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Revival in Reality

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Revival in Reality

Since this has been a topic rolling around in my mind for a while with not really a good way to approach it, this feels like the perfect opportunity to address “Revival.”

I’m not here to speak on what is going on in a specific place, or any of the other places people are claiming “revival fire” is popping up.  What I want to do is address Christian’s obsession fascination with “revival” and do we really know what it means.  If “Revival” came to our doorstep, would Christians recognize it?

First, it’s important to define revival.  Initially, when I think of the word revive, or revival, I think of something that was once dead or almost dead, revived.  Brought back to a state of living.  For instance, if you have a houseplant, that you say……forget to water and when you walk by, what was once growing upward, has now become wilted and sad not that I would know anything about that.  You have a very small window to water it so that it will be happy and return to its natural state, or if you continue to neglect it, the roots completely dry up and there will be no amount of water that will return it to life. 

So far, not a good look for the Church.  That’s probably another post.  But let’s look at what Merriam-Webster says about  Revival-

a: an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: such as

b: renewed attention to or interest in something

c: a new presentation or publication of something old

1): a period of renewed religious interest

2): an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings

Before I lose you completely and y’all fuss, I want to take you way back…to a galaxy far away….

..just kidding…

I want to look at what I feel makes for a true revival in scripture.  One, ironically enough, before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every Believer.

In 2 Kings 22 we see an overview of the reign of Josiah.  Josiah was a king in Judah.  In previous overviews of the rulers in Israel and Judah, we see how many did evil in the sight of the Lord.  We also see how some did right in the sight of the Lord but failed to tear down the high places.  Those were places of pagan worship and many evil things happened there. 

Since previous kings were not following the Lord, the temple of the Lord had fallen into disrepair.  If you read through chapter 23 you will see they were using the temple to store everything from items made for Baal, Asherah, and all the starry hosts (v4) to housing male prostitutes (v7).   Not a stellar start.  So in all of this, Hilkiah the high priest finds the Book of the Law.  He gives it over to the king’s secretary who reads it and then reads it to the king.  Josiah hears all of this and is appropriately horrified and distraught.  He sends his minions to go inquire of the Lord about what was found in the book.  They go and find Huldah the prophetess and she has a pretty harsh message.  The Lord isn’t happy about what has been going on with a people who are supposed to follow His ways and be an example to the rest of the world.  The Lord is going to bring about justice, but because Josiah’s heart was responsive and he humbled himself before the Lord, the Lord declared he would not see the disaster He would bring about. (22v15-20)

Josiah hears the word Huldah spoke from the Lord and takes immediate action.  In Chapter 23 Josiah gathers all the people, reads the Book so they can hear it, and renewed the covenant to the Lord to follow Him and keep His commands and the people did the same. 

Then King Josiah gets to work.  He removes all of the pagan idols, items, priests, mediums, fortune tellers and the like.  He didn’t just take them down, they burned the items and/or ground them into dust.  He tore down and defiled all the high places so they couldn’t be reused.  He did what the other kings wouldn’t do (save Hezekiah). 

"Josiah did what the other kings wouldn't do"

Now that you have that short history lesson, let’s look at the following responses Josiah and the people made when they understood something was very much amiss and they were not following the Lord.

  1. You have a people who have turned away from the Lord and have been worshipping other gods. 
  2. When it was brought to Josiah’s attention they were not following what the Lord had instructed, he was distraught and tore his robes.  He understood they were in for big trouble.
  3. There was repentance and a decision to follow completely the ways of the Lord.
  4. There was an immediate removal of everything that was not Holy.

Mmmmmm that last one tho.  Gonna have to circle back to that.

I grew up of the Southern Baptist varieti, and when we talked about revival, that consisted of a week, or maybe a Wednesday-Sunday evening services of someone who was not our regular preacher.  You’d sing some hymns, have a sermon, maybe some people would get saved or rededicate their lives to Christ (awesome!), eat a potluck (because that’s what Baptists do well hello) and call it a success.  I know other people who recall tent revivals as I guess having your meetings in a tent outside constituted for more of a “revival” atmosphere instead of just being hot or humid. 

