From the east to the west

Life is from the east to the west

Once again it has been awhile since I have done an update on here and once again I am using Facebook as my excuse. Thanks to smart phones my Facebook has been updated more periodically with much of what is going on in our daily lives.  A constantly moving little boy means short updates on my wall are so much easier than sitting down to actually type more than one complete sentence.

It’s hard to believe that we went from being on the east coast one month to the west coast the next. Anyway, here we sit in Richland, Washington in another campground at another job. If you would have asked us two weeks ago if we like the area we would have said “we love it”, however, summer decided to hit hard and we have been in the triple digits or close for the last little bit and that is not so fun. We took a trip to the Oregon coast and Seattle and fell in love with that too. Ok, maybe not so much Seattle because of all of the people but there is so much to do and see. We met up with friends there at the end of the long holiday weekend and they played tour guide for the day! We hope we can go back someday and stay longer. We started our trip by going to the Tillamook cheese factory in Tillamook, OR and learning about all things dairy. We stayed the night in Pacific City and fell in love with the little town. We never considered ourselves “beach” people but in a place where the average yearly temp stays around 60 degrees, we may have a change of heart. We picked a random town to spend the night of the 4^th in, (Centralia, WA) and enjoyed the local celebration with remote control speed boats, hot dogs, a parade and a demolition derby done race track style.  We had so much fun spending time together as a family and seeing the sights. 

In a couple weeks Harlan and I will be heading back to Wyoming. I can’t believe that it is time for my 10yr class reunion. Nathan is going to fly out for that weekend and then Harlan and I may stay in Wyoming until Nathan finishes up with this job. I am so excited to see everyone, but also kind of sad to leave this place behind. We have loved having our own little yard here at the campground. We spend many afternoons outside playing in water and letting Mo chase the Frisbee.  We are also close to a wonderful park with a trail that follows the Columbia River. We go walking 2-3x/week for about 4miles. Mo comes with us and we stop at the boat dock and let Mo go swimming. Harlan gets a kick out of this and likes trying to throw the stick for Mo. One of my favorite things about the area is that almost every park has a splash pad or some sort of water feature. Our favorite is the wading pool that is in the same park we walk to. So fun and useful when it is so hot outside. Ok, so maybe it is my favorite because it guarantees a three hour nap for the little man. Yay!! Speaking of Harlan, he is getting to be so big. He got his first haircut this last weekend. Many of you saw the pictures on Facebook. I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to get him to sit still for it so I am glad there was a place that specializes in kid’s haircuts. He is learning more and more words and loves to help with whatever mom or dad is doing. He loves talking on the phone, playing with his train track and anything else that has wheels, reading books and getting into trouble.  I could go on forever about all of the things he has learned because there is something new every day. Keep checking Facebook for more fun pics!

We have been so fortunate in our travels and continue to thank God each day for this wonderful life we live. Well, until next time may God continue to bless you, keep you safe and give you the grace to make it through the tough days!

Rejoice in hope,

Be patient in tribulation,

 Be constant in prayer

Romans 12:12

a long way from home

Salt Life is a long way from home.

So, it’s been awhile.  There are a couple of reasons I have not updated in a while. The first is simple, we have just been busy. The second is that most of you keep up with us on facebook, so I apologize for just not feeling the need to update at the moment. That being said I will go into a little more detail about the goings on of the traveling Metzler family and I will try to keep it short but no promises.

Let’s start with location. Charleston, South Carolina. Well, to be more specific we are actually living in Goose Creek. We were fortunate in that we have been able to stay at the RV Park at Joint Base Charleston. This means that it is cheaper than a regular campground for this area and it is also in many ways much safer.  The park is located within the housing section of the base which has been so nice for taking walks and they even have a dog park which makes Mo extremely happy!  It has been so nice to be in an area where we have access to so much. We are constantly busy and although we have done quite a bit of exploring there is so much more to do. We have seen the aquarium, the beach and many of the wonderful parks in the area. We are hoping the weather begins to warm up as we look forward to visiting Patriots Point, Ft. Sumter (where the civil war began), some of the other beaches in the area and also making some trips to visit some of Nathan’s friends that live in adjoining states. 

