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.

The Setback

Februarys plans foiled, not by choice but because life doesn't always play by our rules. A week in the mountains followed by a week that we planned to spend with family. That didn't happen for reasons unknown and Ohhh the disappointment. We traveled around from thrift store to thrift store, flea market to flea market. A road trip through the mountains and across the border to a beloved pottery to buy some coffee mugs and apple bakers filled our free time.  The joy of a new grandbaby snatched away and replaced with heartache and tears as we learned it wasn't meant to be. Today we're home in a familiar place, surrounded by familiar faces but alone, alone deep inside my thoughts wondering what tomorrow will bring, next week, next month, next year...

Anxious moments, forced smiles and uncontrolled tears...

A Week of Quiet Solitude

We just spent a week in Yemassee South Carolina, 23 miles from the nearest Walmart. The Oaks at Point South is a sleepy little campground, at least in early February, who knows what throngs of people  the summer months bring. We strolled around the lake and met a few new friends. After all, walking and talking is what we do best. One thing that stands out to me here in Yemassee the most is the Spanish Moss that drapes the trees down here in the southern states. I know they're home to chiggers but it is such a beautiful site to see. I often wondered on those breezy days if they blow in the wind, not a pleasant thought if they do :/

Well today will be our last day here in Yemassee, we plan to take a drive south to Savannah one last time before heading to the mountains in northern Georgia. Unexplored territory is always an adventure. Savannah is a great place, beautiful and lots of history however, the thought of going someplace that we've not yet been before is even more exciting. Oh the thrill of it all; so greatful to be able to live our life on wheels, traveling to and fro enjoying Gods country at will, in our own time, at our own pace. So different from the rest of the world, everyone speeding by unaware of their surroundings. Oh the freedom of leaving that life behind...

Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Well, this has been a productive week. The motorhome has been washed and waxed and the inside has been spit-shined, floors mopped and shined and windows cleaned and the furniture vacuumed. I even had time to complete two articles for Suite101on our life on wheels. In the midst of all the work we were able to take some time to stop and smell the roses if you will. We did some thrifty shopping, Walmart shopping and storage container shopping. The under storage compartments are re-organized and stocked, the car is washed as well as the car dolly and today we even had some time to stroll along the beach hand in hand, enjoying Gods handiwork and thankful for this wonderful life He has allowed us to live.  In the morning we roll out and head to Yemassee South Carolina. We hope to relax a bit there visiting some local attractions and also spend some time in Savannah Georgia. For the rest of this day, packing up, dumping the tanks, securing the bikes and maybe watching a movie as we bring this month of January 2012 to a close.

The Ocean Calls My Name

Here we are again, another winter where we spend a week in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Sometime around the early part of January the ocean waves begin to call our name. Traveling South for the Winter months has become tradition since we've been living full time in our motorhome. A week at the beach is a welcome change from the Sandhills of North Carolina. Sandhills is an understatement as sand is everywhere. On the flat ground, on the roads, on the hills, in your shoes and unfortunately in your rig. Sand with no ocean is odd to me so visiting Myrtle Beach is a fun side trip on our way south to visit family in Greenville South Carolina. This year we will be stopping in Yemassee South Carolina, near Savannah Georgia for a week and then up the South Carolina/Georgia line to Lakemont to visit Tallulah River Walk. After which we'll be in Fair Play South Carolina for a week before heading back to the Sandhills for three weeks. It will be a fast paced winter but we'll be visiting several places we haven't visited before. Next Winter maybe we will plan to stay longer. This week however, we're shopping the thrift stores and the flea markets. Washing the motorhome and house cleaning. Last but certainly not least, strolling along the beach enjoying the smell of the salt water and the relaxing sounds of crashing waves on our feet. The warmth of the sunshine on our face, thankful for another day, another week to live this life on the road in our rolling home 

A New Year

Christmas has passed and the new year is begun. Our visit home was an adventure, as expected. The time we spent with our kids and grandchildren was priceless. If I could change anything; it would be allowing our living conditions for those two and a half weeks to NOT control our mood and attitude. Next year things will be different, definitely different.

Moving on...January is spent in the Sandhills. North Carolina is our home for the winter months. We love it here, love the people, love our church, love Sycamore Lodge and all the tall wispering pines, the 'Big House' the lake, our site by the pond... We will be spending a few weeks in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach relaxing, Greenville visiting family and Yemassee exploring new territory, but we'll be back to the Sandhills in March for a month before heading North back to Gettysburg and closer to the kids for a few months.

Writing for Suite101 has been an outlet for me. I love our life on wheels and enjoy writing about all the aspects of it. Barry tinkering with his trains, doing ebay and writing is how we are enjoying retirement at the moment. Down the road...who knows, we may try some work camping or camp hosting and stay put for a longer period of time, but for now we love the move every two or three weeks. It's as if we are on a perpetual vacation. I never get tired of planning the months ahead, where will we go, what will we do, who will we meet??? Life is an adventure and we are so blessed to be able to live it in this way.

This year 2012 should prove to be an exciting year. Politics and religion I feel will dominate as we move ever closer to the return of the Lord. Soon and very soon we're going to see the King and I for one am looking forward to the day when the things of earth grow dim in the light of HIS glory and grace.