Now when I hear people talk about revival, what they really want is a “move of God” or “move of the Spirit” and for many (by no means all), that means a super long worship service where they feel a tangible presence of God.  It means “feeling” something.  To some it means demonstrations of the Spirit, falling out, laughing or something like what was experienced at the Brownsville Revival. 

I am not here to pick apart people’s experiences, nor the Brownsville Revival or what has gone on in the more recent years.  So before people fuss…  People tend to have a lot of emotion tied up in this subject.  What I do want to highlight is what would a revival look like and is revival even something we need to be striving for?  That is, if we are looking at this word as Christians look at it currently.  And at the moment we are..

When we gauge whether something is “Revival label worthy” I want to look at a few things and they are going to parallel my points above. 

  1. There is going to be a tangible, “Oh poo moment.” An “oh no, we have not been following the Lord like we should and a move to rectify it.
  2. There is going to be true humility and repentance.  No place for pride if we want a move of the Spirit.
  3. There is a realization that the Most High is Holy and we are called to be Holy like He is holy
  4. There is an immediate removal of everything in your life that is not holy. You identify the high places in your life and tear them down at all cost.

Many times people groups and church congregations may get to #2 and maybe even #3.  But like the kings of old, we fail to completely tear down the high places in our lives.  What may have sparked a flame dies off quickly as there is no lasting substance to it.  We get our emotional high and maybe our lives change for a time, but it doesn’t last because we. don’t. tear. down. the. high. places.

Why not? Why didn’t the past kings of Israel and Judah tear down the high places?  Probably several reasons.  But likely, they knew it would make many of the people disgruntled.  They liked their pagan gods and rituals.  It pacified the people groups that had moved in and married in. 

In 2 Kings 17:41 it says that while these nations feared the Lord, they also served their idols.
Ouch.

As Believers, we might be born-again, but what are we also serving or allowing in our lives that is keeping us from holiness? 

What do you tolerate because if you got rid of it, stopped doing it, stopped watching or listening to it, it might make you look like the weird holy roller to your friends, coworkers or family?  Maybe you don’t get rid of it because you have justified it, or just want to outright continue _______. 

Whatever the reason, next Sunday when your arms are lifted and you are crying out for revival, remember it can start with you.  What are you willing to do for what you determine is a revival? 

Normally, I like to end on an uplifting note, but I really feel we need to redefine and discern how we are using this word. 

I hope it will initiate a look into how to discern what people are so quick to label as revivals. 

Does this Nation and Church (Ecclesia really) need a change?  Absolutely.  But maybe we need to stop looking for a Revival when what we really need is a complete overhaul.  More on that in the future. 😊

~enjoy the journey!

Fan the Flame

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Fan the Flame 
Feeling dry? Sometimes you have to stir yourself up.

Just like David had to tell his soul to “Bless YHVH,” (Ps 103:1-2) there are times when we need to fan the flame. Did you know the word for “stir up” or “fan” is anazōpyreō and is only used once. (I love those types of words).

The usage is similar to that which remains of a fire and that by which a fire is kindled anew or lighted up.

Bless the Lord, my soul,
    and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
 Bless the Lord, my soul,
    and never forget any of his benefits

Psalm 103:1-2

In our house in upper New England, the main source of heat is a wood stove (from 1977 to be exact).  If we are to stay warm, it is dependent on us.  We have to keep the fire stoked, fed and kindled. 
In the mornings, if no one got up for the last fire feeding (yes, it feels like we have a newborn all over again), the stove will have gone cold.  But much of the time, if you turn over the ashes, there are some red coals hidden away in the bottom.

tranquil young woman drinking tea in front of fireplace

With some care at the first, you can baby those remaining embers until you get a small flame.  And from that small flame, you can start to feed it small bits of kindling, blow on it, and in a little while, you will have a roaring fire.  All from some bits of coal hidden away in those ashes.

man blowing on burning fire among friends in camp

As a Believer, sometimes it can feel like we’ve gone cold.  We feel like our dreams or purpose have gone cold, we wonder how and why aren’t we using our gifts and we can wake up to what seems like a fire that’s died.  And maybe the fire did.  Maybe you didn’t take as much care to keep the fire fed and going.  Maybe you haven’t had good teaching on spiritual gifts or that you even have one and feel like you should be doing something in that regard, but not sure how.  But I promise you this Believer: you still have some embers in there waiting to become a flame again!

