Interview with the Family: Everything you REALLY wanted to know!

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What has been the hardest part of living life on the road in an RV for you?

Dad: I had a picture in my head of what life would look like out on the road. Wow, was I wrong! So giving that picture up and settling into the routine that we created. I really believe how we live in our park model trailer for weeks in the summer helped me prepare for the tight quarters we had on the RV, so that adjustment was pretty smooth.

Mom: Having almost zero time for myself to read the many books and do the many projects I thought I would tackle while on the road. I initially visualized us as having lots of down time, but that was not the case. Life was full and busy with driving the RV, planning and organizing for the next adventure that awaited us, taking care of logistical details of life on the road (laundry, shopping, things back home that need attended to, etc…). Had we parked in campgrounds and stayed for extended lengths of time, I might have had that coveted down time, but that is not how we ended up traveling, so I had to relinquish the desires to do those many other things. That was hard.

Randall: Being in a small space with very little room to move

Dominic: Just trying to figure out how to live in an RV at the beginning of the trip.

Jaela: Lack of space and privacy. Couldn’t hide away very well when feeling emotionally drained, on-edge or burned out. Also, the noise level with everyone in the RV got on my nerves at times.

Maleah: Fitting my clothes and personal belongings into my bunk space with my sister’s things as well.

Samuel: Having to do schoolwork when I didn’t want to

Levi: Not having enough room to move around sometimes and be busy with my body

What has been your favorite part of the RV trip?

Dad: Hanging out for 9 months with everyone, every day, and seeing God at work. His faithfulness has been amazing to see and then talk about with Jean and the kids.

Mom: Concentrated time together as a family, seeing our Father’s world and making so many

memories together. Also, seeing God’s hand of protection and provision all over our family and our experiences. Day by day and moment by moment. It’s overwhelming at times to reflect on His work in the details of our journey.

Randall: Getting to see the country and all that God has created for us to enjoy!

Dominic: Being able to hit so many of the National Parks. Glacier is my favorite!

Jaela: Hanging with my family and making so many sweet memories together. Also, the many

opportunities and people God brought our way.

Maleah: Seeing all the things we were able to do that we didn't plan or didn't even know about until last minute. God's faithfulness.

Samuel: Seeing all the different landscapes around the country

Levi: Friends and family

What advice would you give to someone who tells you they are thinking about living in an RV for a long period of time?

Dad: Bring along a lot of grace and patience, because it's needed! While on the road, I saw a wine tumbler that said, "Sorry for what I said while we were trying to park the RV. Things can get tense.

Mom: Let’s talk! Reach out to me with your questions. I’m happy to help in whatever way I can. There is definitely a learning curve to that way of life but it’s well worth it if you can do it. Others helped us a year ago, answering our many questions, advising, speaking of their experiences, etc.. I’m ready topay it forward.

Randall: Be prepared to be comfortable with whoever you are traveling with because the space can be pretty tight.

Dominic: Make sure your family relationships are strong and you get along with each other. We couldn't do this if we were not a close-knit family.

Jaela: Know what you’re getting yourself into, and know that the first couple of months will probably be rough. We were initially wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into, but eventually we settled into RV life and realized it’s actually doable. Make sure to have clear communication too…especially when tension is high.

Maleah: Make sure that you have a good relationship with your family before you go. If you don't, it won't be much fun. 

Samuel: Be prepared to not have as much to do (play) when you are traveling down the road

Levi: Make sure you know how to drive one because there might be hard things ahead of you like maybe running into something or getting in a crash.

What was your favorite state and why?

Dad: Texas! I loved doing Christmas on the beach. The people were very nice and helpful. The state itself has many different geographical regions throughout, from desert to really wooded with rolling hills, so I found it mostly beautiful. Also, we picked up Lucy in Texas! Florida was great too as that was where we really got into the warmer weather, but there's a lot of people in Florida, so it also felt very cramped!

Mom: Geographically, I loved Idaho best. The area we traveled still remains in my mind with beautiful tree covered hills, valleys, rivers, and winding roads. And Craters of the Moon National Park was “other-worldly.” I loved it there!

Randall: Florida - getting to go deep sea fishing and then going to Daytona 500 speedway to see truck racing

Dominic: Montana - I love the open prairies and mountains. Also, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks are there. 

Jaela: Texas or Florida. Texas because of all the fun things we did and because that’s where we got our sweet Lucy Loo…also loved the warm Christmas weather and shell-y beaches. Florida because of the lovely coast and week-long Gospel music convention. In terms of scenery, I really liked the forested hills and mountains of Arkansas.

Maleah: Florida because of all the things we got to do there.

Samuel: Wyoming because I like the “cowboy” feel of it.

Levi: Tenneessee because we went to Dolly Pardon’s Stampede show

What was your least favorite state and why?

Dad: California - everything was more expensive there. Gas, food, all of it. It was also very dirty in the bigger cities and there were so many homeless people. It was hard to see that.

