tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89452201596713029312024-03-12T21:20:48.881-06:00A Downsized LifestyleThis blog is about my family and the lessons we learn as we go through life homeschooling, rv'ing, giving, receiving, being up, being down, trying, succeeding and sometimes failing, but never giving up. Because through it all we have each other and our faith to lean on.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-79661734769615747152011-11-03T22:02:00.001-06:002011-11-03T22:02:59.482-06:00BoringnessI keep trying to come up with stuff to write, but ever since Zach left I can't come up with anything. Nothing clever comes to mind, nothing insightful, nothing even remotely interesting. Apparently when left to myself, I'm a boring girl. Kinda makes me wonder how I was interesting enough to marry in the first place. :) <br />
<br />
I'm hoping I'm just in a phase that's dull because I'm still kind of lost. I'm like a puppy dog that was left behind. I don't know what to do really. My whole life got turned upside down, and how I know it's only temporary, he will be back, it's still hard because he's my everything. <br />
<br />
Interesting, hmmmm.......yeah, I got nothing. Thanksgiving is coming up, but everyone already knows that. But before that is my anniversary and then my birthday. It will be 7 years of being happily (more like estatically) married. And I will be having a birthday in the "20's" for the last time. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I was starting to take it kind of hard, but last Sunday the Starbucks guy asked me if Autumn was my little sister. :) I could have hugged him for that. I did thank him. <br />
<br />
So I'm realizing that my blog isn't following the theme I set up for it. I'm quite random on what I talk about and it doesn't always fit in with my original ideas of what it would be. So, I'm just going to change what it says my blog is about. I'm realizing that I'm random and that one theme to write about for my life isn't going to happen. As much as I love RV'ing, we don't have an rv right now, so I'm not sure how to write about that. I'm still trying to fight my consumerism urges, sometimes I don't win that battle as much as I would like to, but I still try. :) <br />
<br />
Yep, after careful consideration, I've decided to re-theme the blog (again). What can I say? If I want to post as often as I would like to, I can't be stuck with a strict theme. God is constantly changing me, so to limit myself to a particular area is kinda crazy. He made me random, so that's what I am. :)Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-27941509856761068972011-10-07T16:00:00.000-05:002011-10-07T16:00:04.370-05:00A Trip and Some Temporary ChangesI wish I had something insightful to talk about today. But I don't. Well, I have plenty of things I could get into, I do love to talk. But today has been a crying kind of day. I should be estatic, I've been packing all day for a trip away from home. The kind of trip where we drop our daughter off with her grandparents for 5 days and spend time just me and my love. <br />
<br />
But the reason we are taking this trip together is because my love is deploying, in the near future. Before he goes, we are going to have some time together. So yes, I should be very excited about my trip (though I've never been away from my daughter for more than 2 nights, and that is causing some stress too). But all I can do is think about why we're doing it. I don't want to ruin our trip because I was sad the whole time. I want to enjoy it.<br />
<br />
We're planning on going gold panning, visiting some very dear friends and some wonderful family, visiting a winery or two, just spending some time together. He will be gone for the holidays, our anniversary and my birthday (coming home just in time for his birthday, the little stinker). So we are celebrating everything now. <br />
<br />
So my blog is probably going in a slightly different direction for the next few months. I'm going to try and be transparent about this whole deployment. There might be days I'm strong and other days I'm a whiny little kid (I give you full permission to skip reading those days). I'm hoping that by posting here, instead of my facebook page, I won't alienate too many of my friends who will inevitably get tired of the whining about missing my love. <br />
<br />
You see, he and I have learned to do everything together. We never have put down roots and tried to be a part of a community, so it's always been just us. So when we're apart, it's torture (not unlike a lot of marriages). But since we've been at our new home, we've tried to be active in finding friends. We belong to an amazing church (which I will be depending on sooo much to help me get through). So, in a way we will be forced to grow as individuals while we're apart (I'm really getting into sewing and quilting even starting a ministry at our church), but still staying connected (even more so) as a couple. <br />
<br />
If you know me, you know how absolutely crazy I am about him (I still like to doodle his name like a school girl does with her crush). So, please be kind when I ramble about him and how much I miss him. <br />
<br />
Until next time.....Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-65318245983200086762011-10-05T10:54:00.000-05:002011-10-05T11:21:33.076-05:00ThornsI have a Bible.<br />
<br />
That statement might not seem too crazy or profound, but in some places I would be put to death for saying that. That's not really what my post is about, but it seemed a good way to open. <br />
<br />
No, my post today is about what I read in that Bible that I have. I actually have 3. I have my little one that I take everywhere with me, it fits in all of my purses. I have my study Bible that I use to look things up, and I also have my 1 year daily reading Bible. It's in chronological order of when the books of the Bible were written.<br />
<br />
Today I read about the parable Jesus told about seed being scattered. In case you aren't familiar with it I'll share it with you. This is Mark 4:3-9<br />
<br />
"<span style="color: red;">Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quiclky because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" </span><span style="color: black;">Then he said, "</span><span style="color: red;">Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.</span><span style="color: black;">"</span><br />
<br />
Jesus taught by telling stories. The crowd he told this parable to was likely full of farmers and they would have understood what he meant. Jesus' disciples on the other hand didn't quite understand. So he explained it to them. <br />