As a Believer, sometimes it can feel like we’ve gone cold

Maybe it’s in another area of life.  Your marriage, your family life, your job or finances.  What about your personal and spiritual development?  There are so many areas we can apply this to, but let’s stick to spiritual gifts for now.

You say, “Yep, Amanda, that’s me.  For whatever reason, I let the fire go out.  Now what?’

Well I’m glad you asked.  That is the question isn’t it?  How do we fan that little ember back into a healthy flame?

To rekindle a fire, especially in an old wood stove, you need a few things.  First off, you’re going to need a little patience.  Dumping too much on it too soon will smother it, and that’s really frustrating when that happens.  You’re going to need some kindling that will light easily.  Some newspaper, small sticks or bark put on there in small pieces until you get a flame.  Then larger pieces as that flame grows.

close up photo of orange fire

You need some air.  If you blow too hard on the embers, they’re gonna go out.  And then, again, you’re going to be starting from scratch.  But with proper air flow, your small flames will catch and start to spread to the kindling until you can start adding your larger pieces of firewood or fuel bricks. 

So what are some practical things you can do to rekindle that fire that you feel you’ve lost?  1: You want to recognize and acknowledge what has happened.  Whether life got in the way, there was some hurt, or you just neglected your gift, repent!  Tell the Father you are sorry for not using what He gave you and to open up doors of opportunity for you to be able to step out and use them. 

Are you a teacher but not teaching?  Find ways you can teach others about the truth that is in the Word.  Don’t wait for your local church to put you somewhere, start a study, make some video’s.

Are you an exhorter?  Find ways to encourage people and come alongside them when they need help. 

Do you feel called into one of the 5 Ministry gifts?  Are you doing everything you can to learn about the function?

pile of books

Always be learning, what do you feel the Holy Spirit wants you to focus on?  A book of the Bible?  A person in scripture?  Spiritual Warfare?  The prophetic?  Healing?  Do the work!  Read books, watch video’s, take some courses.  In this day and age, information is at our fingertips or at least the capability to get it in front of you within a few days, so there is no excuse!

Nextly, put to practice what you’ve learned.  If you aren’t using your gifts, that can lead to a lot of frustration and then turn into hope deferred making your heart (mind) sick.  Many times, we can feel unsettled and unfulfilled in life if we aren’t using our spiritual gifts.  Sometimes we can be the deferrer of our own hope.  We wait for the Holy Spirit to grab us by the hand and to put us into situations so we can use our gifts.  Maybe we are waiting on the leadership in our local church to recognize some gift in us and put us to use. 

Your church leadership should be discipling and equipping you to go out and use your spiritual gifts in your day-to-day life.  If they aren’t, find some people you can glean from.  This may fall into a fanning your own flame area!  YOU are responsible for YOU!

YOU are responsible for YOU!

Once your fire is roaring, you’ll close your doors all the way and adjust your air flow.  Too much or too little air will put your fire back out or it will burn too fast.  (I’m sure there are more efficient wood stoves now, one is on the list) But I digress…

Pace yourself.  Life is a marathon, not a sprint.  You don’t want to put too much on yourself (learning too many things at once and not taking the time to settle it in your mind before moving on to the next topic).  You also don’t want to do so little that you barely keep that flame going.  Set a pace and stay consistent. 

Consistency is key!

~enjoy the journey!

Hot Springs, Arkansas

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After a dreary, wet winter, we are finally starting to see some semblance of spring. We fell back an hour, (why are they still torturing us with this?!?) our daytime is a little longer, and people look to be coming out of their holes for spring break.

We spent about a week at Crater of Diamonds State Park, and while we didn’t find a diamond, we really didn’t get a good chance to make a noble go of it. It was either raining or freezing. But I highly recommend Crater of Diamonds State Park. We had a lovely campsite, spacious, paved and the park was quite nice. There are easily accessible walking trails as well. During warmer months, they have a small water park and snack bar open.

