The Road from Florida to Wyoming

Everyday on the road has been a learning experience.   

Setting up camp our first night in Cedar Key( in the rain) we learned that it is important to make sure all your faucets are turned off before turning on the water. We flooded our outside kitchen because we turned on the water to the camper without realizing that the faucet in the outside kitchen was on.

In Quanah Texas (where?? -- part of tornado alley) we learned that as part of the check-in process at the campground they show you where the tornado shelter is!  We also learned the importance of our NOAA radio that blared out a warning of an approaching storm that had us scrambling to prepare a go-bag to go into said shelter.

In Amarillo Texas we learned about the importance of wheel chocks while we where jacking up the trailer to unhitch and it "very uncomfortably" shifted backward slightly on the leveling blocks. eek!

Last night, in Douglas Wyoming we learned that the East Entrance to Yellowstone  will remain closed due to snow and possible avalanches ( what??!! lol) -- so we will need to add an additional 400+ miles to our journey to enter the park through the North Entrance in Gardner Montana.

And today, we learned  a new lesson in "white-knuckle driving".  A high wind advisory (50 mph wind gusts) is not something you ever want to drive your trailer through. So we found the closest campground and settled in early to wait out the weather in Buffalo, WY.

Every day has had  its challenges and learning experiences -- but more importantly every day has brought with it amazing blessings.

We live in an amazing country.  America the Beautiful has taken on a whole new meaning for me as we have traveled.  God has indeed blessed us all with an amazing place to call home...from the gulf coast of Florida to the Great Plains to the Majestic Rocky Mountains.  Everyday I am more amazed by what I see.

Carrabelle, FL -- Ho-Hum RV Park

Mobile, Alabama - Shady Acres RV Park

Monroe, Louisiana 

Grand Prairie, Texas

Quanah, Texas

Amarillo, Texas

Limon, Colorado

Douglas, Wyoming

And most importantly--I am blessed to enjoy this journey with the love of my life.  We learn, laugh, get irritated, and get silly together everyday.  And everyday, I learn to love him more as I get to see on a daily basis what a wonderful person he really is.

To Adventure, To Family, To Health and To Love...

The week after my "retirement" was one of the busiests weeks of my life. Downsizing 22+ years of "stuff" and preparing to live in a 25 ft. trailer for half a year has been exciting but also challenging. For every item James and I crossed off our To-Do list... It seemed like  two or three more were added. 

However, as busy as we were, we knew it was important to spend time with our family before we left. On Wednesday, Jimmy was off from work so we all spent time together and visited my mother and James' mother. On Thursday, James visited the fire stations and even though we were packing our last minute items we made time to enjoy dinner together and have a family toast. We toasted; "To Adventure, To Family, To Health and To Love "...

With Jimmy leaving for his Peace Corp service in August-- It would likely be a long while before we saw each other in person again. 

It was one of those bittersweet moments as a parent -- when you realize that your life path and your child's life path are splitting off from each other. And even though we are all anticipating great things, the reality is that our paths through life are different. 

So after saying our goodbyes, in what was a very surreal moment we set off on our adventure. 

Our first stop was Cedar Key. The place where the possibility of this journey became a reality for us. We would have loved to be able to stay at Low Key Hideaway again... But unfortunately, they were booked. So we opted for Sunset Isle which is within walking distance. We wanted to be sure to stop by the Low Key Hideaway Tiki Bar and see Pat & Cindy to thank them for their encouragement and inspiration for this journey. 

Our first day on the road ended with a beautiful Cedar Key sunset. It was a beautiful sunset both literally and figuratively. A beautiful end to our first day as adventurers... And a figurative end to our lives of complacency. 

We are headed to Yellowstone. Let the adventure begin. 

Faith and Fear

At the end of 2013 we made a decision that 2014 would be a year of change.  

We had celebrated our son's college graduation and felt that the sacrifices and struggles that we faced to build a stable life and give him the opportunity to step into adulthood with a good foundation and education had come to fruition. It was (and is) a feeling of intense satisfaction. And, it provided a sense of closure to a period of our lives-- parenting would be different going forward.   

