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Hello friends! Long time, no chat. I apologize for that, but I have to also say, it's been such a joy to LIVE my life, not blog it.  Leading online experts teach that Blogging has moved to the back of the social media world. More and more people enjoy content on Facebook and Instagram instead for it's scroll and go convenience! Without even realizing it, I too, have shifted my efforts there for a quick upload of adventures as they occur. Rather than downloading images, uploading them to a blog for hours on lousy RV park wifi, then writing out a post......it's in the moment fun!  So, come on over! Follow our adventures on Instagram:  Or on Facebook RV Oilers page:  See you there for now!
Hugs, T
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We left Kansas January and returned the end of May..... We loved our dreamy winter in Florida and a FUN spring run to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee & Ohio! But alas, it was time to circle back to Kansas and our home sweet hub.  As we moved back in to our space, a blog formed in my head called: 12 THINGS YOU NOTICE AFTER LIVING IN AN RV Here we go:  #1 - Regular Water Pressure Regular water pressure feels like a HIGH POWDERED pressure washing MIRACLE WORKER! Especially after several low pressure rv park water systems! We all had to stare and comment on the amazing power of WATER on dirty dishes. Haha! :)  Speaking of water and #2.... #2 - WATER in the Toilet In an RV, you manually add water to the toilet, before you can do your business. Sometimes things are um, urgent and people can barely get water in fast enough to do their duty. We all reach for the side of the toilet to push the button to add water when we first get home. LOL! :D Hey guys, guess what? These toilets COME WITH WATER ALREADY IN THEM!!!!  #3 - While We Are STILL Discussing Water Did you know in a home not on wheels, you can run the dishwasher, washing machine, the sink AND the shower at the SAME TIME?! Shut the front door. Who invents this stuff?!  #4 - Five Bar Cell Service and Wifi You mean cell phones and verizon wifi boxes can have FIVE bars of service? WHAT is this phenomenon? RV parks are notorious for horrible cell service in park and spotty Wifi you share with all the neighbors. NO BUENO! We can hardly believe how strong our signal gets when we get home. Not always in our metal shed home, but most of the time outside it!!!  #5 - Anybody Home? I swear, I spend half my time in our home sweet hub, trying to FIND MY FAMILY!!!! After living in 400 sq feet most of the year, 1600 sq ft feels ENORMOUS.  Guys? Guuuyyyyyssss????? DALE?! WHERE IS EVERYONE?  #6 - Warp Speed Laundry It's not until I get home to my full sized washer and dryer that I realize just how HUGE they really are compared to my cute little RV washer dryer set. We do 2 loads a day in the RV, to stay on top of things. At our home sweet hub I can do FIVE GIANT loads of laundry, in the time it takes the RV washer/dryer to do ONE. No kidding! What is this time and speed conundrum?
#7 - Toilet Paper LUXURY Regular toilet paper is SO SOFT and luxurious!!!!! Rv toilet paper has to be single ply so it doesn't clog the fancy imancerator system. I JUST WANT SOFT PAPER FOR MY TOOSHIE, OKAY!? It's the little things people.  #8 - I Want My Bed First world problems, when you like your RV mattress better than your home sweet hub one. I WANT MY SOFT BED BACK!
#9 - Pooper Duty You take your dog out to do her business and by habit, reach for a pooper duty bag! OH YEAH......NO more pooper scooping when you are home, HALLELUJAH!
#10 - Bake ALL THE THINGS RV convection oven doesn't bake in the center, and it heats up the whole home, so you learn quickly to grill, OR, do skillet or instant pot meals. That means when you get home, YOU BAKE ALL THE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Casseroles, egg bakes, comfort foods, brownies, cupcakes.... ALL. THE. BAKED. THINGS. NOW.