Crater of Diamonds

We started making our way toward Hot Springs and it wasn’t a long drive, a little less than 2 hours maybe with our RV. In Hot Springs, we managed to snag a spot at Gulpha Gorge Campground in the national park there. There are no reservations, just first come first serve. Arriving on a pretty chilly Sunday, we got a good spot that fit our RV. FYI: the spots closer to the front of the campground are more apt to fit a larger RV. The ones in the back may if you can back in. They are tighter to turn, and there are several spaces with trees that may make it more challenging. It was nice, our RV backed up to a pretty creek and it was quite pleasant.

Hot Springs was an enjoyable city. We learned our way around pretty quickly. We spent many of the days perusing the old downtown and Bathhouse Row. My birthday passed while we were there so we all went to a movie as a family and then my oldest and I had a girls afternoon and hit the private baths at Quapaw Bathhouse, shopped downtown, then hit the local tea shoppe. We brought home yummy cupcakes and cookies to celebrate.

The kids and I spent a day at Garvan Woodland Gardens. I think this was my favorite of our stops these 2 weeks here. The kids had such a fun time exploring the gardens. It was so well planned and laid out. There was a trail to follow, but from the trail there were so many rock paths and other tiny trails that led to somewhere else with something new to see. Or something that you could really only see well from the trail. It was beautifully done. For reals. If we lived near there, we would so invest in a season pass. I could imagine spending a day there sitting and reading or drawing in some little nook you found.

The Tree House area is a kids dream. While the treehouse was cool, there were tons of places to explore, climb rocks, explore a cave behind a waterfall where you could climb up and come out above…I had fun as an adult, but can just imagine the things a kid could dream up and pretend spending time there.

It was still too early for the tulips. (sad face) But the daffodils and some other bulb flowers were blooming. I think the lady said there were something like 100,000 tulip bulbs. Tulips are my favorite flower, how could they not be?! They are such a happy flower. So huge bummer we missed them blooming, but the other flowers were beautiful and bright.

Another highly recommended place to go with kids was the Mid America Science Museum. We took a field trip day and the kids got to try out all of the hands on displays there. They had 2 shows to choose from: The Tesla Demonstration and a Solar System Tour in the planetarium. The Tesla was by far our favorite, getting to see a 1.5 million volt Tesla Coil in action was pretty stinking cool. Unnerving, but cool. The Planetarium show was neat, but it looked a little too computery, and my brilliant observant hubby was quick to point out that they weren’t using the updated image models of Pluto. So what can ya do? Poor Pluto, it just can’t win for anything.

There were so many sights to see in Hot Springs, what would you add to the list of “must sees?”

~Enjoy the journey!

About Our Rig

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I don’t think we have ever formally introduced our rig, our home, our humble abode. Unlike others, we haven’t named her..him..it. We just aren’t those who would consistently call it Nelly. Or Helga. Or Tom. Really, we don’t even consistently call it anything.

It goes back between the “RV,” or “camper,” or “home/house.” We probably call it the “RV” more than anything. But in my head I hear Cousin Eddie saying “that there is an Awrrrr Veee.” So I can’t even take that seriously. But for whatever shortcomings we have with struggling what to call it, its our home and we love it.

Ironically, after looking online at rigs all over the country, we wound up finding one in Austin, not terribly far from where we lived.

When we started seriously searching for our RV, we made a list (it was more a mental list, we aren’t that put together) of what we knew we must have in an RV we were going to live full-time in.

-Diesel engine

-Bunk house

-Class A Motorhome

-Nothing over 10 years old

-Lots of storage

You get the idea. We went back and forth between a Class A and a 5th wheel. Well we did but not really. From the beginning, we leaned more toward a Class A Diesel pusher. Many families go for a travel trailer or 5th wheel, but for us and our needs, a Class A works for us.

My husband is disabled due to a parachuting accident from 2008. So the comfort of traveling in a Class A opposed to a truck was a no brainer. Also the ease of parking and setting up/tearing down a motorhome compared to a 5th wheel is just easier. We love traveling comfortably together with nothing blocking the views from our huge windshield as we travel.

