It’s official. We live in a motor home. I know it’s only been for 23 hours, but after a night at the KOA in Rawlins, WY, I feel I can claim it. The kids are living up to the old ‘give em an inch, they’ll take a mile’ thing. Pumping their arms at every Semi we pass, building forts, (yes, in the RV) and using the fridge and toilet with higher than average frequency. (rules?) The dog is eating string cheese and turkey, since we forgot his food. We are eating snacks, since I forgot the crock pot and some key ingredients for actual meal making. Heading to Walmart. (I know, I know) But such is the life of the RV’r, or so I’m told.
Music is good. Scenery is not as good, but getting better. Company is perfect.
Well, almost.
If you want to follow us in a photo journal, go here.
When I get tired of knitting baby doll panties, I’m going to try and spiff this blog up. Who knows what you might find.
Glad you guys are finally on the road! Have a great time. Breaking all the normal rules is the fun part of traveling. We've forgotten dog food on a few trips as well!
Can't wait to see all the pictures!
You are my hero Jessica. I mean it. I love what you are doing for your family. They are gaining so much, and so are you, im sure…
I had you and Tuesday on my mind all day today as me and Sharlene raised a BUNCH of money for Neuroblastoma research in Tuesday's honor… Can't wait to see the pictures!
Wishing you a safe, peaceful, and almost perfect trip together. . .
MJ
Indiana
I've been following your blog for a few months…my thoughts are with you during your road trip. I hope the trip and the family time can restore even a tiny piece of your soul. Happy travels to all of you.
So glad you are finally on your way! I love the photo journal, oh my goodness the double rainbow picture is incredible. I love that Tuesday is still giving you all such beautiful signs 🙂
xoxo
You rock the motor home party.
I find if the music is good you can pretty much travel anywhere. Although, I do hope you find something good to eat…and the dog too. ;D My thoughts are with you and your family.
Safe travels 🙂
You "sound" WONDERFUL!
This is just what you need Jess, to clear your soul.
Nothing makes a trip better than eating junk food for at least a few meals 🙂
(the kids will remember that one FOREVER! My kids still talk about the times I fed them ice cream sundaes for dinner YEARS ago. LOL)
If you need any how-to tips on blog make-overs, call me 🙂
Can't wait to see what you do.
LOVE you!
Love your new digs!
Safe travels and God Bless!
That is so odd, i dreamt that I went on vacation and forgot to take dog food last night! I was feeding her all kinds of strange things! Have fun.
happy (and safe) trails. .. can't wait to see where you post from next!!
I don't think there's any greater comfort than knowing that the Lord Himself is holding your family up! Always praying!
Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Prayer Bears
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Enjoy! Sounds like an amazing adventure.
Love your new digs.Happy trails and all that stuff but most of all I send you with prayers of peace and strength as you begin this journey.Remember,if you find yourself in LA,Zoey and I will show you the down and unfortunately the way around the 4th floor of CHLA.Godspeed.
that would be "town" not "down"!!
I LOVE the double rainbow picture! I've only seen one once or twice in my life. It's like a double promise! Have fun! =)
i am wondering just how many pairs of doll panties it takes to reach knitting boredom. please document.
glad the journey has launched. you are absolved of your wal mart sins this time. love you and sending road vibes. a
Wishing you a safe journey. =D
This may sound silly, but I check your blog every day just to see what's going on with you. It makes me smile every time there's something new. Thanks for keeping this going. Have a wonderful adventure!
love
chrisy.
Dear JK, I just came across your blog completely by accident (found a link somewhere in the web). You have a beautiful family and you are such a positive person. I am so sorry that such a devastating thing has happened to you. I have had a child in hospital and the thought that he might not make it almost drove me over the edge. He recovered fine but I tremble over him two years on. Also just last month friends of ours in CA learned that their 2.5 year old daughter has an advanced form of leukemia. They also have a baby son. Your blog brought it home to me how tough things must be for them right now. I have sent a few supportive emails but it's hard to know what to say. Take care, I really hope things go well for you and your family. Tuesday was beautiful and courageous – you can see that in her pictures. I also loved your family photo session.
Hugs,
Anna
As a mother of a child i lost 15 years ago, I just wanted to share these words I found on another blog with you. They ring so true for one that has experienced the loss of a child.
A Bereaved Parent's Wish List
I wish my child hadn't died. I wish I had him back
I wish you wouldn't be afraid to speak my child's name. My child lived and was very important to me. I need to hear that he was important to you as well.
