Still on an Adventure!!!!

I thought when we got back from our big RV trip in July and August that would be it for this blog and the Schrockfam RV Trip Campaign Extravaganza!! Well guess what?? Were back!!!!!!! No we are not taking another RV trip but we are still on this adventure called life. We thought since so many of you followed our trip we would do posts from time to time on how Ashley is doing in college and the rest of the Schrockfam is doing at home.
  After dropping Ashley off in Washington we still had another 3000 miles to go to get home. The famous Wall Drug store and Mount Rushmore along with about 1 million motorcycles (we were near Sturgis during Bike Week) and Eric's home town of 2000 we finally made it home. Lots of adjustments when one of your family members is not there all the time. Thanks to skype and lots of phone calls we kept in touch. Since Ashley was so far away we knew we could not bring her home for Thanksgiving but Christmas was not far behind.
  What to do? What to do? I had to come up with something spectacular to pick her up at the airport. Following this blog you will see some pictures as to how she was greeted at the airport. Let's just say Santa has nothing on us when greeting someone at the airport. I'm just glad she didn't turn around and go back onto the plane. The people at the airport loved it so much they cheered when she came off the plane. Not sure if they were cheering for her or because we would be leaving. We were a little bright and took up some space. Body lights, flashing noses, reindeer antlers, Christmas wear, and a banner made out of paper towels!!!! Nothing is too much when celebrating my daughters homecoming!!!

 

Bumps and Bruises Along the way!!!!!

It is never easy to say goodbye!!! You know that you will see the person again in a few short months but you still question if you are doing the right thing. Then we are comforted by knowing that that is what we grow them up for!! We grow them up to send them out to be a light to the world. To become what God wants them to become, not what we want them to become. Dropping your daughter off at college all the way across the country is never easy. It leaves little bumps on our heart, but here is where trusting comes into play.

She will be fine!!!!!! God has to become her source. Mom & Dad are there for moral support but the complete reliance needs to be on our Heavenly Father that cares for us soooo much.

     More bumps and bruises along the way!!! We decided to bring our bikes along to ride through the RV parks. When we were in Colorado Matthew had never ridden down hills before and flipped off his bike. He learned real fast how to maneuver down hills and use his brakes effectively. Eric!! He decides to pretend that he is 14 again!!! While riding bikes in the Grand Tetons, he decides to do a wheelie, seeing that his children were impressed he decides to do another, followed by Ashley saying, "Dad, I would laugh so hard if you fell off!!". Those words had barely left her mouth and he decides to do a higher and faster wheelie, followed by a totally backwards flip off his bike. Needless to say, Matthew has recovered much more quickly from his fall then Eric has. Soreness follows a fall when you are in your forties.

Our biggest bump and bruise of all has been the cost of this trip. You can plan for a trip of this magnitude but you can never plan for all the hidden costs of a trip this big. If you all as our friends and family could help out in any way we would greatly appreciate it!!!!!!! So we can get home and get back to work to recover from this Schrockfam RV Road Trip Campaign Extravaganza. Thanks for following us!!!!

The Ultimate Celebrity!!!!

Have you ever imagined?God as the ultimate Celebrity!!!! When God spoke these very mountains were formed. The majesty and the grandeur of these Grand peaks dwarf everything around them. We stand and look in awe as we realize He created this all for us to enjoy!!!!  I don't want to miss one second of it.

  We drove through the Grand Teton's and Yellowstone and just did not have enough time to take it all in. When we went to watch Old Faithful I had to sit there and giggle to myself how God probably gets a Bang!! out of us watching water shoot out of the ground every 90 minutes. He even can get people from all faiths and beliefs to sit in awe of what He set into motion when He created the earth. I think He sits in heaven and says "watch what I did!!" "I created this hole in the ground that water and steam will shoot out of and noone will be able to explain why it is so consistent or even determine exactly when it will shoot off, but I will make it consistent enough that the very ones created in My Image will take pleasure and be in awe of it." So we were, we sat there and were amazed as the water and steam shot out of the earth and no man was pushing a button, Only God!!!!!!!

 Our travels continued around Yellowstone and we came upon some creatures that God created. I thanked Him all day for all the creatures He brought across our path. We even rounded a corner and almost on cue there was a coyote on the side of the road and it freaked us out because he was less than 20 yards from us and he howled!!!, enough to send chills up your spine.

This God of ours that created all of this. He can and will provide for you and I just like he has provided for these animals and the geysers and the mountains. We need not worry, if He provides for our very entertainment with geysers and mountains and animals how much more will He provide for us. I think the Bible even mentions something like that in Matthew 6:25-34. God!! The Ultimate Celebrity, taking care of all our needs all the way down to our entertainment.

Go West Young Man!!!!!! And Find a Ball of Twine!!!!!!

  "Go west young man" or in our case young woman!!!!is a quote by American author Horace Greeley concerning America's expansion westward, related to the then-popular concept of Manifest Destiny.He saw the fertile farmland of the west as an ideal place for people willing to work hard for the opportunity to succeed. So here we are heading west so that our daughter will succeed in the call upon her life.