We pull our Ram behind our motorhome and its seriously a 5 minute or less process to hook it up and unhook. Which is great because for some reason, it loves to rain on our tear down and leave days.

There were certain brands we just decided were a “no-go” from the beginning, so between the brands we wanted, needing a bunkhouse, and a diesel, that narrowed our search down quite a bit. We would find out there are not a ton of diesel pushers with a bunkhouse. We also, did not want to spend an arm and a leg on a brand new rig. Being debt-free was and is a big deal to us on this full-time journey of ours!

Initially we wanted to stay between 34-38 feet. So we found a bunkhouse plan in a Winnebago Itasca that we really liked. We also liked the Newmar Allstars we found that were actually a mid-engine diesel, but they were 40+ feet.

Long story short, we found a 2009 Newmar Allstar mid-engine diesel in Austin for sale and when we looked at it, it was like, “yep! This is it!”

We actually have a “basement” in the back, allowing for a lot of storage. The bunk area has drawers underneath the beds, an armoire across that holds our clothes and shoes and the kids each have a shelf with their “stuff.” While our fridge isn’t a residential size fridge (which I really wanted) it really holds everything we need. I can do a pretty big grocery run and fit everything.

I will do a blog post in the future with how we have everything situated and some redecorating.

Until then, feel free to post any questions!

~Enjoy the journey

Bucket List: The Pioneer Woman Merc, Pawhuska, OK

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So my hubby is awesome. We went out of the way on our way back to Texas and took a few extra days just so we could go spend the day in Pawhuska, (I like to say this word) OK and go to The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile and Eatery.

Outside the Pioneer Woman’s Lodge

Since we left Montana, I think the rain followed us. It has rained literally every travel day so far. We arrived at the Settle Inn RV park a few miles outside of town. It’s a cute park with a super sweet park host. As we got settled, I used their laundry room to get a few loads of laundry done. We have a combo washer/drier, but we had been having trouble with our water pressure so it was easier to just use the park washer/drier.

Oklahoma is one of those states like Kansas, that I really don’t ever want to live in or stay a while. (I’m sorry to any Kanansasians and Oklahomians, I’m sure your home states are wonderful) Case in point: the weather picking up and us starting to get severe weather alerts. As my #1 is in the park shower house and I’m going to check a load in the drier, we get a text from the park host saying there was a tornado warning and to head to the shelter (they have 2) if it got close. Lovely. I go knock on the shower house door and try and tell my #1 calmly to hurry up in case the bad weather got close.

On the way back to the camper with my clothes, the park host stops me and says “tonight, if you hear someone beating on the side of your camper, get up and run to the shelter.” Understood. The campground is up on a hill and you can see pretty far off in the distance all around. I could see where the storm clouds were and the radar had it moving our way. Oh Lordy. I stood there and prayed. Prayed that the storm wouldn’t move any more our way or be severe.

At that point, my #1 was back to the camper and we went inside to go to sleep. I’d love to say I was like Jesus, trusting God and sleeping peacefully, but I’m not gonna lie. I was a little anxious. I checked the radar several times the next few hours and guess what? That storm didn’t move any closer to us. Thank you Lord!

The next morning we woke up super early (for us) and headed to the Mercantile to hopefully beat the line to eat breakfast. That totally paid off and we were able to get right in. It was pretty full already for just opening and it wasn’t long before a line was forming.

We met some sweet people on either side of us while waiting for our food and got to chat. Breakfast was phenomenal. Hubs got a steak and eggs breakfast, and the kids and I got waffles or pancakes.

After breakfast, which we all ate too much of, we walked through nextdoor into the store and it was just so much fun! I loved how colorful and eclectic everything was. She has everything from dinnerware, to kitchen gadgets, to clothes and accessories and house wares.

Because of Ree’s Mercantile, several other business have opened up in that little town and it’s really a hopping place to stop for a day or two.

