More Can Be More

I strive to keep our things to a minimum, our extra curricular activities limited, and our schedule from being overwhelming. Less is more? Right? Based on our shift in values since transitioning to the RV lifesytle, I took a huge left turn when applying for VIPKID. 

VIPKid is an online teaching service. Teachers from North America teach students in China. 

My #momlife is already abundantly full. I have cutback on our chosen curriculum because our toddler consumes a lot of everyone's time. I still have not really figured out how to incorporate Selah into the daily lessons. Scott and I struggle to carve away time to spend one on one. The sink is never empty. I could go on and on. But you know life...you live it too. It may look differently, but those 24 hours melt away quickly despite all the resolve to use the time better the next day. 

I chose to dabble in the idea of a mobile job at the most inopportune time. Scott's job in Utah was coming to an end, we were in a location with zero wifi, and we needed to prepare for moving and finding the next destination. I had no idea when I applied for VIPKID that I would be pursued relentlessly to set up an interview. I was certain I was not ready...so far it was just a silly idea. 

As I started to prepare for my demo interview, I was intrigued by the challenge. The girls were involved in my preparation and really spurred me on to keep improving. They were also learning in the process. Little did I know that once I passed the demo, a clock would begin ticking for me to complete two mock classes with a current teacher. I had six days to get it done. The same week that we would be leaving. Challenge accepted! More time preparing, more involvement from the girls (Selah was learning her letters and sounds), I was stimulated in so many areas that had gone dormant in my day to day routine... new challenges, problem solving on a different level, intellectual stimulation from learning something totally new, a fun way for my children to learn with me. The pursuit to contribute to our family financially at the same time as pursuing a passion...PRICELESS!

It started to feel like Mission Impossible as I was given task after task via email to complete in a timely manner. I never spoke to a live person except to do demonstrations. I needed to advertise myself to parents via a bio, pictures, and a short video. There was so much to learn about the teacher portal, how to teach different levels of proficiency, and finding a consistent and reliable way to stay connected.

This first week of teaching has me feeling all the feels, and I have been reflecting on the difference a week makes...

 Family Support
 I have experienced a great deal of mom guilt over this pursuit. It seems strange to do anything for myself or something that I enjoy. I love to read and write, but I rarely give myself permission to make time for it. I feel incredibly selfish because the initial learning curves require more daytime hours than I expected. Scott has been incredibly supportive of the time that I have needed to take. He has even expressed pride in my efforts. Scott has been preparing for a new job in California...testing, classes, testing, more classes, and yet he has gone out of his way to make sure I have the time I need to educate myself and prepare for lessons. My girls get involved in my online workshops and preparing lessons with me. I am beaming with the thought of what my family will do for me and making the choice to invest in me. I have never felt so loved.
 

More Time 
It would seem that adding a job would take away the time that I have. But in reality it has organized my time and made me more available. My homeschooling schedule is more routine and predictable. I have wanted to wake up early and get the day started sooner, but I never found the right motivation. I really did not know there was anything that would make me wake up at 2:45am! And guess who I will get to see every morning? My husband! Our schedules have been so opposite for so long. Now we are both too tired to stay up at night, and we can be early risers together...I am still working on the morning mood, though.The techniques that I am learning have also added to my teaching ability for my children. They ask..."Are you going to teach us like you teach the Chinese kids today?" I am writing my second blog in two weeks, when before it would take me months. 
 

Caring for Myself
I have not done well in the self care department. My self care has consisted of staying up too late on Facebook or watching a meaningless show on Netflix. That is not necessarily the wrong way to spend time, but waking up grouchy because of staying up too late for nonsense make no sense. I now make sure that we have an established bedtime routine so I can get to bed quickly. I have a whole new community of teachers that have helped me through my learning curves, messaged me, and video chatted with me. My time on FB and YouTube has consisted of fueling my mind with knowledge. I am able to get up early enough to do the quiet time that I have so desperately needed. And my prayer life has improved as I pray for strength to do all that I can to be the best at all that I do, that I not pursue something God does not want for me, and gratefulness for the awesome opportunity. I also make time for naps as I get used to the new schedule. I have not done that since JoJo was itty bitty.  

