Finally Home!!!!!!

Hello Everyone!

We arrived home on Monday; glad to be home, glad to have the memories, and still laughing over our "Comedy of Errors" trip!!! Last we posted we had just gotten the truck back and were preparing to hit the road again. We moved the trailer up to a campground in Black Hawk so we would be closer to the action. Upon getting out and setting up we discovered three things: a vent cover was missing, the air conditioning wouldn't work, and some keys were missing!!! Fortunately, we were able to get the last cover in the area for our size vent, and Daddy fixed the air conditioning, but if you see a key ring with a large red tag on it, please let us know!

The rest of the trip we spent looking at Needles Highway, the Wildlife Loop, Mammoth Site, Devil's Tower, and Ft. Laramie (which was very informative and one of my favorite visits)! We also saw Chimney Rock and Scott's Bluff from a distance! Our biggest adventure was in Nebraska!

We were trying to make it to a campground near Lake McConaughy late at night and in a storm when we got stuck in between two hills on a gravel road. Now, a gravel road is usually no problem, but with all the rain, sand and dirt had turned it into a muck pit. We couldn't get enough traction to make it up the one hill, and the trailer would try to land in the ditch if we attempted to back up the other hill! We called for help and were told that the wrecker was in Big Springs trying to get a semi out of a ditch, and to expect an hour or so wait! The emergency brake does not engage the trailer brakes, and so would not keep us out of the ditch! Therefore, poor Daddy had to keep his foot on the truck brake for, what would turn out to be, a SEVEN HOUR wait! It was pitch black out that night, with no civilization in sight. A few cars stopped, two of which were drunk (one man even claimed he could pull us out with his little SUV!!!), and (just before dawn) one really nice lady who felt bad for us and brought back her husband an hour later. By that time the sun was up, the ground was dryer, and we were ready to try one more time. And... We made it!!! And just as we turned a bend in the road, we looked back to see the tow truck arriving!

We got back on the main road and pulled off at the nearest truck stop and slept! After that we got through with out a hitch (though we did have to drive for as long as we could), and got home two days behind schedule. It really was a wonderful trip and we have a whole bundle full of memories!!

In Christ,

For the family,

~ Tiffany

P.S. I'll be sure to post lots of pictures soon!!

Places we've been

Hi Everyone!

Daddy just got done bringing you up to the present, so I thought I would post a few more details and pictures of the places he mentioned. After leaving Wisconsin, our first stop was in:

1. Burr Oak, Iowa

Here we saw the Seed Savers Farm, a place that collects and preserves from extinction all the original, non-genetically altered plants they can. So far they have preserved some where around 2,500 different varieties, from broom corn to the almost extinct moon and stars melon.

We also saw the hotel that Laura Ingalls and her family worked in at Burr Oak. This place was not mentioned in any of the "Little House" books that she wrote in later life, but occurred between their time in Walnut Grove and their move to De Smet.

The Entry to the Visitor's Center (where the tour starts)!

At the Hotel, $0.25 would guarantee you that you wouldn't share the bed with more than two other people!!!!!

The room where Laura and her family stayed!

2. Walnut Grove, Minnesota

We ended up arriving here late at night, long after everything had closed. We did however, manage to take a few shots of the Visitor's Center!

3. De Smet, South Dakota
This is where "On the Shores of Silver Lake" "Little Town on the Prairie" "The Long Winter" "These Happy Golden Years" and "The First Four Years" took place! We visited the area where Pa staked his claim and built the claim shanty! Because of time constraints (which have turned out to be a large factor on this trip!) we did not have time to take the tour, but did climb to the top of a viewing platform to take pictures!

That dark area at the very top of the picture is the currently dry, "Big Slough" that Laura and Carrie got lost in and Pa harvested hay from!

4. Mitchell, South Dakota

We didn't take any pictures here (all cameras where back in the trailer) but the Corn Palace did look very interesting as we were driving by. I was sort of expecting the pictures to be made of so many corn kernels poured between two sheets of glass. Instead, everything was open air; glued to the side of the building and made up of corn cobs, different grasses, and multiple other grains!

5. Badlands National Park
This area is so gorgeous, I'll have to let the pictures speak for themselves! (After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!)

6. Mount Rushmore National Park

I think that should be enough for now, I'll post pictures of the other places later! Hope you all have a great day and week!

In Christ,
For the Family,
~ Tiffany

Just can't wait to get on the road again

Well it has been an eventful few days to say the least. We were able to go and see Laura Ingalls Wilder museum, and the Seed Saver's farm were they have 25000 heirloom seeds in Burr Oak Iowa. We drove through Walnut Grove, Sleepy eye, Mankato, and stopped in De Smet to visit the Ingalls and Wilder homestead sites. We drove through Mitchell SD and saw the Corn Palace, unfortunately we couldn't stop because of parking issues with the trailer. We arrived in Interior SD at the Badlands on Thursday evening. We unhitched the trailer and drove through the Badlands and then on to Rapid City on friday hoping to get to Mt Rushmore, when a brake line blew on the truck. The visitor center was still open so we pulled in and asked about auto repair places and had our motor club tow our truck over to the repair shop where they were supposed to get to it in the morning. We had to rent a car to get back to interior to our dog "Hope" a golden retreiver. We were still able to see Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Bear Country USA, while using the car. There was some mix ups at the shop and the truck wasn't done until this afternoon. They were kind enough to pay for the extra day car rental since it was their mistake. Today we went on a train ride for my Father's day gift, it was wonderful, we even got robbed. Don't worry it was planned!!!!! We have been so blessed by God on this trip. I can't imagine losing the brakes while towing the trailer in the mountains. God has us in his hands and has been protecting us this trip. The Truck is back in commission and we will be back on the road come morning. Thank you all for your prayers and Happy Father's Day!!!!!!