Mom: California! UGH… Hated it for many reasons. Much of it was lovely geographically, and then there were the cities we drove through and into. Las Angeles, San Francisco, etc… Too much concrete, cars, and people. There is such a major homeless problem, which was heartbreaking. Prices were through the roof on everything! I talked to many, many people there, and every single one of them said the only reason they are in California is because of the weather. Economically, socially, politically, etc.. things have deteriorated badly. I could not get out of that state fast enough.

Randall: California - because it was so crowded, and it's a liberal state and you can see the real effects of political policy there.

Dominic: California - Too many cities and people in one location. The state is beautiful

geographically, but I would not go back.

Jaela: Texas again, because that’s where I lost my little fur-baby, Mom had her concerning incident with the bee sting infection, and the over-abundant, ever-present prickles that were always happy to stab you. (Also, California…just cuz it’s California.)

Maleah: Mississippi, because we didn’t do very much there.

Samuel: California, because it felt closed in to me

Levi: Arizona, because it was hot and we went through some desert

What was your favorite activity you did?

Dad: Too hard of a question because there were so many, but here are a few. Hang gliding for the first time ever, whitewater rafting, walking through the Hoh Rainforest, spending over two hours by myself in the Johnny Cash museum, Christmas on the beach and then having our friends, the Muellers, show up unexpectedly at our RV that day, Down East Boys and gospel music, and so many more...

Mom: Boy that’s a tough one! I’m going to cheat and pick a few. Hiking through Hoh Rainforest in Washington, swimming with the manatees in Florida, attending Down East Boys concerts, and spending a couple of days at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. Also, celebrating Christmas on the beach was a dream come true!

Randall: Deep-sea fishing

Dominic: It would be either deep sea fishing or going to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Being able to swim in the Colorado river in the canyon was really fun too.

Jaela: Probably the week or so that we spent volunteering at the Great Passion Play/Christ of the Ozarks. I’ve really enjoyed traveling and having fun, but there is something about being able to support a good ministry through the use of your hands that is strangely fulfilling in a deeper way than just experiencing travel for the fun of it.

Maleah: The Gospel Music Convention in Florida.

Samuel: Being at the Great Passion Play volunteering and being in the play also.

Levi: Going to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

What are you most grateful for in relation to this trip?

Dad: I'm most grateful for our Director of Operations, Jean. She has done such an amazing job of finding great things for us to do, persevering through some big hills and mountains while she's driving, and reminding us of how awesome our God is, and all that He's done for us on this epic road trip!

Mom: I’d have to default to the same answers above that I gave when asked my favorite part of the trip. In addition, I’m just so grateful that the Lord gave Mark and I the vision of being able to do this for our children – to take them into all 48 states – and then made it possible for us to achieve that goal. We’ve had the opportunity of a lifetime in so many ways. He is so kind to us. Finally, I’m so grateful for many dear friends around the country that we got to see and spend time, and for the wonderful new friends we’ve met along the way also. The tapestry the Lord weaves among His people is indeed a beautiful one!

Randall: Mom finding all the different things we have been doing throughout the trip.

Dominic: I am so grateful that our parents were willing to buy this RV and take us to all these states. Also, that they were willing to keep going, even when sometimes we felt ready to give up.

Jaela: Other than the opportunity to make all these memories with my family, probably the

introduction to Southern Gospel Music.

Maleah: I am most thankful for my mom and God. My mom for doing all the planning, and God for redirecting her plans when He saw fit. 

Samuel: That we have a house to go back to once we are done. We don’t have to keep living in the RV while we find one to buy in Iowa.

Levi: Jesus protected us.

What is something normal for after all those months living in an RV, that you never thought would be when you first started out?

Dad: Cleaning out the black tank when doing the dump and fill of our black/grey/fresh water tanks. It wasn't fun in the beginning, and then in Oklahoma, a plastic pop bottle from the previous owner flushed through the septic hose with the sewage. That explained why we’d been having problems for a few months. Things got much easier and normal after that!

Jean: Being the primary driver of our 32 foot RV! We logged well over 20K miles, most of those driven by me. That was not the original plan, but for several reasons, we found it worked best that way.

Randall: Helping with the dumping and filling (it can be pretty smelly :) 

Dominic:  Fixing lunch in an RV while moving down the road.

Jaela: Brushing my teeth in Walmart bathrooms to save on-board water supply. It was awkward when people walked in and gave strange looks, but it became a very normal part of life.

Maleah: Remembering to pull in the slide before we pull out. I would forget when we first started on the trip. Then it became second nature. 

Samuel: Just plain living in an RV!

Levi: Having a very big dog to love and play with.

What is your absolute most favorite memory from the trip?

