​Monday, February 8, 2016
Woke up around 7 and laid in bed until 7:30.  Dawson got up and walked Summer and when we first got up it was actually nice- clear sky, sun out with mild wind.  Once I got up and made coffee, I took Summer out and did ok with just my sweatshirt.  The wind was picking up. 
Once all the kids got up, they ate and then we started school.  All in all they did well.  Mena struggled with staying focused but she did finally get through her work. 
Around 9:15 the tornado sirens went off at the park.  It is not a noise any of like, but I will say, it is NOT a noise I want to hear while we are in the RV.  There is no where to go for safety.  I guess if they did go off we could drive to the camp office or walk to the bath house for some safer place to be than the RV.  While it was only a test for the 2nd Monday of the month – it went off for 2 minutes and gave us something to talk about as an emergency plan.  It was cute to hear the kids say, “it’s not Wednesday and it’s not 11- why are they going off?  ”  They know when our test are at home.   We continued on with school once we got refocused from the sirens.
We were wrapping up school work around 1:00 pm when one of the camp ground workers drove up on his golf cart and knocked on the door.   He was warning us that the weather was predicted to change this afternoon and it was going to be below freezing, strong winds and possibly rain and snow.  He was giving us some tips for the RV and preparing.  Dawson was on a business call so I got his name and told him Dawson would come out and talk to him.  The campers next to us, started to pack up and decided to move on or head home.  I think their plates were from Tennessee. 
Dawson got off his call, got out his winter coat and headed out to talk to Scott.  They recommended that we dump all our tanks, fill up our fresh water all the way, unhook from the water – leave all sinks dripping through the nite and the facet outside dripping.  The wind was already picking up and the sun was now gone and the clouds had set in. 
Q and I showered.  Dawson did all the dishes.  And then he emptied all the tanks and disconnected.  I folded up all the carpets and put it all in the van with the hose that was already hard from the cold air.  The wind out there was nuts. 
We made a grocery list and I headed out to Kroger’s to load up on stuff for the next 3 days.  It is suppose to be nasty until Wednesday.  I was gone about an hour and I filled up the van with gas.  Upon my return to the RV the wind was even blowing harder.  The weather says the wind gust are going to be 20 – 25 mph and make it feel about 10 degrees colder than it really is.  In other words, so much for avoiding winter.  Seriously  - how often does it snow in Alabama?  And the one week we are here, it just might snow.  Well we aren’t going to venture out or do anything.  So more family fun in the RV the next 2 days.  We are ready and these are truly days and times we will remember and cherish.  So here’s to making some family memories together on the RV. 
As I sit here at 4:30 pm – the wind feels like it is coming right through the slide here and cooling us all off.  We are all in blankets and watching tv.  I’m still drinking coffee to stay warm.  The wind is making all kinds of crazy noise on the back of the RV and Summer seems a bit nervous. 
Dear God, please keep us safe and sound through the night.  We are grateful for your protection on this trip and ask that you continue to take care of us and our safety.  We know it will be a cold night but we can endure this….and have some fun memories of “cold in Alabama”.
More later…..we are going to walk Summer before it gets worse outside.  It is getting darker as the clouds are getting thicker.  

​Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Our last quiet morning all girls.  It has been fun and I am really proud of us for doing so well all alone.
Mena and I got up and walked Summer – the sun is out and it is going to be a really nice warm day today.
We took Summer all around the RV park – we came back to RV had breakfast and then started school.  The girls did quite a bit of school and also finished all their valentine’s for their classmates and teachers back at home.  The boys have a long day of traveling and mid morning they called to say they were at the airport heading back to us.  They flew to Chicago first – out of the way on this crazy day of weather in Feb too.  Minneapolis and Omaha have snow but it missed KC and Chicago – good thing or they might not have gotten home so soon. 

The boys are due into Tampa today around 4:20 pm.  We plan to go in and greet them off the tram at the terminals.  We are excited to see them both.    We wrapped up school for the day, finished the envelopes to mail off to school and finished cleaning up the RV for the return of the boys.  Around 3:30 we headed out to the post office to mail the envelopes of valentine’s to school – then we headed to the airport.  It was a nice warm day in Tampa – some clouds developing but it was 82 degrees when we drove to the airport.  We are going to miss the mild winter weather here – although tomorrow it is going to rain and start dropping into cooler temps. So our 80 degree day is being enjoyed by us all.  The boys will love that it is warm when they land. 

Dawson is getting a cold – Q kind of had it as he left for home last week but D said everyone had home sort of had colds …..so he is sneezing like crazy.  They landed and finally after many trams and no Fercho’s, they finally made their way to us.  It was so fun to see them.  The girls were very excited and Q was funny as he didn’t want to admit that he did miss us.  He had a great time at home seeing family and friends - but his mouth is a little sore and he is very tired.

Well, we are finally “REUNITED” and it feels so good……REUNITED!   Thank God the boys are back safe and sound – and for answering that prayer, Dear LORD, I am so grateful. It is amazing to have this family.  Thank you for the gift they each are in my life.

Something shifted while the boys were home, something peaceful…….I found myself in the moments – enjoying time with the girls and being……being ok with no agenda, nothing we have to do, no where we have to be, and if we chill out together and watch movies all day on the RV – just the 3 of us girls and the dog…..well – that is ok and it is a gift to be cherished.  And cherish it – I did!

I think this was a big accomplishment for us girls….not only were we all alone, far from home, but we had to deal with the fact that the boys were in KC seeing family, friends and going to the house.  It was hard at times for the girls ……but I am so proud of them and myself.  Not only did we do ok but I think we actually enjoyed it for the most part and made the best of the situation.  I think in some ways we “thrived”.

This journey is still at times super surreal.  Now almost 4 months into it….it is crazy how I still at times can not believe we are actually doing this.  While there are moments each day that someone thinks about going home…..I just don’t think we are ready to do that.  Dawson did say one night on the phone while he was home, “when you are done with your dream, I am not going to stop us from coming home”.  We still have much to see and places to explore.  Central Florida – it’s been more than great and the avoiding winter down here would work for me every year……but it’s time to move on.  This Friday, we start heading north for a while – then West.

Thank you God for a great visit home for the boys and more Florida fun for the girls and I - and thank you God for the safe return of the guys and the Fercho clan being "reunited" safely.  You are so good to us and for that we are grateful,

Florida has been so great!
Preparing to move on.....but we will miss Florida!
​The Fercho's