Adventure Is Out There

I am filled with such excitement as I write this blog. It has been a dream of ours for several years to become full-time RVers and travel the US with our children. We've had lots of people ask, "why would you want to do that" or "how are you going to do that" or "why not wait until you are retired and your kids are grown"? Well here's the answer, we are never guaranteed a new day here on earth. What if I told you that we love to be with our children and this is a journey that we want to take with them, not after they are gone? The plain and simple answer is, we have too much stuff! We live in a society that puts all the "STUFF" on a pedestal. If we don't have a house with acreage or a car and a boat or RV then we just aren't living life. What if we trade having all our stuff for quality time with our family?

In any given week, my husband works up to 60 hours and for what? He works to pay for all of our "stuff". We have chosen to trade all of our stuff for time with him and each other. We know we love camping and we know we can live together in a small space for long periods of time. We have always considered the campground as our mission field. We meet so many people from all walks of life and love connecting and fellowshipping with them.

So here goes, we have set a date and are transforming a school bus into an RV (skoolie). We have lots to do, but are super excited about the journey together. Our plan is to travel for awhile and see God's creation and learn through nature. There are so many beautiful places here in the US that we have never seen and we want to experience them WITH our kids.

Before you ask, Everything is okay, we are NOT losing our minds or having a nervous break down. We are just choosing to live (what we think is) our best life. Not someday, but RIGHT NOW!

We hope you will choose to follow our journey. We will have a page that you can connect with us and follow us on our adventure. Just simply comment if you'd like to be added.

We covet your payers on this endeavor. It seems quite overwhelming right now, but we are determined and look forward to the change and growth that it will bring to our family.

Good Perspective

The thoughts of another school year have started. Lots of children in our area have already started back to school for a fresh new year. This is a time that can bring some anxiety to homeschooling parents. What curriculum do we use, what programs should we participate in and if you are like me, can I really do this another year?

I was able to have some solitude over the summer and do some real thinking on this topic. As a homeschooling mom of 4 (now) and one who should start some preschool activities this year, I was faced with that question, "Can I really do this?". Well the obvious answer is YES I CAN! I have homeschooled one who has now graduated and moved on with his life as an adult and is thriving! I have another finishing her senior year this year and has great plans for her future!

YES, I can do this!

The days are long and my road is still very long with really no end in sight for many years to come. It is so easy to think of the negative and all the many reasons why I can't do this job. I had even considered the possibility of putting one or maybe up to 3 in school this year, but during that quiet evening with God he reminded me of my calling and my job here.

My husband is a wonderful encourager to me and reminds me daily of the reasons why I started this journey and how this job (as hard as it is) is so worth it. God showed me a clear perspective just yesterday when we ran in to an elderly woman in the grocery store. She asked the kids if they were ready to start school, etc. The topic of how they were homeschooled was started. She asked me why I do it? With no hesitation, I named so many reasons why. The flexibility, the assurance of knowing what they are learning, the freedom to pick who they hang out with and most importantly the blessing of spending this time with them were some of my answers. She quickly answered, "I fully understand". One day when I am in my 70's I can look back on young families and give encouragement as to why it is important to spend time with your kids. We can't get this time back!

"You'll never look back on life and think, "I spent too much time with my kids".- Kimberly McLeod


So here goes, ordering our curriculum and gearing up for another year of school! Hang in there Mama, you can do it too! Hope this encourages someone today!

Camp Host Life (Season 6)

I can hardly believe that six years have passed since we decided to give Camp Hosting a try. We have thoroughly enjoyed being in the parks and working side by side with some amazing people. Our kids have grown up in the park and we have added two more children since the journey began! The simplicity of living in a camper with little to no internet and tv is a blessing in this society of too much technology and always rushing to do another thing.

We have seen many park staff come and go and just like in any family there can be some "drama" but we always find our place, feel welcome, and leave with so many new lifelong friends.

As a park host, our duties include checking in campers, cleaning the campground and bath house and basically just meeting and enjoying wonderful fellowship with people from all walks of life. One of the best things about homeschooling is that we can do this anywhere we go and are able to live this wonderful lifestyle. Every year when we return home, I realize how "things" don't matter but the time we spend with our children and others matters SO MUCH MORE! 

