Escape from NY

     About a year ago my husband, Jeff, mentioned that we should plan a huge 3 month camping trip to Florida over the winter. He felt that the opportunity to be close to his dad and spend time as a family would be priceless (not to mention avoiding the upstate NY winter). We can homeschool in the camper but he felt we should have this adventure soon because our 12 year old will be old enough to have a job in a couple of years (or may join an orchestra). I had a mixed reaction.  I loved the idea of escaping the dreary cold winter but I knew I would have to give up a volunteer ministry job I love with Community Bible Study. After much prayer and discussion we decided we would go for it.
     Well, I did step down from my ministry job (but God provided an amazing replacement). And we got everything else ready. As soon as we stopped school for Christmas break, I made a list for all the school books we would need for 3 months.

Our plan was to wait until after Christmas. Macy had one huge Christmas prayer... She was praying hard for a white Christmas. God must love her because he answered her prayer in a big way.

I'm so glad that they had a few very fun days of playing in the snow before we left. And having a quiet Christmas at home was beyond wonderful. But after Christmas was over and quickly put away then the work began... How do you pack for a 3 month trip? 

I didn't make a list for the food... I just packed practically everything.

Clothes are a little harder. We have been in Florida when the weather in Jan. was chilly and we have been in Florida when the weather in Jan. was warm. So we packed a variety of outfits. Because of the snow we did not put the clothes away. We threw everything in the cold camper as quickly as we could. I was wondering how it would all fit. We watched the weather for an opening in the snow storms and on Friday, Dec. 28 2012 we set out.

Macy and I were reading "The Little House on the Rocky Ridge" on the way down. In it, Laura's daughter Rose discovers that an adventure is when you don't know what will happen next. Let the adventure begin.