<br />
Now, I've read this scripture before, but today, the explanation has jumped out at me. I had to share it. This is how Jesus explained it to his disciples. Mark 4:14-20<br />
<br />
"<span style="color: red;">The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soul rempresents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. <strong><em><u>The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.</u></em></strong> <span style="color: black;">(emphasis added is mine)</span> And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's wrod and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.</span><span style="color: black;">"</span><br />
<br />
I know, that's a lot of scripture at once. But how can I do the parable justice by only telling the part that I want to talk about? So I just emphasized the part that struck me, (maybe another part will strike you). <br />
<br />
We all have thorns. We all have those things in this life that crowd out the message that God gives us. When I go on and on about how I don't want stuff. How I want to try and not care if I have the newest gadgets or if my car is new and shiny. Those are the thorns that I'm talking about. I see the things of this world as my thorns. <br />
<br />
I read in my Bible yesterday about Jesus and John the Baptist living totally different lives. Luke 7:33-35 says- "<span style="color: red;">For John the Baptist didn't spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He's possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!' But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.</span><span style="color: black;">"</span><br />
<br />
That last sentence tripped me up. I had no clue what it meant, I actually had to call my mother in law and ask what it meant. But it's basically saying that Jesus and John lived completely different lives, but they both lived the life they were supposed to live. <br />
<br />
I guess where I'm trying to go with this, is everyone has thorns. We're all called to get rid of our thorns, but not everyone has the same thorns. But, when you do figure out what your thorns are, it's time to do some pruning. Everyday I find new thorns and I find that my old thorns are starting to grow back. So, I have to grab my pruning shears and start cutting again. Yes it hurts at times, but if I don't do it, I get lost in the thorns and that is even more painful.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-29292664421341272032011-10-04T12:08:00.000-05:002011-10-04T12:08:28.100-05:00Blessings In The ValleyI have so much to say, I just don't know how to say any of it. There is so much running through my mind and so much starting to get put on my plate that I'm really excited about. But before I can start anything I have to jump head first into one of the deepest valleys I will face to date. <br />
<br />
I'm so excited to start my new projects, but dreading it because that means I'll be in my valley. Luckily I know that God will fill my valley with love, peace and grace. So I won't drown in my sorrows and self pity. I'll be able to float, swim and sometimes just barely tread in His love, peace and grace. <br />
<br />
I've been told on many occasions that when you start to feel sorry for yourself that you should find someone worse off than you and then pray for them. Even going out of your way to help them with something. It puts your life back in perspective. It makes you see how many blessings you really do have in your life. I'm looking forward to being able to help others. To be able to minister to them and help. <br />
<br />
I'm just so thankful that I know my Savior. That I know where peace comes from and that I get to share that peace with others. When you live a downsized lifestyle, you see how rich you truly are.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-10180623933885436172011-09-27T13:57:00.000-05:002011-10-05T09:49:23.178-05:00Still AliveI'm a terrible blogger. It's been a year since I've written anything. I guess that's how life can be sometimes. It comes in waves. There's been a couple of times I've wanted to write something, but then I told myself that it's been so long, that I should just close it out. But now I realize that life has different times in it and for the past year I've been in a different wave.<br />
<br />
So I'm back, for now anyway. :) The plan is to stay, but who knows what the next wave will bring or when it will come. So, the last time I posted we were still living in Florida. We had just sold the RV and were moving into a house on base. Well, now we live in Nevada. It's hot here too.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I like our house, but after the RV it feels much much too big. I miss the RV. I miss having a small home (though our house is 1700 sq ft. and I'm told that's small). Our dream house is under 900 sq ft and set on around 20 acres of land (preferably off the grid). We want a garden and some animals. We want enough extra from that garden to help feed others. <br />
<br />
So we're coming upon some hard, life changing decisions. The kind of decisions that can't be made on a whim. They take careful planning and consideration. But most of all, tons and tons of prayer. I know that if we are to see our dreams fulfilled, we are going to have to leave our comfortable and secure life. To become modern day pioneers if you will. <br />
<br />
So that's where we're at right now. Hopefully in the near future we'll be a few steps closer to our dream. But I know for now, we must be patient and do the things we can from where we are now (like getting completely out of debt). I pray that I don't lose focus of our goals. It's so easy to get wrapped up in this world and totally forget about your dreams and goals. But luckily for me, when I write about these, it keeps me focused more on my goals and less on the world. <br />
<br />
