Isn't it Expensive to RV?

Maybe it's the gas prices that make people ask this question or assume this.  And I get that.  With the size of our family and our pocket book, we already drive a gas guzzler because we need a big vehicle.  So perhaps for us an RV really doesn't make much of a difference when it comes to the price of a barrel of oil.  On a total side note, when I started driving gas was only .89-.99 a gallon, do you remember that??  My kids gasp at that.  Just astonishing and baffling to me.  But I digress...

So let's get down to the nitty gritty. This is based on our personal expenses:

Living in a House Expenses:               Living in an RV Expenses:
House Payment(with taxes): 1200.00      $595 ( campground fees average)
Electric: $120                                   $0 ( Included in campground fees)
Water:  $100                                   $0 (Included in campground fees)
Car Payment: $0(own our car)              $0 (own our car and will own RV)
Gas: $320                                       $600(1,885 miles a month)
Heat: $56                                        $25 (propane)
Auto Ins.: $25                                   $50(car and RV)
Groceries: $400                                 $400
Eating Out: $0                                  $100
Family Activities: $0                           $100(museums and such)
Tolls: $0                                          $10
Cell Phone $15                                   $15
Home Phone/Internet: $85                     $0(use free wi-fi)
Mortgage Ins: $35                              $0
Cable/Sat. :$0                                   $0 ( get it free at some camps)
Tithe:$250                                        $0*                                                              
Personal Loan: $100                           $100_________
TOTALS:     $2706.00                      $1995.00

That is $23,940 a year to live in an RV and travel across the country.  It cuts down our expenses by about 1/3.  As far as tithing-  since we will not be drawing an income while we are out on the road we will have nothing to tithe.  If for some reason we do make money by some means we will be giving 10% of that.

Here is a great site that further explains some of the breakdowns and costs of RV living.  I used some of their real life budget #'s for my RV column.  I have researched lots of other sites too who RV full time.

When it comes to campground fees, the average is $30-$40 a night.  That is full hook-ups usually.  You can totally control that campground fee category by choosing which places you park at( some are as low as $10 a night but no hook ups), if you boondock, use public land, etc.  Boondocking is simply parking your RV somewhere for free-a family/friends driveway, a wal-mart parking lot(this is legal), etc.  There is a lot of public land out west that you can pick any piece of land and drive out to it and stay for free.  Some areas have dump stations around but sometimes not.  I am really looking forward to using public land(ie-beautiful scenic spots)!

And the longer you stay at a place, the less you pay typically.  Not unlike some hotels.

Now let's talk gas prices-I think people envision us driving around constantly or for very long distances at a time.  But that's not our plan.

We will likely be staying in one place for a week or more at a time, depending on what all there is to do in the area or who we are visiting or how much we like the place.  We will be pulling a travel trailer, so not quite as bad on gas as a regular motorhome.  We figured 11 miles per gallon compared to 8-10 with a motorhome. Now we get maybe 14 mpg.

 I would dare to guess that most people in the U.S. have around a 30 minute commute one way to work each day.  So that is 1 hour of just commuting a day, or 5 hours total a week. That's just one working parent obviously.  Now add in anywhere else you go and you have 7-10 hours a week of driving time.

We will be traveling no more than a few hours to each destination typically.  Then whatever driving we have to see local sites.  And we will be staying in one place for a week or more.  So we could very feasibly have less drive time than you a week!  Given a budget of $150 a week, that would be about 470 miles a week based on $3.50 a gallon( we use fuel points a lot too for .10-.20 off per gallon).

Not to mention, if gas prices go up higher or something, we will just stay put longer, less traveling.  So we can control this cost to an extent since we make our own agenda.

I leave you with this video that shows just what we are trading in and what we are gaining from living full time in an RV:

Many Blessings,

The Mama

Yahoo Headlines Deja Vu

Just saw this video on Yahoo Headlines.  Sounds familiar, no?

Family Road Trip of a Lifetime

Got a Bite

After feeling a bit discouraged this month with selling our house we finally got a legit bite.  The 1st open house we had there was a nice young couple who came through who were very interested and asking all kinds of in depth questions about loans and what not.  But then we heard nothing back and it's been 2 weeks.

BOO

They filled out a survey form at the end of the open house so we had their phone number but when I tried calling it wasn't working.

BOO

So I used my research skills and tracked them down on facebook( harder than you think because there are a lot of people with the same name) and messaged them.  Yep, total facebook creeper here.  But it went to their 'other' folder anyhow and they still hadn't viewed it as of today.  And I did stop short in friending them so I showed some restraint.

But i tried calling them again today in hopes that they were like us and just often use up their minutes and BINGO!  The wife was excited to hear from me and had a bunch more questions and said they would go to their bank definitely and let us know either way what they said.