At breakfast, our server gave us tickets and directions to Ree Drummonds lodge where her show is filmed. It was a beautiful drive out there and the Lodge was so very cool. When you walk in, you walk into the kitchen set where she films. We met a very nice older gentleman that was very knowledgeable about the area and encouraged us to open drawers, cabinets and closets. She even has a junk drawer too y’all.

  • I tried to get them to pretend they were on a cooking show..

Aside from the kitchen, down the hall there were several guest rooms and bathrooms as well as a humongous utility kitchen (and the pantry. wow.) that rivals the Duggars.

  • The new standard

I told J when we finally settle down somewhere, this kitchen is the standard. J/k. Kinda.

~Enjoy the journey!

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Float Trip!

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We had another decently early morning as we waited at Jackson Lodge for our float trip to start. The lodge’s huge gathering room is stunning, complete with ginormous windows framing The Grand Tetons. The kids and I had some coffee while we waited.

We shared a van of about 10 people and were put into groups for the rafts. Sharing the float was a lovely family of 4 from Massachusetts and a couple of friends on vacation together.

  • When B found out that there was no white water on this trip
  • Our brave river guide

Our guide was hilarious and knowledgeable about the Snake River and wildlife around there. We spotted Eagles and Osprey. Bison and at the very end a moose! That was on my bucket list and he was just lazing by the river.

To my kids dismay, it was quite the peaceful trip. Not fast moving white water. I’m pretty sure they felt gypped because when they heard “we’re going on the river,” to them it meant “we’re going white water rafting.”

We all had fun though, met some sweet people and saw beautiful scenery and wildlife.

~Enjoy the journey!

Breakfast on Elk Island

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Hubby and I had planned an epic 1st day of school for the kids. Beginning with waking up early, getting on a boat, and having breakfast on Elk Island. That would have made for an awesome 1st day of school picture right? Homeschooling for the win yo…Do people still say that? If not, I’m bringing it back.

So we got the kids up early, bundled up as best we could. (We southerners were so not prepared for August in Wyoming) What?! It’s not 110 degrees at 8 am? It’s not by the way. Made it to the boat launch in record time for this family and we could hear some thunder off in the distance. The boat captain came out a few minutes later to say that they had to cancel due to the weather, so bummer on the epic back to school pic and breakfast I didn’t have to cook.

We did however go to the restaurant at Colter Bay for a yummy hot breakfast and made it back to the camper as the rain was starting to fall.

The rain made it easy to start school, because we couldn’t go outside anyway.

We rescheduled for the Elk Island trip and I’m so glad we did! It was about a 30 minute boat ride to the island and from there, we were greeted with piping hot cowboy coffee cooked on a campfire and a hearty breakfast including grilled trout, sausage, bacon, blueberry pancakes, eggs, yogurt and fruit.

There were tables set up on a flat section of the island with a unique view of Mt. Moran. We ate our hot breakfast and it was so good despite that it was pretty dern chilly. After we ate, everyone was invited to go on a short hike to the top of the hill for an incredible view. It was about a 10 minute hike but man, was it steep! I think we were all huffing and puffing by the time we reached the top and my thighs were on fire. View was totally worth it though!

~Enjoy the journey!

A Hiking We Will Go..

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We spent much of our time (that it didn’t rain) outdoors. As you totally should when you are in Wyoming the climate is loverly. I grew up in Louisiana. And while I love the nostalgia of my “home” state (and the food. Because seriously, Louisiana has the best food arguably in the country) this flat lander gal from a hot an humid state loves the complete opposite of said state.

Give me some mountains and cool weather and I am in my happy place. Ideally, my perfect place would stay shy of 77 degrees on a normal day and the winter down to about 10 degrees. Add a sweet small town where I can own a bakery or coffee shop and solve all the towns mysteries I’m there. My husband says I watch too much Hallmark channel…I don’t know what he means by that.

Whatever. But I LOVE cool weather. Hot and humid just makes me cranky. And life is too short for that. So go to the mountains I say! So we did. Actually, going to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons was my middle’s idea. He requested it and we thought, sure! Where else do we have to go?! So we went. No middle child syndrome there. If he ever mentions he isn’t being heard, we can say, “We did an entire summer trip based on your idea! Bam! Alleviated years of therapy.