Until next time (no promises, but hopefully next time is this week.) Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-43566777679070369402010-10-24T16:45:00.000-05:002011-10-05T09:51:22.497-05:00My Latest Lesson LearnedI'm going to start today by asking you a personal question. I already know your answer and if you answer differently, then I know you're lying. How can I be so sure of your answer you ask? I know because it's something everyone has done at least once, and something most people probably do every day. Even if you're not aware that you do it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What could I be talking about? It's quite simple. Have you ever judged someone? Have you ever formed an opinion about someone before you ever spoke a word to them? You looked at their clothes or what kind of car they drive and decide what kind of person they must be. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or maybe you have done what I did, maybe you saw a house that wasn't kept up, the yard was cluttered with stuff and the car in the driveway was old and starting to fall apart. So you formed an opinion that the people that lived there were dirty or they were the kind of people that were scary, kind of shady.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That happened to me this weekend. I judged the people that were having a yard sale. I'm emberassed that I even have this story to share with you, but I do and maybe you can learn the same lesson I did without having to do the judging.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We pulled up to the house and it was very rundown. There was mold growing on the siding and rubbermaid containers outside full of water. All kinds of stuff all over the yard and an almost broken down car in the driveway. I made a comment to my husband about being nervous going to the backyard for the sale (I won't repeat my actual comment because I would rather try and forget what it was). As we turned the corner of the house I saw her.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Immediately my heart sank and guilt rose up inside of me. The woman that stood before me was someone I have recently come to know better and I have a tremondous amount of respect for. At once I realized why everything looked like it did. I knew why the yard was cluttered and why the car was almost broken down.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She is a single mom with two kids. Both of her kids have special needs and one is severly autistic. She is a single mom who stays at home and homeschools her son because when he was in school a teacher and an aide drug him across a field by his arms instead of following his IEP. She lives off of the small amount of social security and child support she receives so she can be sure her kids are safe. She is their advocate in everything. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She does withou so many things because every extra dollar she gets goes towards biomeds for her kids. Because medicare (or any other insurance company for that matter) won't pay for these proven treatments that are the only hope most parents of autistic children have. That's why she was having a garsge sale with things donated by friends, to raise more money for biomeds.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She doesn't have the time or the energy to care for her house and yard. She's too busy taking care of her precious children the only way she can.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's the lesson God taught me this weekend. I hope this is a lesson that I never forget. I'm just ashamed that it's a lesson I had to learn at all. Especially as a Christian that God has given a heart for the poor. But like I said yesterday, I am a just a human afterall.</div>
Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-51773100576160844432010-10-23T16:37:00.000-05:002010-10-23T17:16:34.918-05:00CLEARANCEClearance. <br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Does any other word sound so sweet??? I love the sound of that word. Say it with me CLEARANCE. What can be better than getting exactly what you need at less than half the price? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Today we had two missions as we started out. The first being to find some furniture for our rather empty house. And the second was to find our little Autumn Bottom some much needed clothes (she is doing that rather annoying thing kids do and outgrowing all of hers). </div><div><br />
</div><div>Since it's such a beautiful Saturday and we knew of several rather large garage sales going on, we decided it was a perfect opportunity to get what we need. But after 10 sales we found.....NOTHING!!!!! Seriously, no one was selling anything we needed. Don't get me wrong a lot of people were selling furniture, but just because I want to buy used furniture doesn't mean I want ugly furniture. :)</div><div><br />
</div><div> But that brings us to my favorite word. Let's say it again....CLEARANCE!!!!! You see Autumn Bottom still needed clothes. So off to the stores we went. I'm happy to say my beloved clearance racks did not dissapoint me today. She got a whole new wardrobe for a ridiculously low amount of money</div><div><br />
</div><div>So now I got to share with all of you my love of the clearance rack. I am usually very devoted to my love, but you will catch me straying to a plain old sale rack, and very very rarely I will stray so far from my love and buy something for full price. Oh the horror of that. Those are my very weak moments when I see something and don't think I can live without it.</div><div>I try really hard to limit those times because that's not being a good steward of the resources I've been given, but I am just a human after all.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
<br />
</div>Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-56290320281607050052010-10-22T08:03:00.000-05:002010-10-22T08:06:14.340-05:00It's Been a Looooong TimeWow. It has been a very long time since I wrote anything. What a lazy writing girl I have been. I will say that I have been busy the past 9 months. But still, no posts for 9 months is totally unacceptable. So, I should probably start with what's been going on.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Hmmmm..... first off nothing majorly exciting happened from January to June. So see, I saved you a lot of boring reading about mundane life. :) Please feel free to leave me some wonderful thank you notes. :)</div><div><br />
</div><div>We did take Autumn out of school in March and started homeschooling her. That is an adventure in itself. More of that to come. :)<br />
<br />
In July we went on our first road trip with the rv. We went from Florida to Indiana with it. It was definitely an adventure. When we got there we discovered that our truck brakes went out on the way there and only the rv brakes had been stopping us. We were so lucky nothing happened. Then while we were there a storm came through and broke our awning and flooded the inside of the rv. We had about an inch of water sitting on our slide. That's not even the half of everything that happened on that trip. We were so ready to come home after that.<br />
<br />
