Coming To You Live From... Part 1

Our First Camping Trip!

You never heard of the trailer purchase, cause I have been so busy that I haven't had time to write about it. It was an interesting story. I had been camping when Colt was a tiny boy and then again, with a friend, when Colt and Dane were five and three. It was great fun. But Ray was not into camping. Can't deny it. Just wasn't up his alley. So the camping never came back.

Then last year, my good friend Corrie, and I spent some time together and discussed camping this year. So as time when by I got more and more interested and approached Ray. The idea was to buy a trailer, as I figured that might entice him more than a tent. Because of the recession and other reasons the decision was not to buy one. So I went ahead and bought what I needed to set up a tent. After this was started, Ray and I got talking again about whether or not we really wanted to spent that much money on tenting equipment, when we might turn around and buy a trailer in another year or so.

The other thought was if we bought a larger trailer, then we could use it as a family if Ray managed to get work out of town. That way we wouldn't have to split up like we have in the past. We began researching and found the perfect layout. It has four beds for children, plus a master bedroom slide, plus the couch and dinette.





The layout of the couch and dinette was in such a way that you could sit on the couch and face the dinette, thus creating a livingroom feel, plus you can use the masterbedroom as a sitting area for kids if you have a crowd in the trailer.

Ray was going to the Big City anyway at this time to see his dad, who was in from out of town, so this worked out providentially. Ray never goes to the coast, so the timing was beautiful! He headed down with the addresses for four different people selling variations of this model. They were all in same price range, and I had only seen photos of one of them.

I figured since Ray had blessed me with the decision to buy the trailer, I would let him make the decision regarding the choice. I had seen one and loved it, but pictures can be deceiving; Ray found another one and felt it was a much better choice.

Then began the headache of trying to get the trailer paid for! We had the money, but the decision was made on Friday and so I had to get money transferred and then try to get it sent via Western Union to the Big City. Well, as it turned out, to send that much money was going to cost $520!!!! So that idea was out. I then approached the bank and they could send a wire transfer in a few minute, but it turned out it would not clear til Monday! What to do! By now, it was getting a little stressful, because Ray was due to come home on Saturday, and we would have to wait for another week for him to return - IF the trailer was not sold by then!

Late that night, Ray called me and suggested I get a bank draft and FLY it down! So that is what we did. I hit the bank at 9:30 the next morning, got my bank draft, and shot to the nearest airport - not that close! I got there in the nick of time, got it on the plane at 12:00 pm, and began to pray.

Ray had to get to the airport, pick up the envelope, and then drive to another city to find the owner, pay for the trailer and then hitch up and head to an insurance dealer before they closed for the weekend! It was tight, but he did it. He called me from the road and said, "You are now the proud owner of a tin box." I am sure he was happy it got it all accomplished!

Six hours later, he pulled into our driveway. What a beautiful sight! Who would have thought that the year after we adopt two little girls we would be the proud owners of a trailer and a super new truck - in my favourite colour: red! God is good!


The next day we began scrubbing it out.

I shampooed all the mattresses and couch and cushions.


Austin worked very hard cleaning and sweeping and washing. What a little worker!


The layout was wonderful and there is room for everyone - if need be. We will choose to put the big boys out in the tent, though, so that leaves ample room for us. We won't even need to use the couch and dinette!

We are now packing the trailer and preparing for our first camping trip. It is so nice to have somewhere to store it all and not have to pack it each time.
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Part 2 - On our first trip
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A Blessing in the Wilderness

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting a lady in my neck of the woods. My mother had told me about this lady, as she figured I might be interested in meeting her, since she had 10 children. I was too insanely busy with my then small family of six children. *smile* So time went by, and I didn't call her. Finally one day, I came across her email address in my mailbox and felt I should email her. So I did.

That was the beginning of a new friendship. Due to her having a baby (#11) and us adopting our girls, we only had a couple visits over the course of the last year. Then about 2 weeks ago, our friendship was revisited, when I ran into a friend of hers here in my town. We got to talking and I decided to email Alice.

But first I should tell you why I connected with this wonderful lady in the first place. I had six children and it is not often you find people that welcome a large family for visiting purposes. When I met Alice, I found her to be easy-going and so encouraging!! She had raised four children to adulthood (responsible adulthood!) and had six more at home, plus she had 2 teenage boys, plus a crowd of little ones. How perfect for me with two big boys and all my little boys! Plus, she homeschooled and most importantly, she shared our faith.

