Variety

Variety adds fun and excitement to a life at least that is what they say. Well our life the last months has had its share of variety, some we thought were great and then there were those experiences that we didn't necessarily find enjoyable. The first two pictures are part of an experience we did not think was so necessary. After spending a few "pampered" days with Kim and Harlan we drove to Newberry Springs to the Ironwood campground. It had rained quite a bit over the last couple of days but we knew we were heading to the desert so we didn't give the rain much thought. Well, that showed our ignorance. Even 1 1/2 inches of rain in the desert on roadbed accumulates and stands for a long time. The pictures show the road we had to take pulling the RV to the campground. A temporary side path had been used by others coming before us but they were not pulling anything. The 4 miles into the campground were tense to say the least. We weren't sure of the road under the water and if we tried the path beside the road we got stuck in wet sand. I will admit there were instances when we considered turning around. We didn't , but kept praying for a hard surface under the water. We finally got to the other RVICS people who were watching for us. They really didn't appreciate our frustration until later when they had to take the road. This winter he have had feet of snow, water and nice warm weather, we have that today. That does add up to variety for us.

Ironwood is a rust campground that is super organized so it looks very neat and appealing. With so much linen and towels to wash the laundry is huge. Folded sheets, etc. are all put in totes for one room with equal number of towels, etc. for that room. They are sorted into twin or queen. Some camps we have been in could learn from this one. The rustic appearance does not prevent them from having the rooms furnished well. Every bed has a Sealy Posture Pedic, or something similar, mattress on it. Wonderful mattresses. The hospitality person is resourceful and found a place that specializes in motel furniture and could buy the mattress for $450. instead of the $1000. that other places were asking. Such a staff person is a valuable one to have. Some other places a shallow mattress is placed on a plywood platform. Amenities are not what you go to camp for but they do help bring people back. The picture of the interior shows the other amenities in the rooms, not bad, huh? The cabins are kept up so well that 3 of us can go into one of these rooms and have it dusted, mirrors polished, carpet vacuumed and bathroom cleaned and sanitized in 15 minutes. The goal is 13 minutes but we haven't reached that goal yet. So there is a lot of variety in camps we have been to.

Now we know we have a variety of cooks in this family but I have yet to see one that utilizes such a big electric mixer even though they bake a ton of stuff! This was just one of the huge mixers they used. The kitchen is immaculate as it should be. What a joy to see such a large commercial kitchen that did not have a floor that was slick because of grease. We have seen them as well. We don't get to eat in the dining room at this camp so don't know what the quality of food is but guess it matches the other amenities in quality.

Another variety came over the weekend with my 4 day stay in the Victorville Hospital. It was a quirk that I had to stay that long and at the end of 4 days they dismissed me saying everything was negative but they didn't tell us just what that meant based on the tests. The discrepancy between the doctors was not explained nor the reaction to the "GI cocktail" given to me in the Urgent Care office. I was slightly/very frustrated with the whole situation and don't put much credibility in the doctors but that is another story. The follow-up for the original problem will be pursued at another place, naturally. BUT it was so neat to have visitors come visit us at the hospital. Harlan and Kim came up on Saturday and Gary and Maria came up on Sunday. How great is that?

We are flying to Sioux Center Friday for a week at home. Then we finish up here at Ironwood on March 2. If all goes as planned we will move to Lake Hughes for the March project after that.

Thanks for all the prayers, calls and visits this past week, they helped us through frustrating times. God has been so good to us and we know He will be faithful even through the variety of experiences we have. We praise Him.

Love and prayers, Mom and Dad Wilmer and Marilyn

Stepping Out

Dad really stepped out with a new style for his hair or lack there-of. He/I was getting tired of the comb-over and so one morning he went to WalMart and got a new style, cut it all off. He likes it and so do I though it took a little to get use to for me. Hey, I look at it, he doesn't very often. It was a good move! We have been getting the WalMart cuts for over a year now, we think the cuts are good and it is always a good opportunity to share some things with the 'cutter'. We have had some interesting conversations and even sharing our life stories.

Work last week was pretty much the same as the weeks before except that we didn't have to plow thru so much snow. Here the snow falls in huge amounts but the temps are above freezing much of the time so snow also melts fast. There are still piles off snow but the roads are dry. However, last night we went to one of the staff person's house for apple pie and ice cream. He lives much further up the mountain and the road was so narrow and still had snow and mud much of the way so it was a difficult climb even with a 4-wheel vehicle. The house was very nice but I could not live that isolated and be subject to lock-ins with snow. Since this is the apple valley of this part of the state it was natural to have apple pie - and it was delicious.

On Thursday we went with Gary and his family to see the graduation of his son Andrew from his Tech training at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It was a very impressive ceremony and it was our privilege to have been invited to attend. He received the academic award and got his "wings" as he was promoted to E3. Quite an achievement! He now goes to a Colorado Springs Base to begin his work there. By the way, he is the blond, fair skinned person in the picture third from the left in case you were confused with trying to pick him out. Then on Sunday we all went to witness the baptism of Lucy, our great granddaughter. What a joy that was.

This picture was taken on Jan. 29 at about 10:00 P.M. I have to admit that the bed was more appealing to me than the bright moon so I did not actually see it. The moon was so bright Dad thought you could almost read a newspaper by its light when he was taking the picture. I believe they call it a Wolf Moon and coyotes are known to howl at the brightness of the moon. (wonder who figured out the animals were actually howling at the moon?) It is interesting how the moon seems to be surrounded with a halo, as least on the top half. The clouds were not visible when he took the picture but the camera picked them up when he zoomed in to get a closer look.

Now, for those of you who think we are relaxing as we winter in California I want to give a little reality check of what kind of place we live in and the facilities we 'enjoy' using. For example, this is the laundromat for the 4 RVICS couples as well as the housekeeping on the camp. We have to communicate well so we don't get to the washer and find it full of clothes. An extra walk down there wouldn't be so bad but the walk back is a steep hill which leaves me breathless and needing to stop to catch me breath half way up the hill. And for the last week 1/2 the path to the building was covered with at least a foot of snow. I landed in it more than once, glad it was rather fluffy so the landing was soft. But in defense of the camp, we can use the washer and dryer and they work well. Interesting, those who stay in campgrounds ofter come to accept that you go to the laundromat with a pocket full of quarters. Usually I use around $4.00 for 2 or 3 loads of wash. The one washer here doesn't have a quarter slot, that is nice. The other one has the slots and we must use quarters in them to get the washer going but we just recycle the quarters as they drop down into a box we have access to. Those quarters get used day in and day out. Funny no one ever thinks they should run off with the quarters. Great advantage.

So now we pack up Wednesday morning to move on to Newberry Springs near Barstow. Again, no idea what it looks like, no idea what we will do but we do know we will work with the same 4 couples as this month and that is good to know. Barring unforeseen changes we will work together again in March.

Our weather has moderated much since I last wrote, I wish the same could be said of the weather in the Midwest.

Must make my trek down to the laundromat now, hope and pray you are all doing well. Hope for cell phone 24/7 in the weeks ahead so we can call more ofter. Love to all of you.

Mom and Dad Marilyn/Wilmer