Nothing really happened in August. But then in September we found out where the air force is sending us next. After doing some research on where we are going we realized that it will cost us less to move back into a house. The rv park on the next base is almost twice as much every month as the one here. So after a lot of prayer we decided to sell the rv and move back into a house.<br />
<br />
We sold the rv a week ago today and moved into a house on base. :( But we've decided that just because we are living in a house again doesn't mean we have to go back to a consumerism lifestyle. Since we sold everything before we moved into the rv, we have no furniture. Well, had no furniture. We found two couches on good old craigslist. Our goal is to buy as much furniture secondhand as we can, so that A. we save money and B. we will lessen the impact we have on the earth.<br />
<br />
So I'm going to keep the blog because we are still trying to live a downsized lifestyle, but unlike selling everything and moving into an rv, the stuff we are doing now everyone will be able to do.<br />
<br />
Until next time....(which I promise will be sooner than 9 months)</div>Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-35838343428979646362010-01-19T09:47:00.000-06:002010-01-19T09:47:32.920-06:00Wanting What You Can't HaveDo you ever buy something BIG and then not very far down the road find something better for almost the same amount of money??? What do you do then?? If you're like me you kick yourself a little and get somewhat irritated, but then realize that there is nothing you can do to change it and life goes on. <br />
<br />
Autumn has an hour and a half of therapy on Mondays so Zach and I headed over to the RV dealership to look around at some different RV's. We have decided that before we move to our next base we have to buy a different RV. Ours does not have a polar package in it and since pretty much every other base we will go to will be colder than here we decided that it is a necessity. But we need to get this one paid down quite a bit before we are willing to trade it in. So we like to go look to keep our eyes on the prize. <br />
<br />
Anyway, we were walking around looking and happened to find the exact kind of fifth wheel we want for a ridiculously cheap price. It's a 2007, but it looks brand new. GRRRRRR!!!!!!! We didn't buy one to begin with because they are so expensive, but this one we could afford easily. It's frustrating, but we will survive.<br />
<br />
So that's a little lesson for us in being happy with what you have. We still are going to trade ours in before we move, but that is more of a necessity than a vanity thing. It is hard to keep that thing warm. <br />
<br />
Until next time......Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-9000863291085305242010-01-12T10:35:00.000-06:002010-01-12T10:35:08.571-06:00The PointGood morning. I woke up today and said that it was going to be a good day. Then everything started going wrong. Zach is in a bad mood because he is in some pain, then we blew a fuse in the rv for some of the lights, so I have to find the right kind of fuse and some needle nose pliers to change it. After that I got Autumn to school and came home to get ready. I get all ready and come down to do laundry and there is a line waiting for the washers and dryers. I think most of my free time will be spent here. I'm glad I brought my laptop with me. <br />
<br />
So I was thinking after my last post that it didn't have much to do with our adventure. I started feeling all bad about it thinking that I wasn't staying true to my blog. Then I realized that it has everything to do with our adventure. The whole reason we are doing this is to get away from the consumerism lifestyle that is so prevalent in America now. So when I write about how I see things like that, it has everything to do with our adventure. <br />
<br />
I am already changing how I view things. Before I can buy something at the store I have to ask myself if I really need it. Space is such an issue. I have to go grocery shopping one or two days at a time. It's a really big change to get used to. But the bonus of that is we don't have nearly as much food spoilage. We don't buy a bunch of stuff that we forget about and then not use. <br />
<br />
So hopefully I will be able to write more and you will understand why I write what I write. I hope that even if you don't agree with me you at least see my point. <br />
<br />
Until next time.....Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-61117652379472395712010-01-08T10:42:00.000-06:002010-01-08T10:44:18.194-06:00HomeTwo posts, two days in a row. I'm on a roll. :) Yesterday I said how wonderful the weather was, well today as promised it's cold and yucky out again. :( Oh well, we knew it was coming. <br />
<br />
Zach and I were talking last night, I was washing my face (gotta take off all that pretty make-up before bed) and he was getting ready for bed , and I mentioned that the RV feels like home. He said that he agrees, it feels more like home than anywhere we've ever lived. It's so strange in this country to imagine how someone could be happy living in 300 square feet, but we do. <br />
<br />
We were watching the house hunting shows on HGTV last night and I get so irritated at people when it's just two people looking for a four or five bedroom house (why on earth do they need all that space for two people?????). Then when they realize that the house they want is at the top of their price range or even out of it, they go ahead and get it anyway. Do you think maybe you are contributing to the problem this country is having with foreclosures. When you get a house you can barely afford, then the bank takes it because you couldn't make your payments anymore, don't complain. You did it to yourself. Yes, the banks shouldn't have given you that much money, but you should have known better than to take it. <br />
<br />
Don't even get me started on the realtors that show them houses that they can't afford. Then when no one can sell houses because everyone is foreclosing they wonder what happened. Maybe you should show them houses in their price range. Everyone wants to blame everyone else, but no one wants to take responsibility for their part.<br />
<br />
Anyway, a home is not what you live in, it's wherever you make it. You could be at home in a tent, you could be at home under a bridge. If you have Jesus in you and in your life, then wherever you are will be home. When you walk into someones home and it's comfortable and inviting, Jesus is there. He is all that is good and without him then it's just an empty shell.<br />
