Traveling Monday

We spent Sunday afternoon making sure we were ready to travel this morning. This is our first long trip in Uchi, pulling Nimo and loaded with kids.   Hookin up Nimo makes the getaway process a bit longer....of course it would be POURING RAIN for our first hook up.

Go guys, go! 

 That's the way it really was, but a slight change of perspective would make it all seem so much nicer. I joined them in the rain.....

...finally realizing this view would be much drier!  

There is always "one last thing," that has to be stowed. We settled in for the drive when I noticed the flowers may not travel well here. They are safely stowed in the sink for the drive.

The drive leaving Springfield was BEAUTIFUL. We drove through rain, snow, mountains and high desert today. 

Oregon - near the Santiam ski area

 This one has been pining for snow since we left Japan. Of course we stopped!

Silly girl thought we were traveling to SUN

 How does one look so innocent while throwing a snowball at the camera?????

Michael took advantage of the break to check out the vehicles. I took pictures. 

Wave if you see us.....

Taking Mom G to be reunited with Dad G at FT Logan National Cemetery

 He attempted to fix a problem...

Our personal, traveling, rain gauge

I told the kids to grab some photos while I fixed lunch. 

I assumed we were going south to get to CO....because we go south to get anywhere.....what a surprise to find we were going through Boise!  We had no clue what time we would arrive. We had no RV reservations. We're "boondocking" the travel days.  I did let our college friends know we would be in the area.  Rebekah, a dear friend from Beale, contacted me to tell me she was really close to Boise and wanted to meet up with us as well. Great friends.....it was 8 p.m. when we pulled into the truck stop....Rebekah and Sarah found us as we waited behind this truck in the fuel lane. We didn't need fuel, he looked like he was pulling through - and he did - but then he stopped....and so we stopped.

YIKES. I thought he was coming our way....

We introduced Don, Beth, Jonathan and Sarah to Rebekah, parked Uchi, unhooked Nimo and went to find a place open for dinner and ice cream. I neglected to take photos during dinner....but Jon and Sarah grabbed some for me as we left the restaurant.

Me and Rebekah

Being a military spouse is tough - I'm proud of Rebekah. She's had some challenging years, but is realizing she's strong, God is strong in her and she is doing great. She is finishing up her 2 year PA program and will soon rejoin her husband. So proud of her for persevering! Praying for you and Andy and the upcoming months, my friend.

It's always so good to see Don and Beth and their family. It's like a long, cool drink on a HOT summer day  - the TEXAS kind, not the Oregon kind. ::wink::

Beth, Me and Rebekah

Sweet conversation with dear friends is soooo refreshing. We arrived back at the truck stop a bit after 11 p.m. and "called it a night."

A side note. All day I saw signs to "Vale" and thought it meant Vail, CO. I was surprised at the good time we were making to CO....and then I realized there is a Vale, OR....geography is not my strong suit.

Our Daughter Wears Combat Boots...

Cute little boots though

....or she will very soon. Krista has been in Mexico since January. She is working with a ministry she has led several mission trips to assist over the years. Arielle has been down twice.   She knew this would most likely be her last chance to work with them, she will soon be completing her master's degree and plans to enter the Chaplain Corps after she has the degree in hand. She's already ordained, endorsed and working on the experience prerequisites.

She hurt her knee in December. In addition to assisting at the Orphanage, she's been working to rehabilitate her knee, get back to the shape she was in before the injury in preparation for Commissioned Officer's Training, and finish this year of her master's degree with Liberty.  She's hard core determined - we're proud of her and the work she's put in on all fronts in 2017.

Part of her training involves running, dropping and doing pushups, running some more, dropping for sit ups, running some more - you get the idea.  Krista has collected a little training community....

Krista will finish up in Mexico, meet us in Colorado to bury Mom G, and then go to Maxwell AFB for Commissioned Officer's Training (COT). This will be followed by 2 or 3 months in the Chaplain Candidate Program. She will be back in OR to pick up her car the end of July and will drive to Virginia to finish her M. Div in residence.

While we know there are challenges ahead, we know she can do anything God leads her to do....and we're proud of her determined chase after God.

If you'd like to read more about Krista's time in Mexico and keep up with her she blogs at A Walk in the Wild. 

#WYFF - School.....

It's #WYFF - and I'm relieved. 

We spent the day pushing to reach our weekly goals. We are now set to take 3 weeks off and be on track when we return! It's been difficult to stay on track with all of the unexpected happenings this year. We had hoped to be all done by the end of May. We won't be. HOWEVER, we are in our last quarter and I count that as a modern day miracle given all the challenges this year. 

Michael got home this evening. It's nice to be together under one roof. 

More #WYFF (Where's Your Feet Friday) posts can be found at the tab under the blog header.

The Discontent of Gingerbread Man

"Move into the RV with us Gingerbread Man," she said.

"It's an adventure,"  she said.

Then we moved to an RV park....and I spend my days watching....as it rains....

....and rains...

 ...and rains!

To think, I could be in Mexico now with Krista.

The winning Girls team of the 2016 Gingerbread Competition is hosting Gingerbread Man this year. He seems a bit discontent with his adventures at this point.

Rhythm of the Pacific NW

Nolan offered to take the trash to the dumpster today. The sun was shining....and then it wasn't. It came down in LOUD BUCKETS!

Michael is gone, but his colorful gifts brighten our rainy day. 

We're learning to work with the rhythm of the weather here in the Pacific NW. There were brief moments of beautiful sunshine - and we got out and walked. We should have waited for the break to run the trash up.  We've got lots to do inside to keep us busy....though Alex looks a bit suspect.

Fully "Ours" ....and tidbits

We've switched out plates on Nimo - the Jeep. She is now 100% Gherkin. Very soon we'll be in a state where the plates won't garner extra attention. 😏We are getting excited to get back home.

Still so much to accomplish before we leave - any and all prayers are welcomed. Michael is down south with probate stuff again. He just called to say he'll need extra time down there.

Mom will be half way through her radiation tomorrow.

Krista was in the states and called today.

This is our last week of "double-time" school work before we leave for Colorado - which is not on the way to Alaska.

My RV Pantry

One of these is my RV pantry

The green tub, along with some space under a seat, are my RV pantry. Sure, it's a little sad next to Nadine's pantry....but it works.

I'm often questioned how I carry "enough" groceries in the RV for a family with 3 big kids (18, 15, 12).

I did change my mentality of a once a month big trip, partnered with weekly trips for fresh produce. I now think in terms of a once a week grocery trip. I simply don't have enough freezer, fridge or pantry space for more.

When living in an RV, one does NOT want to carry around a lot of weight in food! Every pound of tomato sauce means a pair of shoes, or book that has to be left behind.

Third, there ARE some items which seem to multiply or get pushed to the back and get lost. Some items are difficult to find in obscure grocery stores.  In other words, food does back up and I needed a system to store the few items I keep on hand.  For now, we have spare food under a seat and in a tub. This running list in my bullet journal, helps me KNOW where I have food and what I have on hand when we run across a grocery store.

Running list of food which likes to multiply

Here are a few items I've found harder to find in obscure towns:  SAF Yeast, Whole grain berries, Rapadura, Agave Nectar, specific herb teas I like - I have found most of these things from time to time in our travels.  I also like to keep things like dried apples from the trees in Crescent City and dried bananas on hand. As I'm trying to eliminate sugar these days I don't need a stock of Agave Nectar or Rapadura anyway. 😕

I've gotten very used to cooking in my tiny kitchen.  I will, however,  be happy to someday have a pantry modeled after Nadine's. 😉