. I'm so glad Dave and Charity "happened" to be here in the few days we are here before leaving for TX.

 The best part - they'll be back in August.  They may well be at Michael's retirement. I forgot the camera yesterday but I'll be sure to have it that day....and I can snap a photo of the gherkins and the Lynns all grown up. LOL

It seemed very fitting to be surprised at our last assignment by friends from our first assignment. It is also full circle to see kids we had in RE enlisted and visiting as they begin their service to the country. Yep - full circle.

Some Thoughts

We are in the midst of "lasts."  In little and big ways we are reminded  our time of ministry in the Air Force is coming to a close.  Just a couple lasts from this week....

Monday I wrote my last board agenda for a PWOC board meeting.

Tuesday I taught my last PWOC Bible Study as an Active Duty Spouse - possibly forever.

Wednesday I led my last PWOC board meeting.

Wednesday Michael led the last Family Bible study as an Active Duty Chaplain.

In this season the Holy Spirit continues to remind me that Jesus is the GOOD shepherd. He goes BEFORE us and He will reveal His plans to us.

Most know it is our plan to move into our travel trailer after Michael's retirement while we wait for clarity from God on the next season of ministry. For decades the military has told us where our next season of service will be, where we will live, what Michael will wear...you get the idea. We plan to rest as we remember how to hear from God "outside" the military chain. ::snort::

No matter how exciting the "firsts" could be, the "lasts" are never easy for this gal. I reminded myself coming here it would only be for 2 years and roots should not go deep - but those pesky roots of this "peopler"  don't always obey.

Last weekend's pop up  trip to see Mom G was what my soul needed. In the middle of the busyness and the sadness of the lasts, it was good for our family to catch a glimpse of what waits on "the other side."

Full time RVers....I had pictured ourselves living and schooling surrounded by 90 year old RVers. We met a young family who are full time RVers. They need Jesus. We plan to live in this RV campground at least a month. They don't have a car to get the 7 miles to town - we do. Maybe God is arranging an invitation to Jesus for Robert and Jennifer.

We began to really think of what we need to do to convert the Caboose to a home vs. a weekend getaway. Storage is going to be the main issue and we still don't have the answers.

My 3 mile walk in the Redwoods and the fitbit tracking the results removed my concern about not being able to work out when the elliptical is given away.

Silly little things - all assurances that Jesus knows our hearts and our concerns. He will continue to lead....even outside of the military chain of command. LOL