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I asked the good, the bad and the ugly about year 2 on the road....... We all decided there really is no ugly, other then the RV carpet, so we will go ahead and do our tradition around the dinner table of sharing the Good, the Bad and the Blessing of our day, or in this case, year. Here is what the family said about 2016:  Dale: The Good - I loved being able to travel the Northeast this summer and pin them on our map. I really enjoyed Wisconsin and the awesome river we played and fished in there. I loved being in the mountaints of Tennessee, that was really amazing. I'd like to go back there again sometime. Or maybe we should build a cabin there someday? Hmm, tempting. The Bad - My bad was definetly when I blocked traffic in New York because I couldn't make it under the low bridge that wasn't marked on the map. An hour and some city workers later, we finally got our rig turned around and heading the right direction. That was interesting to say the least! I also hated that I locked the trailer keys IN the trailer. Thank goodness for a hack saw to cut the locks. The Blessings - The blessing of TIME. Being able to be with the family as much as possible and enjoy life together, instead of just grabbing windows of family time here and there. I love that I get to work a business with my wife every day. Our job doesn't feel like one because we just share our passion for doTERRA and living healthy. Natural products, things from our Father and Creator. Pretty awesome.  Tonya: The Good - There are so many incredible places within the US to go and see and do, and the beautiful thing is, even though we have almost been to every state, we could go revisit each place and see an entirely different part of the state, and have a new experience. I adored going up to the New England states! I have wanted to go up to Maine since I was in highschool. It was as beautiful as I imagined and I would go back tomorrow to eat another Lobster Roll! YUMMO!!!!! The Bad - The carpet of our RV is cream and despite our no shoes policy, it is GROSSSSSS! May be time to look into adding wood flooring in here. Ew. Also, I super duper was hoping to see Montana yearly, I ADORE going west, but with an east coast run all summer, it just wan't possible. Next year for sure! The Blessings - Oh where to begin? Having my best friend home with me all day, a dream. Doing life real time with my kids in school and play, such a privilege. The fact that our view changes weekly? Breathtaking. There is not a day that goes by that I don't give praise and thanksgiving to a Father in Heaven who not only heard the cry of my heart to restore what the locusts had eaten in our home, but to give us a life we never even dared to dream up. What a HUGE blessing from our incredible Savior!  Destiny: The Good - I loved when we traveled with Papa to California to be on tv. We had a great trip and I cannot wait until we go to the West coast again this summer. My favorite part was seeing the Hollywood sign and walking around seeing the different stars on the sidewalk. I really had fun at the Great Lakes too! They were so crystal clear and we had a blast playing the water and exploring. The logging trail in the upper penninsula was neat, and so was picking wild bluerries on the side of the road. The Bad - I don't have a bad. Well, I guess this isn't bad, but I AM ready to have an apartment in our home town, so when we go there we can hang out in our room and decorate it. The Blessings - I love seeing new things, I love that we live a life beyond ordinary!!!!  Tylan: The Good - I loved that we got to hike to the top of a waterfall out east. It was AMAZING! I love going on adventures with my family. I like climbing the cliffs and jumping in the freezing water! The Bad - Some places it just rains and rains for days. Sometimes we get bored of the things we have in the motorhome., but at least its a good time to play family games. The Blessings - I love that we go all over the USA and meet people. We make new friends everywhere we go and I like that part. I also am glad we are a close family.  Avery: The Good - I loved swimming in the crystal clear lake and I liked hopping in that freezing cold river we found. It was shocking! But, we got hot cocoa for doing it and a cupcake! That was so fun! The Bad - I can't think of anything. This is fun. :) The Blessings - I love that we are all together as a family and we can be together everyday! I love that I can look out the window and new things all the time.  Paxton: The Good - I loved when we got to swim under the water in Wisconsin and saw all the fish under us. I liked how the river current pushed us really fast! I also liked when we visited the BIG battleship. The Bad - There is nothing bad. The Blessings - The blessing is that we can travel wherever we want. I like that daddy and mommy stay home and don't leave for work. I love going new places!  Have a safe and happy New Year everyone! Thank you for being a part of our journey! Here is to MANY more adventures in 2017......so glad you can come along with us! :) Love, the Ferguson family xoxoxox 