 

A Passion that Makes a Difference
I get to wake up to smiling children on my screen every morning! I am in awe of these amazing children learning a second language at the ages of my own children. They inspire me! I had a mom this morning try to explain to me that her son was very worried. It was my job to ease his nerves and make it a fun learning environment. He came to life and his mom was so grateful. I got to watch a little of their interaction before my camera came on, and I was in awe of a mother hard at work desiring more for her son (just like me), and she was all the way around the globe.

It is making a difference in my home as well. I feel more enthusiastic about being a mom and homeschooling, I am more self fulfilled, I have a greater reliance on my creator, I will see my husband more in his "peak" hours, I feel more loved, and I am challenged. The only thing that is in the negative is my sleep...and I have certainly done life on less sleep before (4 times over). And I never regretted that investment! Sometimes more is more!

The Journey of Finding Calm in the Chaos

It has been awhile since I have written. It seems like a lifetime to capture in a short synopsis. This lifestyle makes it feel like several lives have been lived in a small amount of time. After leaving Connecticut, we were able to spend time with our families for the first time around the holidays, and then make it to Georgia for time with good friends and workcamping for a few months. We love this campground because we can really be at peace with our surroundings and let the kids run free. Then, we thought Utah would be a good stopping point after attending a marriage retreat in Branson, Missouri. It all seems like a whirlwhind. We went from a frigid Spring in Heber Valley to a house for the  month of May while we remodeled the RV. Then a little spot in a driveway just South of SLC that gave the girls a chance to meet new friends and be entertained by horses each day. And...So many reunions with good friends catching up.

 As I look back, I realize that we have not been in the realm of the unfamiliar for quite some time. We have backtracked and criss crossed paths that we have already been down. It was a good season. And now we are embracing the whole reason we chose this lifestyle...the thrill and adventure of the trek into the unknown. Today, I did not like the reacquaintance with the unfamiliar. Our unique way of life begging us to rely on faith and not security. I am sure the FB view makes us seem like we are just weaving our way around with no fear of the unknown. But our faith is tested on a regular basis. I do believe that is why this lifestyle was chosen for us, because had it just been us trying something out, we would have exited stage left a long time ago. The return on that faith investment is always, always worth it.

You know the feeling of moving from one home to the other...you have to shut down life in one location and begin the set up in the next location. Every few months, that is what we are doing. We need to understand where we are and where we can find things. We need doctors and dentists and mechanics and usually in the form of "immediately."  When we first got to Georgia we had to switch phone services because ours would not work , when we first got to Connecticut we needed a pediatric dentist and new tires, there have been two ER visits on the road, and yesterday I needed a doctor for Selah and I had no idea what part of town I was headed into. I was even told over the phone that the doctor was an hour away from my location, then discovered it was actually 17 minutes away.

 It leads me to believe that we are making life too difficult for ourselves. It has Scott and I scratching our heads asking "why do we do this?" The last week exiting and the first week entering our always filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows. We can even predict the chaos and anxiety and yet fall into the trap every time. And the kids...oh the kids...they just go with the flow. Teaching us each time that they trust us to not withhold good from them, yet we constantly question our heavenly father in times of uncertainty. Those Israelites that roam in the desert all through Exodus...that is us! I can read about them and say 'have you not learned anything!' and yet here we are doing the same thing. I have to remember to remember. There is always goodness just around the corner.

I have not formally introduced the way this all works for us. Friends are usually asking "what's next?" or "what's the plan?" We are always formulating a plan, but it never is the plan. Because "our ways are not His ways" and also not the Union's ways. Scott is a Union Pipefitter. The Union is the reason we have been blessed with this opportunity. I have to wonder if God was orchestrating this all along. Scott has been a Union Pipefitter since I have known him. And he never traveled because of it. Except to travel out to Utah to marry me. Scott has to speak to a Union Business Manager to discover where the jobs are located. He usually goes to the Union Hall with a direction of where we want to go. When I was pregnant we wanted to be as close to Memphis, Tennessee as possible. That is how we ended up at a Nuclear Plant in Georgia. When we were burning up in the South, we wanted to go North. The Union told us about a job in Connecticut. We took a break after traveling from Utah to Georgia to North Carolina to Kentucky to Tennessee to Connecticut (and all the states along the way to those destinations). Scott was unemployed for a few months (our sabbatical), and then we headed back to visit Utah after being gone for over two years. When the job ended in Utah, we started looking NorthWest.

