My friends are polite people. I say this because I know that some of them are probably wondering why in the world we have chosen to sell or give away most of our belongings, buy a travel trailer and move into it full time. But as I said they are polite, and as of yet, no one has really broached those questions. So here goes a simple, hopefully not too long answer for those dying to ask. Because we wanted to… no just kidding. That is not the whole reason. Yes, I think that perhaps I have always had a deep desire to live simply, travel and see this wonderful country.

My husband, Richard, and I have always, no matter our circumstances, lived an interesting if not somewhat tumultuous life. We have raised four wonderful, interesting children, each with their own flair and way of living their life. In June of this year, 2016, our youngest and her husband moved out of our house leaving us as empty nesters. Now, the fact that we are empty nesters did not play a huge role in the decision, but it sure did give us the freedom to do something where we did not have to worry about anyone but ourselves. Well, and also our little dog too! (that sure does sound familiar). Oh, I digress. Anyway, for those who do not know us, the last two years have been quite trying, due to health, work and other issues. But God is good and He has taken care of us, even if at times we were not as trusting as we should have been.

I won’t go into details here in regards to all that has happened, however, it has played a big part in understanding where God was leading us. As I said before, at the end of June our lease was up, the kids, as we like to refer to them, were moving out and as finances would find us, we could not afford to extend our lease where we were. We started to search, but to no avail, for accommodations in Williamsburg and the surrounding areas. Each door that we tried to open and walk through, swiftly shut in our faces. This led us to looking at alternative avenues, one of which we had been contemplating for a while was moving to the gulf of Florida. With what we could afford, which wasn’t much, we considered the Clearwater area. We checked into purchasing a mobile home in one of the parks, some looked rather nice for the price and lot rent was doable.

Once again, doors were shut, if not permanently, temporarily. You see most parks in that area were for 55 and up individuals. We did not quite fit the bill, although we were close. After speaking with a few real estate agents that had homes for sale, we were discouraged, most if not all would not break the rule even if we were just short less than a year from reaching that 55-year-old milestone. What to do, what to do! Well, in the back of my mind, and discussed previously by us, if not heatedly at times, was the idea of buying some type of RV or travel trailer and hitting the road. Perhaps even work camping along the way. I have to admit, Richard was not too keen on moving into a small space and we could not afford one of those huge RV’s that are literally a home away from home. But I think circumstances and especially God’s leading won out in the end.

As I look back over that last few months, it is quite obvious that God was working in this whole situation. Richard had been injured and had no real income to speak of, Marriott Vacations Worldwide is a great company to work for, great benefits, but I have to admit, income wise, not so great. To do this move, to buy a travel trailer and something to pull it with, was not something that, in my logical mind, could ever possibly work out. But God had other ideas! Where we needed the money to buy outright the travel trailer and fix it up, He provided. When we needed a vehicle to use to pull it from place to place, He provided way above what I ever imagined possible. We had a small car, a Nissan Versa Note, that we just the previous year had purchased, or should I say started making payments on. We figured that we would need to pay off that loan, which was still very big with a high interest rate, before buying something that would pull the trailer. God, however, has all the cattle on the hill, just as I heard over and over in church.

We were able to not only trade our car in for almost the amount owed, but with paying the difference and the deposit for the truck, came out spending less than we would have paid to pay off the car itself. We were able to finance it at more than half the interest rate we were paying and the payment was roughly about the same as our car. God is good! This was all done on my income alone, which is saying something also. Boy did I say a long story short? Well for now my point is, God can do anything. We need to trust; I am speaking to myself as well as anyone else that needs to read these words!!!! Trust God, if it is what He has planned for you, it can happen. He can do so much more than we can ever do by ourselves. His word tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 When we open ourselves up to what He has for us, when we seek and ask for His guidance and plan, we find that nothing is impossible.

More to come, so travel on!