Gators aren't just for Florida's travels

What a crazy day!

We wrapped up a week in arkansas with my driving into a parked piece of wood that not only bent the wheel frame it seriously messed up my mom's camper steps. In addition we had to put on the spare only to have the spare have issues a few hundred miles into our travels. I heard a wicked *whoosh* about an hour or so  into driving. I pulled over and checked the tires. Everything seemed ok. I got back in the truck and caught back up with Frank. We stopped for gas. I gave him a brief rundown. Everything still seemed ok. Fast forward an hour and bladders full with a rest stop ahead with only about 80 miles left for the night...we checked tires again and discovered that the spare had lost an alligator. 

For those of you that don't full time travel a road alligator is when the the outer tread of the tire comes off. Generally that is followed by a *boom* which would indicate a blow out.

Well. At this point we re-routed found a closer campsite for the night and gingerly rolled another 23 (or so) minutes up the road. Incredible as it may be that tire held air the entire way there.

Tomorrow Frank will go get the tire fixed and hopefully we can can continue our journey northward.... I suppose it will all depend on how long it takes to fix it.

We are blessed beyond measure that there wasn't a blow out or a tow involved and that it seems to be repairable

Road days

Things can get challenging on travel days. As it is we have our very own caravan that consists of our camper and my moms. Frank drives one vehicle and I drive the other. Throw in gas stops and a half dozen kids and then fill propane tanks and you have a recipe for an hour and 20 minute gas stop. Only 10 minutes after we left the campground.

The 2nd gas/ rest / lunch break stop was just about as long. We drained the battery sitting there with lights on in the rain. Thank goodness we bought fuel for the generator at that 1st stop though or we would not have had a simple way to charge the battery. 

Thankful that we have made it to our destination though! Things on the road have challenges but I am so grateful when I can see how one thing that seemed to go wrong, in the end had a purpose

Kids on the road

I was supposed to be part of a group of bloggers today posting about kids on the road.... tips and tricks to successfully travelling with teens to toddlers and thanks to my horrific wifi situation I never got the links on how to participate. 

So. Yeah.

So I will leave you with this adorable cutie pie that has so much curiosity he melts my heart daily.

Also, pray for us. Jamberry is changing for us again. Maybe God is taking it away ... we really are not sure. Frank has been finding work with a fantastic company called  rv-armor.com and it sure helps.  When he can score jobs through them he can work 2 days to help supplement our income.

Work camping at this resort campground has its challenges.  My mom helps in the welcome center a few days a week... Monday-Wednesday, Frank works at camp Thursday - Saturday,  and the boys and I run the camp kitchen Friday- Sunday  unless it's a holiday weekend ...then it's Monday too. Add to that jamberry and the roof armor and we barely have enough time for our own family much less ministry to anyone else.

And that is most certainly not the heart of why we are on the road. Not. At. All.

Pray that God provides a solution. And that we are listening to His voice in this. Not one driven out of fear or the unknown.