Here we are at the top of a mountain in Lenoir North Carolina, so close yet so far away from our kids and grands. This is the place I long to be at any given day or hour of the hot summer months back home in Central Pennsylvania. Now unsettling news of this past week has me longing to be back there, close to our daughters and sons and all the little ones. To hold them close, hug them tight and tell them once again "I love you"... A devastating car accident, a far too close encounter with a drunk driver under the influence of marijuana, admitted to not even having his eyes on the road at the time of the crash where my daughter, her husband and three of our precious grands were his victims. We are not in control of our circumstances but God has His way of turning around what the devil meant for our destruction and use it for our good and for His glory.
Our prayers for our kids, to keep them safe, protected and provided for over the years has blessed us on many occasions during the valley experiences of life. This one was a doozy, pardon the slang. It is indeed a miracle that our daughter and her family including their 5 year old, 3 year old and 6 month old daughters survived this accident. State Police agreed that they have never seen an accident of this magnitude without a fatality. We are so thankful to God for sparing their lives and giving them a testimony of His hand of protection over them during the crash. We are equally grateful to all of their wonderful church family who stood by them and held up their arms when they felt like they were losing the battle. Family is not only blood but those who are there for you, pray for you, want you in their lives and love you no matter what. Today we rest in the knowledge that our God is greater than anything bad that can come our way. We may not understand His ways but He knows the plans that He has for us and they are for our good.
Good things are happening in the lives of our children. he is providing for them in amazingly wonderful ways. I'm learning not to ask God why, but wait patiently for His timing and simply bask in sweet blessings, gifts from above...
Sitting on this mountaintop, breathless from the valley so deep;
Blessed beyond belief...
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Autumn Begins...
So the past few months have been sweet. Meeting new RVrs, making new friends, spending time with the kids and grand's. The summer camping season has nearly ended, for us anyway. We're headed south to Virginia, the Carolina's and Georgia for the winter months. There are no grand babies arriving this year so we can take our time returning to Pennsylvania in the Spring. We'll be home for Christmas for a couple weeks in December then back south after the New Year begins.
As sweet as the summer months have been, leaving is always bittersweet. Saying goodbye to the little ones is the hardest thing. Kids grow up and become adults. Lives are full and time is scarce but the time we've had with each one has been precious.
Plans include a stop in Gordonsville, VA to houseclean and wash and wax the motor home. A few weeks in the Blue Ridge Mountains then on to Mt. Airy, NC for Mayberry Days where we'll meet up with my sister, her husband and their granddaughter for a few days where we'll step back in time with Barney and the gang. Soon after we'll find ourselves in Greenville, VA to tool along the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park before heading to Williamsburg, VA for a couple of weeks of colonial bliss. Finally we'll rest in Jackson Springs.
I find it increasingly more difficult to leave what we familiarly called 'home' for nearly 30 years. The kids and the little ones, they are seemingly growing apart from each other and from us as well. I suppose it's just the progression of life. Everyone grows up and grows apart...not what I thought would happen when we planned to have a large family but I accept the reality of it all. We don't have children anymore, even though they have separate lives they continue to love each other and spend time together when they can and for that I am grateful.
This week has been hard. So many milestones we've missed, relationships begun, birthdays missed, new homes bought, first words spoken... and one crisis of some sort or another. Sometimes I can't control the tears. So the life of a full timer has it's ups and downs as any lifestyle does. We push through, keep our eyes on God, pray each other through and tomorrow is always a brighter day.
Washed and waxed the 'house', housecleaned, laundry finished and another Labor Day weekend has indeed come to an end. Looking forward to a day in the Shenandoah National Park before heading down to the North Carolina mountains to gaze upon God's creation from my favorite mountaintop in the Blue Ridge foothills, and so Autumn begins...
As sweet as the summer months have been, leaving is always bittersweet. Saying goodbye to the little ones is the hardest thing. Kids grow up and become adults. Lives are full and time is scarce but the time we've had with each one has been precious.
