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