GUESS WHERE WE ARE

We're in OREGON for five days. We brought a load of stuff up to family, so we can load the things at Matt and Rachel's into the trailer. This is our "shake-down" trip -  a chance for us to discover what is working, and what isn't working, before we get too far away from our tether.

THINGS WE'VE DISCOVERED SO FAR:

We've discovered the trailer is VERY squirrely. We stopped a couple of times and rearranged the load. We've never had  a problem with this before, but today was positively faith enhancing. I think the pass-through storage in the rear is a design flaw. A trailer should have 60% of the weight in front of the axle  - but the big storage compartment is at the very back of the trailer.

We've discovered you can park RIGHT UNDER THE WIFI ROUTER and still not get wifi.

We've discovered if you PACK TIGHTLY things won't spill over and run down your walls.



Yes, that IS a couch pillow!

We've discovered Krista and Arielle have a darling house - and are great cooks. They treated us to Veggie Pot Pie and Chicken.  We unloaded our pantry and a box of things Arielle had left behind.

We've discovered we like Armitage County Park/Campground...nice campground right on the McKenzie River...and our home for three nights.

It Worked!

We've attempted to grow watermelon for years. This year Michael had saved some seeds from a Texas Rattler Melon. He faithful watered the, fertilized them and tended them in our container garden.

Unfortunately, we had to move from our home before they were ready.  Michael harvested the two biggest.

Personal size

Tonight he cut them up and we had them with dinner at Krista and Arielle's.

 

He and Shannon carried the rest of the containers over to their house. We hope they will continue to grow.  Shannon was wonderful enough to stop and offer to use his leaf blower to clear out our garage and driveway. Kyle and Michelle showed up and we exchanged a deposit check for a house and keys.  It's been a busy few weeks.

We miss Shannon and Valerie - great neighbors

 

YES , we needed to drop things off in OREGON so we could organize.

 

Glasses!!!

I had nearly forgotten four of us saw the optometrist last week. We wanted to get this done before we "hit the road." Three of us needed glasses.

Stacia saw the doc first and was fine.

Alex was next and was near-sighted.

 

Nolan told her his eyes were just fine, really good in fact. She said, "We'll see." What do you know? His eyes were worst than Alex's. He's enjoying the new glasses. He said he hadn't realized how many stars were in the sky. He must have wondered why we all liked to sit in the hot tub and watch the stars. ::snort::

 

I got chewed out. Over a year ago progressives were prescribed for me - I simply couldn't get used to them and kept wearing my readers. Now I have bifocals. They all told me that progressives are more "ascetically pleasing." If they give me migraines and make me throw up - they aren't the look for me.  I shouldn't have picked out glasses in the middle of a move...alone. They look suspiciously like red-wire-horn-rimmed glasses.  Supposedly they say, "I'm 50 and I'm fabulous. Get over the bi-focal thing."  I'm not quite sure that's the message I get from them - BUT I am seeing much better. Turns out I needed 250 in my readers and I got this steal of a deal at the Misawa BX a couple of years ago on 200's. I knew they were a bit fuzzy lately, but I wanted to use them all up....

 

In other news, we cleared our home in Olivehurst.

We returned Rachel's vacuum and two boxes of cleaning supplies we don't need to haul in The Caboose. It appears I have a "buy in bulk" obsession. Living in 268.5 (Michael says DON'T FORGET THE .5) may cure me of this.

AND, I got Eliana time as well as meeting the most adorable 9 month old girl, Tegan, in the spot next door. Yep - in one of those odd coincidences, a family we thought had moved away is right next door to us. That was fun. I wish we hadn't been so busy and could have sat and visited. Next week?

Our First Night as Full Timers

We assured the Gherkins we will not often be setting up camp after 10 p.m.

I guaranteed all I would NOT make this mistake again. We were met with a strong smell of balsamic vinegar and lemon oil when we opened the door of The Caboose.

 

I'll have to find a better spot for these to travel.

I expressed my confidence to Michael and the Gherkins that things will feel much better when everything finds a home. For tonight, the priority is beds....which everyone found.

Yuuki was miffed to find her bed crammed in our room, but made the best of the situation.