Plans include a stop in Gordonsville, VA to houseclean and wash and wax the motor home. A few weeks in the Blue Ridge Mountains then on to Mt. Airy, NC for Mayberry Days where we'll meet up with my sister, her husband and their granddaughter for a few days where we'll step back in time with Barney and the gang. Soon after we'll find ourselves in Greenville, VA to tool along the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park before heading to Williamsburg, VA for a couple of weeks of colonial bliss. Finally we'll rest in Jackson Springs.
I find it increasingly more difficult to leave what we familiarly called 'home' for nearly 30 years. The kids and the little ones, they are seemingly growing apart from each other and from us as well. I suppose it's just the progression of life. Everyone grows up and grows apart...not what I thought would happen when we planned to have a large family but I accept the reality of it all. We don't have children anymore, even though they have separate lives they continue to love each other and spend time together when they can and for that I am grateful.
This week has been hard. So many milestones we've missed, relationships begun, birthdays missed, new homes bought, first words spoken... and one crisis of some sort or another. Sometimes I can't control the tears. So the life of a full timer has it's ups and downs as any lifestyle does. We push through, keep our eyes on God, pray each other through and tomorrow is always a brighter day.
Washed and waxed the 'house', housecleaned, laundry finished and another Labor Day weekend has indeed come to an end. Looking forward to a day in the Shenandoah National Park before heading down to the North Carolina mountains to gaze upon God's creation from my favorite mountaintop in the Blue Ridge foothills, and so Autumn begins...
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Precious Time...
We've been home in Pennsylvania for several months now. Attended the births of the two latest grands and now traveling back and forth between Gettysburg Battlefield Resort, and now we're in an Outdoor World in East Berlin. Gettysburg Farm is a working farm complete with goats and calves, donkeys, llamas and alpacas. A few ducks, chickens and a rooster to wake us in the morning. We're so blessed to have these memberships and to have had the forethought to acquire lifetime memberships and to pay ahead our maintenance dues when we had the opportunity to do so, for now we have no financial worries. Being 'homeless' has been a stress free lifestyle for these gypsies. Water, trash and utility bills are a thing of the past, Mortgage payments and charge card debt are not an issue with us.
It has been an uneventful, for the most part, Spring and Summer traveling back and forth between Travel Resorts and Thousand Trails campgrounds. Lancaster and the surrounding area have several to choose from. Looking forward to the mountains in the Fall, then finally our home in the North Carolina Sandhills for the Winter. Spending time in Pennsylvania has allowed us time visiting with our children. We value the time we've been able to spend with our new grands, watching them grow and learn from the older ones right before our eyes.
The mornings are cool and the chill in the evening air reminds us that it's soon time to roll the 'house' south to a more pleasant climate.
It has been an uneventful, for the most part, Spring and Summer traveling back and forth between Travel Resorts and Thousand Trails campgrounds. Lancaster and the surrounding area have several to choose from. Looking forward to the mountains in the Fall, then finally our home in the North Carolina Sandhills for the Winter. Spending time in Pennsylvania has allowed us time visiting with our children. We value the time we've been able to spend with our new grands, watching them grow and learn from the older ones right before our eyes.
The mornings are cool and the chill in the evening air reminds us that it's soon time to roll the 'house' south to a more pleasant climate.
Life Unchanged...
This camping season has been uneventful for the most part. We have been staying on the East Coast, Pennsylvania more specifically. Spending time with our grown children and watching the grand's grow up faster than I would like. Also, my mom is having her share of health issues, at 87 years young this is to be expected, so for these reasons PA was our choice for the seasons destination. Aside from hopping back and forth between our Thousand Trails Reserve and Travel Resorts in Gettysburg, births and vacationing family, this has been the extent of our travels since returning home at February's end; for the most part this lifestyle is quite relaxing. We're close enough to 'home' if anyone needs us but far enough away to live our peaceful vagabond lifestyle with others who enjoy the same. We've met many, our paths cross often and the bonds are not easily broken. When September rolls around we'll head of to our mountaintop for a few weeks before settling in for a long winters nap in the Sandhill's of North Carolina.