 As we trek across this country I began thinking of the trek that those who settled the west had to take. Time marches on where covered wagons have been replaced with RV's. Wagon wheel ruts have been replaced by highways and state roads, but the spirit to succeed still resides in all of us we just have to be willing to have the "drive" to pull it out. We always need to continue pressing forward but still remember the past to give us the proper perspective.
  
  
So in that spirit of remembering the past our trip has been filled with finding the forgotten!!! We found a little town in Missouri called Warrensburg. A trial took place here that causes us all to use a phrase today that we never think of the origin of it. That phrase is "man's best friend". You can read the story of Old Drum and the powerful eulogy given by the lawyer over his death called Eulogy of the Dog.

   Cawlker City Kansas, a little bity forgotten town on US 36 has a claim to fame in it's own right. It has the Largest Ball of Twine!! It was started in 1953 by a man named Frank Stoeber. It is a shame to see funny things like this forgotten all for the sake of speed and convenience because along with it go the towns and the people in them. Next time you are on a trip try to take time to find just one forgotten thing it will bless both you and the people that still find it important.

Now on further west to Colorful Colorado!!! Entering Colorado from the east you think that you would see mountains but that is far from the truth. Farmland and ghost towns, complete towns empty and forgotten for various reasons probably with noone around to tell you why. Wouldn't it be fun to go and rebuild a town to it's former days ?? We then help to remember these towns by going to the History of Colorado Museum in Denver where they are preserving some of the forgotten. What a fun and hands on experience. Here are some of our pics from the museum.

Go West Young Man and find a ball of Twine and along the way find the forgotten!!!!

Bluegrass, Robes, Churches and Fire!!!!! Oh My!!!!!!!!

   We are only on Day 3 of a 22 day trip and this title says it all. We are loving and laughing every minute we get!!! We are so thankful to our great and longtime friends Ed & Janice Chupp for blessing us with the use of their RV.
 Where to start? If you have been following us on our Schrockfam RV Trip Campaign Extravaganza page you have seen quite an extensive amount already. Some of you have seen more than you want to:)!!!!
Our trip has been first off full of Bluegrass!! The White Oak Mtn Bluegrass Festival was so fun and enjoyable with such talented people. The thing I love about Bluegrass is most people who play know how to have fun and also are never ashamed of their love for the Lord when they play!!! We met several great groups one being Mountain Cove. What amazingly talented young men. As a group they have made quite a name for themselves in a very short time. One thing that impressed me the most was their love for the Lord and their willingness to share that openly and boldly. Another group that we really enjoyed was The Rigney Family, what a talented family. The two sons are both Champions in their respective instruments and it shows. Their harmonies as a family are incredibly spot on. Check out their website at www.rigneyfamilybluegrass.com . They also have a you tube channel you can watch.
     Now For Robes!! A picture speaks a thousand words!! This one screams it!!!!!

     This is our tribute to Cousin Eddie from National Lampoons Christmas vacation!!!!
  

     Eastgate Creative Christian Fellowship is a dynamic and growing church in Nashville. The pastors Chris and Laura Smith are changing Nashville for Christ. We were so blessed to join them in their Sunday morning Worship. Their hearts are full of the Spirit and willing to obey God and what He wants them to do for the Body of Christ!!!!

Now for Fire!!!! (Note to self: Buy Janice a new hot pad) When cooking with gas on a small counter you never want to put a hot pad to close to an open flame. (Janice if you are reading this, it was just the hot pad, the RV is fine!!!!:)))))

Here are some more pics!!! Enjoy!!

Are You Ever Fully Prepared????

How does one prepare for a 6000 mile trip across the USA and back again? You don't!!!! There are always going to be things we forget, or things left undone at home before you go. That is if you are me!!! Am I the only one that has visions of perfect grandeur to have all of my ducks in a row before leaving for a trip? Yet I never seem to achieve it. So here is my list of important things.
1. Underwear
2. Clothes
3. Toiletries
4. Books, movies, and games
5. Food and snacks
Now for my visions of grandeur
1. Beds have clean sheets
2. Laundry is done
3. Baked cookies and cupcakes for the trip
4. House is spotless
5. Bills are paid
I know most of you would look at a list like this and think "wow!!! she can't get all of that done before a trip". To that I would say "probably not!!". But I love thinking about it before it happens and then enjoying the trip if it doesn't!!! I hope some of you share what you do to prepare for a trip whether large or small. It just might help me see that I am not totally out of touch.

 Now for what I don't know if we are prepared for !! Leaving our daughter all the way on the other side of the country!!! Please pray for us as our daughter spreads her wings and knows she is about to embark and fly on fulfilling her call to missions. It all starts at Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, Washington.

Yes! we have chosen to drive her out there for several reasons. The first being one FUN Family Vacation together. And second, she will need her car out there which will help her with a job and getting around.

Now for that crazy "DONATE" button on our blog page. If you find it in your heart to help with gas money or especially coffee money (to help keep Eric awake since he will be the only one driving) We would greatly appreciate it!!!! Thank you for following our blog and our Facebook page.