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If it’s not one thing…it’s another.
Our first full week in Geneseo, Illinois has come to a close and my…it’s been eventful to say the least.
Our last night in Bushnell, Sunday the 4th, we participated in the campground Labor Day celebration of a poker run and it was a blast. It was nice to feel a sense of community and family since ours is so far away.
I believe that there are 5 steps of change (kind of like the 5 steps of grief). 1. Shock 2. False(-ish) sense of acceptance 3. The sense that a mistake was made or failure 4. Sadness or depression 5. True acceptance. The sense of community we found in Bushnell pushed me into step #3 & 4 at the same time once we made it to Geneseo.
Talk about feeling like a complete failure, as a mom and as a wife. So much changed at once that the effects hit me at once and I’ll admit, I could have handled them better. Of course, I knew at some point, when the decision was made to make this change in our lives, that it was inevitable, these 5 stages of change, but no one knows when or how they will react once they rear their ugly faces.
I was constantly on edge, wanted to cry every minute, treating Keegan as my enemy when he is anything but. He never saw this coming either so his reaction was one of defense for thinking he made the wrong decision for his family….when he didn’t. Once I finally figured out what was going on mentally with me, an apology was made to my children and my husband, along with a long, tearful prayer to God. I missed my family, my in laws, my best friends, I missed knowing what tomorrow would bring instead of enjoying one day at a time and being fully present each day.
When a serious change is made, it is not going to just simply change your address, your bank account, or your phone number. It is going to change your mind, your heart, your soul, your emotions. Maybe not all at once, and maybe the change in your being is not permanent but temporary until you are changed for the better, until you become who God created you to be. But no matter the steps taken, the changes, whether permanent or temporary, made, you must accept every one of them and keep moving forward. Giving up is not an option.
I’ll say it again. GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION. You wouldn’t want your kids to give up. You wouldn’t want your best friend to give up. So why should you give up?! God already decided you were worth it. You are here aren’t you? So why haven’t you decided you are worth it?
Once I cried every tear I had stored since we left on August 20th and admitted to Him what was weighing heavily on my heart (not that I need to admit to God what was on my heart, rather to myself), a weight was lifted on my shoulders and I felt as though it was going to be ok.
I was able to lift my head up and know I was wearing a mask or putting on a show for anyone. That I could honestly say “I am OK.”
And then…..our fridge went out in the camper. LOL. No seriously. It really happened.
If it’s not one thing, it’s another. (The week before we left Bushnell, we unexpectedly had to put tires on my car. 22s. During inflation. Yay! Highly recommend it!!) As our parents used to tell us when we were growing up, “nowhere on your birth certificate does it say life is easy!” And it’s true. But you have to find the balance. It’s yin and Yang. Once you accept that truth, the next part of your life begins.
The end of July is the beginning of my favorite time of year! My oldest baby’s birthday is the gun that fires to begin the best time of the year and I am happy and festive until New Year’s Day! So I see the irony in our life change taking place during that time. God knew that I would make the best out of this time of year, no matter our location. Illinois is absolutely stunning this time of year and I’m sure it is bound to become breathtaking within the next few weeks. I’ve appreciated actually being able to watch leaves change colors and fall, signifying more change around me. Rolling hills of gold, green and red giving me all of the fall vibes I’ve been searching for.
I see what God is doing. Do you see what He is doing in your life? Do you feel a tug internally to make a change, but you’re scared? Take a second and pray. Talk to God like he is your best friend because HE IS. He will always have your back. Yes, you will go through hard times, you will go through sorrow and grief, with or without answers but He will see you through. There is growth through the struggles. He knows you’re worth it (just like L’Oreal Paris does too! LOL) now it’s time for you to believe it.