So what now? What about us?

We both had stable jobs, a nice home and very routine lives that kept us busy.  But busy does not always translate to fulfilling -- and the more we contemplated the day-to-day routine of our lives the more we realized that we wanted more. Not more material things...not more trappings or things to keep us busy...we wanted more freedom and we wanted (actually needed) more adventure. So in essence we decided we needed much less of what we currently have...and that it was time to simplify and change.

But how do you go about breaking out of a 22+ year routine? 

By facing your fears and taking a chance. The call that came in from the Yellowstone Association with the job offers for the 2014 Summer Season in Yellowstone National Park was that chance.  And in a surreal moment -- we accepted -- and then spent the rest of the following days in a daze not believing what we had done. Don't  get me wrong -- we had dreamed and planned for this for years. But dreaming and planning, and actually taking action to set the plan in motion where two different things.

In the months that followed, I could feel two feelings creeping up from the pit of my stomach. 

The first was fear. Are we nuts? Leaving a good job of 20+ years with benefits and stability at a huge financial firm? My husband, leaving the fire service after working so hard to advance his career in our home town fire department.  The fear was gripping and tangible -- it came in these cold waves that would give me chills and goosebumps. I could feel the surge of fear and panic inside me -- what if this is the wrong choice? What if this decision hurts everything that we've worked so hard for?

The second feeling was different. It was warm and steady. I could feel it rising from my gut to take the chill of fear away when the panic set in. It wasn't an icey blast ...it was a warm ember. It was Faith.  Burning low hot it was a fire inside me that I had not felt in a while--- a passion for life, adventure and the thrill of breaking out of the routine and trying something new.  To all of the "what if's" that my fears brought to mind it would answer, "why not?". It was the twinkle in our eye as we talked about beginning this adventure.

So we continue to move forward in Faith and prepare for a new future.

Today is the start of our future lives -- 

I've officially retired from the bank, James left the fire service and is home for North Dakota and Jimmy received his official invitation to serve from the Peace Corp.  We received our campsite assignment from the Yellowstone Association and we are one week from launching on the adventure of our lives.

Lots to do...but taking a moment to take it all in and realize how blessed we really are.

James' Farewell Celebration from the Orange City Fire Department at O'Leary's in Debary.

Happy New Year!!!

2014 will be a year of big changes for the Everetts! 

Commencement Means Beginning ….

December 13, 2013

December 13, 2013 is a day that will be forever etched in my mind.

Watching Jimmy walk into the UNF arena decked out in his cap, gown and cords and take his seat with the UNF Class of 2013 was one of the most amazing experiences that we could share as a family.

It was the celebration, culmination and validation of many, many years of hard work. As I watched the ocean of blue gowns on the arena floor, I was flooded with memories of the past. Good memories and more difficult ones, too. I remembered Jimmy’s first day of school, elementary and middle school awards, the lead in the high school musical, acceptance letters rolling in from colleges and all of the celebrations that we were blessed to have over the years.

I also remembered more difficult times too–the early years of crying over the checkbook because there was too much month at the end of the money wondering if we were going to be able to afford our bills let alone his Montessori School tuition …and later his Prepaid college.  Working hard to build stability, security and a future in our small town.

The road that got us to that moment was blessed…but it was not easy.   It was the end of a journey.

But the end of one journey is just the beginning of another…it’s a Commencement.

As Jimmy continues his on his path toward Peace Corp Service and James and I continue on our path towards our dream of traveling we know that our future journeys will take us in different directions.  But one thing I know – is that the bond of love and family forged through years of hard work, sacrifices and celebrations will always keep us close regardless of where we are.

Little by Little...Piece by Piece...

Little by Little...Piece by Piece...

Now that we have the taste for camping...we find ourselves excited about what the future holds. We are looking forward to planning a get-away in December for James' Birthday.

In the meantime we are continuing to work on our "rig".

