Amish Country

  Happy Mother's Day!

  We spent our morning traveling 2 and a half hours into Amish country, so we could be ready for classes here tomorrow.

  The kids made me cards, and made sure I didn't lift a finger all day!  It was nice :)

   We drove around the countryside to just enjoy a scenic drive, snagged some yummy food from one of the only open restaurants on a Sunday...Park Street Pizza.

  Avocado fries, giant farm salad, and 3 kinds of pizza was on our table before we knew it.  Mmmm mm good!

 Here is what I wrote to my momma for Mother's Day to celebrate her from far away:

  When I am tempted to roll my eyes during yet another multiplication flashcards review with the littles, I remember how my mom used to make it a fun game each day after school. 🎵How she'd make a sing song sergeant-esque rhyme of the ones that tripped me up.....6x4 is 24, 6x8 is 48. Sound off!

📖 Or when it was time to learn a long bible verse for church, she'd lay on a blanket with me out in the yard and cheerfully review it again and again, until I knew it well. 
🏡
  When I am tempted to skip due to exhaustion, I remember how every night she would tickle my back and cuddle me, while I drifted off to sleep. 

  When Destiny and I butt heads and she blows up, I remember how mom would just hug me close and stroke my long hair, when I'd take out all my highschool frustrations on her. 
She was a heck of a cook and housekeeper and ran a tight ship.  My messy clothing- strewn room, after a running late outfit crisis, made her crazy.  It had to be cleaned up and chores done before any fun could occur.

  I am now that mom!🤣

  Everything I know and do, is based on a bar set really high by a mom who did it all.🙌 I can only hope my children will have half the happy memories of a mom who served them with joy, during their growing up years.
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  Happy Mother's Day, momma! I sure do love you🥰

  Here is what my sweetie wrote me:

  GUYS, it is COLD here!  High was 55 and rainy, so we cranked the fireplace and chilled the rest of the day in the RV.  I love how homey it feels!

   We headed into town Monday for Mrs. Yoder's fried chicken buffet, and black raspberry ice cream from Troyers, even though it was FREEEEZING out!

  51* high and 41* for the low

 We are total total wusses now, after spending all winter in Florida and I totally didn't pack the right kind of clothes, brrrrrr!

  Cold, grey and blustery for sure!  The kids hunkered down and I headed to class......

    No plans on Tuesday, but swim with the kids in the heated indoor pool......

   When the sun FINALLY came out our final day there, we drove around and saw all the beautiful countryside!  Windows down, just enjoying :)

  Isn't this area so beautiful?!

  Can you spot our RV in this pic?!

  Our final Ohio stop was Findlay for some classes with a brand new builder here!  We found a pretty RV park with a big field behind it that was begging for playtime.

  We got set up and Pax decided it was time for a game of stick ball! :)

  Always nice to enjoy a little down time between classes!

  Paxton picked an INCREDIBLE dinner to cook this week.  Check it out!

Carnita Tacos with quick pickled onions

 Friday was a meet and greet at a local cute coffee shop.  Our friends and biz partners, Matt & Liz and their 2 sweet kids were in town so they could connect with their Ohio team too.

  We had them drop the kids off, so they could all play while we went to coffee.  Destiny is a great babysitter and it's safe to say the kiddos had a great time!

  I didn't get any photos of our coffee shop group, but Liz and I did make Dale pull over on the way home to get photos of this gorgeous bridge.  A local instagram page share it as well, COOL! :)

  We got a phone call bright and early the next day with some sad news from Matt and Liz.....

  The river at their RV park flooded during the night and the RV and suburban were half under water.  It was to the top step when they got rescued 2 at a time with only the backpacks on their backs.

 Here is the deal, they are in a strange place an hour from us in the wee hours of the morning, so once they got to dry ground, they were literally helpless and homeless.  Everything they own is back in the RV.  Their home on wheels!

  Thank the Lord for His provision!  The Lawerence had attended a local church Sunday, had dinner Tuesday with the Pastor, and attended Wednesday night church and really connected with the leadership there.  This kind shepherd was there in minutes and he and his wife opened their home and loaned their car to our friends until further notice.  AMAZING!

 Praying it all works out.  The "brain" of the RV is fried. All of it was under water!  Randomly flashing lights, gages moving, alarms going off, won't start, not at all safe!  Totally undriveable.

 We hold the note on this RV still, so we are up to our ears in insurance phone calls and arrangements.  They keep wanting us to drive the RV to the shop to be accessed.  I guess they don't have any idea that a fried RV cannot put jacks up, slides in, OR DRIVE for that matter!
  
 It can't even be towed with all those things down and out.  Sigh.  God has a plan and we trust it.  Just a bit of a stressful situation for all!

  We left at 6 am the next morning to beat a line of severe hail storms coming our way.  Little did we know, that wasn't going to be the end of it!

  After 12 hours of driving, we made it to Kansas City, just in time to enjoy the sunset and a walk.  We planned to see our friends Monday, chill at the lake where we were parked Tuesday and go hang out and teach a class Wednesday.

  The more we watched the weather, the more concerned Dale got.  The more time that passed, the worse the weather forecast.  Flood warning for the lake we were parked at, golf ball sized hail, tornado watch and high winds.

  After much debate and sadness, the decision was made to not sit in the weather to come for the next 48 hours and instead, head the 4 hours home early in the morning and get the RV and trailer under cover at our home sweet hub.

  The last thing we need, is ANOTHER RV with a claim and storm damage!  We will just take the car back to Kansas city Wed instead of getting the ol home on wheels back out again.  Not ideal, we are terrible car travelers now, but totally worth it! 

  We didn't beat the rain home, but we did beat the major wind and storms that hit that night both at our house and at the lake where we WOULD'VE been. We slept great knowing all was well!

 Check out our now "lakefront" home!

  No matter how dreary on the outside, we are so happy to be safe and warm on the inside and greeted by such a cheerful sight!

HOME SWEET HOME

Hugs, T