This blog post is a little late because I am human and I honestly don’t want to admit when I’m not perfect. But admitting it helps you to understand you’re not alone when you have a bad day (“when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your yearrrrrrrrrrr but I’ll be there for youuuuuuuuu” This song sings truth). No one is perfect on this earth. Anyone who says they are is full of it. At the end of the day, accept what has happened, learn from it and grow.
God is good y’all! Have a great week.
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Be a little selfish and relax
These days, for all of us, there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done! Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. We are all guilty of it. Society tells us we have to Superman/Wonder Woman and do it all, every single day, or feel guilty and inadequate. Well….I refuse.
Keegan’s first job is located in Bushnell, Illinois. Population of around 3,000 people. Greenery and corn stalks roam the hills as far as the eyes can see (which literally isn’t far due to the terrain!) and it is gorgeous. No sprinkler or irrigation well in sight because they actually get moisture here, unlike back home (oh how we wish it would though!).
Macomb, Illinois, home of one of the inventors of the infamous homewrecking, friendship destroying game Monopoly, Lizzie Magie, is 15.5 miles southwest of Bushnell and has plenty to offer. Home of Western Illinois University, we enjoyed some amazing pizza at Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria in Macomb’s historic downtown but the best part, Gelsosomo’s even had a play room for the kids to go while the parents ate! (Seriously! Why don’t more restaurants offer this?! It’s a game changer!!!) I also got a facial at R&R Spa and it was heavenly to say the least. And of course, can’t NOT treat yoself when they have both Dunkin’ Donuts anddddd Starbucks so yes, I enjoyed both LOL!
There was a tinge of guilt on Keegan’s first full day off, I run off and get a facial but why? Why shouldn’t I have at least an hour to myself every once in awhile? Why did we allow society to put weight on our shoulders then, when we attempt to manage that suppressing weight, we feel bad? We matter too. Our mental health is very important! Our happiness is vital to success in every aspect of life.
To be a little selfish in life is necessary to ensure the happiness and survival of your family. And you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Yesterday, we went to Peoria, Illinois, the largest city on the Illinois River (cue Turpike Troubadours) and had a lot of fun. We started out at the Peoria Zoo (ya know, I’m still not used to the humidity so walking around midday is NOT an option! LOL). Caterpillar (the heavy equipment manufacturer, not the insect) is located in Peoria and very involved in the community and since heavy equipment runs in my husband’s blood, we had to experience THE DOUG OBERHELMAN CATERPILLAR VISITORS CENTER and it was jaw dropping to say the least! From the history to the future of the industry, there was so much to see and do!
We then had some of the best BBQ we have ever had (and we are pickyyyy about our BBQ) at the Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern. If y’all haven’t had Carolina Gold BBQ sauce (along with their Brisket Philly), y’all are missing out! Delicious. Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern is located directly on the riverfront of the Illinois River so we were able to take in the beauty (and walk off lunch!) of the River with a walk on the river on our way back to the car.
We then took in a Peoria Chiefs baseball game at Dozer (more Caterpillar LOL) Field. They lost but they made up for it with an amazing fireworks display afterwards!
We took full advantage of the fun to be had in Peoria and slept so good when we got home to our camper in Bushnell. (OU also won their season opener against UTEP so it was a great day all around. BOOMER!)
I believe God had a hand in sending us somewhere remote and slow in pace for a reason. We all need reminding to slow down and breathe. I was able to read 5 books in the last two weeks, watch my babies swim in the swimming pond at the campground and have a blast every second.
Be a little selfish. Take a second to breathe. Have fun. The dishes, laundry, and the to do list will all be there when you get home. They do not have an expiration date on them, but you do! Make sure to live a life of “I’ve been there” and “I’ve done that” instead of “I wish!”
God is good, y’all! Off to Geneoso, Illinois tomorrow, southeast of Quad Cities. Lots of the fun awaits us!
