From turtles to tornadoes

We just completed three days "on the road" driving from North Carolina to Rock Island, Illinois. Driving into our first night's KOA we had to stop our 41,000 pound vehicle in order to rescue a box turtle meandering down the road. Even though I am NOT fond of picking up nature's "wild" creatures I was designated as the rescuer. Gingerly I grabbed him around his middle and quickly set him by the road's edge. He was more than happy to waddle swiftly away from the diesel "monster".
The KOA campsite was a quiet respite from the interstate travel. The next two days flew quickly and uneventfully blew us into the Quad Cities. It was here that we encountered our first storm. Where do you go when the tornado alarm begins to blare in your area and the local TV station warns everyone in "the following counties" to head for the basement, and you have no basement? Casting glances at each other we sat in bed, watched the broadcast, listened to the wind and pelting rain and determined that was the best we could do at the moment. Of course, our quiet moments were filled with prayer! We did go out the following morning and buy a weather radio so at least we would be informed in order to have time to put our seatbelts on if ever a tornado decides to "move" our RV.
In two days we open our storage unit to discover treasures I packed a year ago and make decisions about "what goes where". Heads up to all our children-get ready to receive stuff!!!

Lift-off!

June 6th we finally took possession of our new home. What fun, mixed with some frustration, we have had in our first few days living in an RV. Thankfully, we camped only 12 miles from the Carolina Coach dealership since we discovered our GPS tracking system did not function properly. It was "voice-less". Now we cheerfully listen as a "sexy" female voice we've nicknamed Greta (after Greta Garbo) navigates us down the road. Last night we camped in Kentucky, with its green studded Appalacian Mountains. At 6:00 a.m. this morning we took a brisk walk and discovered a trail to follow winding down to a mist covered lake. "Oh, for a fly rod." my dear husband sighed. When we arrive in the Quad Cities we will have our storage unit emptied and Hunter will have his fly rod and various and sundry other items. The problem being where will we put everything?? Another "adventure". Ha!

On the road? Or NOT!

Monday morning, June 2nd, Hunter and I were cruising down the highway with a car load of "stuff" fully anticipating settling into our new RV home by nightfall. Our conversation bubbled with plans of sorting, shopping, arranging, learning and other "verbs" all related to an exciting day centered around our new home. How quickly our "high balloon" was deflated! Upon arriving at the dealership we learned our sleep number bed had not arrived from the factory, neither had the water softener nor the maserator, which is a fancy name for a poop blender! To make matters worse there had been some type of miscommunication between the sales department and the maintenance shop resulting in our coach not being cleaned or as they call it in the business-detailed and ready for the customer. Now, I can clean a house in a few hours so why not an RV? Sorry but we were told it would take a minimun of two days to have the RV fully detailed to their satisfaction. WHAT?
After a four hour return drive, we found ourselves back at Rebecca's house living out of very disorganized suitcases until Friday morning, June 6th, when we are assured our home will be ready to finally drive out of the lot. Oh, but it will be without the sleep number bed, since that won't be in for two to three weeks! We'll have a substitute and hopefully it won't be rock hard.
Hunter took all of this mix up in stride reassuring me that I married the right man; one who can cope with any situation, maintain a sense of humor, and soothe a less than happy wife!

The Journey Begins............

A new "look", a new home, a new schedule, a new outlook on life-RETIREMENT is just around the corner. On June 2nd we drive our Country Coach out of the dealership to a campground nearby. For a few days we will be reading manuals, pushing buttons, moving levers, attaching hoses, and other such tasks as we learn all about the RV which we plan to live in full-time for many years. By the week-end we hope to be proficient enough to travel from North Carolina to the Quad Cities where we will camp the months of June and July while Hunter "wraps up" his last career days at John Deere and we share precious moments visiting good friends.
In August we will return to North Carolina for Christian's first birthday party and Hunter has been asked to help stain decks, wash two houses, and build a fence. During his first month of retirement he will not be idle. Ha!
This past year has been a time of many decisions for Hunter and I. We feel we are definitely headed in the right direction; anticipating "stretching adventures", shaking off tight schedules, looking for volunteer opportunities. It's time to spread our wings and fly!

Grandma's First "Cookies"

Grandma made me homemade graham cracker "teethers". Boy are they good! Ruthie, my doggie, likes them as much as I do so when I drop one I don't have much time to retrieve it, especially when I'm in my jumper! Oh well, grandma will always make me more. Right, grandma?

It's Official!

Retirement is finally in our sites. Hunter will be retiring from John Deere International officially on December 31st, 2008. We have plans to visit the children and travel around the United States as well as become involved in various types of volunteer mission work. Our new home will be a 43 foot RV. More details about our upcoming "adventure" will be in future blog entries. Look for an entirely new blogsite the first part of June. Like the song at our wedding 36 years ago: "We've Only Just Begun"!

A Swimming Update

Here I am again to report on my swimming progress. You will be happy to learn I can go UNDER the water "swimming" from my teacher to my mom and propel myself off the side of the pool when I spot a coveted toy-what fun!! I'm really not afraid of the water AT ALL! The swimming gene is alive and well and mighty strong in the Stall/Thorpe line! There seems to be only one minor problem with my "stroke". I hate to take my hands out of my mouth. If only they'd let me swim with my "binkey" in place I'd out-distance the other kids by a body length! Sadly, last week was the final class. I'll miss my swimming buddies but Mom has promised to take me to the pool on base real soon. I need to hone my new skills so I can impress my Dad when he gets home in a couple months. He'll be SO proud!!!!!



Please note that on the next video Mommy isn't ignoring me but just confident of my abilities since I have already fallen off the side three times!