FINALLY ON OUR WAY!!

Right on schedule, 9AM, Monday morning (mornings are not my good times), 10/8/12, we pulled out of the driveway in the RV with the Terrain in tow.  I was impressed with us, we were headed to the doctor’s office in Beverly Hills, MI (yes, Beverly Hills) for a 10:30 appt.  We were all packed and prepared to head west as soon as we knew when he would need to see me again.  We had been praying for 1 month.  When he said, “I will see you again in 6 weeks, things are going great!” Bill and I both looked at each other and mouthed, “YES”!  It would have been a real bummer if after all that work we had to turn around head back home and unpack the RV.  But, have I mentioned that when you pray to our Father that He gives more than you ask for???!!!  It always amazes me. 

Nina, Steve, Sheila & Bill 

We all went to the Edwards Apple Orchard in Illinois with the Doyle clan.  Lots of fun and good eats.  Great donuts and cider

Brother Steve's office --- he collects things!

Sheila & Steve Doyle

As things would have it, our road to Yellowstone went right through Rockford, IL (well almost anyway, close enough) so of course we had the opportunity to stop for a visit with my brother, Steve, his wife, Nina, and their daughter’s family, Mandy, Levi, Wyatt & Abbey.  We had not been to see them together since our way home from Alaska 2 yrs ago.  I did make a quick trip with Nina’s parents in March 2011 but Bill was in Germany with his son, David, at the time for David’s back surgery.  Our plan was to get in Monday night, visit on Tuesday and leave Wednesday AM for Yellowstone.  Once again, the best laid plans of mice and men!!  Tuesday afternoon/evening ended up being a real crash time for me and Bill was hesitant to start out Wednesday until I was rested. (and no Jennifer, Nina and I did not stay up all night talking – I went to be early). 

Abbey, Mandy (Doyle), Wyatt & Levi Spurlock

In the mean time we started checking out the weather in Yellowstone.  That news was not encouraging with highs in the 40’s and lows in the teens!  So after rethinking and rethinking how we were going to stay warm and keep the pipes from freezing in the motorhome we once again revamped our plans.  NO Yellowstone this year.  We had left too late in the season to do that part of the trip and enjoy it.  So we decided to leave Rockford, Ill Thursday morning and head straight to the Grand Canyon.  Almost ready to pull out of the Church parking lot at Calvary Christian, Rockford, IL and we get a phone call from my doctor.  The blood work they did on Monday showed a little elevation in the liver numbers.  So . . . we had to wait around for them to fax an order for blood work, find the local hospital and go there for another blood draw.  The hospital in Rockford would fax the results to the doctor and he would contact me with any changes necessary, etc.

But…with all that, we did get on the road before 3PM in the afternoon.  Drove into Iowa and stopped for the night at WalMart in Grinnell, Iowa. 

In spite of our huge disappointment of missing Yellowstone we decided we would not let that stop us!!  We would change our route going south/west to warmer temperatures, we would find something fun to do each day on the way, we will enjoy this time no matter what.  And we are thankful for each blessing along the way.