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the RV Oilers! Enjoy this time of celebrating the arrival of our SAVIOR! Born to die, ready to pay the price, so that all might have a chance at Eternal Life, with a God who wants to see ALL in His Kingdom. Blessings from our family to yours..... Dale, Tonya, Destiny, Tylan, Avery & Paxton  This time of year kinda bothers me sometimes. When people share they went $4000 in debt to buy gifts for people, it makes my tummy hurt. The commercials, Black Friday, the greedy gimmies, just kinda grates on our nerves. Because of this, Dale and I have worked to be VERY intentional with our children to focus not on the PRESENTS, but the PRESENCE of their Lord and Savior, during the Christmas season. To look outside their own wish lists of things they want, but don't need, and see the hurting world around them. This is why we used to limit Christmas to 3 gifts, like baby Jesus got. We hate all the consumerism and it was our way of stepping back from it. Last year, when we came to Florida, we asked the Lord to show us a family that could use our help, and He did. I had NO idea how much this family was going to bless US. Living in an RV has a way of making you VERY intentional with your space, and removing the STUFF that clutters up life and the calender. It's been a huge blessing! That's why we did away with the 3 gifts at Christmas and Birthday and have focus more on experiences, and giving. This year, we have an opportunity to come alongside a family with some major needs....and our WONDERFUL family here in Florida, helped us make this happen!!!!
What a blessing to turn around and see my 4 kids BEAMING in the back seat, after dropping off a load of food for a family with none. To see Avery dumping her wallet out on the counter, to pay for a baby doll for a little girl she played with, that had no toys. They get it you guys, at all ages! They just need to be taught. Sin nature, the desire for SELF, is strong. We were born in flesh. But with a little training and instruction, we can help them in remembering its better to give, then get. We have spent a lot of time talking about how when they want lights for their bike tires, we get some. When they need new jeans, we stop at the store. When they are hungry, they walk to a overflowing pantry. When they want to go on a big adventure for their birthday, we go and do and be, just about anywhere we want. To see, real time, a family with empty shelves, get excited over fresh fruits and veggies...changed them. I saw it happen. And it filled their hearts with JOY! The kind of joy that won't be found under mounds of wrinkled up wrapping paper Christmas morning. This, THIS Is what life is about. To allow the Lord to flow through us, into others. Dale and my goal with our doTERRA business, is to live off very little of what we make, to be debt free so that we can be FREE TO GIVE. This is our utmost desire, and we praise Him for the doors He opens. What a joy to give often. To give abundantly. To point back to a Father who cares deeply for His children, and desires for all needs to be met.  Have you ever heard the saying, "Feed the tummy, Feed the Soul"? It's so true. We were joined at church on Sunday, by this family. It's been a long, long, long time, mom says. She was nervous. But she came. She showed courage! She overcame the temptation to find a reason to stay home.... And she was fed. She wept tears of joy, and gave her only dollar in the offering bucket, because it felt right. WOAH. What faith! Just like the widows pennies! She experienced a Jesus who gave and provided and blessed and loved without need for anything in return.... AND SHE WANTED MORE! Praise you Father God! THIS is what the hands and feet of Jesus are about. We are to meet the needs of a hurting world always. But, why not intentionally, sacrificially too? I want my kids to wake up Christmas morning and understand that because they GAVE, there is a family on the other side of town, having a Christmas that they have only dared to dream of thus far. That even though there are no presents under the tree, that they live a life of ABUNDANCE and PROVISON and BLESSING and that they too, have recieved a wonderful gift this Christmas! One that cannot be contained in a wrapped box with a bow.... Hugs, T  
We are enjoying the Florida sunshine, although I have to say, its un seasonably warm at 85* some days. I am happy for the sun, but would love it to be the normal 70* with windows OPEN! That is my FAVORITE!