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Issue 23 – Flourish
There are very few celebrities I idolize in this day and age (now…if we are to get into decades ago, oh Audrey Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin…the list goes on and on and on…you get the point and people like them don’t exist anymore. It’s a shame!) but one of them is HGTV show “Fixer Upper” host and creator Joanna Gaines. I have watched many episodes of Fixer Upper with Keegan, dove head first obsessively into Magnolia Network on Discovery +, read her magazine “Magnolia” every season and have even been to the Silos in Waco, Texas. No matter what creation of hers and Chips you read or watch, there is always the same “vibe” which can tell you everything you need to know about a person if you pay attention.
She gives those who are unknown a name and a voice when no one else would unless you were local and knew someone. Every detail is carefully decided with the thought of other people in mind, whether that’s helping them or giving them the recognition they earned. Selfless — the most understated description of Chip and Joanna Gaines. Yes, I told you, I am a fan!
I picked up her summer edition of “Magnolia” almost two weeks ago when we were shopping when we first made it to Missouri but until today, I haven’t had a chance to sit down and even glance through it, knowing it deserves my full attention.
This edition is entitled Flourish. That’s the theme. Every page (aside from the advertisements of course LOL) is part of the theme. It is well thought out and delivered seamlessly.
Among the many amazing articles inside, from “The Heart of Hospitality” to “The Power of Plants” to “The Great Fry Debate” (I mean waffle fries are superior, DUH!!), there’s a little something to uplift everyone! But there was one article that grabbed my attention. It was called “Have A Fun”. Maybe it was because it was not proper English (yes, I am a grammar nazi) but knowing Jo (not personally), there was a reason for the statement.
Joanna talks about taking life too seriously and forgetting to have fun, which we are ALL victims of, whether we want to admit it or not. She discussed about how at the beginning of every new year, she chooses a word to define the new year and she contemplates the possible word choices close to the end of year. I found that fascinating. But a saying her Korean mother says to her at the end of every phone call is “Don’t forget, Jojo, have a fun!” and it kept replaying in her mind as her word of the year. So that was her word to define the new year, to have more fun!
“That’s the other thing I’m learning about flourish — It’s a domino effect. When you see someone living out loud, all around the room, rules break. No one needs the permission, but they feel it — they can flourish too. You either jump in and follow someone’s lead, or you find your own corner where you thrive — whatever it is that reminds you that you are more than just sometimes remember. That the breath and your lungs is proof you’ve got more living to do. That the space You occupy on this earth isn’t meant only for work in toil, but also for joy and lightness.” – Joanna Gaines
This quote from the article really resonated with me. How many of us, whether you are a mom, a dad, A partner of a large CEO, vice president of a fortune 500 company, whomever we may be, how many of us say no or just don’t do the things that make us happy, give us joy, or feel alive because we don’t think we have time?
Especially parents, both moms and dads, we forget that we are people as well, Not just parents. That is where the depression, anxiety, resentment comes in to play is because we think we are now solely parents and no longer men or woman, or husband and wife. Society has taught us that it is not OK to have date night or meantime. We are willing to complain about it, we are willing to cry about it, but yet we are not willing to change that narrative. Why not change it?
Children learn mostly from what those around them do on a day-to-day basis. They were emulate their parents, their babysitter, their friends, because that is who they spend their time with. Children see all. Why wouldn’t we want to be the best people and the best parents because it is possible to be both, at the same time, for our children?
The clock doesn’t stop for anything. Why waste even a second on unhappiness? We always know how much money we have. We never know how much time we have. I don’t think we can afford to waste any time but we do it daily.
I love that this edition of Magnolia encourages people to flourish! At any age, the ability to flourish should always be an option. On page 32, there’s poem that I think everyone should read and take a moment to process the weight of truth behind it. Please read below.
Growth and change are necessary keys to happiness and joy. God knew YOU were needed here, on Earth, to make it a better place. The choices you make daily are either going TOWARDS or AWAY from your destined greatness.
Yesterday is gone. The past is gone. Today and tomorrow is a new day to make greatness possible. To be the person you are destined to be. Why would you choose against greatness?