As many of you have seen from pictures Harlan is growing like a weed. He is so interactive and too smart for his own good. He can climb about anything and I am constantly turning around to find him on top of things like his toy box or our bed.  He took his first steps the same day he turned 13 months old and since then has started to venture further and further. Crawling is still faster for him so as soon as he falls he just starts crawling instead of standing up again. He can sign milk, more and all done but we are still working on please. He waves hi and bye, gives and blows kisses, points to his belly, gives high fives and has learned he can point at what he wants and mom and dad might get it for him.  He still loves playing peek-a-boo and his favorite is using the bathroom door or to do so.  He loves playing in water so he loves bath time and his newest fascination is throwing things in the garbage (so far it has really been garbage and no toys). He talks/babbles constantly and has now begun singing. He keeps us on our toes and we have so much fun with him. He is truly a delight and we thank God for him daily because he makes each day brighter. 

Nathan’s work is wet to say the least. Oh the joy of being on the coast. Obviously being close to the ocean there is a lot of water inland through canals and bays and rivers but it also rains almost once a week sometimes for days at a time.  We are told it does this year round. His first week he encountered poison ivy/oak, we are really not sure which but needless to say he was red and itchy and quite miserable. He has had little bouts with it here and there but nothing like that first time which lasted a few weeks.  He works in a swampy area and at times they cannot get anything done until the tide is low.  He has seen a few alligators but says he will take those over the snakes he has been told about. So far he has not came across one but as it gets warmer that will probably change. He comes home pretty wet and dirty and often has a story about how he sunk down into mud up to his knee or thigh. 

Harlan and I have joined a mom’s group and are enjoying play dates and outings. He loves being around other kids and especially loves the younger babies.  Between the church and gym child care facilities Harlan is learning to be away from mom and dad for a period of time. This was tough at first but after a few weeks he could care less when we leave the room. It is exciting to see how grown up and independent he is but hard too because it has gone so fast.  

So, there it is! Life in South Carolina so far. The hardest part is being so far from everybody and so far from home. We have spent a lot of time away from home in the past few years but for some reason this time has been a little more difficult. (It may have been all that snow that we missed out on for snowboarding!) We are settling in to life on the coast and have no idea how much longer it might be. There is so much to do yet so we aren’t in a big hurry to leave but at the same time we look forward to going back west of the Mississippi. As for now, we are just thankful for technology like Facebook and Skype to keep in touch when we are so far away.  Until next time may God continue to bless you and keep you safe.

 

Give thanks to the Lord

                 for He is good

  His love endures forever

                                     Psalm 136:1

an unexpected blissful reality

Life is……an unexpected blissful reality

The year is flying by. It's getting to the end of September and Christmas will be here before we know it. This month Nathan and I celebrated 8yrs together and 2yrs of marriage. I can’t believe that it has been 8yrs and that we have a little boy who is 8 ½ months old.  Sure I imagined that one day I would get married and that we would have kids, but never did I think I would live in a fifth wheel camper part of the year traveling around the country. Nor did I think I would have a house in Cody Wyoming that needs a lot of work.  Never did I think I would meet someone so completely perfect for me.  A man who would do anything for me, but loves me enough to say “No” sometimes (that might be a little confusing to some but it means a lot to me). I thank God every day that he has given me a life that only He could have planned, because the life I envisioned in my little human brain was good, but not this good. No, it is not perfect and it is difficult at times, but through each trial we grow and we always come out better than we were before. My daily reminder of how blessed I am wakes me up each morning with the biggest smile he can muster and the best little chubby hands on my face.

Harlan is so close to being able to crawl. It is so fun to watch him trying to move this way and that while attempting to get across the room the fastest.  His current method is to put his head on the floor to support himself, move his hands forward, and then inchworm his way on his belly to his goal. This, combined with rolling, usually gets him across the room pretty quick. At times he tries to raise up on his toes and bear crawl. I'm not sure if this is an attempt at crawling or if he would just as soon get up and walk.  Currently his “crawl to” goals consist of the dog’s toys or the dog’s water dish. We are learning the word “no” quite well. I am so thankful for these everyday moments that I get to see this precious boy learn and explore and grow. I love watching the expressions that come across his face as he studies a toy or object and learns to grab, turn or manipulate it. Harlan also loves to be around people. We get a lot of attention in any store as Harlan has to make sure and smile at everyone he sees, and he gets especially excited when he sees another kid or baby.  Harlan has a completely different level of excitement, however, for his Daddy. Just the sound of Nathan’s voice is enough to produce the happiest smile and sometimes even a squeal. At times Nathan has to leave the room or get out of the line of sight just so Harlan will eat or go to sleep. I love it. Most of the time it cracks me up. If you ask Nathan, he might say he has that effect on most people.   I am so glad that we are able to be here with Nathan as he is working. It may not be the ideal situation for living with a baby, but we are so much happier than we would be if we had to be apart, and the memories we will have are worth all of the sacrifice.