When we first arrived my mom was still here visiting from Kansas, so it was nice to get to spend time with her at Chad and Laurens house. We had dinner together and played games, planned a big breakfast and hung out. Plans are in the works to get her down her every winter now, since she can officially retire from cleaning thanks to doTERRA. Praise God! 
We also go to attend Meadowbrook Live, which is an incredible Christmas program at the church we attend while we are here....the drummers were amazing, the artist that painted during the song, was phenomenal! The image, hauntingly beautiful. Check it out here:
Oh my goodness SO AMAZING!
So living in Florida is not without its perks...we have been loving all the fresh produce found at the weekly Farmer's Market, date nights, trips to the library, and time as a family too.
We, of course, had to have our customary movie nights:
Polar Express with hot cocoa, and Elf with our traditional "ELF" supper: Spaghetti, salad, bread and for dessert, m&m's and poptarts and maple syrup on more noodles. {some kids pick to eat without the noodles, haha, not that I blame them!} Uncle Chad got to join us for Elf night this year, as his family was out of town at an appointment. 
Lots of Christmas prep happening here today, but not for us. For an amazing family with 6 children, that the Lord brought to us to bless, nuture and point back to HIM.
I cannot WAIT for their Christmas!!!! I haven't been this excited in a long long time. We have been busy shopping and working to meet immediate needs, future needs and some fun wishes too. What JOY to my heart, to focus on the GIFT of GIVING, to without worrying at all about recieiving, or buying things for a list of people who need nothing. Totally liberating! Hugs, T We are preparing for Christmas, Florida style! I out up my tree with the AC on and in a sweat. Thankfully its cooled off now, with those perfect windows open, not cold, not hot PERFECT weather! So people always act a bit surprised that we have a tree in our RV. Of COURSE we do! I love the twinkle of Christmas lights! Our tree lives on the ceiling of the trailer we pull behind our RV, like a garage on wheels! 
  
Of course at night, its all different! I LOVE the twinkle of lights, don't you? SO cozy! I had a plaid tree last year but was THRILLED to be given a Home For the Holidays ornament from my friend and upline, Amanda, and then get a text from my friend Amy, to go check out Targets travel themed tree ornaments!!! EEEK! How perfect! I am on the hunt though, for more RV ornaments. Ugh, I only got 2! 2 is not enough! Oh well.    You don't have to have a big house to make it a HOME, and you sure don't have to have a big fancy tree to make it feel like CHRISTMAS! God is good and we are blessed to live this life. Thanks for coming by, friend! It means the world to us, that you take time to come read whats going on in our neck of the woods. Hugs, T  We were planning on being in Texas longer, but when a wintery advisory was announced and the temperatures plummeted, we made the decision to move out before any ice came in. Dale booked it, 15 1/2 hours of driving, trying to beat the storms. It was incredible how the Lord split one of them right down the middle and we passed through without a drop of rain. Later, when we stopped to fuel up, it DUMPED sheets of rain! Dale went out to get gas in a light grey shirt and not long after, came back in with a dark grey one! :) We fought weather on and off the whole time, but the Lord was faithful and we made it safely to Florida pan handle and called it a night.  Because we were driving into the night, we couldn't put out the slides and normal beds for the kids. They think its AMAZING when we drive while they sleep, its very soothing, so we set them up some beds on the floor, "slumber party" style.  We made it safe and sound the next day, praise the Lord! I wanted to show you around our winter digs.... Dad worked hard on making us a nice level space to pull onto this year. Its perfect!!!! We are so grateful!  His property is set back from the road, down a gated driveway.  Papa and Grammy don't live her full time, but do have a nice apartment and shed for their RV.    We have such beautiful views from the RV! I love being here in horse country....  Love how the trees grow over the road in an arch around here too! :)  Anyhow, lots of fun things for the kids to do! There is a nice fire circle for fires on cool school mornings outside, tire swing, tether ball, great driveway for riding bikes, horse shoes, and a fort in Papa's horse barn. Wait until you see it! ITS SO CUTE!!!!! They play in it ALL. THE. TIME. All in the slide show below: Lots of Lizard catching happening too......Oh the Lizard catching. One even snuck in the house, on an onrey one's shirt. ;)