God is good, y’all!
It is our last week in Illinois and we will be headed up north to Iowa for a few weeks. We have been in awe of the beauty Illinois possesses and we are so thankful that we have been able to enjoy its beauty! We haven’t done too much this last week like we had hoped but there’s much in store for the next few weeks so stay tuned (Peoria to the CAT museum (Keegan is like a kid in a candy store excited to go to this museum LOL) Chicago, Lake Michigan, etc.). Have a great week everyone!
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The best education I have ever received was through travel. – Lisa Ling
Since we have finally got on the road, we were finally able to start our homeschool year. I constantly get asked “why do you homeschool?” My answer? “Why not?” Allow me to answer with a few more questions.
There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent. – Gandhi
Why would I want my someone else to teach my children the “black and white” of education when life is every color ever created and more? Why would I want one or two people to teach 20+ children one style of teaching when their are multiple learning styles and not all children are the same learning style, predestining their failure because they cannot comprehend thus then labeling the child and more often than not, leaving them behind, educationally?
Why would I want to send my children to an institution that doesn’t even teach our children skills to prepare for the scary big world we all live in, once again predestining their failure as an adult? Having graduated from public school myself and personally knowing what they DID NOT prepare me for in the real world, why would that be considered okay to pass the struggle and the possible failure on? I don’t think, as a parent, that should be an option.
Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way – George Evans
None of this is the teachers fault by any means. There are some teachers in the world that truly care about the success of their students.
Public school is a governmental experiment. I’m not saying this to sound like a conspiracy theorist (that’s my husband’s territory LOL) and until my oldest was showing signs of struggling in public school, I would have never entertained the thought of homeschooling. NO ONE from the school came to her rescue, I decided to be her hero, mostly because that is my job as her mother, but also because she deserves to succeed in life! Don’t we all?
Life, as mentioned in early post, is about taking the “mistakes” and turning them into lessons. Learning from them, adapting and never repeating them. My oldest, in fourth grade at the time, was terrified to make a mistake because of how her teachers treated her when she did. Talk about making mama irate! These teachers better have been “PERFECT! In every aspect of the game!” (If you don’t know that quote, you have been missing out SUNSHINE! LOL) if they are going to belittle these children for forgetting to take a paper home or whatever the issue may be. And we all know there is only ONE who was perfect, our savior.
Those specific teachers are only teaching for a paycheck, not to shape our future!
Covid helped us with the decision to homeschool. At first, it was a joke but for months, I could not shake the idea. God was telling me that it was important and to not ignore.
For about 7 months, I did extensive research into curriculums, guidelines, state laws and honest opinions about homeschooling and I found myself understanding why God was pushing so hard. Because it was right for my family. All 5 of us.
Homeschoolers are labeled as different or weird but why? Because we have freedom? Because we learn at our own pace and in the learning style that is tailored to our needs to ensure understand that naturally will flow into success? Because we have no dress code (no seriously, my 3 year old works on his coordination and ABCs in his Ironman underwear while eating a banana)? Because we figured out that school can be fun, engaging, interesting and creative even in high school (we played wahoo today to work out counting and listening to instructions)?
Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write, and count. Childhood is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace which is right for each individual child. – Magda Gerber
Maybe it’s the fact that we know that 8 hours a day, behind a desk, keeping quiet are not what kids are supposed to do!
But wouldn’t that make public school different or weird because they are taking children’s creativity and imagination away? Most adults cannot stand to sit in a cubicle for 8 hours a day or having a job that’s not engaging or challenging enough. Why would expect our children to do it?
We must be careful not to discourage our twelve-year-olds by making them waste the best years of their lives preparing for examinations. – Freeman Dyson
We knew that deciding to homeschool our children would mean we would be a one income family. But we know money can’t buy happiness and our children’s intelligence, creativity and knowledge is more important that Keegan and I’s want to grow the bank account.