But I digress. Or do I? So Grand Teton National Park is truly a must see. I know it doesn’t get as much attention as its neighbor 30 minutes north, *whispers* Yellowstone. shhhhh But it is a lot of beauty packed into a smaller area for sure. We didn’t even touch half of the hiking trails they have and we did a good amount. Obviously with kiddo’s and being we are pretty new to this whole outdoorsy hiking stuff, we kept it off the strenuous trails.

Its amazing how being a parent can make you way more aware of your (dangerous) surroundings. Especially when your #3 bebops down the trails and you’re constantly saying, “watch where you’re going!” “Actually LOOK where you’re going!” “Oh crap! A bear!” (Yeah that really happened) Luckily, I completely managed to do it without giving him a complex.

We got to see beautiful wildlife on our hikes, a momma moose and her baby, a HUGE bull moose, various birds, a hamster or gerbil. I didn’t even know they were in the wild, whaaat??? Oh and a bear. That walked right by and in front of us. That was awesome. Actually it wasn’t while it happened. But now it’s like…yeah, we totally survived a bear encounter.

  • The halfway point
  • Yes..she made a throne of rocks so only her feet would get wet

~Enjoy the journey!

Grand Tetons Here We Come!

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We finally made it! We are SO happy to be at our destination for the next 2 1/2 weeks and it is absolutely gorgeous!

The drive up western Wyoming went without issue. Loved driving through the small communities and towns in the valley’s up until Jackson Hole. I had never been to Jackson Hole before, and was not prepared for the cuteness factor of the town! From the mountain town feel storefronts and big trees in the square, to huge hanging baskets of colorful flowers lining the storefronts and streets. It was a feast for the eyes for sure. What I could not get over though, was the amount of people in that place! Tourists everywhere and to top it off, we came in the weekend of a banker convention of some sort. It was a little nerve-racking driving our giant box on wheels through the city streets to get out the other side.

After that fun, we were on the home stretch to our destination. Driving on Hwy. 191 alongside the Grand Teton mountain range was beautiful! We could not stop staring at the mountains. Pulling into Colter Bay on Jackson Lake was equally amazing. Staying so close to the mountains and the views from the lake were so pretty.

After we set up our campsite, we drove down to the lake for sunset and to see the views. The mountain view was a little hazy due to the smoke from the fires, but I think it added to the beauty of the sunset and the light that time of day.

What do you think?

~Enjoy the journey!

It Came a Flood

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There was quite a storm brewing as we made our way to our overnight stop in Colorado Springs.  Our travel day was longer than usual.  We like to drive 4-5 hours so that we have time to set up our site and get settled.  It makes it seem less rushed if we are traveling for a week.  

Finding an RV park on our route with a 41 foot rig was a little more difficult than I had thought, so we were lucky finding a spot in Colorado Springs (actually Manitou Springs) at the base of Pikes Peak.  I love the majestic feel of America’s Mountain as it rises above the Springs.  

  • Sky lookin a little scary

I had to call and get directions to the park as there was construction, and as I hung up they said they were being hit with a hail storm.  It had started raining and the wind picked up as we were talking.  The hail started a few seconds after I got off the phone.  As we are trying to maneuver our giant mobile box through hail and construction, smaller vehicles were pulling over under trees to wait it out.  There was no where to go but through, luckily, we now had a pathway…haha

  • Lots of water!
  • After the storm

The campground was recovering from the hail and everyone was outside clearing the debris from their campsites.  Not sorry we missed that.  

  • Garden of the Gods
  • Enjoying stretching our legs

We still had a few hours of daylight so we made the most of it and took the kids to Garden of the Gods.  I think this is one of my favorite places!  It’s even more beautiful after a storm.  The sunlight through the dark clouds. The red rocks, and white hail on the ground.  SO glad this was our first “real” stop and we got to share this place with the kids.  We are looking forward to going back so we can spend more time in the area and hike around Garden of the Gods more.  

~Enjoy the journey!

  • Don’t worry, he’s fine.
  • We heart our UnShoes