FUN FACT: We have 940 Saturdays between the day our children are born and the day they turn 18 (260 of them are gone by their 5th birthday)!

How are you spending your days with your children? This time can't be gotten back. Why not spend it doing things in nature and teaching your children to love their surroundings and the people around them.

If you have ever considered becoming a camp host, I highly recommend! The volunteer hours aren't hard and the experience is definitely worth the investment.

Happy Camping!

Mama's making a comeback!

Where has the time gone? Almost a year ago, our family went from a family of six to a family of eight. At first, I thought no big deal I can handle this. Of course I have managed to handle it, but looking back now sometimes I wonder how I did. Having a newborn is having a newborn whether you gave birth to that baby or not. The job is still LONG and hard, but still SO worth it. Foster children of course come with challenges no matter their age.

Most of you know that I had grown to love running. When our family dynamics changed, I had to place that on the back burner to nurture and stabilize the children that God had placed in our family. I really questioned if I'd ever be able to get back to it. I mean having six children doesn't leave a whole lot of room for "extra curricular" activities.

At the end of the year last year, a friend of ours from church told me about a wonderful woman's group of runners that meets in the early morning to run before their husbands left for work. My first thought was NO WAY! I knew my personality, the demands for my day, and the fact that I still had a baby who wasn't sleeping through the night. Let's just say I have never really been a morning person. As we moved closer to the new year, I continued to think about my desire to run again. January 1 I set the goal to run 1,000 miles this year. With that goal, I knew I had to push myself to run at least 20 miles a week. I needed encouragement, motivation, and dedication to do this.
At the end of February I decided to give the group and the early morning running a try.

This morning marks five weeks since I joined these woman. I have only missed one of the regular weekly runs. I started SLOW, VERY SLOW but today, I ran a pace that I haven't run for years and one that quite frankly I never thought I could run again. I'm only getting older! Haha!
With the help and encouragement of this group of woman, who not only run with me, but minister to my stay at home Mama soul, I a running again!!!!
I logged over 20 miles last week and I am only getting stronger.

I share this for those of you who have goals that you have put on the back burner. Life happens, plain and simple. We can't stop it, but we can make a choice to keep our bodies, minds, and spirits happy and healthy. I am a better wife and Mom for running.
I am strong, I am more confident, and I come home ready to tackle the day. Even my kids have noticed and said, "Mom you are so much more happier now".

I hope this post encourages other Moms today to get out and do something for you. Just because you are a busy Mom, does not mean you can't take time for you.

Thanks to all of you who have helped me over the past year. It has been a journey, but one I am so thankful for. Now that I have a baby who is sleeping and am coming out of the "new Mom fog" I can see that LIFE IS GOOD and we are SO BLESSED!

Stay tuned for more news on our foster children.....hope to update by mid April on this!

A July to Remember

Once again this summer we decided to be camp hosts at Twin Lakes State Park. Despite having two extra children, we still decided to go and were very glad that we did. I found it to be a little more challenging with a new baby, but we made it work. 

The children were able to participate in many park activities including: swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing, and even some frog catching, owl prowling, and fox watch! We had lots of family visit this year and camp with us as well as some friends which made our stay even more enjoyable. Abby and Baker made LOTS of new friends from the campground and that was so fun to encourage. 

This volunteer job is so rewarding! We were able to meet even more wonderful people this summer. Our kids always love the time spent at this park and this year we really became part of the Twin Lakes Family. From the office staff and management, the rangers, interpreters, snack shop employees, and even the lifeguards we developed friendships that will last even after the tans fade. 

 What a wonderful opportunity this is for families! I would love to see more families volunteering to be camp hosts in our local parks. If you love camping, being outside, and just meeting new people, this is the perfect job for your family. 
We plan to be back at Twin Lakes again next summer and will be at another local park in October this year. Come see us if you can!

If you would like more information on becoming a Camp Host, we are happy to share. 

