Finally able to catch up...and it keeps getting better!

So...we haven't had cell service or internet for the last couple of weeks in the park that we were staying so we have a bit of catching up to do.  (I loved being disconnected by the way!)  Also, we have to revisit the Hanscom AFB trip because some great things (people) happened there after we posted!

We ended up taking a trip to Cape Cod, Mass.  We toured the Cape Cod potato chip factory and then took a drive.  As we were driving, Zachary yelled, "Hey, that's the lighthouse on the potato chip bag!" We stopped there and took a few pics and then went over to the spot where the most Eastern house stood.  It was beautiful!  Then, we headed to the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center and the kids...you guessed it...earned another JR Ranger Badge!  The kids took a 4 mile roundtrip bike ride(Kelly and I walked) and we sat for lunch when  we got back.  The kids were pooped but the did the whole thing! 

This ride went all the way to the beach and they rode all 4 miles on a trail on Cape Cod!

Taking the Jr Ranger oath at Cape Cod Nat'l Seashore NP.

Matching the bag to real life.  (Then we ate them)

On the site of the most eastern house. 

For Kelly's birthday, our amazing neighbors threw her a lunch party and bought her some cupcakes.  We had such a blast with these folks.  The kids overheard them talking about they needed a step for their RV and the went to another neighbors and asked for some scrap wood.  They proceeded to make Lynn (our neighbor) a little step.  They drew pictures on it and signed it and were so proud.  Lynn said she cried when she came out that next morning and stepped down on it.  We took a visit to Fenway Park also and didn't catch on fire...we were happy about that.  We did get allot of looks and a few comments when we wore our St Louis Cardinals shirts though.  We also met someone who raises and trains Weimeraners.  The kids loved them of course but because they were puppies, the kids had some rules to follow.  She loved their help and they were able to learn about dog training and were also able to be involved and help train them for a bit.  Zachary helped her a few times and really enjoyed it.  I also had an opportunity to speak with her son and now we now have another wonderful person to put on our prayer wall!  One last thing really shined through at this place...Zachary found that many people had an interest in having their RV sewer tanks emptied.  He volunteered to help...and to his surprise...ended up with some spending money in his pocket!  Everyone was very appreciative and it was great to hear about how hard he worked, in the 100 degrees, never complained, and helped when they needed it.  There was a single guy there that just loved spending time with our family and the kids loved playing basketball and riding bikes with him.  We had many late night chats with a few of the guys and they all said the same thing...they hated to see our family go. 

The kids are going to surprise Mrs. Lynn with a new step!

The secret but completed project.

The birthday luncheon for the birthday girl.

 

 

Some happy folks!

Loving on the puppies.

 We left Boston and headed north.  About 12 miles up the highway, kids had to pee already!  I just happened to check the truck and had a leak from the "fix" on the transfer case that we hoped would hold until Virginia.  Anyway, made an unplanned stop at Westover Air Base in Mass.  This proved to be a God thing in numerous ways.  Totally unplanned, we ended up camping with a couple who we first camped with in Charleston, SC and then (unplanned) in Andrews AFB.  Now we saw them in Westover AB!  I also had a chance to talk to guy who 1) needed some help on his transfer case that he couldn't figure out (the same thing that had happened to mine) so I explained what was going on and 2) we had a wonderful conversation about something that happened to him decades before that came forward in his mind when I made a certain comment.  He was great and we enjoyed chatting.  We also had a HUGE empty parking lot next to us and the kids loved riding skateboards and bikes all over the place!  We were able to go to the Springfield Armory National Park where Springfield made their guns for many years.  There was a HUGE museum and a ton of guns and artillery in the old factory...we loved it!  The kids earned their badge and we moved on.  When we had the truck worked on, we were able to meet a young lady who wanted to hear all about our journey and had added us to her prayer list.  We had a chance to chat about some really great things.  This was just a bit of the stories on this "unplanned" stop! 

Helper for the day and putting the flags up. 

Trying to start a fire...and he did it all by himself!

