WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

November 19, 2023

We are finding it hard to believe that it has been 4 1/2 months since our last blog!  Since we are not traveling at this time and life has fallen into a comfortable routine we aren't doing many things to share other than spending quality time with family and friends.

Last blog we were about to leave for Benson, AZ to bring back to IL the items we had stored there.  It was really strange traveling so far in the car, eating at restaurants and staying at hotels as opposed to being in the motorhome.  We both agree we missed the motorhome. Our travels down and back went without a hitch which we are very grateful for.  

Saw this at one of the rest stops.  

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Saw some beautiful scenery

Stopped at our favorite little 50's dinner on Rt 66 in Adrian, Texas

Great food and we always buy our grandson, Adrian, something from there 

While in Benson we celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary and went to lunch with our dear friends Sue and Al Mohs who had just celebrated their anniversary

Also visited our favorite Mexican restaurant, Mi Casa. 

We then packed and packed and packed some more.  Weren't sure it would all fit in our little rented trailer but Jerry did a great job and it just fit.

We were both exhausted - it was July and VERY warm outside

We arrived back to Illinois and Vincent returned from visiting his mom in Texas and we had a few weeks before school started

Lots of time at the park and out on the slip n slide.

Attended a bonsai show Jerry's son and daughter in law are very involved in

Robert, Jerry's oldest son, showing Vincent how to prepare and trim a bonsai

Vincent's first bonsai

I haven't been involved in getting school supplies for many many years and boy have things changed

Vincent started soccer

And started 1st grade

I actually teared up watching him get on the bus

Torra is not allowed on the counter - as you can see no part of her is on the counter

Vincent presenting Grandpa with his birthday cupcake

He grew his first tomato 

And we said goodbye to oldest grandson Calvin as he left for his second year of college

Vinent has a silly grandpa

We got to see our granddaughter in a school play

And we moved from soccer season into basketball

We helped my baby brother celebrate his 60h birthday

So as I said not much traveling but lots of time with family and friends.  Both Jerry and I are in bible studies at church.  We volunteer several times a week at Love In The Name of Christ.  Thanksgiving day we will be at our church where we annually serve over 200 Navy Recruits from Great Lakes Naval Station a full Thanksgiving dinner as well as calls home to family and loved ones. It is a wonderful and rewarding day and I am very excited about doing it again after 8 years on the road when we weren't here for Thanksgiving.

The day after Thanksgiving my son, grandson, Jerry and I are going to Peoria, IL to spend the weekend with my brother and the day after Christmas Jerry and I leave (Vincent will be in Texas with his mom) for eight days in South Carolina. 

So all in all life is good, very different than the past eight years (we are still adjusting to the cooler temps and the cold isn't even here yet) but we have no regrets - okay once in awhile we wonder what are we doing here but feel blessed to have this time to be in Illinois.

Our mailing address for at least the next 18 months is: 701 Owl Creek Lane Gurnee, IL

so any of you who still send cards you can mail things to Gurnee.  

Emery, SD is still our permanent address and we will get mail sent there just takes longer.

We pray that each and everyone of you has a blessed Thanksgiving and a Wonderful Christmas - remember the reason for the season.

Hugs and Much Love, Carol & Jerry

 WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

July 14, 2023

Living with a cat, Vincent's, is interesting - they can get anywhere if they want to bad enough!

On June 2nd we had the privilege of attending our dear friends, Peter & Becky Wright's, daughters wedding.  It was the most  meaningful ceremony I have ever attended and the reception did not disappoint either

Our oldest grandson was an usher - he looked so handsome!

The venue and decorations were outstanding and for dessert there were flaming donuts - who knew?

And to make things even better they donuts were topped with vanilla ice cream

Over 20 years ago when Jerry's daughter was expecting our first grandson, Calvin, Jerry participated in a raffle and won a huge teddy bear.  Cal has had the Teddy bear all these years and just gifted it to our youngest grandson Vincent - 

Vincent loves the Teddy too

On June 3rd we got the keys to our new rental home and the work began

Vincent trying out the tub in our bathroom

My youngest brother came for a visit and treated us all to dinner at Rain Forest Cafe

We have spent 5 summers in Park City, IL on the same spot - 

but we have now but her into storage

My cousin has a convertible and took V for a ride to Dairy Queen - he really liked having the top down

One morning he said he was going up to get dressed and came down looking SO sharp!