Taking the time to listen to what God was trying to tell me about homeschooling has opened so many doors for my family. Being able to be there when my oldest finally understands a math lesson she was lost on before was beyond gratifying. Being able to have full on conversation with decent sized words with my 5 year old is unheard of, but it happens everyday.
As a parent, you are supposed to want the best for your child(ren) and pour into that bucket of greatness and success. We chose to homeschool to ensure that our 3 children will be able to survive and thrive in the world that most of us adults cannot.
Yes, I am with my children almost 24/7. Yes, I have my bad moments throughout the day, most days. I won’t ever say I’m perfect. I am not God. I’ll even one up you. We gave up our 1500 sq. ft house to live in our fifth wheel and we still homeschool with the lack of space. Why? Because my kids deserve it. That’s the number one reason as to why most families will not homeschool, “I cannot be with my kids 24/7”.
There are ways to have your me time and self care time while being a homeschool family. Most people just don’t care to figure it out so homeschooling is not an option. Okay. That’s your choice. Good for you. But you can’t complain when (not if) public school fails them. It’s not a recipe for success.
If you have any questions or are curious at all about homeschooling, DM me on facebook or instagram. It has been the best decision for my family and it could be for you, as well, if you look past the unknown, the uncertainty, and the labels.
Once upon a time, all children were homeschooled. They were not sent away from home each day to a place just for children but lived, learned, worked, and played in the real world, alongside adults and other children of all ages. – Rachel Gathercole
This is an unusually long blog post that I will not apologize for. I want people to be informed. The more, the merrier in the homeschool world. Homeschooling has become popular again since Covid and it wouldn’t hurt to engage into your curiosity (if there is any) and see where the rabbit hole leads you. You might be as surprised as we were! Change can be good. Change can be successful. You will never know until you make that one decision. God is good, y’all!
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A generation which ignores history has no past and no future – Robert Heinlein
St. Joseph, Missouri. Birthplace of the most historic rapper of my generation, Marshall Mathers, famously known as Eminem and the death place of outlaw Jesse James. It is also the birthplace of the Pony Express.
St. Joseph is famously known as “the place where the Pony Express started and where Jesse James died” as I’ve seen many times.
We were able to visit Jesse James home where he was famously shot in the head and murdered. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. The museum has carefully preserved the home and its contents for centuries. The actual chair he was standing on while fixing the frame that is still crooked to this day (which was killing my ocd!!!!! Ahhhh) still sits in the same position, frozen in time, marking an important moment in Wild West history.
We tend to forget there are many things we don’t know and if we don’t know them, how can we pass them on to the next generation? If we do not pass them down to the next generation, it will lost within the course of history, forgotten to the world.
Curiosity was peaked in my children when they saw the wash basin, the hand pump and the washboard used to do laundry. They learned (and we were reminded) how “easy” life is today. Anything and everything is easily and readily available in an instant, from food, household items down to the water in our plumbing.
On Tuesday, our last full day in St. Joseph, the kids and I finally got to check out the Patee House Museum, St. Joseph’s only national historic landmark, and it was fascinating (and even that’s an understatement!!).
Besides the amazing preservation of American History, for 50¢ a playing card, you can try to find, throughout the entire 3 story museum, the 20 out of the place items in 20 different exhibits (they mark each one with a number so you can keep track). If you get at least 16 correct, you receive a free share of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Stock!
My expertise in the game “Spot the difference” was very beneficial (I knew it would be, along with my Tetris skills LOL) as my oldest and I got all 20 right! The curator mentioned that it is very rare to get all 20, so we feel superior! It called for chick-fil-a afterwards LOL!
The Patee House Museum was probably the most interesting and amusing museum I have ever been to. There was something for everyone. A replica of the town Main Street, ball rooms, murder weapons on display, a replica of an actual Saloon, and so much more (3 stories to be exact). My children loved the hand carved, 81 year old carrousel that they were able to ride!
