Last post of 2008

Can you believe it; the last day of the year 2008? It was one year ago today that we rolled into Omaha, Arkansas and met Rene Garcia for the first time at the Ozark View RV Park. It was a desperately cold night and the wind was blowing hard. Tonight we will be in Tyler, Texas and expect 30 degrees for a low. Its 57 right now and we feel so fortunate! 

The past week has been like a blur. We've done some shopping (both Sam's & Wally in Tyler), we've done some driving (two large lakes about 30 miles North), we've gotten caught up on some chores, I've done some baking and we've experienced a Cowboy Church for the first time. Before we head West again we plan to catch up on a couple more chores and to visit the Zoo in Tyler.

The cowboy church was very interesting. We went on Christmas Eve and enjoyed their musical service. The church is in a large metal building that housed everything they need. From the full kitchen they served a meal before the service. During the service they had a live nativity scene in the front with all charactors in authentic Old West garb. The baby boy was so quiet and happy, it was beautiful. The wise men and shephards were even sporting revolvers and spurs. ;-)  Everything in the front of the church is natural wood, from the cross on the wall to the little lecturn stands draped in paisley bandanas. They had given the preacher the night off to spend with his family and there were plenty of congregation members ready to offer excellent music, poetry and scripture. The children gathered around a church elder sitting in a padded rocker to listen to the Christmas story. We didn't make it to Sunday services because I was a bit under the weather but felt the Christmas Eve services filled us with their love.

 

 This is potato bread and a dandy recipe if I may say so. I still long for better elasticity in the bread so it doesn't crumble so easily. I suspect that will come when I work it in a stand mixer rather than by hand with a wooden spoon. I may need to knead it longer too.  ;-)  If anyone is interested in this recipe please let me know. Its made with left over mashed potatoes.

Bubba and I believe we have found the most amazing flavor combination for the Amish bread/cake starter. We used banana cream pudding rather than vanilla and dried blueberries rather than raisins. DELICIOUS would barely describe it, especially when its still warm. We've decided that we like it best baked as a cake rather than in a loaf pan. I still coated the pan and the top of the batter with the cinnamon/sugar mix and I think that accents it well. 

We would like to wish you all as much love and happiness as you can stand in the new year. May the Lord smile upon you and may you enjoy the comfort that only comes from a relationship with him. 

More later ......................  2009

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Wishing all a memorable and fulfilling Christmas

Christmas Eve

http://www.crossbrandcowboychurch.org/

I'm very excited. This is where we are attending Christmas Eve services tonight. Another brand new experience for us is on the horizon. I had never heard of a Cowboy Church and am anxious to participate in the music and fellowship this evening. After an offer to guide us to any type of Christmas Eve service we may desire, we decided we would like to join our RV Park manager Shirley at her church tonight. She participates in the musical portion of the ministry at the Cross Brand Cowboy Church of Tyler. On our first day in the park we invited her in to warm up with a cup of coffee and were blessed with a few beautiful songs. She played Bubba's 12 string and sang some original music for us that was simply AWESOME.

We've decided (  I begged ;-)  ) that we are going to stay here for two weeks instead of just one. I have tons of fresh fruit stored in Debbie Meyer green bags that I need to either bake with, make salad or juice out of or freeze. I have an Amish Cinnamon Bread bake on Monday. We've found every kind of shopping we might need in Tyler; ie: Sam's Club, diesel for $2.19/gallon and so on. And we're waiting to hear from the Titanium dealer in Decatur when he receives the replacement cable for our slide out that he ordered from the factory in Ontario. I also found that I was wrong about there being no laundry room at this park. I checked it out yesterday and am excited to have such a nice clean laundry room with a farm sink, folding table, ceiling fan and bookshelf full of reading material. Thats how I will be spending my Christmas Eve day.

I wish you all a very Blessed and Loving Christmas. We miss all our friends and family very much. Please know that we are thinking of you and praying with you as we celebrate Jesus' birth.

More later ........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Its so close now

Born Unto You
 Luke 2:8-14

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Guess where we are?

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

TEXAS

If anyone is reading this who doesn't know us well or hasn't been following this blog long you may not understand.

For those of you who know us you'll understand my excitement.

We've felt drawn to Texas for at least a year now and we're finally here.

We're staying at the 5 Star RV Park between Tyler and I-20. We plan to stay here for at least a week. We need repair to our bedroom closet slide and will be making arrangements for that with whichever Titanium dealer can get us in soonest after Christmas. We're going to call locations near Ft.Worth and near San Antonio.

We've only been here for a few hours but I feel confident in recommending this park to anyone who is traveling through this area. Its not a big park and they don't offer laundry or propane but the manager is an extraordinary woman and the Christian love is overwhelming. Mijo pulled me down a nice hiking path, around a pond and made me run till I was out of breath. Funny how much excercise he needs after being cooped up in the truck all day. ha ha

We've been rolling for a week so its time to sit still for at least a week. I need to do laundry, send a package to Iowa, balance accounts, celebrate Jesus' birthday and go to the zoo!  ;-)

More later .......