Not so happy when Nana told him he had to swallow his carrots

This past weekend we drove over to Lansing, MI to visit our middle grandson Adrian

He and grandpa really enjoyed the history museum

Two of the couples in this picture are from IL but we never knew them until we started full timing.

They were all in IL this summer visiting family.  The other couple have gotten off the road but we met full timing and they now live in IL

Our move into the house went smoothly and we have been blessed with friends giving us furniture they don't need anymore, my son brought his furniture, we bought some from the lady that was renting our house before us and we have been able to fill in the rest of our needs with a wonderful store called Loved Twice.

Although the move went smoothly it was very tiring.  We had friends and family help with the heavy stuff but oh my!!!  Not as easy as it was 20 years ago which is the last time we moved.

It has all worked out fine so far - the 4 of us living together.  Not sure if the honeymoon period is over or not but so far so good.

This Tuesday Jerry and I are heading back to Benson, AZ with the Jeep, renting a trailer, and bringing back some of the items we have stored for years in AZ.  Vincent is visiting his mom in Texas so it is a good time for us to to make the trip.

For our friends reading this that are fighting health issues know that you are thought about and prayed for.

We hope that you are all having a wonderful summer

Hugs and Blessings, Carol & Jerry

 WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

May 29, 2023

I ended the last blog with me in IL and Jerry in AZ and an explanation as to why things were that way.

Except for a week when I flew out to AZ for a visit that is how things were until May 13th when I flew back to AZ and Jerry and I spent a week bringing the motorhome back to IL.  We are parked in Park City where we have been spending summers for many years.

Vincent's last day of kindergarten is this coming Wednesday and next Saturday we get the keys to our rental home in Gurnee.  More about that in a bit.

Our little leprechaun

Thanks to some dear friends I was able to purchase a van from one of their family members.  

I had mentioned in the last post that some other friends parents had lent me a car and we are so grateful for both of these families that helped us out!

Celebrating our daughter-in-laws birthday

Vincent is fascinated with cars.  Our friends have several Corvettes and invited him over to see them.

                             He had the BEST time.  After we got home he said 

             "they were really nice people - no they were really really nice people."

Vincent enjoying my sister-in-laws beautiful garden

My friend Laura is training her dog to be a comfort dog and to help children learn to read.

Vincent went over several times to help out with the training process.

Just to add some excitement to one afternoon he got his knee stuck in the chair.  

No pain we just couldn't get it out - 

Fortunately Daddy arrived home soon from work and had to remove screws to get his leg out!!

I am also learning things from Vincent as he finishes up kindergarten -  

I have learned about Brain Breaks, Germ Busters and Line Leaders

Our lot in Benson, AZ as we pulled out to head back to IL

After 5 months it is wonderful to be back together again!

Our return trip was uneventful - Thank God

We took no rest days so it was our fastest return trip ever - we were pooped.

We however weren't as tired as Vincent after he returned from school one day recently, he is sound asleep

So what does the future look like for the Wandering Wrights - well not as much wandering for awhile.

Next Saturday we get the keys to the far end unit of this townhome.  

701 Owl Creek Lane Gurnee, IL 60031

We are going to live together in an attempt to give Vincent as stable of a home life as possible.  

It is a large home and Stephen & Vincent will have the entire top floor to themselves - 

3 bedrooms, full bath and a nice size loft area - the extra bedroom will be an office for Steve.

The main floor will be all of our living space:  eat-in kitchen, laundry, dining/Vincent play room,  

living room and master bedroom and bath on the main floor.  A large basement with a finished area for Jerry to have a man cave.  We are praying we will be happy here as a family but still have the ability to have our "own" space.  Vincent will also be in a good school district.

So that brings you up to date - it is an exciting time but a HUGE life-style change for all of us - all prayers are greatly appreciated as we all make large adjustments from our old lives and embrace our new lives together.