The Countdown is ON!!!

 The Countdown is ON!!! 

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

 by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you do.

  So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbor,

 catch the trade winds in your sail.”

EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER

Mark Twain

I just finished reading a great book recommended by my dear friend, Juli.  It is called, Packing Light:  Thoughts on Living Life with Less Baggage, by Allison Vesterfelt.  It tells about the adventures of two women who travel to all of the 50 states in a 6 month period.  They set out without an itinerary, with as little stuff as they can get by with, and very little cash.  They truly have an adventure of a lifetime, living from moment to moment and realizing that when you put your mind to something…you just need to take little steps each day to make it happen.  I really identified with her thinking and was inspired by her courage. 

There are many times each day that I think, “Are we really going to go on this crazy family adventure in just 17 days?” 

The boys had their last day at Prairie View on Friday.  It was truly a bitter sweet day.  Jordan has spent the last 7 years there and has had amazing teachers and friends along the way.  We feel so blessed.  When we return to Spokane in August he will start at the middle school…how time flies!! Benjamin and Bradley were sent off by their amazing teacher with their own sketch pads, special pencils, pencil pack and artist erasers.  We were so blessed by her thoughtfulness.  I realized the enormity of responsibility we were taking on to be their “teachers” for the next 6 months…as we were leaving their amazing teachers.  We will stay in touch with their classes as we share our adventures from the road. 

We are getting all packed up and figuring out what we need to pack…hopefully with the theme of less is more!!  Sometimes it is hard to remember that we don’t need everything for this trip…we don’t want to tow our entire house behind our truck.  We hope to leave  Spokane on January 8^th, pick up our trailer in Las Vegas and pull into Uncle Kyle’s in Phoenix by the weekend.  We ask for your prayers as we travel on hopefully dry and sunny roads.

Merry Christmas to you all...when you are making your New Year’s Resolution this year remember to DREAM BIG…you never know what dreams will come true…one day at a time.

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

THANKSGIVING---2013

We have so much to be thankful for this year.  Here are a few highlights from Thanksgiving.

The annual TURKEY BOWL.  We invited both flag football teams, some friends and their families to play in a game of ultimate football.  We had so many people that we had to divide onto two fields.  It is always a highlight of the day for Curt.(and the boys)  I just try and make it out alive without any injuries.

We went to see Nana(Karen) and Papa Bob at Riverview.  Karen was having a good day.  The highlight was when Bob asked her, "Do you love these guys?"  And with the sweetest smile and laugh(the only smile of the day) she quickly answered, "Of course I love these guys."  We are so thankful for those precious moments with her.

We spent the afternoon at Grandma Susie's beautiful home/lodge!!  She is an amazing cook and hostess.  The table was beautiful...she had Benjamin come earlier in the week to make place-cards for each spot.  The food was so delicious and we had enough left overs to eat all weekend. 

 It was also so nice to have Uncle Dave, Papa Bob, Dick and Aunt Claire with us for the day. 

 We are so thankful for them all!

Last, but not least...we are thankful that Jordan is finally loosing some teeth...5 to be exact in the last week.  We hope that the adult teeth come in nice and straight...we are praying he won't need braces!!