This is where it gets really exciting for those of us accustomed to routine and security. There is not always a job, and if there is a job, it can be filled before we make it to the next destination. It is first come first serve, if someone shows up before us, they get the job. IT IS NEVER CERTAIN THAT THE JOB WE WANTED WILL BE THERE. It is also never certain when we will get that first paycheck. Scott has to pass a gate test to prove his skill, there are safety trainings and orientations, and start dates that do not always align with our timeline. We did not get our first paycheck for 5 weeks when we went to Georgia. So our savings account goes through major peaks and valleys.

We are in California. Originally, we were told to go to Portland, Oregon. But that job was filled and no longer had an opening. We have lived off of faith for so long, that we were just going to head to Seattle, Washington and wait for jobs that we were told would be opening up at any time. Then the day before we were going that direction. Scott received a call that he was definitely needed in Concord, California. We have arrived, and we have not been assured that there is a job. In fact, Scott was told the job we came here for has been filled. However, they expect that there will be a call for 40+ welders within days or possibly weeks. Scott will be taking a necessary training for the next two days to ensure he is ready for that call. Yikes! Just typing it makes my stomach knot up.

BUT I was frantic when I arrived in Connecticut. I threw a fit when I found out we were going to Memphis (why did I want to live in my hometown in an RV that was supposed to take me to new places), I was very hot and very pregnant and covered in mosquitoes and gnats in Georgia...and the list goes on. And God showed up in HUGE ways and the experiences have been AMAZING even miraculous. It becomes crystal clear why we are on this glorious adventure and the shaping and the molding that is taking place. We choose the hard way because the wide and predictable path is what will lead us to just that...a plan that we controlled and manipulated to feel comfortable. Trust me what is on the other side of the uncomfortable is what we all truly desire...the wild adventure we were created for.

*I do not believe full-time travel or living in an RV is for everybody. I do believe that getting out of your comfort zone is something necessary for true living, perhaps for even finding the truth. 

Beauty From Ashes

Shiloh had an emotional experience while we were in Connecticut. She wanted to share it with others. We decided that a blog post would be a great way for her to reach an audience for her very personal story. We have been working on writing during school, so we set aside the curriculum for awhile and spent time drafting, correcting, and rewriting her story. It was a great way to learn while processing through her feelings. Today, we get a mother/daughter date at a coffee shop to blog.

Isaiah 61:3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness , a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 


Shiloh's Story

When I was two, Daddy brought me a monkey. My monkey makes me feel happy and safe. I sleep with him every night. Monkey was dropped accidentally on a campground path. He was lost. We searched and searched. I felt sad so so sad.

After 3 days, I was walking up a hill. I screamed and cried because I found him with burns all over his face. My mama helped me. She washed him, She put joy oil on him and we prayed. I read Isaiah 61:3

and the words made my heart feel different. If you feel sad, I think this verse will help you, too.

Mom's  Perspective

It was difficult to watch Shiloh's first introduction to the reality that sometimes the world is just cruel. I am sure we can all pinpoint that moment in our childhood where innocence was lost.  It could have been a much worse eye opening moment, and I am glad for the timing an orchestration of these events for the hurt to sting Shiloh's heart and the tears to flow and the anger to overwhelm, but also the very tangible arms of Jesus enveloping her. The way that you feel the presence of Jesus in those moments that bring you to your knees. For me, I did not realize until many, many years later into my adulthood where Jesus was in those harsh moments of early realizations and heartache. I am thankful that I was could be used to show Shiloh the beauty in the healing.

I very clearly remember the screams from Shiloh when she discovered her monkey and the condition he was in. I had already ordered what looked like a twin of the monkey, but it turned out not to be a replica. However, I was content with mourning the mysterious loss, and trying my best to make the  new monkey as special as the old one. But he was found, and now my daughter was screaming as though she had been stabbed.  The charred monkey was cradled in her arms. I was just as horrified and instantly enraged that anyone could do such a thing. It was very obvious that he had been strategically burned. Not tossed in a fire, or accidentally placed too close to a fire pit. He had been purposely burnt for fun.