<br />
Now that I've probably offended a lot of people (I really don't care though, people in this country get offended if you sneeze the wrong way), tomorrow is Autumn's 4th birthday. She is such a big girl now. I don't know how I feel about her turning 4. Part of me is so happy because she is doing so well and I'm so proud of her, but the other part of me is so sad because she is my last baby and she is no longer a baby. :( We are not having a party for her, she has made a lot of progress, but still doesn't do great at parties and the last thing we want to do is overwhelm her. Zach has to work tomorrow, so we are going to eat lunch with him and then I am going to take her to the girls high school basketball game. She loves going to them, so we thought that it would be a great ending to her birthday.<br />
<br />
Until next time.....Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-67655182391663087102010-01-07T11:50:00.000-06:002010-01-07T11:50:50.078-06:00Weather and CovenantsHello friends. Today is a beautiful day. The weather is absolutely gorgeous, it's about 58 degrees and that is the warmest it's been in more than a week. Here in Sunny Florida we've been getting into the teens at night and not over the 30's in the day. It's been down right cold. All you northerners think that's not so bad, but please remember that you actually own winter coats, we Floridians however do not. This isn't normal and I don't like it. <br />
<br />
I was born and raised in Northern Indiana, so I know cold. But alas these bones have gotten so used to the warm that I can't take much more of this cold stuff. It looks like if we can make it through Sunday we should be ok, today's warmth is a fluke. We are supposed to get cold again through Sunday and then the weather channel is saying we will warm up again. I sure hope so.<br />
<br />
Other than the weather things have been good except two days ago we woke up to no water in the RV because our hose outside had frozen overnight. So now we are taking better precautions. Zach goes outside everynight and undoes it from the RV and pipes, then he drains it out so no water will be left in it to freeze. Then in the morning he goes and reattaches everything. He's such a wonderful husband. I love him.<br />
<br />
Today was my first day back at the cookhouse in two weeks. We closed for the Christmas and New Year holiday time. It was so good to be back and working again. I missed it so much. We had a great time being all together again. We even had a new lady come and volunteer today. YAY!!!!!<br />
<br />
So for the new year has everyone made resolutions???? And how many of you have broken them already??? I've made several and they aren't really resolutions, they are more like covenants with God. My main goal this year is to care less about what the world thinks of me and more about what God thinks of me. Because when you think about it he's the only one that really matters. I want to become more of the person he wants me to be and less of the person I am. I love him and want to show the world that.<br />
<br />
So I'm not going to share my covenants right now. Maybe as the year goes and I need support with them I will, but for now I'm keeping them to me and God. Well my husband knows them too, but even he's not allowed to read my prayer journal. It's me between me and my Daddy in heaven.<br />
<br />
So I'll part with you for now. But I'll hopefully write again tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Don't be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:24Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-35598085579722755912009-12-30T08:58:00.000-06:002009-12-30T08:58:09.623-06:00Day one, again?I started to write this on my phone on Sunday, but we had some sick Autumn issues and I didn't have the chance to finish it. So, here we go again. Sunday was day one, again (so today is techincally day 4). We are officially fulltiming in our RV. We moved in after church on Sunday. Then yesterday we went to the beach house, cleaned it out and left the keys. I think that makes it feel a little more official. <br />
<br />
We are staying at Famcamp on base. Today the kids and I are at the clubhouse because Zach worked from 7 pm to 7 am last night and is trying to sleep. Plus there is internet access here. The kids are playing pool, well Gavin is trying to play and Autumn is getting in his way. :) <br />
<br />
We've had some learning experiences already. We keep popping our breakers by overloading them too much. It's taking some getting used to, but we are figuring it out. We are also learning how to take fast showers so we don't fill our grey water tank up too fast. We are not at a full hook up site, so we have to either borrow a portable tank to drain our galley and grey tanks or move the whole thing to the dump station. I think we're going to borrow the portable tanks. <br />
<br />
But that's that for now. Now that we are here and have easy internet access I'm hoping to get back into the habit of being able to update several times a week.<br />
<br />
Until we meet again...Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-8871353667193257922009-12-21T18:10:00.000-06:002009-12-21T18:10:44.276-06:00Good afternoon. I hope things are well with you. Autumn and I went to Tennessee this weekend to get Gavin for Christmas break. My mom and sister brought him down and we spent the weekend with them there. It was a nice visit, but I was happy to come home. <div><br />
</div><div>We told Gavin about moving into the rv and he is pretty excited about it. We will be staying in it tomorrow and hopefully the next day too. We haven't stayed in it yet, so it will be our maiden voyage. Everyone is really excited.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I am listening to the kids playing in here right now and I am starting to second guess living here. ;) There will be no where to hide from them at.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I think we have everything we need to start our lives in here. It's kinda hard to believe we are so close to living in here. I will update after our first voyage and let you know how it went. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Until then.....</div>Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-32642540325058988282009-12-14T09:01:00.000-06:002009-12-14T09:01:32.270-06:0018 Days To GoSo I am still typing this on my phone. It's such a crazy life right now. I have been working on Christmas cards all morning. Autumn and I are headed to Tennessee on Friday to pick Gavin up for Christmas. :) We are meeting my mom and sister there for the weekend. I am so excited. Zach has to work, so he can't come with us. :(<br />