YAY!

We realize that is no guarantee but are still hopeful and excited about the possibilities.  Not everyone has to like our house, just one person does!  And after a month of repeated no shows by potential buyers we keep reminding ourselves of that.

We've also been going to look at travel trailers with our kiddos and we are all biting at the bit now to get on the road( no disrespect to our family who we will greatly miss!).  I will share some of that coming up with my promised post on what we are looking for in an RV.  I will also be posting about the costs of RV full time because quite frankly I am sick and tired of hearing everyone saying,"That will be expensive!"  So it's time to set the record straight on the matter.

Please be in prayer also about a very close family friend who suffered a major stroke last weekend at the age of 37. He is a father of 5 and the youth pastor and worship pastor at a local church and we also went to school with him.  Our two oldest kids are best friends with a couple of their older kids also.  They could sure use all the prayers they can get.

Many Blessings,

The Mama

Cracking the RV Code

We've been checking out RV's(recreational vehicles) and I have learned more about them in the last month then the rest of my life combined.  So for all of you who don't speak RV here is a little tutorial with pictures because who doesn't love pictures?

Confused yet?

Yeah so was I.

 RV is a general term used for all vehicles you use for recreation.  You can see where the name came from.  Then RV's get broken down into specific types:

The Class A Motorhomes mean the really big, bus like ones that you drive.  Think the movie "RV" with Robin Williams. Class B is a smaller driveable RV and then Class C Motorhome is considered a "Winnebago".  It has a truck chassis and you see the part that goes over the cab of the truck?  That is a sleeping area. That's how I can always pick them out.

Still with me? Hang in there.

The SURV Motorhome is often referred to as a Toy Hauler- it has living area plus an area in the back for your 'toys' ( 4 wheelers and such).  The travel trailer picture is so old.  That must have been taken back in the 70's.  But you attach the travel trailer to a truck or SUV and tow it.  You cannot ride in the trailer or anything that you tow while driving( no seat belts).  If you have seem the RV episode of Duck Dynasty you will understand when Si attempted something similar.

The 5th wheeler needs a truck to haul it.  You see that black thing sticking off the front, that connects to a special hitch in the bed of the truck.  The SURV Trailer is just for your 'toys' and then there is the pop up that folds down and then the truck camper.

My head hurts too.  Back to us though!

This is what we learned- 

We cannot have a driveable motorhome since the front area are seats so that means not enough sleeping area. So that rules out Class A, B and C.  Boo.

We cannot have a 5th wheel( even though they are very nice) because there is no truck that will tow it that will fit the 7 of us.  

And obviously a little pop up camper is not gonna do the trick for a family of 7 living in it for a year.

So that leaves us with a Travel Trailer(TT).  And there are about a thousand different kinds of those.

  But here is one we are looking at that we like:

It is 40 feet from hitch to back, about as big as they come.

In my next post I will tell you more about this TT and what we discovered was our lists of must haves in an RV.  I will be sure to include lots of pics of the interior too. 

And real quick, Sissy is on a missions trip right now to an inner city in the states.  Please pray they have a safe trip back home tomorrow night!  It is amazing how just having one child gone totally throws me off.  You really feel that hole in your family.  

Here is a pic of her spending time in the Cambodian neighborhood today that some of the leaders posted and shared:

Many Blessings,

The Mama

It's Official

The sign is  in our yard. 

We have spent the last 3 weeks working on our house-All.Day.Long. 

We had our 1st open house yesterday and have a very interested family who is planning on talking with a bank about getting financing.  They are 1st time home buyers so it would work out great since they are currently renting.

But we also have 2 other families who I have been messaging with and they are equally as interested and have scheduled showing or this week.  So we'll see what happens.

We officially put the sign out July 1st.  We felt strongly that God wanted us to do it precisely then.  I have no idea why.  But we have learned to not ask questions just to obey.  ;)

During that 1st week of not a lot of interest in the house I had many doubts and panic moments.  We had really put ourselves out there with this RV thing.  What if our house didn't sell?  We would look like idiots.

We had also decided to step out in faith when we fixed up several things in the house that were not cheap.  Those bills would be coming due soon and how we would we pay for those?  We had planned on using the profit on the house.  

I have learned that those quiet moments are when satan loves to sneak those doubts in.  It is so hard to be still and wait.

But then I realized 2 things:

#1 These are exactly the moments God loves!  When we have put ourselves out there so far in the name of God that we will look like utter fools if he doesn't come through.  It is those opportunities that God can be lifted up and glorified because we are no longer relying on ourselves but clearly on him.  And everyone knows it.  