I was able to calm Shiloh a bit, and asked her if  I could wash monkey. I wanted to get the burn smell off of him, but I also felt like the stench of hearts intent on harming were on him. I delicately laid him in soapy water, and then thought to anoint him with some essential oil. My hand found Joy oil, and I added a few drops. I thought about the hearts of the kids that did this. I considered what I wanted to teach my daughter in this moment. And then I recalled the "oil of joy" in Isaiah.

Shiloh instantly noticed the smell of her monkey. And I explained that he had Joy oil on him, and that Jesus can turn a bad moment into Joy. I also told her and her sisters that we needed to pray for the people that had harmed monkey. Jocelyn was astounded that we would do such a thing. Shiloh began contemplating why we would pray for them. She decided that the kids may not have known what they were really doing. They may not have had any parents or parents that hurt their feelings. They could have had broken hearts and so they didn't know how to love. She was able to whole heartedly forgive, and pray sincerely for God to show His love to the those that forever changed her monkey's face (and in her eyes, physically caused him pain.) It was a beautiful, broken moment. I was able to peak into Shiloh's heart, and I was proud and I was moved.

It was still a process. Healing always is. Shiloh would cry, but then ask to read Isaiah 61:3 several times a day for many days. But she always told me that the reminder of beauty and joy that God brings made her feel better. She would remind herself and us that God did answer her prayer. because he brought monkey back to her. Jocelyn was worried for several nights that someone would burn our RV when we went to sleep. To this day, it is difficult for Shiloh to leave her monkey for fear she may lose him again and something bad will happen to him again. But that is just another opportunity to teach her to trust and surrender her spirit of fear.

It is a gut punch to watch your child hurt. And I cried several times in my own quiet moments. I know there is so much more heartache and confusion in the future for these girls, and I can only hope and pray that we navigate them well through each one. This was minor, but a first, and a monumental awakening to the innocent heart of my child.

Soulful Living in New England

"Connecticut spans just 110 miles from east to west. And 70 miles from north to south. But across our diverse yet compact regions, you'll find everything you need to both unplug - and recharge!"

http://www.ctvisit.com/


Connecticut has offered us a collection of cherished experiences. I took a walk with the girls around the campground, and they rattled off memory after memory of our weeks here. Scott is continually working long hours, and we are living in stressful, tense moments. There is an indescribable exhaustion that comes from the life of a hard working dad and a homeschooling mama.

But....Sunday is always coming. And we have taken full advantage of the gift of our surroundings on our family day together. Initially, we traveled outside of the state...New York City, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine. We have appreciated the rich history surrounding us. It is difficult to comprehend town established signs with years predating 1700. If the land could talk...I would listen for days.

Connecticut itself gives us a gorgeous campground located on a farm, orchards for picking fresh fruit and vegetable stands along the road, goat milk from the neighbor down the street, date nights and daughter dates for crabbing expeditions, the best ice cream, pizza, and seafood, and of course the beach 5 minutes away. A playland full of possibility for a family in need of refreshment and restoration on the weekend.

The girls and I relish in the opportunity for exploration. It is currently the middle of September, and we are still enjoying our beach time. The few people that are on the beach are very admiring of our four mermaids...the only ones in the water! While speaking with an older couple, I was telling them what a joy to stumble on Hammonasset Beach. They teased that I needed to keep their secret, so the locals can still have reign over their piece of the shore. We just recently discovered a lovely shoreline walk/hike that is a perfect distance. We try to visit a library a few times a week for homeschooling. The kid sections in these town libraries are more delightful to my girls than most playgrounds! They ask to go to the "train or castle or dollhouse" library.

Just in case I have not put enough emphasis on the beach...

I have been land locked for most of my life between my many years in Tennessee and Utah. I had no idea how refreshed by soul could be by the tossing of waves and the attraction my eye would have to water meeting sky! What an amazing and unexpected blessing to put our home on wheels and be near the ocean multiple times. The last two years have been a roller coaster ride of uncertainty, unknown, utter bliss, and lack of understanding. God has taken us on the ride of our life. And when I can come to the sea, all is well for that moment. It truly is a soulful experience for me. True rest...even when I take my four littles.

The community and culture has left an impression on us. We had a fantastic visit with another full time family that came to visit, but so far no bonds with anyone else in the area. However, we cannot get over the people here. The genuineness embedded in the culture...I have not encountered before. People talk to me all the time. And tell me exactly what they think, the good the bad and the ugly. If someone is having a bad day they do not mask it, and if they feel happy, it is expressed. Right now, I am sitting near two guys enjoying coffee after a run, and their conversation is the best. Just the expressiveness of it all. Not dramatic, just real feelings. I love it!