#11 - A SHOPPING SPREE When you are gone so many months from what you dub your "Kansas Closet", you find clothes you like again, and get to switch for items you are tired of in your RV closet! FREE SHOPPING SPREE ANYONE?!  Yes, we all share the RV closet x 6. We just have to be choosy what comes with us! We also all share the "Kansas Closet" upstairs, full of winter clothes we only need when we are here in cold weather.  Downstairs in the laundry room is our "Family Closet". Super handy on laundry day AND when it's time to move in and out of the RV closet, seasonly.  And #12 in our list of things you notice we you live in an RV for a while......  How quickly your heart misses it...............  .......and how BADLY you want to get back in it and go for another ADVENTURE!!!!!!  We are in Kansas for the rest of the summer, barring a few quick trips here and there. So long until next time..... Hugs, T  We were heading to Florida, but we had just a few last stops to make.... In lieu of flowers, we asked the community to donate to my dad's alma mater, Central Christian, instead of flowers. We were THRILLED to find out, that just over $3000 was raised. And it was just the right amount for a much needed new commercial dishwasher for the school kitchen. Theirs no longer worked! That is a big problem! I am so thankful to all who donated, we'd MUCH rather have the gift that keeps on giving like that, as opposed to flowers that wilt and die. Dad would've been so proud! I showed the kids his senior photo on the wall while we were there. :)  We needed to make one more VERY important stop on our way out of town.... We wanted to pay our respects and see Papa's resting place. The headstone is ordered and will be up when we get back this summer. Still doesn't seem real that he isn't waiting for us anxiously in Florida....he was always so full of life and joy!  Our trip to Florida was fairly uneventful. We took it extra slow, and stopped more than usual. A celery spill from a semi that wrecked, that held us up and extra hour...... Ranch dressing, anyone?  OH! And a gas station exercise session outside leads to a jackpot for Destiny - $100! We make the kids do stretches, yoga and RUN RUN RUN when we stop for gas. This gas station had a HUGE hill down to a nasty drainage ditch. There was a concrete ramp run off, that was dry, and she was walking up and down it, while the little kids ran around. She looked over, and down between the concrete blocks, she found this bill that had washed down, who knows when, just stuck there! She had just shared with me that she wished she had spending money, and that it was hard to earn anything while traveling. I told her to pray about it! Guess what? The LORD answers! :)  We did school like normal while bouncing down the road, and the kids performed "Paul Revere's Ride" by Longfellow.... It was a good travel day!  We took 3 whole days to get down, I didn't want Dale pushing hard, he was too weary. We ALL were! One morning, our hose froze at the spicket, and poor Sophie could NOT get close enough to the heater vent. Haha!  The closer to Florida, the warmer it got, but the more the butterflies flew in our tummies. ☀️🌴🦋 Staying at a place so full of memories of my dad, a place so HIM, is going to be really really tough. Big reality check for sure! This next layer of healing is a big one, and I am grateful we never walk alone!  Hugs, T 
Now that the RV side of the shed is empty, we called the spray foam insulation guy to come out and spray the attic and that side of the shed.
All was going well, we were doing school, hanging as a family and having a generally nice time when suddenly...... 
This AWFUL plasticy smell filled our apartment. Actually, it snuck up on us. School was done and I had had a lingering and nagging headache all day. In fact, I felt a little sick and had a gross taste in my mouth.
Dale and the kids came in from outside and said WOAH, don't breathe! It smells AWFUL in here!!!! Well thank the Lord we have 2 homes, one on wheels and one not, because it didn't take us long to decide to head to the lake for a view days while it aired out. I love the apartment, don't get me wrong, but it felt SO GOOD to be back in the RV again!!! Makes us antsy to hit the road!!! 
We did school, fished, read books, grilled out. Vegged by the fire every night. Ahh, this is the life!
Dale was glad his General contractor gave him some time off from the apartment projects to go FISHING!! Too bad they weren't biting like sometimes. ;) He still had fun!
The kids just played and had a ball. Ty and Destiny floated around on the big floatie ring out in the lake, then Ty spent some time inside reading since the light still bothers his eyes, Paxton fished and chased his boat around playing Mayflower since that's what we are studying in school. The girls played spa and kitchen and then invented some slimy mud boots named SMOOTS. Quick fashionable, yes?
My favorite has to be the nights by the fire: s'mores and songs, laughter and worship.
Have you tried the new chocolate striped marshmallows? Holy amazing! I didn't even use graham crackers or chocolate, just ate the chocolate filled marshmallows! mmmmmm!
