Busy Day!

This is our large map to mark the places we'll go... bonus points if you can guess what these are (a couple are national parks... but the others are what I'm talking about).  We are marking off all the places we want to see, then notating them by state, etc. on a different piece of paper.  Not even sure if we can FIT everything in to ONE YEAR!

Today, they finished up the detailing of the boat.  I am going to write a glowing review.  Though he was late (we're talking REALLY REALLY .... REALLY late erm... 8 hours), the job he did was fantabulous.  We are going to be able to get a few thousand more for the boat now!  SO exciting!  This means more toward our roving home.  Praising God he is lighting just the path in front of us and we are STEPPING.  Speaking of roving home, we've basically decided on a type and model (well... narrowed down).  I'm just gonna throw what we want out there and you never know.  We're praying for God to give us a good deal on this, and following Dave Ramsey's plan doesn't really allow for debt.  SO we are throwing out a big WISH LIST OH PLEASE, DADDY to God for the perfect fit for our family... one that we could stand for a year.  Basically what we want is a Raptor or Fuzion toy hauler by Keystone.  We want the electric queen beds in the back, the queen bunk, and the walk around master queen.  I've found some CLOSE to our price range, and just trying to keep the hubs satiated without all the bells and whistles of a pricier model.  In spite of a foreclosure, our credit is really good! I know, right?!?  Like - we could qualify for a home loan right now.  Which - when we DO finally settle will come in handy.  But, I do not feel any peace about going into debt over an RV.  Nope.

Sold my white board today.  Big deal, right?  No.  It is.  It's the homeschooler's whiteboard holy grail.  A 6'x4' whiteboard.  It has had schedules, scripture, affirmations, math, attributes of God, and so much more on it.  It blessed us greatly, and now it is time for it to bless someone else.  I was shocked how hard it was to say goodbye to this silly object!  I got a little choked up.  Well - that's after I quickly (like QUICKLY) scrubbed the Nair off of my legs when she showed up to look at the board!  LOL!  We loaded it up and waved goodbye.  

Told a dear friend (you know who you are) about our trip.  So nervous telling anyone.  I seriously know how  crazy it sounds.  Like.  Loony Toons crazy.  But I'm okay with that.  Sometimes it takes crazy outside the box change to shake us up.  If you are reading this, please pray for my dear friend's daddy, Bob.  He has been diagnosed with serious cancer.  He's been told there is no cure - but we KNOW who really is in charge, right?  Right.  Please join me in lifting this sweet, darling man and his wifey up in prayer just as often as you are able.

Found a dream destination tonight.  Do me a favor and open a new window.  Then, google image search these terms: rainforest canyon oneonta gorge oregon

Holy beautiful place we're going!  WOWZA!  Must go.  MUST MUST.  I would love to arrange baptism of our youngest daughter here with a Calvary Chapel pastor... how awesome would that be?  Totally rad.

Finally,  I leave you with this beautiful quote by Susan B. Anthony...

“Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience* for approval.”   (right here I would add *and to the Lord)

We're Not The Only Crazy Ones!

There are quite a few families that do what we're about to do!  Many have gone before us, and I plan to learn from each one!  There are a variety of reasons for doing this...

• Saving for a home
• Seeing the Country
• Ministry
• Serving Others
• Roadschooling

For us - it is ALL of the above.  Check out this list of other families @ fulltimefamilies.com that have chosen the nomadic life for various lengths of time.  

Word Vomit

Please pray for me in this area.  When I get nervous, excited,or  intimidated I tend to overshare... (this makes up 75% of my life!).  My kids have deemed this "Word Vomit" and boy does it fit.  Why does this apply to our adventure?  It is VERY difficult for me to keep this close to my vest because  I'm so excited about it!!  However, until we get the RV and get things sold... it isn't a REALITY.  I'm not expecting certain people in our lives to be exactly... supportive.

I'm pretty sure, in fact, that there are several that are going to be hardcore rude about it.  Please pray for me not to be intimidated by this.  Also, pray for grace for all... and finally... pray for my ability to keep this close to my vest until the time is right.

Idea ADD

This is just PHENOMENAL!  My heart has been to serve, serve, and serve again.  I have wanted my children to get out of thinking of their own comforts and understanding that there are PEOPLE out there that truly NEED Jesus' hands and feet.  Honestly, if I have to hear one more argument about insignificant and petty stuff I think I will puke.  Sorry.  I said it.

I think I am like most parents - I had so VERY little growing up, I have tended toward indulging.  Okay, I have to say if you met my kids you'd think them delightful.  Seriously - they really REALLY are.  They just just have a little "I" trouble.  Too close of thinking.  Their eyes don't see past their noses sometimes.  And... so do mine for that matter.  I really want our family to swim AGAINST this numbing American flow.  I think if we find our passion - we could be used INSANELY for God's glory!  

But - and this may offend (if so stop reading, lol) - I am kind of, sort of, DONE ministering to the needs of the cushy Christian.  Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.  Also, He wasn't afraid to roll up His sleeves and hang out with the dregs... the least of these.  I'm done being an "UPPER DECK" Christian.  I will explain that tomorrow - a vision God gave me.  Truthfully, I have had so many sheep bites in the last few years since rededicating my life fully to Christ!  I think they hurt the most because you let your guard down.  Clearly, if I am called to minister in a capacity to serve other Christians again... I will.  But my heart is that the days are growing shorter, and if I truly trust then my heart needs to be GOSPEL and servant driven.  I tell you all this to lead to today's "Idea ADD."