A lot of my experiences are seen through the lense of a mom with a tornado of children around me. I have a heightened awareness of my kids' behavior and whether they are disturbing others. I will not get into the commentary we have experienced in the South. But here, my children are embraced. People come up to us all the time and exclaim what a blessing 4 girls are and what a treat to have so many helpers. I hear many stories about their four or more siblings that they grew up with and the closeness and the importance of family. Even in restaurants we are spoken to with the connotation of our family being a gift.

There are many people that are interested in our travel story, we get less eyebrows raised and people that just want to know more. I was even introduced by a grandmother to her granddaughters that I was like "one of those cool HGTV people." Homeschooling, travel, marriage, family, life...it all gets discussed in our day to day stops by people who are more than willing to tell me everything and in turn ask about everything. It has been refreshing to be in community among the community.

Our family has all the strains of any other family, sometimes more with the extra hours that a traveling welder works and the intensity of six large personalities in a small space. I wouldn't call it an easy path or even simplified. There are still bills to be paid, chores to be done, RV and truck maintenance, lesson plans and meal plans, and tantrums to calm. This road that lead us to Connecticut is the same road that will lead us to places yet to be seen and touched. It gives life a little more flavor and excitement. And for this stay at home mom, it breaks me out of the mundane and offers newness and adventure.

The splash of the salt water on my littles' feet as they giggle and then plunge into those chilly waters without a care, as though they have to feel the beauty of the scene that they are in. Those same waters offering solace after a difficult day or harsh words as the waves lap the shore. And then, walking out in the salty air, in the dark, with the sand in my toes taking it all in with my love and a glass of wine. The drives lined with towering trees, now turning golden and ruby, proposing that we really could be characters in a painting. History coming to life in the aged architecture and historic villages replicas. The aliveness of the nearby cities and the delicious scent of local food. The grass stains on pants, and the apple juicy smiles of girls prancing through rows and rows of fruit trees. The laughter and "hey mom, look at me" as the imagination is sparked by creative library puppets and displays.

From our limited time on the road, New England is my absolute favorite. If there is such thing as a soul place...this is mine.

Blessed and Burdened

We just passed our 2 year "nomadiversary." We have ventured to the Northeast for a few months. Scott has started on another new job. And we are in uncharted territory (for us.) I like to think that we are inspiring others to go the road less traveled or take more risks, live outside the norm etc. I also have to be honest and say that our callings and dreams come with unexpected twists and turns and unforeseen outcomes. The effort to fulfill that calling and make that dream come true does not decrease when it finally happens.

 A blessing is defined as God's favor and protection, and a burden is defined as a heavy load.
That leads me to the question....Can God's favor come in the form of a heavy load?

As we continue to live "out of bounds" it seems more so than not, blessing comes in the form of a heavy load. On a particularly exhausting day in the RV with my 4 blessings and an equally exhausted husband, I took a drive and thought "what is the cure for being in a place that I have received all that I have prayed for, dreamed of, and waited patiently (okay, somewhat patiently) for? How can I be so blessed and yet so downtrodden?

Scott and I on the good days are looking at each other saying "this is difficult" "Or "this is challenging." On the bad days we are saying things a little louder and less kind. I remember when Shiloh was born, there was an adjustment period that I just did not understand. I was exhausted at a level that I could not comprehend. I feel like I am there again. It's not the sleep deprivation exhausted. It is the mind and body running at record speeds. I know Scott feels the same way.  He is coming through the door at the same time that I am holding up the white flag of surrender. And some days we handle it with grace and teamwork. And some days we compete selfishly for who is worthier of a break.

This is such a fantastic time in our lives. I know that we will look back on this with pleasure and adoration... "remember when?" "where were we when...?" "Can you believe that happened?" and all the weariness will be long forgotten. But at the same time we chose a difficult road (or it chose us).Scott's job gets us to all the new and exciting places, but then he has to go to work (usually long hours). So he misses out on a lot of what I get to experience with the girls. Also, one parent leading 4 children into unfamiliar territory is not quite the experience that it looks like in pictures.  But those travel days, even in separate vehicles have an air of anticipation like no other, and the time in between jobs is a reprieve that we were not getting with one steady job and living in one location. Hopefully the time in between jobs will get longer and longer as we figure out our finances.