Our newest (and most exciting) purchase -- is a truck topper w/ a ladder rack so that we can carry the kayaks with us and have some covered storage in the bed of the truck.  We went to Cap World in Sanford and ordered an ARE topper w/ Yakima racks. We ordered one with a tool box and pet screen in case we need to "store" Ace and Isis (our Fur-Kids) in the bed area while we run an errand or set-up camp.
They installed it for us this past Saturday ( 11/9/13).

BEFORE

AFTER

We are looking forward to putting it to good use and hope to get the Yakima BowDown Racks that we ordered from Amazon very soon.

On Monday, 11/11/13 (Veteran's Day) we hitched up and headed to Independence RV to bring in the Casita for the warranty issues that needed to be addressed.  It was really nice to see it all together with the topper!!  It looked SWEET!!! Hopefully she'll be ready soon so we can continue planning our December trip.

The next trip will likely be in state so that we can continue to gain experience and familiarity... we are looking into Wekiva Falls Campground in Sorrento...or possibly one in the Ocala area. It would be nice to camp someplace that we can have water access with the kayaks so that we can try everything out.

Reflections on Parenting -- 4 Principles That Worked for Us

Last week, I ordered Jimmy's cap and gown for his college graduation.

It's hard to believe that in less than two months he will walk onto the stage at the UNF arena and receive his Bachelor's degree.  James and I could not be more proud.  It has been such a blessing to watch him work hard and become the amazing young man that he is.

These past two weeks I've found myself reflecting on our journey as parents -- the things that we've done right ( and wrong) that have gotten us to this point.  A friend once told me that we should write a book about parenting (which I'm sure was meant as a compliment and not literally). But as I reflected about our journey this week, I thought I'd share a few of things that worked for our family:

1. Be a United Front -- If I had to pick one word that is critical to parenting it is:  CONSISTENCY.   Children need discipline, boundaries and rules at home so that they can learn self control and how to function in society. It is not uncommon for parents who come from different backgrounds to disagree on parenting methods. It is important come to an agreement and to always back each other up...consistently.

2. Instill a Love of Lifelong Learning - When they are little...Read, Read, Read...and then Read some more. Children develop a language skills and creativity by being read to.  Reading to, and with, your child creates a bond. James would read to Jimmy even before he was born, and some of our best childhood memories with Jimmy are of reading books together. Help them explore their interest through books and educational material.  Talk to them early in life about the importance of going to college. When they're school aged, be involved in their education and make sure that their self-esteem isn't tied to academic performance. Encourage them in the subjects that they are good in, and help them in the ones that they need help in. We are all made up of strengths and weaknesses. It is important to balance the pressures that schools can create with testing and ranking and not let those things damage their self-esteem or turn them off to education.

3. Put your Money where your Mouth is - Invest in your child's education. If you tell them it's important for them to get an education...then show them that you believe in them by investing (even a little bit) in their future and encourage them to learn fiscal responsibility and restraint by encouraging them to save some of their own money for their future. We invested in Florida Prepaid college. We could not be more grateful that we made that investment...even during the times when it was difficult for us financially.  Jimmy earned several scholarships and Bright Futures but the cost of a college education (even at an in-state public university) is very costly. We could not have done it had it not been for the Florida Prepaid investment.

4. Responsibility and Rights of Passage - Teach the importance of responsibility at a young age. It seems that too often we associate rights of passage with the "freedoms" that they will bring without teaching that freedom is counterbalanced by responsibility.  James and I were strong believers that helping with chores, and maintaining good grades were Jimmy's "responsibilities", and by demonstrating to be responsible then he would "earn" his privileges and freedoms. But it needs to start at a very young -- that way they learn the importance of making good choices-- before the choices become "bigger" and more significant.

These are just four principles that stand out from our journey through parenthood and just a glimpse at some of the things that I think made a difference for us.

Its been an incredible journey.

It seems like just yesterday I was writing this letter Jimmy when he went off to college...as I read it now, I'm amazed at how many of his dreams he fulfilled in his short time at UNF...

..and as usual, I can't wait to see what lies ahead for our family after graduation.