 

 

walking uphill

Life is…walking uphill

This past weekend we had the opportunity to do some exploring of the great outdoors in Gallup. Gallup has a surprisingly picturesque landscape and has even provided the backdrop to a few westerns (I am not sure which ones). The red rock formations coupled with jagged and rolling hills gives this high desert a beauty of it’s own. It is nothing like what we are used to in our backyard but it is awe inspiring just the same. Through our travels and driving through many different terrains, Nathan and I have often discussed how incredible it is that God could create such varying arrays of beauty. What a marvelous creator we serve, and such a blessing to be reminded of it daily as we gaze upon all that is around us. 

Red Rocks park sits on the North side of Interstate 40 and contains hiking trails, campground facilities and rodeo grounds. We chose to hike the pyramid rock trail. Yep, you guessed it, a rock that is shaped like a pyramid.  This formation is one that can be seen from many places in Gallup due to its massive height. We were unsure as to how far of a hike it was, but we were willing to give it a shot knowing we had the option to turn around at any point. The novelty to this hike was completing it with a baby in tow. I recently purchased a carrier designed like a backpack in which Harlan can be carried in front or back. I wore him in front on the hike up and Nathan wore him on his back on the way down.  About a third of the way up Harlan fell asleep and managed to sleep for most of the climb. 

The view at the top was amazing to say the least and we were fortunate in being able to get a picture of all of us as evidence of our journey.

 

May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.  The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men. Psalm 115:15-16 NKJV

 

 

on Route 66

 

Life is….. on Route 66

A longtime part of American History and one of the most well-known roads in America, Route 66 is our new home for the summer. No longer a main thoroughfare it is now referred to as Historic Hwy 66, but all the same it is pretty exciting to be living on a piece of history.   Ironically as I began to decorate Harlan’s room prior to his arrival in an antique car and truck theme I came across a couple of décor items that were Route 66 and loved the feel of them in his room. Now to be on Route 66 with so many items in stores and gift shops bearing the famous highway symbol his room may be acquiring some more memorabilia. I already have my eye on a couple great items in the campground gift store…

Now then, how did we end up in Gallup, NM? Let me give you the short story. Work was hit and miss in Wendover and because Nathan is such an awesome Husband and provider and his bosses seem to be quite fond of him as well he found the means in which to bring us here where the work would be more stable.  This particular job site needed someone to do the specialized “geo” work that he has been doing for the last couple years. It is a long term job that he has the potential of working a tech position as well as being onsite to do geo and data mapping when they need it.  

We are much farther from home but we are finding that the blessings of what Gallup has to offer are far greater than in Wendover. The campground alone has been an upgrade and access to stores and hospital has greatly increased which gives me a little more peace of mind.  If we need anything that Gallup does not offer or just need a day away, Albuquerque is about two hours away. 

As many of you know before we left Wendover we were on the verge of purchasing a fifth wheel from a family in North Carolina. I will not get into the mess that occurred with this but I will say that things happen for a reason and God obviously has something different in mind for us.  We are disappointed at the time and money lost in this endeavor but sometimes that is how life works and we have chosen to look at it as an opportunity for spiritual growth and many life lessons. We pray that a better fit is out there for us and that the path will be clear.  God has blessed us around every corner and every path he leads us down. We have faith that he only wants the best for us and although it breaks our hearts when things don’t go the way we hoped, we find peace in knowing he has bigger and better things planned for us.   

