Yahoo Family Reunion 2008

About five years ago we started a tradition with Dad's family in Michigan of taking a one week vacation together RVing. We can have up to 20 people at times with 4 or 5 rigs. We travel to various locations in the beautiful state of Michigan. We have done Macinaw Island, Traverse City, Ludington, Houghton Lake and now Benzonia.

Our family can get a little rowdy when together. We have been asked to be quiet in all of the RV parks we have stayed. One year we were called a bunch of "yahoos." We shouted a big "YAHOO!" to that name and it stuck. That is how the Yahoo Family Reunion began. Do you think our trailers might give the impression we are yahoos?

Monmouth memories

July 5-12, 2008

After picking up the rig and eating a dozen throwed rolls in Sikeston, we traveled to Monmouth, Illinois. K and mom stayed for a week to babysit brand-new niece, Mia and beautiful nephew, Ben.

Monmouth is where mom grew up for 4th grade through college. It is a college town with big Oak trees and wonderful old homes with wrap-around porches and friendly neighbors. It still has a town square and frequent freight trains blowing through. The only downfall...no good restaurants! Not a Chipoltle in sight! Yes, I know, mom could have cooked a wonderful meal in the new rig. First she would have to read the manual. A convection oven/microwave is pretty Star Trekish for this mom!

We parked our beauty at Citizen's Lake Campgrounds right in Monmouth. We had a full hook-up (sewer, 50 amp electricity, water) for $12 a night!!! That almost makes up for the $200 we spent on gas to get there!

Mom and K had a great time. We babysat during the day and watched movies at night with surround sound on. Don't tell dad we also played with all the buttons...awning in, awning out.

If you ever get to this part of the country, go fishing at Citizen's Lake. We saw some big catches. Make sure you bring a frying pan because that will probably be the best food you get! Sorry Monmouth...you still win on best bargain for an RV site however.

The bottom picture is mom with our dog, Ashes, taking trash to the dumpter. You can see the very full lake in front of us. Isn't that green grass lucious?!

Sikeston, MO

July 4th, 2008
Throwed rolls anyone?

After picking up the new motorhome we drove a short distance to Sikeston. Was it for the easily accessible sites? No. Was it for the lovely firework display? No. Was it the friendly town atmosphere? No. All of this is true but we stopped for Lamberts.

If you have ever eaten at Lamberts, you know why we had to stop 1/2 a mile from one for the night. If you haven't eaten there, we are so sorry. You must stop sometime for a gallon of sweet tea to drink and to catch a hot roll.

Our first night in the rig was a little frightening. We weren't sure if we were doing the automatic jacks correctly as the warning signals were flashing wildly and beeping at us. The noises were all new to us and made us feel as if we were new at RVing all over again. The beads of sweat upon Dad's forehead were finally stopped as he was able to get out of the driver's seat.

We played with all the buttons and found that we enjoyed the 5 disc DVD player the best. We bought some supplies at ...Wal-mart...of course. Mrs. Kimbro had stocked us with TP, chemicals and water. We just needed munchies and a few designer accessories like placemats.

The next morning we were a little daunted by the task of pulling it all together to take off for the next leg of the journey. What had we gotten ourselves into?! But as happens with any new parent, when a passerby mentioned how beautiful our new baby is, we were ready to do anything needed! She certainly is gorgeous!

And so it begins...

On July 4th, 2008 we picked up our new (used 2005) motorhome in Marks, Mississippi. The Kimbro family had originally purchased this Allegro Bay by Tiffin as a new rig. They put every bell and whistle on her (it is definitely a girl) with the intent of driving her for a long time. They treated her as a princess. Tender-loving care was used on every inch of her. The Kimbros did some wonderful camping in her until their health could no longer be ignored. They felt she was being left alone too much and made the tough decision to sell her.

We found her on the internet and loved her but didn't see how we could possibly upgrade. We have camped in a travel trailer followed by a 5th wheel and startled ourselves thinking it was already time to wanderlust again. We kept looking at her over and over and visiting the pictures of how beautiful the Kimbros had kept her. Finally we made contact. We'll spare you the financial details but just know she is a blessing and a bargain!

So we made the trek to Mississippi and met the nicest couple you could ever buy a second home from. The Kimbros spent lots of time with us showing their baby. She was more beautiful than the pics on the internet. We were in awe! The southern hospitality of the Kimbros still shines in our rig. Little touches of home are there for us to enjoy such as strategically placed lighting and rugs.

It was very heartbreaking to watch the Kimbros part with their baby. We all cried a little that day. As RVers ourselves we knew what it meant for them to give up this part of their life. We will be forever grateful for this gift. It may just seem like a purchase of an RV to others, but to our two families it was a "God-thing." Among our other commonalities, we found we were all believers. Their faith, integrity and love for the open road still rides with our rig. Every day we thank God for the Kimbro Family sacrifice.

That was the start of the journey to follow the wind of the Spirit.