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

For Sheila; to satisfy your sqeak ;-)

Each and every day we are reminded just how BLESSED we are in this life. I thank the Lord for everything and today was no different. 

While we were in North Carolina we experienced an Angel Food Host Site that accepted orders on line. We decided we should share Angel Food with others for Christmas and ordered 2 basics and 6 specialty boxes as gifts. We are blessed to be able to share with others and it feels so good. This morning, while going through a pile of mail, I opened a check from one of Bubba's previous employers which covered all the Angel Food gifts and most of our order. This was one of those "out of the blue" kind of windfalls that is completely unexpected and always at the perfect time.

My Dad has always told me that if you give you will receive and it has been proven to me over and over.  I thank you for teaching me that, Dad, and I thank you for being a living example of your word. 

On to other topics for the day. Tonight we sit in Vicksburg, Mississippi. We're right along the river and the Mississippi and Louisiana state line. Its not a picturesque park this time or somewhere we would like to spend a couple days; just a convenient place to spend the night with a free shuttle to the buffet. ha ha ha  Tomorrow morning we head West and will set down in Tyler, Texas. Monday we need to contact a Titanium RV dealer for service as we have a cable fraying and about to snap on our bedroom closet slide out. Its not easy to work around the closet being in, but it beats being stuck in the woods near Birmingham and not being able to bring it in. I had promised to tell you about the Cherokee Campground in Helena, Alabama ........ but ......... if I can't find anything nice to say I choose to say nothing at all.

Its likely the RV dealer, who is NW of Ft.Worth, may not be able to get to us until after Christmas so we are prepared to spend the week and the holiday in Tyler. I'm sure we can find a church who will welcome us and let us celebrate Jesus' birthday with them. 

I better go. Bubba and Mijo are snoring away in the chair next to me. Its cool enough here to get a good night's sleep. The last couple nights in Alabama was so humid that we had to turn the air on to be able to breathe. I don't think we'll have the problem from here out. Looks like the weather will be nice with a little rain in our near future. 

More later ......

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

We learn something new every day

We learn as we go. The photo below was taken out our back window at the Ivy Acres Lodge and RV Park between Greenville & Piedmont South Carolina. You can imagine just how much Mijo is appreciating this park! 

What we've decided is to plan only one stop at a time, while traveling, and stay for at least two nights. I look ahead but don't make reservations or print out a route. 

When you stop for only one night, as we did between Arkansas and North Carolina, you don't get to see or utilize anything these wonderful RV Parks and communities have to offer. It takes the fun out of travel. When you stop for two or three nights you get a chance to visit with park owners, walk hiking trails, cook a meal in the crock pot, bake some bread and appreciate life between rain showers.

This is a beautiful park on 75 acres just West of Greenville, South Carolina. They have better than 30 full hook up sites with great views and lots of leg room.

They offer a gorgeous lodge to be rented for a weekend, week or month that sleeps up to 10 people. The park is set on a river and also has a little fishing pond. Due to the draught the pond is 1/4 it's typical size, but is still fun to walk around.

If you or anyone you know are ever in the area, please send them to Ivy Acres where Chuck & Debbie Hill and their daughtor Ivy will take very good care of you.

http://ivyacresrvpark.com/

Tomorrow we are heading West once again. Our destination park is in Helena, Alabama, on the West side of Birmingham. Will let you know what we find.  ;-)

More later ......

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

What a beautiful place and time

I can't even begin to tell you how our time at Hope Farms changed us forever. We experienced so many fun an interesting things, met so many loving and special people and grew in our faith in each wonderful day. We played, we baked, we shopped, we prayed, we worked, we learned and we ministered to one another.

Eddie and I got close enough to share a head cold! HA HA HA

The rowdy roosters escaped the boiling pot for another month, but possibly not past Christmas. 

CJ showed us how well he can care for "his little boy"

Our Lord has blessed us in so many ways. This experience is another we will remember forever and wish to re-live some time soon.

More later .......

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

The reason for the season

Christmas is nearing. In less than three weeks now we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

As I sit at my picture window I ponder; how I will explain to my family my anxiety driven hesitence to return to Iowa for Christmas? I think about what Christmas is and where my mind should be focused. 

One topic that comes to mind, the least important on the issue, is how people picture the physical form of Jesus. It seems to be an instinctive action to picture the Holy Family in a physical form similar to our own, similar to the norm for our nationality. Its likely not intentional, likely not predjudice, simply another way to feel close to them. 

For some reason this tendency has become a bit of a pet peave for me. It shouldn't bother me and I pray that I will lose my sensitivity on the issue, but I brissel when I see portraits of Jesus with sandy colored hair and blue eyes. Because of this, when searching for a nativity scene to wallpaper my computer, I chose the one you see. When I, in my mind's eye, imagine Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, this is what I see.

No matter what you imagine when you think about Jesus and his birth, THINK ABOUT JESUS AND HIS BIRTH! That is the reason for the season and why we celebrate CHRISTMAS, not "the holidays". 

More later ......

 

Me and my Bud

Finding Nemo is my favorite movie; how bout' you?

;-)