I did not want to write about our last week of life. In fact, I made up my mind that I would NOT be blogging this week. I didn't think it was worth it. I didn't want to spend the time. Then Jason asked me last night when I was going to take the time to write, and frankly, I told him I wasn’t planning on it and will wait until next week. My reasoning? Our life was quite boring last week. I went to bed battling the do, or do not, of recapping our week for this blog. I went through my reasonings for writing this blog in the first place:
1. Family and friends have asked us to keep them updated on where we are and what we’ve done. Blogging seems the easiest way to share our traveling escapades while also sharing extra pictures;
2. I wanted a diary of sorts that I can look back on after we’re tucked back into the tedium of the American dream; and
3. Maybe the most surprising reason why I continue to write this blog is the therapy it offers. I can write it all out. Get it out of my head. Then move on. Enjoy the next great thing. Or, the other side of the coin, I let out the frustrations, grief, or grumbling. Then move on. It’s as if completing the weekly update provides my mind and attitude spectrum a clean slate for the coming days. And that’s a gift.
So here I go, a recap of our last week of traveling…
Quick sidenote though. My family is out here venturing across the U.S. in a 36’ motorhome.
We are seeing the country’s history up close. We are experiencing the beauty of God’s creation while we hike and wander the hillsides. We are having deep conversations as a bonded family unit of five. We are laughing, crying, screaming, imagining together about all that life throws at us. We see new people, cities, and skylines every other day. Meanwhile, most everyone around us is grinding at their day jobs. Working their versions of the 9-5. (Sing it, Dolly!) Maybe hoping for a better paycheck, a break in their hardships, a calm in their storm. Crossing the days off the calendar, counting down to their next weekend – or if they’re lucky, their next vacation. And I have the audacity to say our life is BORING?! Clearly, I need to find more gratitude in my life because I am so ridiculously fortunate to steal away with my family for months at a time. Reality check, indeed.
Last Wednesday, we arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas. We stayed at a lovely spot right on the river. There were incredible walking bridges on both ends of the RV park that took us over the water and into downtown. We passed on going inside the Bill Clinton Memorial Library, but the building itself was impressive. It was so wonderful to be able to walk outside again. We were starting to get back into warmer weather and I was thrilled for it.
There was the coolest park we've ever been to in Little Rock. There were boulders with caves and tunnels that went underground or snaked through the park. Of course I was terrified watching the boys careen and parkour their way across the ledges with reckless abandon, but they had a blast.
We spent two nights in Little Rock, then continued south to Shreveport, Louisiana. Sunshine!! Glorious, soul-warming sunshine! Our usual goal for any place we stay in is to experience something unique to that area – museums, hikes, animals, etc. But when we hit Shreveport, all I wanted was to be in some sun.
There was a small Family Fun Center close by and we took advantage of the nice weather on the sprawling greens of their mini golf course. Ryan and Barrett BOTH got a hole-in-one! After soaking in the rays outside, we went into their arcade and had fun playing and watching. Cord asked me to go on a roller coaster simulator with him and I think my vision is still shaky after all that chair rattling. After cashing in our exorbitant number of tickets for eye patches and tootsie rolls, we had dinner out for the first time in a long while.
We fell back an hour on Sunday for Daylight Savings Time, then hit the road to Dallas, Texas where everything is bigger and they fly their state flag just as high as the American flag.
I should be honest here – I did not enjoy our stay in Dallas. The traffic was crazy, construction everywhere. And they allowed U-turns any dang place a driver pleases! It was chaos. The RV park we stayed at was the Dallas/Arlington KOA. It was tucked into a busy part of town, but once you get back into the park, it was rather quaint. Cord and Bear spent most of their down time at the inflatable jump pad.
I will say we experienced a GORGEOUS sunset sky in Dallas. It’s been so cold or overcast, we’ve been missing those beautiful colors streaking through the clouds. Within a span of a week, we went from 25 degrees to 85 degrees and with temperatures continuing to trend upwards, we decided another outside activity was in order while in Dallas. Jason found a huge city park not far from us where he, Ryan, and I played pickleball, and Bear and Cord enjoyed the playground. After spending a couple of hours at the park and, dare I say actually wanting to get OUT of the sun, we headed back to the RV.
Yesterday, we packed up and moved on again to our current hot spot: Waco, Texas. For those that have the misfortune of not knowing the dynamic renovation duo that is Chip and Joanna Gaines, you may not understand the excitement I had in arriving in Waco.
This town is home to the Gaines’ motherload of inspirations and home goods: Magnolia Market and Silos. Now, since I don’t have a house to decorate and this RV has a firm zero shelving and/or display options, I was able to come away from that place with only a cupcake. A very tasty, strawberries and cream cupcake.
We’re probably less than a month from being back home in Oregon, and Jason and I’s mental wheels are kicking into overdrive as we negotiate our next moves. Knowing Oregon is only getting colder once we get back in December, we wonder if we’ll want to leave again after the holidays to get back down into warmer weather. We’re still looking for properties to flip in our hometowns, but recently, we’ve tossed around the idea of flipping elsewhere. Like Waco, for instance.
Before getting to the Magnolia Market, we made a quick stop and checked out a house to see what the housing market is like here. The house was ROUGH. I’m no expert, but I’m 99% sure a house’s foundation walls shouldn’t rainbow out under the weight of the home. Right? That seems like a no-brainer. So that home was a solid pass for us, but it got us excited about the prospect of renovating a home again.
On a completely different train of thought on a track in a completely different country, Jason and I are also tossing around the idea of starting a business when we get back home. We’re both intrigued and motivated by the prospect, but it’s in the early stages and real numbers need ran. TBD. Also, do I want to be in Oregon’s freezing winter starting a business? Hmm, maybe the business can be started in Hawaii instead…
So here’s to therapy in writing, to recognizing the gift I’m living every day, and to new possibilities yet to be explored.
Thanks for sharing. You are good.