We were all fixed up and headed for Tioga, Penn.  We stayed at a Army Corps of Engineers park and were going to stay about 5 days...we LOVED it and ended up staying for almost 2 weeks.  We had 3 "moving days" (we have coined the day that we have to pack up and move...even if across the same park) while we were there and the kids fished more than they talked I think!  We had to watch for rattlesnakes but they loved pulling the fish out of the water.  The bikes were also ridden and people were to be met!  Kelly and I even had a "night out"...(unlike the one I'll tell you about in a minute!)  We left the kids inside and started a movie for them while we started a fire' made s'mores for she and I  ONLY' and played RUMMIKUB at the picnic table. But, seriously, we met some really great people here too.  While on a walk with daddy one day in the rain, Kamryn asked a lady if she (Kamryn) help her sweep her RV pad.  She obliged and long story short...we ended up leaving with chocolate zucchini cake, plates, and a fishing buddy!  We had also met her and her husband's daughter and we fished with a new friend for days.  They showed us a secret fishing place that we had some early morning fishing sessions.  We learned about the Corning company (I had only known them to make dishes before this trip) from a local couple and we also invaded their space.  We got to see the hot rod they went back to the house and got it and stayed up late a few nights telling stories.  We also visited the Penn Grand Canyon Visitor Center and learned so much from the lady there.  We then hiked the Grand Canyon (of Penn that is) and saw some beautiful country.  Me and the boys laid on the ground one night and counted shooting stars and constellations.  This place was great!  Also while we were there, we met some other great people and had some great conversations...and they are all such different conversations.  It is impossible to talk about how many people God puts in our lives and all of the different conversations that we have...I wish we could...it's amazing. 

The smallest fish ever on a hook!

Kamryn and her new friend. 



My log carier

My "exercise girl".

Zachary is on his daddy's lap driving!

Boys will be boys. 

Looking at the heavens. 

Hiking the Penn Grand Canyon

Beautiful artwork.

She loves to fish as much as her brothers...and kisses every one before she takes it off an lets it go. 

Caleb to the rescue.  He saw a damsel in distress...(she couldn't get her fish off the hook)

She was catching bees in the bug box...

A brotherly game of football.

They loved this thing!  They thought it was even cooler when they got in it!

SHE...WAS...POOPED...

Kamryn moved near us on a blanket while we did some school. 

Another one of my wood gatherers.

An early fishing morning. 

Time for laundry!

Our own water park...cups and a spigot.  Never mind the electrical cords...we had that talk. 

Morning fishing with our new friend Bud.

She makes a rockin' chocolate zucchini cake...and Bud catches some large carp! 

Acquiring a Jr Ranger badge and learning about Springfield arms...loved the guns!

Doing crafts at the armory.

The "Springfield Organ" (A storage rack of muskets with hundreds of muskets.)  Longfellow enjoying seeing this so much that he wrote a poem about it.  The history of Springfield armory and its 200+ years of history was amazing!

We also received and outstanding surprise from someone whom we camped next to the first couple of days that we were there...stick with me...this is going somewhere...

We camped next to couple the first couple of days and we chatted and say bye.  They came back about a week later!  We would have ended up being right next to them again on move 3 but we ended up picking a different spot.  Anyway, we talked with them allot over a few days and they ended up asking if they could have the kids for a bit so Kelly and I could have a date.  I can't explain how all this went down but it was truly amazing!  They watched the kids, took them for dinner, bought them some ice cream and told us to meet them at a restaurant at 5 PM.  We didn't understand but we did it anyway.  We arrived a few minutes late and they handed us a gift card for the restaurant and said, "We will see you and Kelly back at the campground when you get there.  We will have the kids".  We were in awe as we didn't plan on having a date for the next year while on this journey but these folks were special and we knew it.  So, we had dinner and walked around the town and headed back.  This also led to us heading to their home the next day for BBQ, clearing trails, riding the 4 wheeler, and some great conversation.  We are so thankful that we met them and we hope to be able to see them again. 

That leaves us where we are now...the crickets are loud, the horses are quiet, and the moon is full.  Such a blessing to be able to experience His creation.  More on that in a few days...this post has ended up being long enough.  I started this post a couple days ago but with the wifi connection, it has taken 2 days to complete with picture uploads.

This our last stop before we head to Virginia to start our work with YWAM.  We are so excited about being there and the work that we are getting to do.  So for these few days, we are loving on each other, on others, and having some fun...before the Work begins!