We ended the evening with our Goodnight song. We've been singing this to the kids since they were in the nursery rocking chair. Such a fun way to close out a fun day! :)
Destiny is holding the phone so you hear her the best, but Avery has learned to harmonize with her. Love when they all lift their voices in praise to their Father! Hugs, T I Love You, Lord from Tonya Ferguson on Vimeo. Many April Fool’s Day’s have come and gone without me “celebrating”. However, there were a few occasions I participated in the fun of it all. The first trick I ever played on Dale, was filling his toothbrush with Orajel. It was so stinking funny.... "My mouff is num......why ith my mouff numm?" Hahahahaha! But, the BEST April Fool’s joke I played on Dale was this: Meet Elvis. Our lovable mutt who has since gone to doggy heaven. You’ll need to know who he is for this story to make any sense.  So, many many years ago, I called Dale’s phone while he was at work, hoping he’d answer, but it went to voicemail. Darn. Oh well, this could work on voice mail. So, I started working the tears and tearful voice up, as it was time to leave a message. When he played it back, this is what he heard: ”[sob sob sob] Dale? [sob sob sob] Elvis [sob sob sob] Blood [sob sob sob] Dead!” And hung up. Oops! I instantly feel guilty. I hadn’t lied, right? I only said 4 words with pretend sobbing in the middle. Oh man, what a mean message! With no chance to go back and say “April Fools” at the end, I quickly called him back and left him a second message laughing hysterically and telling him it was all an April Fool’s Day joke. There, now my conscience was a peace. The rest of the story I had to hear from Dale and his brother: Apparently, Dale had just stopped over at his brothers house, to hang out between insurance appointments, when he saw he had missed a couple calls from me during his last appointment. He quickly called voicemail to retrieve messages. He hears my sob message and in an instant, springs to his feet: “I gotta go!” he yells, throwing down the remote and bolting out of the house. “What the heck?!” says his brother, watching Dale run full speed out to his car. About the time Dale reaches his car door, and flings it open, fully prepared to jump in, speed home to my rescue and see poor Elvis’s demise, he gets my second message. “Ah, geez." he says. "She got me. SHE GOT ME!” he yells back to his brother. Hahaha, this is still my favorite April fools memory! One year we saran wrapped the door the kids have to walk through before coming to the kitchen, another time, we tried to switch the boys into the girls room and the girls into the boys bunks while they slept. We had just about done it when toddler Pax pops up, NEW BED?! Darn it! We got Dale good with a mid dinner water glass switch. He took a huge gulp of water one drink, and by the time he picked it up again, it was 7up. He about spit it across the table! hee hee :) It's harder to think of tricks in our tiny RV house we now live in, but we did our best. Here is a breakdown of how the day went: We started the day with school and chores. I carefully wrapped a rubber band around the kitchen sprayer, so whoever ran it, would get a watery surprise. Poor, poor Avery got sprayed with a rubber band wrapped kitchen sprayer during morning chores. She turned on the faucet and WOOSH! She is short enough it got her face and neck. She stood there for a second completely dumbfounded before reaching to shut it off. She thought it was hysterical! So did her siblings! One down, 4 to go. ;) Destiny was at a youth event and wouldn't be home until the next day. So, I simply texted her that we had changed our mind and she needed to come home:   We were rapidly approaching supper, and I had yet to trick the men in my life....we were cashing out some Book Its at Pizza Hut, so I had a devious idea hit me on the way home.  I was going to take out the boys personal pans and put something gross in the box. They, of course, wanted to devour the pizza as soon as we got in the door, but I made them go wash up and put on jammies for bed, to buy myself some time. I quickly hid their personal pan pizzas inside the large pizza box, and grabbed 2 brown banana I use in my smoothies and dropped them inside. It was actually about the right weight, and felt very "real". Yessssss! Now, we wait....... Ty opened his box first.  Then it was Paxton's turn......his look in this image says it all. Avery found the whole thing quite hysterical!  Ahh, so funny! And yes, I gave them their pizza back right after this photo! In the end, I never did figure out something to do to Dale. I will try try again! Mr. Ty got me good.......I took a HUGE swig from my water bottle and spewed it all over the place when it was apple cider vinegar. GROSS!!!!! Little troublemaker! I dumped a glass of cold water on him in the shower later to get him back. Before you feel sorry for him, know that he has done this to me 3 times, NOT on April fools day!  I hope this made you smile and brightened your day. I am always honored when you come visit us on our blog! :)
Hugs, T |
Tonya Ferguson
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