We're in Oregon

Over the river and through the woods....yep....it was a good call by Weatherman Nate and Jennifer. Thanks, friend. It was good for us to leave on Wednesday rather than Saturday or Friday.  The roads weren't bad - but there was a feeling that snow was going to dump at any moment.

It was 30* when we stopped for lunch.  We are used to snow in the mountains but its usually not down to the valley and the road. 

 

It was a beautiful drive. I had a hard time leaving our tiny home on wheels in CA - but it's best for this trip. We certainly make better time without it. ::snort:: 

We are staying at Krista, Arielle and Katie's home this week. When we arrived Mom was at the girl's home,  cooking for a youth group progressive dinner which was going to be popping in at any moment. We pitched in, then sat and ate and visited with the kids when they arrived.  Krista left with the gang for the next house. We caught up with Arielle and Mom. Dad came over for a visit. Krista got home. Mom and Dad left. Bre stopped by (she had AWANA earlier). We visited a few more hours.  It's good to be with the Gherkins. 

We've arrived early - so we'll try to stay out of everyones way until THEIR holidays begin! LOL The boys will arrive after Christmas. 

WINNER - WooHoo

This young man - an adult Gherkin - Jamin - submitted the first five pages of a novel he is in the process of writing/editing to the American Christian Fiction Writer's (ACFW) First Impression Contest.

He entered in the Speculative category. This is for those "novels in which the science fiction, the future, other planets, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are a major element of the plot or setting. This category includes speculative, visionary, science fiction, paranormal, futuristic, allegory, and alternate history fiction."

He is writing  a story of redemption  - one he began writing in High School. Over time hes' learned more about redemption, the world, and writing.   During 2015 he rewrote the book and is in the process of editing it.

He is thrilled to receive the feedback of the judges. We are withholding the name of the book as he is planning to enter the entire book in an ACFW contest and they do not want his name associated with the book when it comes before the judges.

The next step after editing and contests is shopping a publisher. Yes, he tried the "find an agent and sell the proposal" route. There were no takers. So, he wrote the book -  while breaking track and cross country records at ASU, earning a Master's Degree and pursuing his second graduate degree at Texas A&M.

Go Jamin!!!

I always knew you were pure gold - even when others said you'd never learn to read! You certainly proved them wrong. ::snort::

Shameless Mommy Bragging moment - but HEY - get over it. I'm allowed a few moments....I do have nine children that should afford me more than the average bragging moments as needed. 

We're Moving Tomorrow

Beautiful morning walks at Beale are the norm. Yuuki often has to drag me out -  but I'm always glad to have gone.

It's been frosty and COLD - I need to find some winter clothes or move south. 

Speaking of WEATHER - there are hints and predictions of a storm moving in on Thursday and staying through Saturday.....percip down low and snow and ice on the passes.

Our plan was to get two weeks of school done this week, play with the S girls on Friday and leave early Saturday a.m.

This morning we began to seriously consider going to OR tomorrow. THEN we REMEMBERED Michael's meds weren't due in the pharmacy until Thursday afternoon. They have to order it and it takes 3 days. They won't order it until we're the exact days out AND Michael cannot miss a day or get it filled at Walmart in OR.

We prayed and kept moving towards leaving in the a.m.

Late this afternoon Michael decided to stop by the pharmacy and see if they had gotten the drug in. He requested it yesterday. We didn't expect them to be in, but hoped if they saw him they'd call us the minute it came in on Thursday.  THEY WERE IN.....and so.....

We are changing our plans and leaving in the a.m. It's been a whirlwind of a day.  We'll only get one week of school done this week - we'll take a couple of books to work on while we're gone and it will all be fine.

It will be great to be traveling again.

It will not be great to leave our tiny home behind - but we're leaving it behind this time for a variety of reasons.

It will be great to see Mom and Dad and the adult Gherkins. Three girls live in OR - two boys are going to meet us there before we come back here and Jared's plans are up in the air.

Ewwww....

I'm not sure what to title this post - "Yonder she blows?"

"Into every Full-time life a little cr*p must fall?"

Yep - we've been told by helpful men around the campground we are LUCKY (I'd say blessed) to have been full-timing for 3 1/2 months and not have a major repair yet. ::snort::

The seal in our toilet valve went out. Not a big deal. We ordered a kit to fix it.

BUT a few nights ago the blank tank was full - for those of you not familiar with RV'ing - the poop is held in a tank (with water from flushing and paper) and you have to drain the tank  - for us every 4 - 6 days. We've not had trouble with sewer smells.....we are using one ply TP.....but alas.....one night while flushing, Michael was met with sewage he could SEE. EWWWW.....

We drained the tank.

The next night - there it was AGAIN - we drained again.

I know there are 5 of us living in the Caboose but we do NOT use 40 gal of sewer a day.

My hero!

Michael bought a  back fill thingy (clear attachment in the photo). It allows him to attach a hose (clearly marked with duct tape assuring it will NEVER be used for drinking water) to the stinky slinky which carries the poop from the tank to the septic system at campgrounds. He can then flush it with water and SEE the stuff coming out. EWWWWWWWWW again.

It took a long time but finally ran clear. We're hoping that's the end of that.