The first time I was to visit her was in the middle of snow season. And out here where I live snow season can mean unplowed roads and very hazardous conditions. But believe me, nothing was going to stop me from visiting a like-minded lady!

I knew I was heading '20 minutes' out on a dirt road, but once I hit the snowy road I had no idea how far 20 minutes was. Twenty minutes is relative to how fast you are driving!! LOL! So I unknowingly shot past her road and headed way too far. On my return trip, I found her road, made the turn and headed up the very deep snowy hill in my minivan. I quickly realized I would not make it, so backed down the hill with the intent of going at a quick lick back up the hill. I successfully backed myself into the side of the road - into a 3' high snowdrift. My bumper got wedged and my rear right wheel was off the ground! Oh yeah!

So, I spent the next hour or more digging with sticks and putting branches under my car trying to get out. Once out, there was no way, no matter how determined I was to meet this lady, to go up that hill again.

Sad to say, that was a year ago, and it was a further 12+ months before I had the opportunity to attempt that road again.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. I contacted Alice and she immediately invited me over on the Thursday. I piled the kids in my husbands 4x4 and headed out on the snowy roads. Yes, here we are again at the most inopportune time to drive the roads, but I was excited! So off we went.

As I headed out on the directions she had given me, I suddenly realized she had given me the '20 minutes on the dirt road' information again. Oh no! What was 20 minutes!! LOL!! Thankfully, I was a little more familiar and we did fine. It was actually 14 km to her turn, and I made sure to let her know, as she was not aware of this. I figured it might save further pioneers who were coming her way. *grin*

For the first time I headed up the little road off the main road. It didn't take me long to realize I was going to have to boot it up the hill and not stop! The road was only as wide as my truck; where was I going to go if a car/truck came from the opposite direction? If I had gone inches to the left or right I would end up in the snowdrift!

This is the more widened out part of the road. This is one car wide. Some of it through the woods is even tighter!

I got to Alice's and we had a wonderful visit. It turns out that every Thursday three other ladies descend upon Alice with their children. Between all of us there are a possible 21 children! Most times I will only be bringing one of my oldest children, and often Alice's boys are tied up also. Minus a wee baby the rest of the children are equally shared out boys and girls from 4 - 12! It is wonderful!

The children played for two hours, while we mums sat and chatted homeschooling, adoption, and parenting. It was so refreshing. And the wonderful thing is this is a home where the conversation is uplifting, because as you know too often when you get a bunch of women together the gossip can begin to fly. Not so here! It was an absolute blessing!

To top it off there were three children with birthdays that week! My son did not come, so he was not part of the party, but two children turned 4 and 8, so we had cake and icecream. You would not believe how calm and well-behaved this crowd of fifteen children were. So pleasant!

Part of the Drive to the Wilderness Encouragement Meeting

You should see the wonderful splashes when we drove through these 'puddles'. We had to drive fast, cause I was not planning on getting stuck! When we got home, Ray saw his truck and said, "I see your mum has been mud-bogging!" And guess what? Tonight he arrived home with his truck nice and clean and I said, "What were you thinking? I am going to Alice's tomorrow!" LOL!!

Anyhow, the following week, Alice decided to do Purim. None of us are Jewish, but as Christians we can certainly appreciate the meaning of this special celebration. Alice did a fabulous job of telling the Bible story (complete with props) of Queen Esther, with evil Haman, and good Uncle Mordecai. The children had the fun of booing and shaking shakers everytime Haman's name was mentioned.

My Sweet Little Niece Standing in the Middle
(she was visiting that week)

Me with my "twins" in the Far Corner, and my sister, in the chair with her older daughter.


After the story, we had the Purim feast! And at Purim you are supposed to eat, eat, eat, and drink, drink, drink. So we did! And the children loved having their seconds and perhaps thirds? Icecream sundaes, brownies and icecream, white cake, Purim cakes, and my good old *not* Purim food, Rice Krispie squares. Next year, I'll be a little more traditional. *smile*

The children also were encouraged to dress up as any of the characters if they wanted to. They have a Little House on the Praire cabin (as do we!) and a tee pee, (which we also used to have!), and the children all enjoy dressing up. So I have asked for a sewing machine for my birthday. I own one from my highschool graduation, but it is rather decrepit and on it's last legs, so it is time for a new one. I already own a serger, which I took in this week to get an overhaul on (due to small boys fiddling with it when it was in the attic).

We shall be beginning to sew, so that we can make costumes! Little House dresses, Indian costumes, Daniel Boone costumes, Pilgrims and Settlers. What fun! And I know that all my children will want to sew, so we are going to have fun!
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