Oregon Trail Trials

Fort Kerney.  Oregon Trail.  Literally walking in the footsteps of American emigrants headed west for a new life. A new beginning full of promise and hope.  The land of opportunity lay ahead.

But the road to get there... What road?  It was a trail.  Full of trials and challenges, even dangers to face, to overcome.  

Iowa. Nebraska. Midwest landscapes.

Big skies.  Both Toy Story blue and dark and looming.  

Farms and windmills.  

Rows and rows of crops. 

And an occasional fun bridge.

We are enjoying the drive through our beautiful country!

Forever friends

It was great to sit on the front porch with long time friends Mike and Gwynne McQueen whom we met back in 1996 the year we lived in Champiagn IL.  

Also we got to stop in on the Bergstrom family whom we met just a few years ago (2012-15) in Kyiv.  

Of all the things our military adventures gave us, we are most grateful for the many many friends from various places and backgrounds.  We truly cherish the people God put in our lives over the years- even those there for a short season. 

Our American Adventure 2016

Because we can... And for Clara and John "the youngers" still at home and because it is more affordable with 4 instead of 7.  We're doing our drive out west adventure!  Here we go!!  All

Smiles.  Futures so bright.  We gotta wear shades!  

The Boy. Scout. Mile swimmer.

It was one of those sweet evenings where you watch your boy turned scout begin to grow into a young man! He enjoyed his camp experience and independence from his parents/family (ironically Independance Day week) and was happy to share it with is this parents night.  Very moving for this mama

to watch her youngest baby moving the direction of manhood.  

5 redz 6 Flags

John had never been to Six Flags. He's been to many amusement parks and almost too young as he didn't really love Roller Coasters to begin with.  But he was more than ready now and we had a great day! Reuben was able to join us and was helpful because he knew the park well. We had a great time. Except for the nearly 2 hr wait for the virtual reality ride. Which we had to wait yet another ride because a fast pass stepped in front of us. And then the ride broke. Oh yes it did! And then it broke again after our run.  Yes it did!  Anyway.  Batman made it better. And a few more rides too. And although Joey and I ran out of steam about 8pm... (Began at opening at 10:30am!! And in Georgia heat all

day!!) the kids closed the park at 9.  Really glad we were able to go! 

Beginning again.

How to start?!?!

Sitting in the car here with my 4th "teenage driver" in 3 1/2 years and it seems just a blink.  Seriously.

Graduated two more from high school (Seth '13, Reuben '15) and one from college. (Mary '15)

Lived 2 1/2 years in what became a war-torn country.

And then retired from 28 yrs of military service.  (So proud of and thankful for you Colonel Joey Hickox. Thank you for your service.  And thank you for our military life together.) And then it was done.

Moved back to what became to us the "promised land", the "land of milk and honey."  And Walmart. And target. And Cosco. 😊 

Our homeland. 🇺🇸The land of the free and the brave. Where we can speak English, and read the signs.  

And we formally transitioned from cell phone to smart phone.  Family plans and SMS. And emojis. And technology which keeps moving at this same break neck pace.

So much change. So fast.

I just couldn't keep up. Such a whirlwind. 

Like living in the fast lane. My head was spinning... I was loving the ride but blue-knuckled just barely holding on for the scary nonstop ride.

And so after nearly 9 years overseas, we knew a few things.

We needed time. Time to slow down. To decompress. 

Time to adjust to the culture. Our culture.  Forever changed by our life experiences and the cultures we'd become a part of over there.  

Our youngest two children -home now while their older 3 siblings begin to spread their wings. And they having lived more of their years over there than over here. We felt this to be our biggest move yet. Military to civilian life to boot. And the house of 7 redz changes to a house of 4, sometimes 5 or 6. Rarely 7. Where we actually own a house and quickly went from no cars to 4 cars. 

So we committed to 6 months, no commitments. 

Some travel. Some sitting.  But mostly no stress. 

Which brought stress of its own for the tween and teen.  But they managed. They are the king and queen of flexibility being military brats, 4th and 5th in birth order. 

But I digress.  

So slowing down now for a full year. I think I've come full circle. I think I'm ready. To blog again.  I've missed it so much.  The journaling with pictures. And writing more than a Facebook sentence.  

And somewhat like driving with my teen, I'm apprehensive but hopeful.  I can do this.  Just gonna try to stay out of that fast lane of life that we were in for a little too long. Take it slow. One thing at a time.  Enjoy the ride, and maybe even the view while I let the teen drive.