On The Road Again

We are in North Carolina again. This is our BIG trip for 2009. Some of you have wondered if we dropped off the face of the earth. It is just that for the most part we have been living in Lubbock and working since last September. Not much to blog about and too busy to do postings. We have taken several short trips and yes we do have some stories which we will share with you bloggers now that we have some free time when we are not sightseeing or playing with Abigail.

Below is Mel with confederate soldiers at the Battle of Bentonville Historical Site. It was the largest battle fought in North Carolina during the civil war in March of 1861, between General Sherman's union army and various confederate battalions led by General Johnston. We saw a musket firing and artillery demonstration and as well as an authentic confederate camp, and a farm house that was occupied by the union army and turned into a hospital. Over 80,000 soldiers fought at this site for 3 days. Over 500 union soldiers were treated in the "hospital", mostly amputations. Patients with "mortal wounds" such as head, chest, or abdominal injuries were kept comfortable with Morphine outside on the ground until they died.

After the battle was over and the union army left, the Harvey family took back possession of their wrecked home. They searched for wounded confederate soldiers left to die on the battlefield and brought them into the house and did the best they could for them. The house is restored to what it looked like as a field hospital complete with makeshift operating tables and surgical instruments. Very interesting.

Abigail Joy is almost 8 months old now and has she ever got an exuberant personality... Nothing gets by her and she wants to be a part of everything that is going on around her. We thank God every day for her and are especially thankful that she is healthy. She is strong and well nourished and the cutest little southern belle that has ever graced this earth.

After we left North Carolina around the first of September last year, we traveled across the South, taking 5 days to return to Lubbock. We've learned lot about getting out of tight spots, setting up camp and breaking camp in the pouring rain, avoiding or being divinely delivered from severe weather and the wide variation of quality of RV parks.

I guess I will start bringing you up to date with a tornado story. We were traveling west on Interstate 20 near the Georgia-Alabama line. It had been raining all around us all day. We were trying to avoid the worst of the bands of rain being thrown across the southeast by a hurricane in the gulf at that time. We stopped for gas and lunch in our RV at a large truck stop. Karen was driving when we got back on the road giving Mel a much needed break since he does 90 per cent of the driving. We had been on the road for about 20 minutes when we crossed the Alabama line. Suddenly, Karen switched from the CD music we had been enjoying to the radio. There was no reason, nothing had changed in the weather that we could see, and we generally prefer the CD's. When her finger hit the seek button, the first words we heard were "TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!" The broadcast went on to say, "IF YOU ARE HEARING THIS AND YOU ARE ON INTERSTATE 20 NEAR EXIT 10 IN ALABAMA, GET OFF THE ROAD NOW AND TAKE COVER! THERE IS A TORNADO ON THE GROUND MOVING NORTH EXPECTED TO CROSS INTERSTATE 20 IN FIVE MINUTES!" We looked up and saw we were approaching exit 5! We would have been at exit 10 exactly when that tornado crossed if we had not heard that warning! We took exit 5 and waited for the storm to pass at the Alabama Welcome Center angle parked between two semi's. We got only small hail and some wind but felt safe in the arms of God knowing that it was His divine intervention that caused us to hear that message.

We continued to listen to that radio broadcast until we were assured it was clear to continue. Almost as soon as we got back on the road, we lost that station's signal. Does Heaven have a radio station? Hmmmm I wonder.

When we got back to Lubbock on Labor Day weekend, we were excited to attend South Park and show off our Fifth Wheel and get to see everyone again. We moved into Loop 289 RV park near our dear friend Virgie Cross and her family who own and operate the park.

We took a short trip in October to El Paso Texas, Las Cruces, NM, White Sands and Ruidoso, I will tell you about next week. We spent two weeks in Palo Duro in December. There is more to come.

Not Ready for Bye-Bye

We will soon be leaving North Carolina to head back to Texas for awhile. We have obligations that must be met that require us to leave Abigail and Amy and Josh for a little while. They will do great without us, but we hate to leave.

Sarah has been here this week and has taken the wonderful pictures you have been seeing. It has been a special blessing to be with her. Check out Amy and Josh's blog for more pics.

One thing we are looking forward to is seeing our friends and family in Lubbock and showing off our new little home. Especially pulling our heartstrings are some little girls who we have missed almost to the point of unbearable. As much as we hate to say goodbye to Abigail, we look forward just as much to getting our arms around Rebecca and Izzy again. We also have Sophia, Sierra, and Sydni not too far away in Whiteface. This grandparent thing is just the greatest joy. Wish we could get the Smithermans a little further west though.

We plan to leave the first part of next week, hoping to thread our way across the South and avoid tropical storm "Fay" as much as possible.

We thank everyone for their continued prayers.

See you soon,

Mel and Karen

These Pictures Say It All

Bath Time

Memomma had the wonderful privilege of giving Abigail her first bath at home this morning. She got all dressed up to go on her first little outing to the pediatrician's office for a bilirubin check. She is a little jaundiced, no one is worried, but they are checking it daily until it starts going down. Her bilirubin was the same today as yesterday, so we think it has peaked and will start going down in a day or two. This is common as most of you know, and especially in our family. Amy had to stay under the bili-light for several days after she was born. Abigail's weight is good and she is wetting plenty of diapers. She is a delight to us all.

Karen is staying over at Josh & Amy's house this week. Mel comes over for awhile during the day and enjoys the fun, but otherwise he is home alone with the puppies, getting some reading done and listing some things on ebay. This is our world for now.

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Here She Is!

Abigail Joy, born 1258 am, 8/9/08, wt. 7#11oz., 20 1/2 in. long, blonde hair, blue eyes. She is great. Mom and all okay.

Today is the day!

We are all at the hospital awaiting the arrival of our little Abigail Joy. She is expected to make her entrance some time this evening. She already has our hearts wrapped around her little finger and we can't wait to see her and hold her. I will make another entry tonight or tomorrow and try to post a picture.

Excited and Praising His Name

Karen