Take a second and read the information! Intriguing! When the Patee House opened in 1858 by John Patee, it was luxurious hotel. It has been a hotel 3 different times, a girls college twice and also a shirt factory! It served as the US provost Marshal’s office during the Civil War as well! Jesse James was shot and killed just a block away and his widow was interviewed at the Patee House the next morning.
Aunt Jemimas Pancakes was invented in St. Joseph in 1889 and I also found a piece of history that I would absolutely love to question the “artist” a simple question….WHY?! A leaf that contains the hair (yes the spelling is correct, as in HAIR that grows from one’s body, assuming from the scalp) of 125 friends!!!
I love my friends but I highly doubt I’m going to ask for hair samples so I can make art out of it.
History is a vital part of life, in growth and in demise. History is not always pretty but you cannot have a rainbow without the rain (it’s literally in the word, RAINbow). It has been inspiring to see my children understand that things haven’t always been as they are now. It has curated a lot of questions and the thirst for knowledge deepened within them.
So why do we hide the past, whether personal or public? Why are we ashamed of what we have (hopefully) learned from? Why lie or alter or omit the past in general because it’s not always beautiful (I’m talking about those that a trying to erase Aunt Jemima, Pearl Milling Company!!!!). Our history, as a person or as a country, is not and never will be beautiful. But neither will our future if we do not learn of the past!)
Here’s an example of history not many know about. As long as you have learned from the “mistakes” you have made, they are no longer mistakes. They become lessons. Growth is strong in those lessons, especially when you choose to share them.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. – George Santayana
Don’t be afraid to grow! There is strength in growth. There is happiness in strength.
We had a short but historic stay in St. Joseph but we made sure to make the most of our few days. If you ever get a chance to be in or around St. Joseph, Missouri, make sure to go by the Patee House Museum and Jesse James House! It is so worth it to stop and reflect on where we started to appreciate where we are now!
Now off to Illinois tomorrow! God is good!
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9 hours, 470 miles and 4 stops later….we made it!
3 months. That’s all it took to plan, pack/donate/sell/trash our 1500 sq ft home, move into our Keystone Montana High Country Fifth wheel and change our lives forever.
3 months. Talking every single day about our upcoming changes, whether that was just between Keegan and I or with family and friends, that’s 90 (plus or minus) days of multiple conversations.
3 months to mentally, physically and emotionally prepare ourselves for a change we chose and as much as we tried, we still weren’t ready.
When we leave for a typical vacation, we pick a day and a time to leave and we stick to it (not that Keegan has a choice LOL. Being a SAHM, I ensure everything is ready to go when Keegan gets home (and complain about it LOL)). Obviously, this move is not a vacation, but we consider it an ADVENTURE so it works LOL.
On Friday, we planned to leave the Oklahoma Panhandle at 10 am, after our last (for awhile) family breakfast that we have all grown to love and head to Missouri, in search of our new life on road, not knowing what to expect. 10 o’clock in the morning came……and went, because we didn’t want to rip off the bandaid and say “see you later” because once we did……it was real, despite the fact we “prepared” for 3 months.
We can talk all day that we are ready for such and such to happen or if given the chance, we would do this or that and this would be our feelings about the situation 100%. But until we put words into actions, we truly have zero idea how we will feel or what we will do. We learned this the hard way this weekend.
Maybe that’s why everyone is so afraid to make any change! The human race would much rather be miserable and it the same area/situation/job etc., and complain about it than to put the same amount of effort but into change. Why? Because there’s comfort in knowing the outcome when you get the same results day in and day out, no matter if it’s positive or negative. Change would……change that repetitive outcome you’ve grown accustomed to.
Many tears were shed. Many hugs given. So much love between family and friends And I can’t help but wonder……why don’t we, as the human race, live and love everyday as though we are leaving?
