Challenges schmallenges

This question was posed as part of the February Group Writing Project…
What challenges kept you from making your dreams a reality? Is it fear of the unknown? Your spouse? Your extended family’s reaction? Money? Even if you are OTR, do you find yourself still holding back?

Of course I have to say NO challenges kept us from hitting the road! The challenges were all there, fear, reactions, money, (not spouse though, he was all in!) but none of those warranted much thought. I don't know that we're super bold, we just know what our family wanted and made it happen. Once we decided, we were all so eager! It took a few months to sort out the details and do the manual labor of selling, buying, packing, and going.
Do we hold back now? Again, NO! Once we finally realized life is literally (not just figuratively) what you make it, and you CAN make it anything you want, how could we hold back? We hear so many say I can't, I wish, you're lucky. We're not lucky! We're purposeful and determined and very blessed. I do believe God watches over us and has kept us alive, afloat, redirected, etc. many times just when needed, so I don't think we get all the credit. :)

Driving through White Sands, New Mexico with our home in tow.

Check out what other families are saying for the February Group Writing Project at Fulltime Families.

Valentine's Day

The lovely Jenn Nims threw a fun Valentine's Day party! The kids got together and made lots of Valentines to hand out to the other campers in our campground. They had fun and the retirees really appreciated the hand made cards! Jenn also read the story of St. Valentine and many of us learned something new. Then they had ice cream sundaes with lots of LOVELY toppings! It was a beautiful setting on a beautiful day and a fun way to share the love with each other then other campers too!

More families

This was another spontaneous campfire with more RVing families. It's getting hard to remember now we've had so many! I need to blog right away so I don't forget. This time the Schrier and Bennett families came from other campgrounds to visit those of us still at Orlando Thousand Trails, the Marrs, Nims, Sparks, & us. We were sad to miss Gayle Bennett though, we've still not met her and she was in the hospital. The girls worked on a sweet get well card for her. :)

TTO families

We've met so many RVing families in Orlando recently. This was an evening with the Marrs, Brewers, Chalfants, Frenches, Nims, and Dials. Food, friends, & fun!
A few girls are a bit addicted... not me of course!
We got the adults and a smattering of the kids.

RVing Families

In case you wonder why we keep getting behind on our blogging, it's because we keep finding more people to hang out with! Like tonight, we met SIX other RVing families on the road here in Orlando. Most of the kids were off playing, because after introductions, they were all best of friends!
So fun meeting people we've known online for years now, and also ones we just learned about today! More soon, gotta go have more fun...

Heather

While in Pensacola, my old friend Heather Thomas Stepp came to visit. (I can't call her old, she's younger than me!) Heather was a friend through college & beyond and my maid of honor back ohhh almost 15 years ago. It was great to catch up and meet her adorable little boy. Her mom was also in town, so very nice to catch up with her too.

Matt & Lizzy

Mainly for Mom & Dad. These two were looking at pics at Uncle Ryan's. Don't they look a lot like Ryan & me back then?!!

Naval Aviation Museum

In Pensacola we visited the National Naval Aviation Museum. After spending lots of time in Dayton at the Air Force National Museum, we weren't sure if it would be worth it, but it sure was! It was smaller, but had more planes the kids could get inside. Plus it had the Blue Angels, so yeah, very cool! We've seen them in Ohio, Michigan, and California, so seeing their home base was neat.

The not very funny part is that we could see the museum from our campground, but it took an hour to drive there! It was just across the bay. A boat would have been much faster. At least we got to pick up Uncle Ryan on the way and spend the day with him!
Looking at the lighthouse by the museum from Fort Pickens.
Looking at Fort Pickens from the lighthouse.
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Pensacola Beach

Uncle Ryan came to visit us and spend some time on the beach. It was freezing, but Ohioans don't mind!

Fort Pickens, Pensacola FL

Fort Pickens is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi and Florida. We camped at Fort Pickens, near Pensacola, FL. Allen & I stopped here last year without the kids and knew we had to bring them back! Most national parks don't let you get this close to everything. And there are miles of tunnels and rooms and stairs and batteries and cannons and... just fun!
Favorite picture. This is why we roadschool. Learning about history in an almost 200 year old fort right where it happened.
They loved getting to crawl around and really explore the fort.

The kids had their own battle.
Josh was "hit" and did a dramatic fall down this slope.
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Gulfport, MS

We headed to Gulfport MS to visit my cousins Michelle & Roger and their boys. We got to stay in her church parking lot and even plug in! The kids played with Elijah and Josiah, had major nerf battles, and found another trampoline! We went to a Mardi Gras parade too. What great timing! The kids caught a LOT of beads and had a great time.
Then they took us to a very cool restaurant (if you will) called Shaw's Fish House. It was a gutted house in the middle of nowhere with little parking, but completely packed. They serve all you can eat catfish and we just passed around the fish and side dishes like we were at home. It was great!! I think they've been open over 30 years and it's just good food.
Nerf wars...
Our spot at the church was great too. Peaceful, quiet, with electric and a huge parking lot. Even a playground and basketball court. We went to church there on Sunday before we headed out.
Michelle's my only cousin who makes me feel short!
They also fed us all weekend and took great care of us! Roger's parents even helped feed us Sunday and brought very thoughtful gifts. We had a great, but too short, visit!
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