We spent some time working in the RV yesterday. It was so much fun to be out there in it. Autumn loves it. She plays in her "room". We are telling Gavin when he gets here for Christmas. I want him to see it before we drop the news on him. It's a lot to take in and I want it to go as smoothly as possible. He will be here when we move into it. I hope that will help the transition too.<br />
<br />
Until next time. :)Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-80112587930922907522009-12-10T12:02:00.000-06:002009-12-10T12:10:38.738-06:00Moving in Three WeeksSo apparently I can't figure out how to type anymore at the end of my post. Maybe someday I will figure out how to be smarter than my phone. But it doesn't look as though today will be that day.<br />
<br />
Hey there. I hope everyone is doing great. We are still in the beach house with no internet access so posting is still sporadic. I am actually typing this post on my new phone. It's interesting to say the least.<br />
<br />
We were planning on moving into the rv at the end of January, but we've moved the date up to the end of December. We are going to start the new year off in it. I am so excited. It's only 3 weeks away. :)<br />
<br />
There has been some other changes too. We now have a doggy in our family. Her name is Meesha. She is a 5 year old pug. She may very well be the best dog on earth. She is sitting and cuddling with me as I type this. I love her.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-47431924483364089602009-11-11T11:44:00.000-06:002009-11-11T11:44:17.931-06:00So Much Going OnWow. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while. So much has been going on I just haven't had the time. Where to start??? Well first thing, we closed on our house!!!!!! We closed on Tuesday the 3rd. Everything went smooth. Well almost everything. Apparently the washer and dryer were supposed to be included with the house and we had already sold them. But it was to a girl in Zach's shop and we were able to buy them back from her and take them back to the house. :) So that disaster was averted.<br />
<br />
Let's see......We have moved into a beach house here. A couple at the church we've been attending has a beach house (it's a vacation rental home that is already furnished) that they aren't using and have offered to let us stay there rent free for the next three months. So that's where we are living now. We hadn't even met these people but they heard our story of what we are doing from the pastor and were so impressed that they wanted to help us. So this is their way to help us. :) What a blessing. God is so good.<br />
<br />
So we bought the RV last night. We paid for it and are heading over today to do our walk through and learn how everything works. We thought about not buying it because we are staying in the beach house, but decided that we would rather have it ready to go so when they need us to leave the beach house we can just up and go. They won't have to wait on us to find someplace first. So we get to pick it up today and now we can take our time getting everything just right in it. :)<br />
<br />
We drove to Clermont this past weekend to take my aunt the tv (she bought it). We rented a van and drove down on Thursday night. Friday morning we got up and drove to Tampa to go to Busch Gardens...that was so much fun. Perfect weather an NO LINES!!!!!! We rode the roller coasters so many times without even having to get off. It was great. Then we went to Jungala and rode one of the rides there that brings you up and just drops you down. Autumn was just tall enough to ride it and since there was practically no one there we got to ride over and over without getting off. She loved it.<br />
<br />
Well we left there Friday night and headed back to Clermont then Saturday morning we got up and headed home. It was a busy busy couple of days. Clermont is about 6 hours from us and Tampa is about 2 hours from Clermont. Lots of driving (it was a rental so it didn't matter too much. :) ) <br />
<br />
So that's a little of what's been going on. Hopefully soon I'll be able to tell a little more in depth about the beach house and what we're going to be starting to work on to help others. But for now I need to go and eat my lunch. MMMMMM<br />
<br />
Until next time.......Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-84097388910484550842009-10-29T09:57:00.000-06:002009-10-29T09:57:56.918-06:00Tragedy<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This post really has nothing to do with our adventure. It's a prayer request. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We have some friends at the church we go to in Panama City that are going through a tragic time right now. Their two oldest children were walking to the bus stop with the mom and they ran out in front of a car and were hit. The six year old little girl, Julie, was killed and the nine year old boy, Micheal, is in critical condition. Their mom had to witness her babies going through this. All of the children already at the bus stop had to watch this too. Please pray for God to send His peace to everyone this has touched. </span>Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-89392500360766408352009-10-27T09:58:00.000-06:002009-10-27T09:58:45.577-06:00Rain<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rain rain go away come again another day. It's raining today. But my plants have been terribly neglected by me lately so they are probably pretty happy at the moment. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We are moving our stuff into a storage unit on Saturday (I hope it's not raining then). We're going to be sleeping here Satuday night and moving into the hotel on Sunday. We figured that's one less night we have to pay for. :) After church on Sunday we'll come back here and clean, that way it's nice a pretty for the girl who's buying it. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Today I'm staying home and working on laundry. We are delivering our washer and dryer to the girl who is buying them, so I'm trying to make sure all of it's done before then. The problem is I HATE DOING LAUNDRY!!!!!!! I'm ok at the washing and drying. It's the folding and puting away that I have issues with. At least now the puting away consists of leaving them in the laundry baskets (because we have no dressers). I think going to the laundry mat will be good for me. It will force me to do it all at once, and living in the rv I'll have to put it all away because there will be no room to leave it laying around.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">About 90% of the house is packed up. I packed most of the kitchen today. I can't pack the pots and pans because we still need to eat the rest of the week, but the dishes are packed and we'll just use paper plates until we settle down again. As close as we are to moving it doesn't seem as though we'll get it all done. But I know we will, some of it just has to wait until Friday to get done. It's that stuff that is causing me stress now.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So now I need to go and do some more packing and cleaning. </span>Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-10294039248058558232009-10-25T15:20:00.000-06:002009-10-26T08:27:26.113-06:00Day 87You know what is really irritating??? When you buy something and it's already broken or messed up. That has happened to us twice this week. <br />