Playing Catch Up...
Yes, it's been a while. I keep forgetting I have this blog. When I remember that I haven't posted here in a while I discover another year has passed. Depressing to think about how fast life is passing. Doesn't seem all that long ago the kids were young and we were just doing what we do. Today it's all gone, those days are over and we'll never get them back. Kids are grown living their lives and the grands are coming along quite regularly now. Don't ever take those years for granted, they won't last long. In only a breath, poof they're gone [sigh].
2012 ended and 2013 began as every year. A road trip home to Pennsylvania. Scheduling times to spend with each family member, between work schedules and personal schedules, there never seems to be enough time.. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Leftover Day family activities were carried out with much laughter, fun, food and togetherness. Every second held tight and close so not to be snatched away. The dream of a White Christmas became a reality this year. The first White Christmas in 10 years I understand. The snow was heavy, the roads were covered and it seemed like our plans were foiled by the storm, but not when you have boys with trucks! The show must go on, so we were rescued like damsels in distress, presents and food packed safely and off we went.
No regrets save one, allowing controlling spirits to win and play with our emotions. One more time around the mountain...
The year progressed, two months spent in a warmer climate then at the end of February we returned home to await the two newest grand's bringing the total to 8. Veda Leigh made her appearance on February 15th, born at home like big sister Sarai was two years prior. A few weeks later after a road trip to Western Pennsylvania Nadia Quin arrived on March 17th. A week in Children's Hospital, issues resolved, a festive homecoming and an Easter birthday party for Jojo saw us off to our warm weather home in Gettysburg PA.
All my procrastinating brings this blog entry to the end of our Summer. Splitting our visits between kids, grand kids and grandma. Slipping in some Amish grocery shopping and an enjoyable week with my sister and family visiting Hershey Chocolate Factory and taking as many family members as could to Knoebel's (a favored local amusement park). We hop back and forth between our two home campgrounds occasionally diverting to one conveniently closer to home, I leave content...
...content knowing our daughters are protected by faithful, loving husbands, our grands are healthy and happy and our sons are experiencing God's blessing in new life adventures.
2012 ended and 2013 began as every year. A road trip home to Pennsylvania. Scheduling times to spend with each family member, between work schedules and personal schedules, there never seems to be enough time.. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Leftover Day family activities were carried out with much laughter, fun, food and togetherness. Every second held tight and close so not to be snatched away. The dream of a White Christmas became a reality this year. The first White Christmas in 10 years I understand. The snow was heavy, the roads were covered and it seemed like our plans were foiled by the storm, but not when you have boys with trucks! The show must go on, so we were rescued like damsels in distress, presents and food packed safely and off we went.
No regrets save one, allowing controlling spirits to win and play with our emotions. One more time around the mountain...
The year progressed, two months spent in a warmer climate then at the end of February we returned home to await the two newest grand's bringing the total to 8. Veda Leigh made her appearance on February 15th, born at home like big sister Sarai was two years prior. A few weeks later after a road trip to Western Pennsylvania Nadia Quin arrived on March 17th. A week in Children's Hospital, issues resolved, a festive homecoming and an Easter birthday party for Jojo saw us off to our warm weather home in Gettysburg PA.
All my procrastinating brings this blog entry to the end of our Summer. Splitting our visits between kids, grand kids and grandma. Slipping in some Amish grocery shopping and an enjoyable week with my sister and family visiting Hershey Chocolate Factory and taking as many family members as could to Knoebel's (a favored local amusement park). We hop back and forth between our two home campgrounds occasionally diverting to one conveniently closer to home, I leave content...
...content knowing our daughters are protected by faithful, loving husbands, our grands are healthy and happy and our sons are experiencing God's blessing in new life adventures.
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