Tim

Tiffy wants to explain in greater detail and add some pic's on the places we were and are.

Hello and Happy Father's Day!!!

It is not always easy being a parent, but it is a blessing. Raising children takes a lot of hard work and dedication, especially these days. The time is well invested though and can be very rewarding! With that said, I am so thankful for fathers. This week I am thanking God for that precious man I have enjoyed for the last 20 years! The kids and I appreciate the time he spends with us and his dedication! Thank you Dads!!
We have not been posting as much as we had hoped. This trip got a little more complicated when we blew a brake line!! We are praising the Lord for His loving care through all of this. First,when the line went we where not towing and it was near Rapid City, South Dakota. Much of the trip we have passed through sparsely populated areas. Second, the travel information center we were able to pull into was not closed yet and they were so helpful getting us towed. The tow truck and rental car both showed up quickly. That was a blessing!!! We were able to still visit Mt. Rushmore and return to Hope (our golden retriever) who was waiting for us at the trailer which was some distance away in Interior still. We were supposed to haul the trailer to Sturgis, S.D. the next morning. To make a long story short, we are still in Interior waiting for the truck. When we went to pick it up yesterday the technician was going to let us leave with it, but thankfully Tim looked things over and asked questions. They we going to let us drive that truck when they did not bleed the two passenger brake lines, the front is the replaced one!!! Very dangerous especially hauling! I am so glad that God is in control! Thank You to our friends for prayers!!!
We are still having a great time in spite of it all and have many pictures to share. Tiffany can't wait to post about it tonight. We are enjoying the beauty and diversity of our ever changing landscape on this trip! Take care and know that you are in our prayers too.
Lisa

In Wisconsin

Hi Everyone! We ended up starting a little later than planned the first day, but made up time by driving late. We decided to make it around Chicago that night so we would miss the morning traffic. The skyline was beautiful all lit up, especially the Sears Tower. We pulled over at a Wal-mart just below Wisconsin for the night and spent all day yesterday driving through that state.

There were many geological formations along the road!

Reading... a favorite Cadle Kid pass time!

We are now ready getting ready to leave the Pettibone Resort campground where we spent the night. That is, as soon as the boys get done fishing in the channel of the Mississippi we're camped in front of.....

Today we will be seeing a bunch of Little House / Laura Ingalls Wilder sites. Because of time constraints, we will not be able to see Pepin (Where Little House in the Big Woods took place) but will be able to see the others! Daddy's hitching up the trailer now, so I've got to go!

for the family~ Tiffany

Almost on the road again!

This will likely be our last post before hitting the road! Everyone is scrambling to get everything ready. Most of the food is packed, the clothes are in transit between the washer and the trailer, and the fishing gear is being packed as we speak! This will be our first big camping trip after a few years of hoteling it, so this is bound to be an adventure! Hope everyone on the other side of this blog is well (or getting better, i.e. Mrs. Weather Lady!) ! I've got to go now and do my fair share of the running around!
~ Tiffany

Count Down 3,2,1...

One more day and we hit the road for a couple of weeks. It is so exciting to be going on an adventure to the Bad lands. Lisa and I will be celebrating our 20th on the road this year. We will be camping the whole 2 weeks. We are still in the process of getting ready. The kidos are helping with the planning and preparing. They are really stepping up and helping with everything. I am such a blessed Man to have the wife and children that I do. Thank you Lord for your blessings.

Tim

Crunch time

It is less than a week till we leave on our trip. Everyone is excited about going and seeing new sights. We still have a lot to do to get ready to go. I have to pull the tires off the trailer today and take them to get replaced. We should be getting the Truck back from the shop this afternoon hopefully. I still have to finish wiring the trailer up for the generator yet. All this needs to be done and more before Saturday. I will be working the week end and next Monday after work we leave. We have a whole lot planned out for the trip and a rough itinerary for each day. We will see how well we have planned I'm sure, when we start the trip. The Lord has been good to us these past few weeks. May we honor him always through our actions, words, and work.

Tim

In God We Still Trust

This music clip was sent to us from our neighbors.

"The song you are about to listen to is from a Las Vegas concert of the country band Diamond Rio .. They received an immediate, resounding standing ovation, and continue to do so every time they perform the song. Sadly, major radio stations are not playing it because it is considered "politically incorrect". Consequently the song was never released to the public."

~ for the rest of us, Tiffany

20th Anniversary, Tiffy's graduation, Vacation

Lisa and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in the Badlands of South Dakota in 2 weeks. God has been very good to us these years. We are extremely blessed to have been joined together 20 years ago. We have enjoyed each others company and have taken many times to stop and smell the roses along the way. For us, it has been an adventure of a lifetime, literally. I hope it will continue for a very long time God willing.

I have enjoyed seeing our children mature and grow in the Lord, learn new things and get excited about school starting for the next year as they are browsing through the new curriculum. We will be one student short this year in our schooling. Our oldest daughter Tiffany is graduating!!!!! Has it really been that long???? It doesn't seem possible, she was just a little girl yesterday, running around with ringlet curls bouncing on her neck, smiling and laughing, not a care in the world. Oh My, has time flown by.

As fathers we need to be especially diligent as to redeem the time that we have, to be influences in our children's lives. I pray that I will continue to be influential in my children's lives after they leave our home and start their own families. Lisa and I are excited about this generation (our children ). They won't have the same baggage that we've had to carry. They can strongly and boldly stand on our shoulders with a much clearer and brighter vision and future. May the Lord allow us to change the world through our family and vision.

Tim