<br />
First I ordered our new dishes (we sold our old stoneware ones and got lighter more durable Corelle), they arrived two days before they were scheduled to.<br />
<a name='more'></a> That was great, but when I opened the box and pulled them out the first dinner plate I saw looked as if it the design on the outside was still wet and was touched by something. Then the next dinner plate was completely missing the main color in the design. How does that happen??? I called Corelle right away and explained what was going on. They immediately apologized and offered to send us two new dinner plates to fix it. It wasn't "hey send us the messed up ones and then we'll send you fixed ones." They just fixed it. Awesome customer service. <br />
<br />
Then yesterday we bought a new smaller vacuum. It has a telescoping handle that locks down for storing and raises back up for using. Well on this one the handle wouldn't lock in the up position. We would raise it and then it would fall right back down again. I guess I could have made Autumn do the vacuuming. :) Anyway, we returned it to the store and got a new one. We also put it together in the parking lot just to make sure the handle would work on this one (it does). <br />
<br />
Ok, we had the final yard sale yesterday. We came with about three tables worth of stuff, and sold two tables worth. Whatever we had left we just donated to the church. So that's done. YAY!!!!!! <br />
<br />
We started really packing things up today. We decided that we are going to get a small storage unit. At least until we make a trip back to Indiana and can take it to family to keep for us. We have some momentos from our marriage that we don't want to get rid of, but don't really use. We collect special glasses from restaurants that we go to. We are trying to go to all the Margarativille restaurants and get a glass. We have one from Myrtle Beach, Panama City Beach and Las Vegas. So only a few more to go. :) <br />
<br />
So now I'm off to bake one last time in my kitchen. I'm going to make a gluten free Autumn (pun intended) Apple Cake. Until next time.....Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-87243715204277538172009-10-23T12:14:00.001-05:002009-10-26T09:11:06.010-06:00Day 85We move one week from tomorrow!!!!! I don't know whether I'm :) or :( about it. Part of me is so excited, but the other part of me is so terrified.<br />
<br />
The closing is on a Tuesday. I volunteer at our church on Tuesday mornings. Zach has that whole day off, so he is going to come with me that morning and we have the closing that afternoon.<br />
<a name='more'></a> I was telling him that we'll be done at the church by 11:00, so that will give us 2 hours until the closing. I said we can run home and change and make it to the closing on time. He gently reminded me that we can't go home and change. (Long dramatic pause here) Again, something so obvious, but it didn't even cross my mind.<br />
<br />
The last garage sale is tomorrow. After that we just have to pack up everything else that is left. And there is quite a bit left. We're not positive everything we have left will fit in the rv, pretty sure we're going to have to go through the stuff again and decide what is really important to keep and what we can get rid of. That one will be harder I think because the only stuff we kept now is the stuff we really wanted to keep.<br />
<br />
So we are moving right along now. It won't be too long before I'm sitting in the rv typing this instead of the house (well I'll be in a hotel before the rv, but you know what I mean). Now I'm off to pick Autumn up from school. I hope she had a great day. :)Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-53568862572972805352009-10-18T17:42:00.000-05:002009-10-26T09:12:48.021-06:00Day 80<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LP8YM2nn2OQ/Stxp1DkaXfI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Zg0A4zZ5nqo/s1600-h/collage2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394302813895024114" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LP8YM2nn2OQ/Stxp1DkaXfI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Zg0A4zZ5nqo/s320/collage2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div>My mother-in-law asked us for a family picture to use for the Christmas card this year. We never had one taken this summer when Gavin was here, so I made this for her. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ I hope it works. I like it, I think my kids look pretty darn cute. :)<br />
</div><div></div><div>Do you know what happens when you complain that you want fall??? You skip fall and go straight to winter. Last week we were in the high 90's and the past three days it's been so cold. This morning it was 39 degrees. That my friends is cold.<br />
<br />
Other than the weather things are going good. We are on day 80 and on day 78 we put a reserve on an rv. :) This is the first one we looked at and it's the one we kept coming back too. Plus the dealership is adding a hitch and a brake assist to the deal. So we are moving right along with it. Now we just have to wait until closing to do the financing. It's so exciting.<br />
<br />
We were going to have another garage sale this past weekend, but chickend out because it was cold. So now we have to have one this weekend. It's our last weekend living here. :O It's hard to believe that.<br />
<a name='more'></a> So this Saturday we will be having our final garage sale. Whatever doesn't sell then will be donated to the Goodwill.<br />
<br />