I want my girls and I, whilst my hubby is serving his family by working his job, to serve others at least once a week.  Calling Volunteer America to tell them of our travel plans.  Working in soup kitchens, singing for the salvation army as bell ringers, calling a church for a family in need that wants maybe some extra hands on yard work or house cleaning (okay that part is seriously gonna need the Lord's help! haha!) - anything and ANY WHERE He calls us to serve.  No greater joy... no greater honor... no greater testimony... no greater teaching.  If you are reading this right now, and the Holy Spirit has testified to you that this is important - could you please just stop reading for a moment and pray for us?  I would love to have some prayer partners for this endeavor!  

I am so thankful for the trials God has put me through in my life to mold me to this place.  I consider it JOY!

LIQUIDATION!

The selling... has begun!   I have about twelve big ticket items listed on craigslist right now.  Unfortunately the biggest ticket items are dependent upon my every busy hard working hubby.  I'm liquidating my big furniture that isn't bedroom stuff.  Honestly, those will eventually go too.  

Smart idea from a friend:  measure out the size of the storage you're going to get.  Instead of focusing on what you want to get rid of, focus on the stuff you want to KEEP.  Smart.

I am finding myself alarmingly unattached to things.  But... what have I done to my children?  Upon considering my Kincade paintings that would probably fetch several thousand dollars... my oldest daughter "S" (16) asked if we could please keep them.  I will keep them, because her point wasn't their value but the continuity.  If it takes paintings for her to feel some sort of continuity once we settle... it doesn't matter.

The things I want to keep are my grandmother's shoes from the 1940's, my grandpa's checkerboard... things that I cannot replace.  

Then... THEN there is the yard sale.  I am 41 and have never had a yard sale!  I tried one once and sold like... 3 things?!  Ugh!  Lol.  The great idea from fulltimefamilies was to call the Vietnam Veterans and schedule pickup of everything left over for the day after your yardsale.  Great idea!

So far we have sold 1 thing on craigslist...  our green cheek conure that bit my daughter multiple times.  Hard.  So I told the people he bites kids... and they still wanted him!  They seemed to actually like that fact?  Odd.  

On a side note, today we have to euthanize my middle daughter's "M" (14) 25 year old horsey.  Ugh.  Not going to be pleasant.  She's in pain and it has to be done... but oh man I kind of feel like an ogre!

Okay - off to list more life clutter.  

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

 

RV Drooling

Oh man.  Went to look at fifth wheels/trailers/toy haulers at dealerships today.  BOY OH BOY are we on RV overload.  But, it did help us to know what we REALLY want in a rig and what is unnecessary.  The short (and incomplete) list

Fireplace - No
Door on master bedroom - yes
Curtain in shower - heck to the no
Walk Around Bed - non-negotiable (wife)
Generator - non-negotiable (hubs)


and then there is deciding between a 5th wheel/trailer/toy hauler.  If riding in the back of the 5th wheel would be an option, we'd do it.  Toy haulers are really roomy... but unless you get a really new model ($$$) they are pretty spartan.  Meant for guys and we only have one of those in our family, lol.

Part of the issue of going to see NEW RVs is the kids are kinda getting jazzed about the whole thing.  This is after seeing tricked out rigs like:

When what is more realistic and in our price range is a rig like:

Well - maybe not that extreme, but certainly not the leather couches, fireplaces, granite counters, Starbuck's style lighting, and rotating televisions we saw today.  

This week's task is listing at least 2 items on craigslist every day, and then prepping for our yard sale two weeks out.  Just the freedom of paring down our lives to become minimalists is AMAZING!

Our big ticket items:

Malibu Wakeboarding Boat
Treadmill
Weight Machine system
Horse Trailer
2 Utility Trailers
(2) Elliptical Trainers (ugh - don't ask)

Then, small items and a yard sale.  

Benefits to a trailer instead of a fifth wheel is that we could keep our (paid for) Excursion instead of selling it and getting a truck to haul a 5th wheel.  From what I gather, many #roadschooling families use 5th wheels - but we have to find what works for us.  After all, going against the flow is kind of how we roll.

Next time:

Adventures in Liquidating!

   

God Gives Us A Vision

When God puts something on your heart... what do you do?  Do you ignore it, hoping it will go away?  Or, do you answer His call?

Our family has always talked about #roadschooling.  That is - homeschool in an RV home.  We've been homeschooling since 2001, and were too tied to a mortgage in a money pit home to do anything.  That all changed when horrid health hazard inducing neighbors moved in.  Night and day they processed 5 acres worth of pot by burning the left overs in their wood stove with gas masks.  My children were waking in the middle of the night with headaches.  No one could help us because all twelve people had their "cards."  We felt trapped.  That is, until we decided to just... well... leave!  Goodbye, California - hello Nevada!  

Our two year lease is up in November.  So, God released us from our excuses to travel.  The hubs can work from anywhere there is internet.  We have a ministry that will board our horses... and let's be real... getting rid of years of accumulated junk is just liberating.

Our first step?  Making the decision!  Next, we are going to sell off as much stuff as possible (including our boat) to purchase a fifth wheel.  We've been working on getting out of debt using Dave Ramsey's plan - and this just fits right in to it all!  We will be adding to savings, putting only our non-replacables in storage, and perhaps by November 2013... hitting the road.  We're talking about six months, but maybe even more!

I plan on hanging up a US map, getting tacks, numbering stickers, and coordinating the numbers with sights we all want to see.  I may even color coordinate them with family/friends being one color... historical sights, entertainment sights, scientific sights... all being different colors.  

I'm SO thrilled!  Eventually, we are looking at settling down on the outskirts of Austin, TX.  Raising our own beef, chickens, pigs, and growing our own produce.  If you are reading this - please pray for wisdom and provision!


-Jen