 As did everyone else

 

Everyone was in bed by midnight. Tomorrow will be another busy day as we tie up loose ends, see a neurologist, turn over keys, pick up glasses and settle into our new 268 square foot home.

 

Saying Farwell to This Season



This home has been more than a shelter, it's been a respite for us during our time at Beale. It's  enough under our BAH t we were able to cover utilities. It's provided comfortable opportunities for Pizza and Games at G's, chapel fellowships, PWOC board retreats, hospitality to mission teams and travelers,  and numerous family Holiday gatherings.  We've loved the neighborhood, the hot tub, our neighbors AND living in 3200 Square Feet.

 

We've had a Gherkin-specific way of saying our goodbyes to a location  since Elmendorf AFB/Anchorage, AK (10 years).  We circle up, share our most challenging and our favorite memories from our time in said location, pray and commit to release the hard (forgive) and move on from the good. We don't want to ever be "stuck" - but to always live fully present where God leads us.

We've made good friends, watched Izaak propose to BreAnne, grieved the loss of two unborn grandchildren and welcomed Dakota into our lives. We've welcomed a daughter in law into our family and mourned her choice to leave our family.  I've been christened Gemma De'Etta by Joy, Michael's mentored two wonderful chaplains as they began their careers, we've loved on countless pre-schoolers and their mommies...and our little gal has learned not all girls are welcoming - the lesson to forgive and move on wiser and stronger will serve her well in the future. She also shared three names of girls who extended true friendship. She also worries about the opportunities for community as we move into our next season.

 

We've faced health challenges and learned God is truly with us in the midst of each and every Plot Twist.

Some Chaplain may have sang, "Let It Go," as we released our balloons and determined to move fully into the next season.

 

It IS Sunday; but there was NO WAY I was allowing ice cream, spoons and mugs into the kitchen. I picked up Hagan Daz when I purchased balloons....we enjoyed the splurge outside, near the hot tub, and continued to reminisce.

It was time to hook up The Caboose and move to Fam Camp. We arrived shortly after 10 p.m.

We're full timers!

Note - Michael says we will not release balloons at every campground. LOL

ANOTHER Full Day

We optimistically believed we would finish the Jewelflower house by 5 or 6 p.m.

Michael suggested we try to get into the Beale Fam Camp a day early. He and the boys took a trip to the landfill, while Stacia and I tackled the oven and pantry. When they returned, we headed to the base with a "final" trip for Airmen's Attic - Cheri, you rock.  We stopped in and secured the last full hookup for two nights at Fam Camp. We grabbed some lunch and headed home to finish. As I said, the plan was to conclude by 5 p.m. and have a couple of hours to organize The Caboose.

7:00 p.m. came and Michael was wrestling with the pump on a irritable carpet shampooer. We were done with everything else, so I headed to the trailer.

WOW! Nolan has been named the "packinator." He has inherited Michael's packing genes. He managed to fit all the food from the freezer and fridge into our small trailer freezer/fridge. The rest of the trailer was less impressive. I couldn't walk in the door....our mattress topper crowned the top of a huge pile on our mattress. I set to work, clearing a path and making beds.

At 8:00 p.m. we declared ourselves done. There are a few things we'll take care of tomorrow afternoon - wipe down the counters (left bleach pen working on grout), touch up the downstairs bathroom, haul the last garbage and move the kayak.

 

Michael moved Yuuki to the back yard as he shampooed the downstairs and she was irritated at us. I think she was sure she was about to be left and kept whining and trying to get back inside.

We're Moving Into the Caboose

Strange phenomenon....one can deep clean say a toilet and if one continues to live in the house....well.....I've cleaned tubs and toilets two and three times....Michael suggested we call fam camp and see if we could get a space a day early. We could.

We're starting our full time adventure tonight. Not sure how we'll sleep in the trailer as we've been busy making this place shine and have a lot of organizing to do in THERE.

Michael sees a neurologist up at UC Davis tomorrow a.m. we'd appreciate prayers for answers or renewed confidence in the course we're on. The meds for essential tremors haven't helped at all - and he's at double the dose he began. His blood pressure is amazing, however.

Until we find wifi....

The adventure begins. Photos to come AFTER we are out of the house.