We're Off!

We have departed Charleston.  Sad, but true.  The days leading up to our departure were filled with send off parties, well wishes & visits by friends, last minute RV repairs, and packing packing packing.

Hands down, the best thing happening was an enormous blessing of prayer.  In the final hours we had two special prayers over us at dinner parties, three different families pray with us in our RV, two prayers over the phone, one by the pastor with our church community, and at least six text and e-mail prayers.  I am so thankful that I have experienced and been witness to the POWER of prayer.  If I hadn't, the prayers would've felt like a formality.  But it didn't feel that way at all.  These prayers were so personal, as they were offered on our behalf to connect and align us with the will of The Creator of All.  It was a deeply moving experience.  I love knowing that this trip has been and will continue to be covered in prayer.

I'm thinking this sleepover will be one they remember.

I wanted to document just a few of the events that took place the week before we left.  CER celebrated her 9th birthday with a sleepover on the RV.  We picked up her friend at her house in the RV, and we even blew the air horn in her neighborhood.  What?  That's how we roll.





 

N. Olson put this on without our knowledge.  We secretly like it.

While we were at the campground, the father of this precious little friend of CER's put this on our tow vehicle.


It's an airbrushed license plate which reads "Wayne & Lizzette GO RV'N!"  Long story, on the nicknames, but we had a good laugh out of this one.

We also had a send-off with a small group of friends.  They adorned our RV with balloons, whirligigs, a Sham Wow cloth, puppy toys for Billie Jean, a fly swatter, and the like.  We also enjoyed food and games inspired by the theme of the party "RV Park Living."

 

We began with these appetizers.  Cheese Whiz (little cheese, lotta whiz), and Vienna Sausages (barbecue flavored).  I thought the toothpicks were such a classy touch.  We also enjoyed a few staple foods like Pork Rinds and Funyuns.

The cake.  Green grass, pink flamingos, an RV parked in the center, and please notice the signage.  You know those signs that read
"Look Who's _______!"  In the blank you're supposed to fill in the age like "40!" or "60!"  Our friends filled in the blank "CRAZY!"  Loved it.





We left Monday morning, June 18, and drove straight to my parent's home in Bowling Green, KY.  It felt kind of surreal pulling away from our street.  I believe it may have been the first time I realized we were actually going to do this.  This picture was taken minutes before departure.  It was a typical Charleston day:  clear, sunny skies, a cool breeze blowing from the water, and mosquitoes the size of birds.

The ride to KY was so fun for me and the children.  However driving it was a smidge stressful for the hubby.  He had to stay very focused maneuvering sixty feet of our belongings, acclimating to the feel of side winds, and calculating the braking system when hauling 28,000 pounds of precious cargo.  All in all, he did great -- like most things, he made it look easy.

Meanwhile, after finishing a craft and story time, the rest of us enjoyed lunch.  This is a picture of our first seated lunch at 70 mph.





So, we're off.