Van Life

Unlike so many others in the USA we have had a mild winter so far due to the locations our travels have taken us. For that we are grateful as our van accommodations, augmented by gracious hosts for plumbing needs, have proven to not only be adequate, but quite comfortable. Due to this we have decided to not make any further modifications to the vehicle and hope to convert it into a usable vehicle for a future small business idea.

We essentially have a mobile bedroom/couch, a full outdoor kitchen, spare bedroom (if needed and weather permitting) and a home office in this living space. If the weather is too cold or too hot we have access to heat and air conditioning. We have wonderful large windows if the weather permits them being open. Researching options for our trip and ministry lifestyle we decided on the van and I can say that this is proving to be a very good option for cost, parking and functionality.

Curiosity is probably the most common reaction to the lifestyle choice we have chosen for this season of our life. Our decision to live in a van and travel to be the hands and feet of Christ would not be a doable option for many people and others perhaps wish they could be in our shoes. What I will say is don't be afraid to follow the desires of your heart if they are rooted in love.  You will not be disappointed in the outcome.

Having traveled thousands of miles, seeing deserts, forests, oceans, and valleys I am grateful for the sheer beauty our travels have brought to our little family of three. We watched in delight as our dog ran full speed by the ocean leaping for joy and being fully alive and fully a dog! It was beautiful. The smells, the sights, the colors, and the people fill my mind with wonder and love.

Leaving behind a regimented lifestyle dictated by work schedules, although it may be brief, has had the added benefit of time to work on our marriage, to dig out the deep roots you don't even realize are present because they are buried so deeply in the soil. Turning soil that hasn't been turned for so many years, raising a family requires stable roots, feels painful at times, but turning and aerating the soil brings about the possibility of growth and we are experiencing a newness as a couple that is refreshing and lovely.

Unexpected Moments

Setting out to be of service and to put our hands to work we have enjoyed  wonder in different unexpected moments.

Surprising our grandson for his 4th Birthday gathering was a delight. Having that sweet boy run full speed to hug grandma and grandpa upon spotting us lives on in my heart. Stopping for the party gave us bonus time with our other grandchildren and children too; which is always a good time of good food, laughter, and play.

We spent some time over in the area damaged by the recent Thomas Fire. Seeing how close the fire came to our son's home and place of work we were grateful that he was not displaced and prayed for those that were directly impacted. It was the largest wildfire in modern California history.


The central coast area and Oregon brought time with dear childhood friends revisiting many decades of life. It was pure joy to spend time with loved ones from so long ago and to hear and share the stories left untold for so long.

Traveling from the central coast area of California to Oregon we made a stop to meet new family members, nieces and nephews, replacing faces and personalities for their given names we had been told at the time of their births . It was nice to be able to hug and play with the youngest members of my ever blessed and growing family. The hospitality was unmatched while we were guests and my young sister is just as precious as ever, but now a wonderful busy mom.

Upward! Spent Christmas day together on top of a mountain.

Never dreamed in my life that I would be eating a MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) on Christmas day, but that is what we did. I am preparing the "Christmas Dinner" right in the middle of all that view.  It was a wonderful way to spend Christmas Day. The evening before we had other campers that came around as we enjoyed our fire sharing Christmas Carols (they sounded terrible) and apples. Even with as bad as they sounded it put a big smile upon our faces and brought joy to our hearts and we enjoyed the apples baked in our fire later reminding of the kindness some others brought to our lives for the duration of a song. It gave us a good encouragement to know that no matter how bad the delivery, when sent out with love our good deeds are well received. It was a valuable lesson.

Arizona

Our schedule is mostly flexible and unset for where and when we need to be somewhere but we desired to make it to the desert for Thanksgiving to celebrate
with family. We were not disappointed as much love, hugs and smiles were shared with good food and lots of laughs.










Watching great-grandpa interact with our sweet grandson priceless.

 Grandmother and granddaughter putting together a memorable meal, so delicious.

I have been so blessed in my life with my family. They are loving and forgiving and my life has been greatly impacted by having the gift of the beauty they bring to my life. My heart is rich and full after spending time with these lovely people during my very favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.

On the Road

We spent some time camping in Illinois on our way to Arizona and traveled slowly as we nursed Blessing back to health.









 It was difficult for her but she continued to enjoy the different smells along the way as we enjoyed the sights.





Missouri brought a wind storm and we had to pull over and wait it out. My hair after going outside for two minutes in that wind!

Celebrating our son's birthday in our tiny new home, with the help of technology and a little creative thinking was our first official party.

We discovered and enjoyed many new paths to walk. With each footstep we take together our relationship grows and our understanding of our need to take this journey during this season of our lives.

On the Road

We hit the road as soon as the house closed and our dog Blessing was ready to go all bundled up in her coat and blanket.  I think the expression on her face gives way to what she may have been thinking about all this activity of preparing to move out and onward. She was really confused and just kept looking at us like, "What are you people up to? I had a perfectly good routine, a nice fenced yard, and a comfy warm place to rest when the sun shined through the upstairs window.  What is this?"









Soon enough we were on our way enjoying the beautiful sights of the Midwest in late fall on the way to our first official stop in my father's hometown to see dear loved ones before heading farther West.



While there we we able to help with a tree that had been damaged and needed removed.It was our first day of putting our hand to labor and it was a lot of fun to work together and to be outside. 

Unfortunately. during our time there we ended up with a very sick dog because we fed her some prime rib, which we now know is a BIG no-no for them, too much fat. She developed pancreatitis and needed medical attention and medication to get better. Due to that we decided to cut our days shorter and to get on the road to see if she would heal up as we traveled.  She did and is doing just fine now, but that was concerning in the beginning of our trip.

Saying Goodbye

My husband and I decided to embark on this journey of service and that meant we had to say goodbye. It took some time to move from a three bedroom suburban home into a 6 X 13 foot space. It was a challenge to decide what we needed and what we didn't. We also had the best time trying to use household items in a van to save money.

We installed some leftover flooring we had from the house and converted tables into shelves and frames for our bed.

It's pretty cozy, but it does feel like home being able to use items we already used in our house. To say we had to downsize is an understatement. The upside, now the entire house is cleaned in a snap!
It was heartwarming and sad to say goodbye to the good people we had the privilege of getting to know while in Indiana, but we were sent off with a great deal of love and support. After which we headed to our first projects with our family whom we hadn't seen for a while.