Lonely seasons.

Since we have been on the road we have been blessed to meet new friends wherever we are. This year however, since arriving in California it has been a dry season. Emotionally the kids and I are all struggling with the fact that despite the fact that the campgrounds that are in are FULL of people. ... we are having a hard time connecting with anyone.

California seems to have a different crowd of wanderers. People who are full time travel workers. I suppose we have become accustomed to traveling with a friendlier crowd. People who wave and greet each other when you take a walk. And I simply can't figure out how to break the code.

Other things are different too. While Frank is gainfully employed with RV Armor he is away from us more and more. We can't seem to catch up with vehicle repairs and kids growth spurts. Sometimes it feels the reason we hit the road in the 1st place are so very far away from what life seems to be turning into just to make ends meet.

God is providing. Even though sometimes it's hard to see. I am trying to find the best in things. Last week  we made it to a camp potluck. It was a nice evening. Thankful we have enjoyed the blessing of an evening of shared food with new faces.

A day at the nut farm

Bates nut Farm is a great fall family day. There are lots of things you can do there.
We met another roadschooling family that day because it's always more fun to share your adventures with  friends.

There is a huge pumpkin patch. You can pick a pumpkin from the piles of pumpkins they have gathered or go out into the fields and find your own perfect pumpkin. There is also a scarecrow contest. Someone made a spider. I think that was my favorite one!

There were all sorts of farm animal from geese , pigs, goats, llamas, turtles and more! You could feed and pet them.
There were lots of shady picnic spot to eat our lunch. It was also my grandma's birthday so we took a tray of cookies.

The live music that weekend was fun too. It was country toe tapping music. My little brother danced to it.

There is a country store filled with all kinds of goodies. There was tea, fudge, ornamemts , nuts, candy, hot sauce, jams and so much more. My favorite part of the store was the souvenir area.

We didn't have time to take the hayride but maybe you can.

Www.facebook.com/batesnutfarm

The author of the post is our 11 yr old son.

A day at the nut farm

Bates nut Farm is a great fall family day. There are lots of things you can do there.
We met another roadschooling family that day because it's always more fun to share your adventures with  friends.

There is a huge pumpkin patch. You can pick a pumpkin from the piles of pumpkins they have gathered or go out into the fields and find your own perfect pumpkin. There is also a scarecrow contest. Someone made a spider. I think that was my favorite one!

There were all sorts of farm animal from geese , pigs, goats, llamas, turtles and more! You could feed and pet them.
There were lots of shady picnic spot to eat our lunch. It was also my grandma's birthday so we took a tray of cookies.

The live music that weekend was fun too. It was country toe tapping music. My little brother danced to it.

There is a country store filled with all kinds of goodies. There was tea, fudge, ornamemts , nuts, candy, hot sauce, jams and so much more. My favorite part of the store was the souvenir area.

We didn't have time to take the hayride but maybe you can.

Www.facebook.com/batesnutfarm

The author of the post is our 11 yr old son.

October nights & Perris County Fair

Last month we had an opportunity to see Phil Wickham in concert at the Perris County Fair!  It was awesome.  The fair was overpriced and busy but as we arrived it was military appreciation day so Frank got in for free. Another family handed us another free ticket as well. The lights and sounds of the fair were a fun experience for our kids.

If you have never been to a Phil Wickham concert it is fantastic.  That friday night under the desert sky did not disappoint! 

Busy days

I have a years worth of traveling posts in my head and the ability to create has been challenging this year. Perhaps it's one too many sleepless nights.

The next few days will become a flurry of packing up again and laundry... dropping packages in the mail and camp activities . Heading south for a few weeks. Frank has more jobs already lined up through the rv roofing company he installs for. I am making a to do list in my head ....

We have spent 7 weeks at this campground.  The van had some repairs that stopped us for being more mobile these last few weeks. It looks like SoCal is our stop for this fall with even more roofing jobs coming in. We are praying that we can save enough by spring for a bigger camper.

Little Blessings

6 years ago I couldn't sleep either so it only seems fitting that I should share this story now.

Aaron was on his way. At 40 weeks I was induced by my OB and attempting a vbac after not 1 but 2 c-section births. I was a good candidate for success...they said.

By morning we knew I was not progressing. A decision had to be made. A 3rd cesarean. The risks were higher.  They had me on a pitocin drip for 8 hours prior to surgery. My 6th full term baby was about to be here.

In the OR I knew something went wrong. I met aaron and they whisked Frank and him away so quickly. Then I heard my Doctor say *Oh my ......*

Everything went dark.  I remember thinking I never got to really meet Aaron.
All I wanted was to hold my new baby.

The 1st thing the nurse told me was they had saved my life and then I could still have more children.

I would meet Aaron nearly EIGHT hours later after the hemorrhage. My doctor saved my life. If you have ever wondered why I hold Aaron a little tighter sometimes...well now you know. And on October 27th at 10:27 am that little ginger that stole my heart arrived and I have never been the same.

Cherish every single day.  Every moment.  Your life is but a vapor. Here for such a short time on this earth. I am so thankful that God kept me here to raise this daring adventurous sweet boy.

Happy 6th birthday little man

Westward Ho. Again.

It's hard to believe that 2 whole months have gone by since I last posted. Crazy! Back then we were in Illinois. And since we have traveled through Michigan, Indiana,  kentucky,  ohio, arkansas (again) and landed for 6 weeks in Texas. In the summer. Crazy right?

Frank has really been blessed with work through the rv roofing company he has been working for. Thankfully it pays the bills and gives us far more freedom to explore and bless more people along the way.

We had anticipated the fall in Texas. But the rv roofing jobs are taking us westward yet again.

I'm mixed. Another 1400 miles westward and then floating around california this fall was not what we were expecting.  And truthfully we don't plan a route. We know God will direct that path. So we just pray about each decision and stay obedient.

I am nervous. We know a lot of people in CA and while I want to drop in and see old friends I also know after many years as a USMC wife that rarely do you ever find life the same as you left it.

But many of you know there is a lure and a few pieces of my heart in California,  and in that aspect,  there is no better place to spend the fall.

Please pray for us this week as we travel.

And if you don't already follow is on facebook,  which I admit , is updated far more often than the blog here is the link:
Www.facebook.com/narrowroadschoolers