Do I have a new recipe for you! Have you all tried the Gyro's we posted on facebook a couple months ago? Oh. My. Goodness. We adore them and they were the perfect meal for a hot sunny night after a long travel day. STEAK GYROS Seasoned steak grilled and thinly sliced. A red onion chopped, along with halved grape tomatoes and cubed cucumbers. Homemade ranch, from the packet, and 2 T of pampered chef dill seasoning for the sauce. Feta cheese and those soft flat breads. That was night one. Night TWO, we got a phone call from Uncle Chad that someone ornrey at HIS house had turned the pool heater up to 99* and did we want to come enjoy some warm bathwater swimming time? The kids were ECCSTATIC! We ordered some pizza and made a night of it.... Did you see Nana from Kansas in these photos?! Yup! She is here for a week. SO fun to have all her grands her together in one place. Well, that's it from here, our first 3 days here have been BUSY, and we have a couple business meetings tomorrow, so I am going to hit the hay. Next time I write, I'd like to show you around our home! We got to put up our tree now that we are stationary and I am SO EXCITED about the travel theme that is taking shape. Now, if ONLY I could find more RV ornaments from Target. They only had TWO! What? Thats a horrible number on a tree. And you can't order them online.....SIGH. There are worse things in life, but COME ON! ;) Hugs, T  Have you ever heard of Cadiallac Ranch? Lots of history and folk lore surrounding this awesome road side stop. Read all about it here: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2220 We have been to Cadillac Ranch before, but last time we were here, we didn't have spray paint. Well, that is just not acceptable, so a "redo" was in order. We headed to Walmart and let everyone pick a color and headed out. Oh it was COLD COLD COLD and the windy blew hard, but we survived. I kept yelling, Spray up wind! Spray up wind! Good thing Paxton had old clothes, because he had a little trouble staying up wind from his spray can. Haha!  I had to leave a little Dorothy glitter and sparkle behind for our Wizard of Oz home inspired DoTERRA team, the Dorothys.  Of course, we had to sign with our RV Oilers name too.   
   I was freezing and ready to go, so I headed down to see what my sweet man was up to. And he was baking some brownies.... BROWNIE POINTS that is!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha ;)  Time to head home and warm up and make some supper......  All this cold weather, made me ready to turn on some Christmas music and get out our bin of Christmas decor we have out in the trailer we pull as our "garage". My Christmas tree lives on the roof of the trailer, well the ceiling. Inside, not outside. I found some GREAT treasures to add to our tree this year! WHEN we put it up........ Dale is making me wait until we are parked for the winter down in Florida. For some reason he doesn't think a fully decorated tree will travel so well, so its staying in its home, until further notice. SIGH. Drool over the decor with me for now. I have a red and black plaid theme I am continuing from last year, just adding some fun travel pieces.   And because I had an extra crust leftover from pumpkin pie making, the littles helped me make a Raspberry Cream pie for dessert. Mm mm good! Tomorrow its off to another part of Texas for 6 classes in 7 days. Busy busy! Love my job that doesn't feel like one. It's just so liberating to be empowering families to heal naturally from home this cold and flu season. I LOVE IT! Not a day goes by, that I don't have something amazing going in the diffuser to make our home smell good AND go after the airborne pathogens in our home. These are my current favorites!!!!! Check 'em out and if you want more info on using oils for health, cleaning, cooking AND making your home smell good, just message me. I'd love to help in any way I can! And don't forget, my favorite oil facts and things I LOVE to share are here, on this website! Just meander through the tabs of this website for all the amazing facts about doTERRA, and why they are the number one oil company in the world! Then message me, I'd love to chat! Hugs and blessings, T   |
Tonya Ferguson
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