Shortly before we left Utah, we heard a sermon about blessings. And it gave me a totally different perspective.  When praying for a blessing...the job promotion, the dream home, the baby, the acceptance into a certain college, or the ability to make a career change... it all comes with more responsibility, more work. We did get married, and we did have a baby (and then baby, baby, baby), and we did jump into RV life. And each addition or change has required more purposeful living and effort and increased our pursuit for a successful outcome.

There are people in the world that think running a marathon or some other big athletic endeavor is a goal worthy of pursuing. That is not my calling. You will not see me pursuing anything that requires running. But there is so much work and training that takes place for that accomplishment. And it hurts, and it requires time, and exhausting effort, setbacks and training and new habits. Our goal to experience life together outside of the status quo, to raise four kids to be adaptable and thrive in new and unfamiliar environments, to follow God's leading, and ultimately to bend our hearts towards our personal calling and refinement is worthy of pursuing. The difficulty is just a part of the process, not a burden that cancels out the blessing.

Afterthought:
I was struggling through the cohesiveness of my thoughts while writing this. I kept asking, "am I saying what I really want to say?" I was also surprised to see a draft saved about this very subject from six months ago. This has apparently been on my heart for some time and I really needed to hash it out. But it wasn't coming together the way I wanted it to, because my focus was on hard parts of the last week. Today, Scott and I were able to experience a wonderful day with the girls together, and I went back and edited quite a bit of my original post.

I have been annoyed by the range of emotions and heightened anxiety I feel with each arrival to a new destination. We have been trained by years of experience that you stick with one company and wake up to the same job every day. Our security has rested in that. Leaving a temporary job and wondering where we are going next still creates a churn in the belly(and a test of our faith). Getting to a job on time creates some hectic travel days (and we ask a lot of our kids on those days).  Then, Scott has to pass the welding test and getting set up on payroll takes some time. I immediately start to calculate what we have already spent from what we saved from the previous job, and when the next check is coming in. We have a pediatrician, a dentist, and mechanic to find. And we are in a very strange RV Park that is run very differently from any place we have been. Unlike some full-time RVers, we are not visitors to a new place for a week or two, we become part of the community for a time. Today, was the first day that we were able to take a breath and enjoy our new surroundings in a brief sabbatical.

It was the perfect opportunity to live out what increased blessing looks like in this season of life. I told Scott at the beginning that we needed to lower our expectation for the day (something to consider for every day), because we had two children that were already whining and complaining about various things. It took quite a bit of strategy parenting to get us to New York City on a long train ride with antsy children. We had to discipline, correct, raise our voices from time to time, but we were able to establish parameters and boundaries that lead to us all having a good time. Was there some whining, some pouting, and some disappointments? Yes. Is going to a packed, touristy location with 4 children very different from going together on a romantic vacation...YES! But what an incredible blessing to be enjoying a huge city and experiencing something new and exciting waiting around each corner. And there truly is nothing like seeing something through a child's eyes!

The Short Version...

We are currently vacationing while we are in between jobs. Fifth disease is working it's way through the kiddos. So I thought I would update the blog. To prepare for a summary, I looked back through photos, and I was shocked by all that has happened in a short amount of time. I have found myself a little unsettled with this lifestyle choice. We seem to have been moving at a snail's pace and Scott has been working difficult jobs with long hours. I have been envious of the families on the road showing their pathways through state after state and all the adventures they get to enjoy as a family. But on days like today, when we are slowing down because of unexpected illnesses and doing a whole lot of nothing, I have a wonderful opportunity to look back and reflect on it all.

We had our 4th baby and we live in an RV! If it seemed like a strange choice to move into an RV. Getting pregnant and having a baby while on the road makes it all the crazier. But in a great way! This was one of the more memorable deliveries. All the babies before were born in Utah, and things just did not go the same way in Tennessee.  This was my first elective induction because Daddy had a limited amount of time off. We were separated for over a month while the girls and I lived with my parents and Scott was in Georgia. Then when he arrived, no baby, no baby, and no baby. I wanted him to spend time with Johanna and I wanted us to return to Georgia as a family. Also, this was the first time the epidural was too late! We returned to Georgia with Johanna at two weeks of age...making a 7 hour trip, 12 hours with all the stops.