Happy Camping!

Abby's Animal Chores Saga

Our oldest two children have been away for "Camp Grandma" in Alaska for the past 9 days. Abby with her servant's heart and a desire to step up to the role of "oldest" for a little while, decided she would take over the animal chores. She knew I had my hands extra full with my big helpers being gone. We decided to let her do this. We figured it would be a good life lesson for her and besides she had her sidekick, Baker to help!

SO this is how the last week has gone......

Day 1- The two headed out to collect the eggs. After dropping and breaking one each, they returned with a handful of eggs.

Day 2- Same chore of collecting eggs, and they let the chickens out!

Day 3- Abby saw that the pigs needed feed, she dumped about the whole container (at least a week's worth of food) out for them. Their pot bellies were dragging the ground and they didn't even want to eat for days after this!

Day 4- The dynamic duo discovered that the pigs were out of water. Instead of "bothering" me and asking for help, she hooked up the garden hose and tried to run it out to the pigs. It wouldn't reach around one side of the house, so she tried the other way. The whole time she was attempting to make the hose reach, it was on and water was running EVERYWHERE! Baker was having a blast playing in the water and was soaking wet when I discovered what was going on! This day actually could have won America's Funniest Home Videos had I thought about recording it!

Day 5- She realized that her rabbit was growling and trying to scratch her when she tried to get in and get her bowl, so she just decided NOT to feed her! When we finally realized this was going on the poor thing was SUPER hungry!

Day 6- Too many fish food pellets in the fish bowl!  However, the fish DID survive.

Day 7- This is the day that ended the animal chores for Abby. The two headed out to check for eggs. We have known for a couple weeks that a snake has been sneaking in to snack on our eggs because he's been caught in there more than a couple times. BUT this day, Abby wasn't paying attention. She collected the eggs, and when they were on the way back into the house, they spotted that black snake just slowly slithering across the path. Aaron and I were sitting inside and heard screaming from both of them SO LOUD that I'm sure any "neighbors" thought they were having their legs and arms cut off! Aaron took off running to see what was the matter, fully expecting to see some blood of some sort. NOPE, it was just that snake minding his own business, making his way into the woods and Abby and Baker just standing there ( a number of feet away) screaming, holding each other, and shaking in fear! Of course Aaron shared the story of the "girl who cried wolf" again to them, and that they shouldn't scream like that unless something is truly wrong and so on and on. Dad rescued them, scooped the snake, up and found him a new home far away from our chicken coop. Abby decided on this day that she'd rather not do animal chores anymore unless an adult comes with her.

SO glad the big kids come home tomorrow! Never a dull moment around here and that's for sure!

Mama Life is Good

I have so many people say to me, "How do you do what you do?" or " You sure have your hands full" or even "I could never do what you do."

As I was making strawberry jam today, I was thinking about my job. My job does have so many different tasks and duties. It isn't easy and sure not your regular 9-5 job. A mother's job is never ending. It requires hard work, patience, long hours, and consistency. This is the kind of work that pays off and is rewarding every day. Even though there are some days that I struggle and am so tired, I wouldn't trade this life for anything. 

Right now as I type this, my oldest son is in the kitchen cooking supper, my oldest daughter is helping to freeze strawberries, and my younger three are playing together nicely. I have a moment to relax and ponder these things. My task is to teach these children how to live life, how to love, and most importantly, how to grow into responsible human beings. 

I am blessed beyond measure for this job and so thankful for the opportunity. When I left my 9-5 job years ago to be a stay at home, homeschooling Mom I never imagined that I could do it, much less be good at it and enjoy it. On the days that I struggle, I just pray and God gives me the strength I need to do this job HE has called me to. 

I often read Proverbs 31 and truly aspire to be that kind of woman.

" A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies. 

 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life. 

 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands. 

She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar. 

 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants. 

 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 

 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks. 

 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night. 

 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 

She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy. 

 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 

 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 

 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 

 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes. 

 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come. 

She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 

 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness. 

Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her: 

“Many women do noble things,      

 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Hope this is encouraging to other Mom's!