We're Back!

It's been a long dry spell for us and I decided to go at this writing from another angle.  Since we have officially settled in one spot and are no longer "on the road" for any length of time I thought it would be fun to simply write about the happenings and the folks we see and know here in the East Valley.

We've had quite a year or so since our last voyage in our little camper - it is now long gone as is the pick-up that pulled it! No surprise there!  We are now on vehicle #115 - a Hyundai Tuscan.  Dean told me I could pick this vehicle out since I had so much trouble driving and parking the truck!    I like my little red buggy - it gets me where I want to go and I can park it at the grocery store without fear of running over someone with the cow-catcher on the front!  It can only pull a small 4 x 8 trailer but that's OK.  It's working out fine for small runs to Home Depot or Lowe's for projects that now seem to consume our thoughts!

As we decided to stop the traveling and settle down, the big dilemma was what to do with the 5th wheel.  It still is - and currently sits on a consignment lot waiting for the right buyer to come along.  It is a constant source of prayer for not only us but many people who know the financial drain this is becoming.  As we found our home in the mobile home resort where we now live and were in the process of moving, Dean had a stroke and at the end of that week, the day he was released from the hospital, the consignment company came and hauled the rig away.  It has now been there a year with less than sterling results.  But we still continue to pray and hope.  

In the meantime, Dean has recovered from his stroke, gone through lots of therapy, had more surgeries and is currently recovering from the insertion of a pacemaker/defibrillator just this past weekend.  This was always a fall-back procedure that he was to have but his condition had to get just so before he could have it done.  Stitches will come out next week and slowly he will begin to be able to get back to doing what he wants.  No golf for a time but that's a small price to pay for a healthy husband.

We anticipate a return to Iowa in time for Mother's Day and a high school graduation for one of the granddaughters!  It will be wonderful to see family again.  Many of our friends here are beginning to pack up and begin their journeys home - some will not return as they feel it time to stay close to family due to health concerns.  I'm sure our family has had that same thought in the past 12 months.  But at this time we can only reassure them we are getting great care here and feel safe and content in our new home.  

Our park is full of fun activities and fine, caring people.  Many do stay for the whole year so we do have friends we see all year round.  And we are as active as we can be in our church here.  My brother now lives just about 5 minutes away in a group home so I keep an eye on him and we see each other at least once a week.  

It is a good life here and we feel very blessed to have this time to enjoy the weather, our friends and each other.  As one of my Facebook friends is fond of saying - it's a good day in my corner of the world.  I pray it is in yours as well!

 Welcome to our New Home !