That means this week I will get the last of our stuff together for it, then next week it's all about packing and cleaning. Then that next Saturday we will be moving out. We will have to be in a hotel for a week, so we are going to be asking a friend to let us keep our stuff at his house for the week. It's only a week, so it shouldn't be a problem. (I hope)<br />
<br />
We were talking last night and I said that I keep thinking it's starting to hit me that it's really happening, but then something else happens and it hits me even more. Zach said that it won't fully hit us until we leave and can't come back. I think he's right. I hadn't even had those words come into my mind yet, "Can't come back". Just thinking them is making a knot in my throat.<br />
<br />
No matter how hard this is, I know it's worth it. Whatever you do for God is always worth it. You might not get the praise you think you deserve, when you think you deserve it, but you are storing up your riches in heaven. God will reward you when you get there.<br />
</div>Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-31291907330937112902009-10-16T10:41:00.000-05:002009-10-16T11:05:29.572-05:00A Phone CallSitting here minding my own business when my phone rings. Who could that be, I don't recognize the number. HMMM??? I answer it and am surprised to learn that it's the closing agent wanting the information to get the pay off on our mortgage. AHHHHH!!!!!! I'm not ready for this stuff. It's happening too quick.<br /><br />Two days ago I opened my mailbox to see what kinds of presents the mail lady brought us. Apparently we aren't the only ones receiving mail here now. There was a piece addressed to the girl who's buying our house. Boy was I not ready to see that either. I about had a heart attack. That's just crazy. Talk about pushing someone out the door.<br /><br />What on earth are we doing??? This is the house we wanted. Blood, sweat and tears went into getting this house built. Living in a run down, leaky, buggy house while we built this one. And now we are just up and leaving. CRAZINESS must have set in. That or listening when we were told to do it. I'll go with the listening one.<br /><br />We are learning that when you listen and then follow through on what you were told to do, things fall into place. Is it easy?? Not a chance. It seems to get harder and harder. Is it exciting??? Sure is. We are so excited, it's an adventure. I'm tired of being sedentary, it's time to live.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-19982163277012706662009-10-13T11:27:00.000-05:002009-10-13T15:11:10.743-05:00TimeGood Morning. :) <br /><br />There seems to be too much and not enough time all at once. We have so much left to do that it doesn't seem as if we'll get it done before we close. But at the same time the closing feels forever away still. <br /><br />We still have a few things to sell, the TV and stand, stools, a chair and our beds. All of our other big things are gone. That's good, but I'm getting concerned we won't be able to get rid of the last few big items. We have a couple of boxes of small junk left. This weekend is supposed to be cooler, so I'm thinking it might be a good time to have one last garage sale and whatever we have left at the end of it will get donated somewhere. <br /><br />We haven't even started packing. I think I'll start next week. Two weeks should be enough time to do it all. We don't have that much left anyway. :) I could probably get it done in one week, but I want a few days to really clean everything.<br /><br />But at the same time, we can't get the rv until we close on the house and everyday we wait there is the chance someone else will swoop in and get it. The salesman we are working with sent us a message this weekend saying it made it through this week. :) It was cute. But if this rv is the one God wants us to have it will still be there.<br /><br />Waiting has never been a strong point in me. But I am getting much better at it. Now you can too. You have to wait until I get another blog wrote to hear more.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8945220159671302931.post-67121753908743390192009-10-08T08:50:00.000-05:002009-10-08T09:24:51.711-05:00Doing What Is RightThe reality of what we're doing is starting to set in. I'm getting so emotional about everything now it's ridiculous. It's like a deep dark cloud has come over me and I can't get any light through it. I know that it's the right thing to do, because it isn't easy. The right things never are.<br /><br />I've been reading my favorite full time rv forum all morning. I read some of these stories about why people are full timing. Most chose to so that they could travel and see the country. But a few are doing it because they don't really have any other option. Illness, job loss or other circumstances beyond their control have pushed them to the point that they can no longer afford to live in their homes, so they move into their rv's, or sell off all their posessions so they can afford to buy one because they know they are going to lose their house soon. <br /><br />It's their stories that remind me of why we're doing this. The ones that even though they did all the things right, they watched helplessly as their lives fell apart. Or the ones who never got to see their lives come together because they just couldn't catch a break. <br /><br />God put us here to help each other. The world tells us that we need to help ourselves first. But if we take care of each other, God will take care of us. I know that if God had done things the way we wanted him to, we never would have learned this lesson. Not to the point that we have. <br /><br />I think it's something we all say and think, but when it comes down to it we expect someone else to do it. Not us, God doesn't expect <em>us</em> to buy groceries for the family who's dad just lost his job, or that single mom who is working two jobs just to make ends meet. That's what the government or church is for. There are special groups that do those kinds of things. <em>We</em> don't have to do that. <em>We'll </em>just pray that those groups stay around, yeah those are nice groups. <br /><br />Don't get me wrong, those groups are really good, but what's so difficult about picking up an extra bag of groceries and dropping it off at someone's house??? Or if you know of someone who could use some help fixing up their house or fixing their car why not volunteer to come help them?? <br /><br />These are the things we should be doing for each other. Don't expect someone else to take care of it, if we all think like that, then no one will stand up and do what's right.Tonyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768801457870710766noreply@blogger.com1