One of our neighbors came over and said we should buy two ply TP but only RV rated and we can get this at Wal-mart. The consensus is we "overcompensate" when using one-ply because our fingers go through the one ply paper. We should also double flush - each.and.every.time.  Yes, I sat and had this conversation with my husband and another man - can I hear an EWWWWWW?

In any event - all are suitably impressed we only have to drain 4 - 6 days with 5 of us living here.....and we hope this is the end of the sewage woes. 

BREAKFAST Comeback

Stacia and I have a previous tradition of weekly Saturday morning breakfasts - the two of us. We sometimes allowed Arielle or a visiting big sister to join us. We invited friends along two or three times. It was a time to connect with just her in the  midst of our busy ministry and household schedules. It allowed me to focus on her heart in the midst of preparing Arielle to fly the coop, Michael to retire and what we thought was our transition to the missionary lifestyle.

We've not done this weekly in the trailer. Sometimes we are traveling. Sometimes we are in strange towns and I don't want to venture out alone. Most recently, it simply isn't in our budget. Our retirement income is 1/3 of our former income and we aren't willing to guzzle our savings at restaurants.

We've had lots of time together. Full time RVing affords us much family time. However, as we're out and about she often comments on various breakfast spots. I talked with Michael and we agreed I would take her out this a.m. We've not done this since 31 Oct.

I tiptoed to the bunk room, pulled the curtain around her bunk and whispered in her ear,  "Would you like to get up and go to the shower house and out to breakfast or would you like to sleep in this morning?"

Her response warms my heart. Our slow-waker shot out of the bunk, grabbed her purse (ID for getting back on base) and said, "Let's go."

I suggested we visit the shower room first and she may want to change from her PJ's. We're a bit lax about this as we walk back and forth to the shower house in PJ's.

Waffle Barn was her choice. We've driven by it many times in our years in the area - never stopped. It was PACKED - a good sign.  It reminded me of an old time diner - or a cafe in Springfield, my hometown.

We had - are you ready? - waffles. They were good. Stacia's was loaded with chocolate chips and circled with whip cream. Mine had pecans in it - though the waitress kept correcting my pronunciation of pecan.

"Oh, you want Pee Can waffles."

I'd prefer pecan (puh - con) and we drink soda rather than pop - we've been in the south.

They only brought us one glass of water. We got tired of waiting for the second and decided to share....Stacia insisted on wiping the cup each time. 

 We headed to Marshall's and Michael's after breakfast. I'm working on building my perfect journal and wanted to see what they had which I might use. What we found were lots of Christmas gifts - which thrilled our little gift-giver.  We're preparing for our trip to Oregon. 

Lava Lamps Resurface

Nolan informed us he was making a lava lamp. Anything out of the ordinary engenders interest in the Trailer.

He filled his jar with water and oil - added red food color, dropped two alka-seltzer tablets and stood back to watch the reaction.

Being human, he was required to play with other colors after he'd "done it right."  It took on the appearance of things I've found lurking in the back of the fridge in our S/B home.

I'm proud of the kids for pushing through and getting oodles of school work done this week! We will do one more week and take 2 weeks off. 

#WYFF - The Adventure of "Normalcy"

I would love life to be all about beach combing, mountain climbing and lighthouse tours - but in this season we are grounded at Beale AFB Fam Camp. Our current life is pretty much what it was when we were assigned here - sort of! 

We are doing school. We occasionally get a visit from friends. We are no longer eye-ball deep in ministry or Air Force suspensions. We are enjoying lots of together time, undistracted ministry to family and making new friends at the Fam Camp. We are dreaming about life on the road in March.

#WYFF is meant to chronicle our adventures - and last week I just didn't do it. Life was so NORMAL. Normal is part of our adventure.

#WYFF - today our feet observed our favorite squadron push cars around the perimeter of Fam Camp. I'm not sure WHY - I'd love to know which squadron this is... I run into them at least once a week while Yuuki and I are walking. They often drop and do crunches in the middle of the road. This is the first time they've pushed trucks around the camp.

Let's go, Let's GO! 

  

 #WYFF - my feet PLANNED to attend PWOC Page Turners. I read the book and WOW did it speak to me.  I got side-tracked talking to a few folks up at the showers/office and Michael came to find me an hour after I was supposed to be at book club. I was ON TRACK....ready to leave and then  - life took a detour.  I don't regret talking with the people in my path this morning.

#WYFF  - after Michael pulled me from the group - we went to Yuba City to look for a trailer part for a needed repair. Our black tank is having a bit of a problem. Since we were in Yuba City, he suggested buying Papa Murphy's rather than me making homemade pizza. Yes, I've started making homemade again - Friday nights - in the trailer - because it fits our retirement budget better than eating out. LOL

 #WYFF - all of our feet are comfortably propped up as we eat pizza and watch movies in the Fam Camp lounge tonight. It's not a bad day - the adventure of normalcy.  

I'm plugged into the ethernet and I can get online.....which is a good thing indeed. I've wired some money for some Christmas travel. I've paid our bills and transferred funds - things I don't like to do from camp wifi. I've also been able to get online - check out FB, race through twitter, spend some time on Pinterest and update a blog. LOL 

#WYFF (Where's Your Feet Friday) is sponsored by Fulltime Families. View more of our Friday exploits by clicking the #WYFF tab above.