9 hours, 470 miles and 4 stops later (we ended up leaving at 11:30 am), we made it to our destination in Missouri. On the way, I found myself appreciating the view a little more than I would during any regular road-trip (maybe because we have to take 2 vehicles and only my oldest was with me and she slept most of the way LOL) Where we are from, Kansas is flat. So flat, my husband always makes the joke that we can watch our dog run away for 2 weeks. In Northeast Kansas, that’s DEFINITELY not the case and I was in awe of the hills, the trees, the GREEN and I’ll give it to the State of Kansas, they sure know how to maintain their highways (TAKE NOTE OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS PANHANDLES!!!! Sheesh!) I watched the sun set and thanked the Lord for the opportunity for change and growth within myself and for my family as well.
No filter is necessary to capture Gods beauty. But it took change to be able to appreciate it. So that’s the lesson, isn’t it?
We get stuck in our day to day “routine” if you will, and we fail to notice how many days, months, years go by and regret sets in. Coulda, woulda, shoulda is a catchy phrase for regret. God only gives us one life. Why do we willingly CHOOSE regret instead of choosing to live our lives to the fullest?
It has only been 24 hours since we ripped off the bandaid and left our home base of the Oklahoma/Texas panhandle and yes, the first 30 minutes were difficult, sad and scary but the feeling of happiness, of satisfaction of what’s to come that settled in 31 minutes after we left is the exact feeling we were missing. Why aren’t you trying to find that satisfaction as well? It’s worth it, no matter how big the first step is you have to take!
WE DID IT! And you can too! I pray you take the steps to find your happiness because YOU ARE WORTH HAPPINESS.
An amazing and dear friend of mine reminded me this week that God chose you! God knew you were needed in this world. God already decided that YOU ARE WORTH IT! And she is right! ❤️
Have a great week, choose happiness and I can’t wait to update y’all next Sunday of our first full week on the road! All pictures are taken by me!
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2022: A year of change…..
Before we dive into our story, allow me to introduce you to my little family and into this chaos we call our life! Our names are Keegan and Ashley Culver and together, we have 3 beautiful babies, ages 11, 5 and 3. I, Ashley, will be the primary conductor of this chaos train (punny! Stay tuned.) of a blog. We are both from (for the most part) the Oklahoma Panhandle (Yes, it’s called “No Man’s Land” but there are indeed, men, there **and not much else lol) and until **very** recently, raised our children just south of the Oklahoma Panhandle, the Texas panhandle (POH-tato, PAH-tato).
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
– Alan WattsI’ll be honest, I can’t honestly remember what I had for dinner last Monday night, so to honestly tell you the exact date this conversation was had is impossible, so I’ll just tell you I’m positive it was the first week of 2022. The week of New Year’s resolution making, goal-oriented lists, gym membership making a killing and people overstocking their fridges with fruits and vegetables they will soon forget about until the end of the month. I believe wholeheartedly in the female intuition so I listen to mine in depth. I sat with my husband on our couch and after a few minutes, I randomly blurted out, “Babe. 2022. This is the year of change — I can feel it!!”
Now….I figured what my intuition was telling me was its time to change the paint on the wall (I do this to annoy my husband every few years, he loves it! LOL), or my hair color. Something minor and probably insignificant. My, did the Lord have something completely different up His sleeve. I was right to say it was a year of change but I was not expecting what was to come.
Fast forward to May, the month the winds shifted. My husband has worked for the same company for almost 12 years (with a brief hiatus to the oilfield **thankfully) so to say he was in his comfort zone was an understatement. Everyone has their peak of BS they handle on a daily basis before that ceiling shatters and they can’t take it anymore. Most people are not honest with themselves (or anyone else) when they hit their limit BUT THERE ARE SIGNS, and my husband had hit his limit. I won’t get into detail because it is irrelevant now, but those who keep the gears going and the money flowing for corporations don’t get to live the high life like those behind the desks of the higher ups of the same corporation and its quite unfair but hey, that’s corporate life for ya!