If I cry and get emotional when you talk about my child, I wish you knew that it isn't because you have hurt me. My child's death is the cause of my tears. You have talked about my child, and you have allowed me to share my grief. I thank you for both.
I wish you wouldn't "kill" my child again by removing his pictures, artwork, or other remembrances from your home.
Being a bereaved parent is not contagious, so I wish you wouldn't shy away from me. I need you more than ever.
I need diversions, so I do want to hear about you; but I also want you to hear about me. I might be sad and I might cry, but I wish you would let me talk about my child, my favorite topic of the day.
I know that you think of and pray for me often. I also know that my child's death pains you, too. I wish you would let me know things through a phone call, a card or a note, or a real big hug.
I wish you wouldn't expect my grief to be over in six months. These first months are traumatic for me, but I wish you could understand that my grief will never be over. I will suffer the death of my child until the day I die.
I am working very hard in my recovery, but I wish you could understand that I will never fully recover. I will always miss my child, and I will always grieve that he is dead.
I wish you wouldn't expect me "not to think about it" or to "be happy". Neither will happen for a very long time so don't frustrate yourself.
I don't want to have a "pity party," but I do wish you would let me grieve. I must hurt before I can heal.
I wish you understood how my life has shattered. I know it is miserable for you to be around me when I'm feeling miserable. Please be as patient with me as I am with you.
When I say, "I'm doing okay," I wish you could understand that I don't feel okay and that I struggle daily.
I wish you knew that all of the grief reactions I'm having are very normal. Depression, anger, hopelessness and overwhelming sadness are all to be expected. So please excuse me when I'm quiet and withdrawn or irritable and cranky.
Your advice to "take one day at a time" is excellent. I wish you could understand that I'm doing good to handle it all at an hour at a time.
I wish you understood that grief changes people. When my child died, a big part of me died with him. I am not the same person I was before my child died, and I will never be that person again.
I wish very much that you could understand – understand my loss and my grief, my silence and my tears, my void and my pain. But I pray daily that you will never understand. With all my love and prayers Helen Sullivan
I can't wait to see what your creative brilliance brings! Have a safe trip.
xoxox mp
I'm so happy for you! This time will be treasured by all of you. I only wish I could do something this cool with my clan! Enjoy it! I can't wait to see your photos! The scenery will get MUCH better! 🙂
Still praying in Seattle!
Psalms 39:12-13 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
Prayer Bears
My email address
🙂 hearing this post is like a breath of fresh air. Safe travels.
Too much fun!! I hope you make to to Virginia Beach–let me know. Peace be with you on your trip and know that God is holding all of your close. love, cindy lou and maddie
This trip is gonna rock! A piece of my heart is inside that motorhome right along side of you. And it likes tacos. I know. I am a weirdo but you are stuck with me.
Hey JK. Just stopping by to see how you were doin'. I love coming by, and I hate coming by because it brings up so many emotions that I don't like to feel. Everytime I come here I can't help but get sad, but I come by anyway. I hope you stop by Paducah, KY. We have an amazing quilt museum here, a neat art district downtown, a nice park, some quaint restaurants downtown…and only 30 minutes away is LBL (Land Between the Lakes)…majorrrrrrr camping/hunting destination. Google it!
Praying right now!
Psalms 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Prayer Bears
My email address
I can't wait to see the pictures! Hope you get everything you want and more out of this trip. We'd love to see you if you are passing by. Take care.
And I still grieve for Tuesday and your family often. I know that there must be terrible moments to endure daily. I am also inspired by your family as well. You have more life in that family unit of yours than I think my entire extended family has.
If you get near Boise. . . I have some little people who would love a playdate with your little people. That, and I would just love to meet your family and send our love with you on your journey!
Continuing to pray!
Psalms 37:39-40 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Prayer Bears
My email address
This was my Daily Bible Verse today. Still here praying!
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Prayer Bears
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Continuing to lift up prayers!
Psalms 94:17-19 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
Prayer Bears
My email address
Travelling can be such fun.
Enjoy the road trip!
Know that I'm still here praying!
Psalms 40:1-4 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Prayer Bears
My email address
Praying right now!
Psalms 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Prayer Bears
My email address
Stopping by to let you know I'm still praying!
Psalms 55:16-18 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
Prayer Bears
My email address
Good luck on the blog redo! I'm excited for you and your trip.
Praying as always!
Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Prayer Bears
My email address
It's a privilege to be able to pray for you!
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer Bears
My email address