Our ideal RV Park

    I'm fighting with my computer over pictures right now ........... but I can still type.    ;-)

     On Sunday we decided it was time to head South from Big Spring, just a short jaunt down the road, to San Angelo, Texas. We've contained our destination search, for the most part, to the triangle between I-35, I-20 & I-10 in West Central Texas. San Angelo is pretty much in the absolute middle of that area. We're less than 100 miles South of Big Spring but our immediate response to this area and this RV Park specifically is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Within the hour after pulling into the RV Park on Lake Nasworthy we went back to the office and reserved a space for the next two months! 

     The Spring Creek Marina and RV Park is a privately owned RV Park positioned within a city park. The park is waterfront on Lake Nasworthy and for this first week so are we. Next week we will move to a monthly space and then be only one row further from the waterfront. This week the weather here is low 60's in the day and high 20's at night. There was a few hours of wind last night but its been simply gorgeous. Yesterday we watched a pair of swans swim by and had to stop on the park drive to let a 6 point buck cross in front of us. According to the managers the park is full of deer, some turkey and lots of dove. 

     Yesterday we drove through town and spotted a few stores we like to frequent. San Angelo is just under 100,000 people and offers everything from Sam's Club to PetCo. There are at least 60 restaraunts and  a downtown river walk. We've read through the local city guide and saw tons of wonderful things we would like to experience. The stock show and rodeo takes place the week of Bubba's birthday so thats how we intend to celebrate it this year. We stopped at a bait shop and bought fishing licenses and today we aim to drown a worm or two. Bubba thinks he's found heaven. He can walk out the front door and have a line in the water in less than a minute.  We've done a little searching on line, driven around the perimeter of town and picked up a couple real estate books. We don't think this is our destination but we sure intend to enjoy it for the next couple months. 

More later ............

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Goals are important

On several occasions I recall receiving the wisdom that if you wish to attain a goal you must write it down. I guess we did, in a way, on our blogs and by verbally sharing it with many friends and family. Our goal of personally visiting Big Spring, Texas is one we've planned for over a year. We both felt drawn, nearly compelled to come here. We've seen various properties on line that peaked our interest and read many positive things about the area and the climate. And now we can say we've accomplished that goal! It feels great. If ever asked about this area we will have first hand knowledge to share. Are we in love with the place; do we want to live here? Nope. But we feel good that the decision was made from our own first hand experience of it, not from someone else's opinion or perspective.

Our ultimate goal is to find the place we want to call home and we will accomplish that goal. We've put no time limit on it and both believe we'll know it when we see it. Our next step on that path is to head for the Hill Country of Central Texas. There are several communities and properties we find extremely interesting down there and we're excited to start exploring. Its exciting too that some dear friends from California are also headed for the Hill Country this spring and will be looking for a place to live. We'll keep you posted!!

More later ...............

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Another glorious day!

Today I feel like rambling. I hope I don't put you all to sleep but I have just a few things to get off my brain. Since this is my journal ...... here goes.

Isn't this one of the most interesting cows you've ever seen? Right across the fence from the 5 Star RV Park in Tyler is a herd of cows and they are a diverse bunch. Every color, size and shape you can imagine are gathered in this one place. I thought this one was the most attractive.  ;-)

Saturday afternoon our long lost friends from Marshall came to Tyler and we had dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. GREAT steak and the company was even better. I think they found us as changed as we found them. We had only known each other for a short time when we were all living in Southern California. They were "liberated" from there before we were and were never so happy to come home to Texas. We enjoyed a fantastic meal then the guys went off for ice cream while we girls went to Bed Bath & Beyond. We chatted for a while at the trailer she took home my last extra Amish bread starter bag. Thats twice in a row I've shared all my starters and only had one to bake with. HOW AWESOME! 

How silly we were believing we might miss out on all the real winter weather just because we came South. Yesterday the temp was in the high 20's and it rained and sleeted all day. There was about half an inch of ice covering everything and 8 inch icicles hanging from the nose of the trailer. We've had some cold and windy days this season but that was the worst we've encountered this trip. Thankfully we were parked and hooked up at the dealership. We even found the most affordable propane yet, here in Decatur. Just in case any of our RVing friends are curious, our last diesel purchase was $1.99 per gallon in Tyler and propane here is a flat $20 for a 30 lb tank with no sales tax. Yiippee

I'm praying that the past will repeat itself once again. When we were living in Calimesa and I was working for Jim Hahn, my friend Dorothy from Texas bought a 5th wheel and moved into it. We were already shopping for ours and we followed suite shortly there after. Since then she and her husband moved from the Georgetown area to the Houston area. We moved from California to Iowa. This morning I found out that she and Steve bought a house a couple months ago and are loving the 'work in progress' it has become. Its our turn now! :-)

I noticed, while I was on the phone with Mom yesterday, that everywhere I've lived or visited in the past few years there seem to be Mockingbirds. I've become a novice bird watcher and love to take pictures of them. I first noticed the mockingbirds in Hemet, perched atop a big cactus guarding it's home. Today there are at least half a dozen of them spending time in a tree behind us. There is a beautiful pair of cardinal here too. I captured her on the Kodak but have yet to sneak a shot of him.

I'm sure there were at least a dozen more things I intended to ponder about but they escape me at the moment. Oh well ... blog fodder for later as Sheila would say. 

More later ...........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH 

To follow where we're led

One of my most frequent prayers is for guidance. I try to open my eyes to the way God is trying to guide me through life. I had a great chat last night with some RVers from Wisconsin about the "if - then" way the Lord works in our lives. He gives us the freedom of choice and knows what will result from every possible decision. 

Yesterday I was digging into a storage tub for something and came upon a little slip of paper with a phone number and name, written in someone else's hand. The name is of a couple we met in California at the RV Park where we lived for two years. They were from Texas and were spending 6 months in California working with family. We haven't been in contact for well over two years and they had slipped my mind completely when I thought of folks I may know in Texas. What grabbed my attention was that their area code is the same as where we currently sit. 

We took this as a clear message for God and Bubba immediately called them. We're going to Marshall to have lunch with them Saturday. We feel compelled to do this, believing this must be the direction God wants us to go. I'm very anxious to see Stan and P.A. again. Their little dog, Gidget, should have fun with Mijo for the afternoon too.   ;-)

More good news; we heard from our dear friend Nancy the other day. We tryed to make contact when we were in Alabama, where she lives, but were not successful. She's been fighting some battles recently but is on the upswing and we had a fantastic talk. We will continue to pray for her and look forward to our next contact. 

Well, I better get busy. We're spending a good part of the day in Marshall tomorrow and heading out from here Sunday morning. I have the typical packing away and organizing to do as well as catching up on laundry. I was excited that I could share two of my Amish cake starter bags this week. I have now branched it out to Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin.   ;-)  I think of Sheila every time I bake because she was the friend who shared it with me. I pray those I've shared it with think of me when they bake too. 

More later ....... 

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH 

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