After seeing Keegan hit his limit of BS, I am the type who will ask the uncomfortable questions, so one night, I asked if he was happy, to which he replied “yes”. So I proceeded to ask, “Do you want to live the rest of your life here, raise our kids here, and retire with this company? And there is no wrong answer, just honest.”
The silence was deafening but yet so loud at the same time. At that point, I already knew the answer.
Now, I am a HUGE fan of mommy alone time and my baths are SACRED to me. LED candles (because actual candles are expensive and burn too quickly LOL), incense (dragons blood is my favvvvvvvvv), bath water next to boiling with a fan near my face to cool me down (balance LOL) and this conversation was happening while I was in the bath (you know it was a serious conversation if I was allowing it during my bath time LOL) and then…..my husband joined me in the bath (both of our legs hanging off the side because that’s the only way we could fit in our deep tub LMAO) still in silence.
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
– Helen KellerAfter staring at the ceiling for what felt like forever, he finally was honest out loud, more to tell himself than it was to answer my question, I’m sure, and said “No. I don’t.” And that was the answer that changed our lives.
Now let me give you a few puzzle pieces that God had put into our lives within the previous years that only started coming together seamlessly after this decision was made in May (in my sacred bathtub).
- I’m sure everyone has forgotten by now but 2020 was the year the world stopped thanks to COVID-19 (this is not and will never be a political blog. My family and I have our beliefs together and that is that.) but thanks to COVID-19, I quit my job that was only paying for daycare for my youngest two and began to homeschool all 3 of our children in January of 2021. BEST DECISION EVER!
- We bought a bumper pull camper in 2018 or 2019 and we got our moneys worth out of it. We loved it. It was small but worth it. In July/Aug 2021, we had decided that in 2022, we would trade in our itty bitty camper for a bigger fifth wheel. In September of 2021, a deal for our Keystone Montana HighCountry fell into our laps and we couldn’t say no, even though that was NOT the plan.
- In 2022, a friend had briefly left his job at the railroad and worked for the company my husband was working for at the time, more importantly, WITH my husband. And there, he sparked the idea in my husband’s head that there is more to life (cue (There’s Gotta Be) More to Life by Stacie Orrico (yes, I’m showing my age and only the true millennials will know this song LOL)) that was is available in the Panhandle, whether in Oklahoma and Texas. It wasn’t long after our friend arrived at this job with my husband, that he left and went back to the railroad, without looking back. He changed our lives and he doesn’t even know he did, or how much.
In my eyes, every second of everyday was meant to happen for a reason. If you pay attention, eventually, you will know God’s reasoning. During our talk in the bath, the puzzle pieces came together and we knew this is what we were meant to do.
Fast forward to today, August 17, 2022. We have moved out of company owned housing in the Texas Panhandle, into our 43′ fifth wheel and we are about to live life to fullest, traveling to new areas every 1 to 2 months across the United States and we could not be more excited as Keegan has accepted a job with the railroad.
Are we scared? No. We know things will go wrong, it is inevitable but we are not naive. We are not sure what is to come exactly. What we know for sure is that as a family, we will travel, eat, explore, dream, admire, learn, live and love together.
I started this blog to encourage, inspire, but most of all, to document our happiness and challenges and to show you that you are not stuck and with one decision, your life can change for the better. The possibilities are endless if you believe they are, and we do! We put our faith in the Lord and we know He is in control.
“I can rest in the fact that God is in control. Which means I can face things that are out of my control and not act out of control.”
– Lysa TerKeurstKeep up with Culver Family Adventures weekly (hopefully LOL) sharing adventures, experiences, recipes (I love to cook) and life ups and downs and maybe, we can inspire someone else to make a change for happiness!!
Everyday is a new day for happiness! Love – The Culver’s
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Culver Family Adventures 