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus- Philippians 4:19

a small space in a big world

Wendover...yes, this is just about all of it
The KOA is located behind the Red Garter Casino

Life is...  a small space in a big world.  Living in a fifth wheel is not for everyone but for some reason life with Nathan has led us to live in one more often than not. Needless to say, we have become proficient at living in a small space and all that goes with it. This time around has definitely presented some new challenges, but the overall routine is just the same.  Of course we could not make things easier on ourselves, so on top of living in a fifth wheel  with a dog and a baby we have added cloth diapers to the mix. This is a major factor in how we do things as far as our routine, but I am passionately in love with cloth diapers so I would not have it any other way.  So, in our 35 ft (approximately 300 sq. ft) trailer we have managed to fit a crib, changing table, dog crate, baby swing and other baby paraphernalia .  

This is what it looks like:

 

 We have learned to be very proficient in our small space and everything works quite well as long as you put things back where they go so you don't trip over them.  My current space for storing blankets is in the bottom of the crib because we use the bassinet at the moment. Harlan is growing like a weed though so I will soon be figuring out a different place to store blankets so we can lower the mattress.  

 

Harlan absolutely loves being in his stroller. If he is cranky I can put him in the stroller and he is instantly the most content baby you have ever seen. Often times while waiting for clothes/diapers to wash we walk the campground.  Mo often goes on these excursions with us and is learning to walk next to the stroller without getting run over, as well as to wait patiently outside the door of the laundry facility.  Notice the diapers drying and getting some sun! The sun is magic at removing stains, why did we ever think our time was so precious that we needed dryers instead of clothes lines. Ok, just kidding, I really don't want to dry EVERYTHING on the line.  

 

We managed to nab one of the spots with a few trees but the tree at the front of the camper prevents us from using the awning at the moment. All in all we have a nice little spot and are enjoying the campground. The trickiest part is dealing with the goathead stickers but I think we will survive that too!

Our prayers go out to those dealing with recent storms and the effects they are having on crops, belongings and the overall economy in your area. May God continue to bless each of you and bring us all together soon for a visit.

p.s. you will not be hearing from me for a couple of weeks! Nathan is headed to Virginia for a job and will be taking the computer. On a positive note he will be bringing back a new home for us that will have a second bedroom, a washer and dryer and a bigger fridge. YAY!

 

 

long trips and short naps

Life is...long trips and short naps.  Let me start by saying it was not my intention to start a  blog, write a few times  and then fall off the face of the earth.  That is just how crazy our life is. I do not have a computer as shortly before Harlan was born it decided after 6 years that it was done being revived and having every last breath squeezed out of it. This means that (I know you are not going to believe this) we only have one computer in our house. Nathan needs it for work more often than not and I am told that is way more important than needing it for Facebook and Pinterest. What does he know? Right?

 I mentioned in my last post that Nathan was summoned to go to Alabama. He was supposed to be there for two weeks but as life sometimes has a plan of its own, this turned into three weeks.  He flew home on Friday and we spent Sunday, mother's day, on the road to Wyoming.  Harlan and I stayed in Casper and Nathan continued on to Guernsey.  The last month has been typical crazy and Harlan is growing like a weed. The hardest part of Nathan being gone so much was him missing Harlan's daily changes.  He has been attempting to roll over but can't quite figure out how to get those arms out of the way. He is starting to tolerate tummy time a little more, especially if I put a mirror in front of him or prop him across my legs instead of the on the floor.  He loves going for walks in his stroller and watching the dog, Mo, whenever he is close by.   He hates sleeping during the day, especially if he thinks he is going to miss something but he does pretty good at night.  Nathan and I enjoy watching each day as Harlan changes and grows and learns.  It is hard to believe that he is already four and half months old.  Before I know it we will be celebrating his first birthday so I try to enjoy every moment while he is little, even the not so fun ones, and thank God each day that he has blessed me with the opportunity to be a stay at home mom. 

 

As I write this, Nathan is in N. Carolina looking at a fifth wheel that would give us more room and some better amenities.  I must say that I will miss our current fifth wheel as we have had it and lived in it for quite some time on and off with traveling and it is definitely our second home, but I look forward to more room and having a washer and dryer.  We have prayed about this decision a lot in the last couple of months and although it means a small step backwards toward our ultimate goal it will greatly improve the journey to that goal.  Not to mention make my husband more tolerable to live with because as many of you know he does not do well with clutter. 

...and so we continue on the path that God has for us whatever that may be and pray that each of you, our family and friends, are doing well and enjoying all the blessing of life.

Happy Memorial Day!