Beaver Run RV Park was the best place to be for such a time! I can honestly say that those first 3 months are a blur. Scott was working 12 hour days with a 3 hour commute. I do know we were well cared for by our friends and the kids were happily occupied every day. We had a fantastic Thanksgiving and Christmas amongst are small, closeknit community. I remember thinking this little RV is overrun with baby stuff although it was mimimal compared to my past babies. However, just a quickly as she arrived, she has grown, and baby stuff is beginning to be donated. It was a difficult day in March 2017 when we said good-bye to some lifelong friends that made a huge impact on us and our journey.

Before we left Georgia, we spent a few days in Tallahassee, Florida attending our first ever Full-Time Rally! Now, I am following so many like minded people on Facebook after meeting them at the rally. It hardly feels like a radical choice anymore. We also had the pleasure of meeting up with a family we met at Mountain Valley RV Park in Heber. We continue to stay in touch and hope to see them again very soon. After this rally, Full-Time Families has become the go to source of information for me. We have discovered RV life hacks, enjoyed the inside jokes, grown our community, and learned so much from others when it comes to caring for a family of 6 (especially a baby) on the road. One of the best things that was ever recommended was the Graco Travel Lite pack n play. It has been a life saver, or more like a space saver for JoJo's sleeping.

Unfortunately, shortly after we returned from the rally, Scott got very sick and was diagnosed with bronchitis. This lead to an ER visit and several urgent care visits across a few states. We went to visit with friends in beautiful Asheville, NC. We were surrounded by beauty, and Scott was wanting to sing and play guitar, but the lung issues showed up again in full force. We were again told it was bronchitis and Scott was given more meds. We made the most of the trip and then headed into Kentucky for a job. The kids and I were able to drive to see my sister and her family. That was a wonderful gift. Living in Utah did not allow for many visits for the kids with their aunt. However, Scott was just getting sicker. Based on our visit with a General Practitioner, it was decided that a lung specialist was needed to get a correct diagnosis.

Scott had been telling me about a job that was available in Memphis that would allow him to get training on a new welding process. I have to say I was completely 150% against spending a large amount of time in Memphis. I had lived in Memphis most of my life, we were just in Memphis to have a baby and spent 2 months there, I had spent a few days in Memphis already while the RV  parked in Kentucky, I had already experienced a hot, Southern Summer in Georgia, we were getting no where in our travels, and the list could go on and on. But after my little temper tantrum with the idea, I had to admit there would be wisdom in being close to family while working through health issues and it would be nice to be amongst the familiar for a bit.

We had the opportunity to put our 3 year old Selah in a preschool with her cousin for April and May. That ended up being a wonderful experience for Selah and her development. Jocelyn was able to attend ballet camp and loved it. Shiloh got to test out basketball and soccer to see which she preferred to play later on. We had a fantastic time with family and friends. Even more surprising was our experience at Jellystone RV Resort. The kids had such a fun time at all the events. Our neighbors were some of the best.I truly did not believe our family could encounter good people like we met in Georgia. I am now looking forward to the new experiences ahead with a greater enthusiasm for the people we have yet to meet. Although the good-byes were difficult at Jellystone.

On a less positive note, medical issues seemed to multiply. Scott received the proper diagnosis from the pulmonologist and is now following a protocol for asthma and allergies. Shortly after his last appointment, a bad infection developed in his arms from burns he received while welding. Selah was treated in the ER and then Urgent Care. I was sent for a breast ultrasound while breastfeeding which was inconclusive. So a follow up ultrasound and mammogram were done. The doctor concluded there was not an issue. A lot of our time seemed scheduled and exhausting.

Now, we are concluding our time in the South with my brother's wedding. A wonderful bow to tie up this visit. It is interesting that 2 years ago at this time we were packing the remainder of our stuff after a huge purging to move into our RV. Then this same time a year ago heading to Georgia and the unknown. We are deciding on the next move, and most of the anxiousness and anticipation of what's next is gone. This is our life now. The jobs are out there. The time to make money will get here. For now, we get to spend some much needed family time relaxing while we wait expectantly to hear what jobs are available and where. The down time is good. RV Life is good. The ups and downs of it all have taught us so much.