Dad: There are so many that it's really hard to pick my most favorite. Just when I think I have one, I remember other things we did... One of the most special, was watching the mass ascension at the hot air balloon fiesta in Albuquerque, NM. That was the one thing we had planned when we left on this adventure and there were many times we didn'[t think we'd make it there - to the point we actually cancelled our campground reservations. Then to make it there and to see God work in all the details of where to stay and different people we met there - watching those hundreds of balloons rise into the sunrise that first morning there was very special and emotional!

Mom: My most favorite memory is boondocking on the beach in Texas for Christmas. I wasn’t sure how we would pull off our traditional fondue meal for Christmas Eve, but we did, and it was amazing! And then, on Christmas Day, God gave us an unexpected and wonderful gift. Our long-time friends from Minnesota just “happened” to be driving by on the beach and noticed our RV. They had no idea we were there in Texas, and we had no idea they were doing Christmas in Texas. Had they been looking the other direction when they drove down the beach, they would never have seen Kram-a-Lot Inn and would have driven on by. But they did see it, and they knew it was the D-Team. I will never forget that moment of looking out the RV window and there were the Muellers walking toward us. We had been disconnected from our social circle of family and friends in Minnesota since July, so having someone show up like that from back home was just the most extraordinary gift of Christmas grace, and a memory that will last a lifetime.

Randall: Helping out at The Great Passion Play

Dominic: Christmas on the beach and picking up Lucy in Texas

Jaela: Ooof…that’s tough. We did so much, that it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite, so I narrowed it down to four. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico was incredible. Swimming with Manatees in Florida was unique. And whitewater rafting in Tennessee was a blast! Finally, volunteering at the Great Passion Play in Arkansas was such a wonderful way to be able give back in a small way after having experienced God's faithfulness all along our trip.

Maleah: My favorite memory is watching Mom walk into the RV on her birthday in January and be super surprised about her cake and gifts that her best friend in Minnesota and a Florida friend we were visiting had made arrangements for. She had no plans to tell anyone it was her birthday and didn’t expect anything, so she was in tears when she saw that Mrs. B and Mrs. C had gone out of their way to do something so special for her.

Samuel: Picking up Lucy Loo in Texas

Levi: Memories from when Rosie was alive and traveling with us

Were there any places where you stopped that were not very welcoming?  

Dad: The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo TX. It was the home of the 72 oz, steak challenge. Our waitress wasn't friendly and it took forever to get our order placed. When we inquired to the manager about our steaks that weren't cooked to how done some us ordered them, he wasn't very understanding either. Would never recommend this place to anyone... And for a steak house, their steaks weren't very good!

Mom: One tourist type place that I can remember stopping at with a young man behind the counter who was rude in being willing to give me information about the local area, even though that was his job. Also, we had occasional issues at Walmarts along the way.

Randall: A few Walmarts along the way.

Dominic: Just a few Walmarts where we were kicked out of the parking lot.

Jaela: The Walmart in Gainesville, Texas is the only place I remember where we had issues with people not being very welcoming. The security guy was really cranky and kept telling us to leave, even though we needed to do some shopping for sick family members on board. He called the tow truck on us and everything because RVs were not supposed to be there.

Maleah: There were some Walmarts that didn’t want us to be there.

Samuel: Just a couple of the Walmarts

Levi: One of the security girls at a Walmart

What's next for you? 

Dad. Finding a job so I can finish out my career. This was a small little window into retirement, I think. At least the relaxed schedule and nothing really planned out. But not the traveling... I'm ready to settle back in our house in Waverly and see what God does there!

Mom: Learning how to do life in our new community. Finding all the homeschool resources (music teachers, classes, activities, etc…). Getting connected in our new church. Putting the “family puzzle” together for scheduling, etc.. Restocking the fridge/freezer/pantry since we got rid of EVERYTHING!

Randall: Looking at a couple maintenance jobs at a senior living facility and Waverly Hospital. Also, maybe something with music. (Just started thinking about maybe teaching bass guitar lessons.) 

Dominic: Whatever the Lord has planned for me. I hope to get a job doing mechanic work again at a shop in Waverly, and to start exploring our new town.

Jaela: I don’t really know other than I’ll be settling into Waverly, Iowa with my family and joining Grace Baptist Church. There’s a few ECE assistant teaching jobs I'm considering applying for in the fall, and I’m also going to be taking over part of Mom’s Peabody testing business. I’ll be resuming my piano studies and hope to focus on improving my vocal skills as well. I know I want to continue serving God in whatever way He calls me to, and I’m hoping that involves traveling, writing, and/or music in some capacity. But ultimately, there’s many unknowns, and I’m just waiting to see what God has in store for me next.

Maleah: I am finishing my Associates degree at a community college in Minnesota in May, but I will be doing homeschool high school with Mom for another year (maybe two?) in Waverly. I plan to work part time, probably at a childcare facility, and resume piano studies and orchestra with my violin.

Samuel: Homeschooling, piano lessons, maybe Bible Quizzing club. I want to get into more art also.

Levi: Homeschooling, piano lessons, Bible Quizzing Club maybe, having my own bed again.

Until next time, God bless!