Most of all...We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

Pictures available Living Out of Bounds FB Group

Georgia, Tennessee, Community, and Baby #4 on my mind...

I have discussed community before, but as we continue in this nomadic lifestyle I am continually blown away by how that need is met over and over. God truly did make us for relationship. I just did not expect relationships to be developed so quickly and the need for relationship to be satisfied so abundantly on the road. This lifestyle continues to amaze me. The travels are exciting, the environments are new and awesome to research and explore, the campgrounds are all different and fun to experience, but the people....the people are what make it.

I never know how people really feel about their pictures, especially of their kiddos being put on the social media, so I try to not to post too many photos of others on here. However, the South has been no let down in Southern Hospitality, social gatherings, and genuine kindness and helpfulness. We have been so very blessed, and by blessed I do not just mean that God has been good to us. I mean he has been good to us in a way that also puts a tremendous weight on our human shoulders as well as quite a bit of responsibility.  This dream of living nomadically, traveling to different jobs and unknown environments, having a large family (by today's standards) in a small space, and raising our kids differently,(as well as having a marriage built on miracles and obvious touches of God's hand)...has all been a blessing, but with much faith, strength, and responsibility required. I am so grateful that God, through relying on Him, has trusted us with all of this.

We have also been given people along the way that have been a huge part of blessing us as well as lightening the load. We are sharing stories, breaking bread, working alongside, praying with and for, truly loving and being loved in ways I never thought possible, and the fun so much fun with others, not to mention the social life of our kids is off the charts! I don't think I know kids with more friends, and they remember everyone's name that they have met and encountered over the last year or so. I am always hearing "remember when, insert name, did"....with such a fondness in their voice.

As the girls and I gear up for travel to Tennessee, I have to reflect on the community that has been quickly established in Georgia and the anticipation of a reentering community that I grew up with in Tennessee.  People continue to be the heartbeat of our experience in the midst of this most interesting of situations...having a baby on the road. The best solution for us has been for me to finish out my pregnancy at my parents house. I am at a point in my pregnancy that extra rest and help with the kids will be a huge weight lifted. Scott could also use some rest from his very long work days without having to be "on" as soon as he walks in the door. I am praying that we are restored and renewed during this time away. Then, when baby girl arrives we will be able to greet her and adjust to our expanded family life together in a good place surrounded by family, and a few weeks away from the RV and the job.

We have remained in our current campground (approximately 1hr 15 min) from Scott's job site. And it's the people that have kept us here. The community here has been so welcoming and they are aware of all the craziness that is our life right now. Shiloh and Jocelyn have friends their same age, that are being homeschooled basically on our same schedule, and they spend much of their free time with them. It has been such a joy to watch them run around bare foot, climbing trees, gathering eggs, getting drenched and covered in mud in a downpour, exploring, imagining, making a game or a toy out of the most random things, and just experiencing life differently. No play dates or activities scheduled, just spontaneous fun. The campground makes a point to try to bring everyone together through group activities, potlucks, and a bible study. We have met a wide range of people in different stages of life, and we regularly have someone stop by just to say hello or chat. I have to admit the first few weeks here, anytime someone stopped by on a golf cart, I thought I was about to be asked to pick up some of the kids' toys or told one of us is breaking some rule that I wasn't aware of. 

Everyone is aware of our family's temporary separation, and they have been very sympathetic and thoughtful these last few days. Everyone is prepared to keep Scott fed and included in all social aspects of the campground. We really could not be placed in a better area during this travel season of our lives. There is much anxiety as we separate for a time period, try to get Scott to Tennessee at the right timing, and pray for a safe arrival of a healthy baby girl. But we are surrounded in both places in so many ways, and it will be such a joy to have our baby arrive in our hometown as well as return to a place that feels so much like home already. The other campers, the church we have been attending, and encounters with other patrons of our favorite beach spot has also added to our Southern experience. We know we will be moving on from Georgia eventually, but we have been so touched at such a special time in our lives, that I know we will have some lasting friendships come from our little spot in  the sticks of Georgia.

Side Note: The bugs are still completely out of control and driving us to insanity on a daily basis, and the humidity has its unrelenting moments. But we have been assured that upon our return near the end of September that we will be much more comfortable. And the mild Winter will be well worth the Summer intensities.

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