#2  So what if our house doesn't sell immediately?  Does that really change our plans?  NO.  We would just have to find temporary work for my husband while we wait so we can pay for our current home.  But we would still leave after we sold our home.

We have also been praying about our financial situations.  We have been doing fine so far.  We had  a little money in savings and some checks that were still coming in from my husbands previous job and a bit coming in weekly from unemployment. But those are running out.  Quickly.

My husband was till being considered for a police position till the end of June when he officially heard that they were pursuing another candidate, which we had heard rumors of anyhow.  But we were still waiting to hear for sure about that opening and that sufficed unemployment.

So now we were left trying to figure out what God wanted us to do.  Does God want  us to have total faith that our house will sell quickly and therefore not get a temporary job right now?  And what will that do for unemployment? Or should we try to find something, which is what our humanly nature is screaming at us?

("HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY THESE BILLS CRAZY PEOPLE?!")

And if the Hubby should get a job for now, what type of job?  We don't want to have him enter into anything that would leave his employers hanging when we picked up and left.

Then yesterday my Hubby and I both had the same thought cross our minds and it was that it was time to find something.  It was just clear as day suddenly to the both of us and we were both thinking of the same type of job.  

So that is where we are at- still trusting and praying and listening. 

Oh and our family and friends have gotten over the shock I think.  I wouldn't say they are embracing this change in events, but they are moving to the path of acceptance.  We can't ask for more than that.

Thank you for all the continued prayers!  Keep them coming!  

Many Blessings,

The Mama

WHY?

That seems to be the big question right now

Why are we selling everything, packing up and traveling the country?

Usually when I tell people that God is leading us on this journey they assume it is a missions trip. If God calls us to something then it must be to evangelize, right?  Not necessarily.

Sometimes he calls us to something so that we can lift him up to others when we tell out story of how God came through big time. Sometimes it's just to bless our socks off.  And sometimes it is to be there for someone in the perfect moment when they need it.

So why are WE doing this?  What is God's purpose for US?

The truth is I am not completely sure.  See, God often doesn't show us the entire staircase and where it leads, rather just one step at a time.  Many will not set foot on the staircase if they can't see every step and where it goes.  But I ask you this-isn't that why it's called FAITH?  

The really simple answer is this though-

We are being obedient even though we don't have all the answers.  We often tell our children to not question us as parents and do as they are told("Because I said so, that's why!").  But how often do we extend the same courtesy to God as our Father as his children?  I suppose that is why the bible refers to it as 'child like faith'.

I personally think God is calling us to this for a mixture of reasons.  I think it is a wonderful blessing to be able to do this while the kids are still in the house. What amazing moments and memories we will have from this adventure. It will really make us focus on what's truly important( besides God of course)-each other. 

 I also think there is at least 1 person out there who we can be there for during a tough time.  If we can be a light for Jesus along the way, then we certainly will.  And what a testimony this will be to God's faithfulness and how he is going to bring this all together and make it happen! 

But what do I know?  So for now we are just being obedient and can't wait to see how it all unfolds!

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

    he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Don’t assume that you know it all."

Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message

Many Blessings,

The Mama

Big Changes are Coming for our Family

Wow, so much has happened in the past couple months.  My husband unexpectedly lost his job, he started pursuing police work more seriously, his former employer started some mud slinging and my husband was asked to resign his police position.  Crazy stuff.  But it gets crazier...

Right before the whole resigning as a police officer thing, God started whispering something to us.  But it seemed just absolutely ridiculous and I know I certainly did not see anyway possible it could even happen.

But funny how God works that way.  Because everything started falling into place.  Even though it was not at all what we wanted.  Notice that little word in there- 'we'.   What our little peon earthly brains wanted.  Sigh.  When will I ever learn.

We have been called by God to do some crazy things in life.  Like adopting a special needs daughter from 1/2 way around the world or adding a 5th child that we just KNEW would cause our adopted daughter to act out and it would be an awful mess.  But it wasn't an awful mess- it was one of the best things that could have ever happened to Princess.  We would have never guessed.

We would have missed out on SOOO many blessings in life had we relied only on ourselves and what we wanted and what we 'knew'.  I am sure there are some things we did miss out on before we started our closer walk with Christ.

But God has called us to do something even bigger this time.  Bigger as in more bizarre.  And something that affects more people in our lives.  Which makes it twice as hard to be obedient.

So here it is:

God has called us to sell our house 
and pretty much everything in it
( or give it away), 
buy a RV and spend about a year traveling the country.

 Did I mention there are SEVEN people in our family? 

There is definitely a freedom in just selling everything and hitting the road, but there is also the emotional stress of leaving loved ones behind.  We have shed many, many tears over that part.

And then we actually had to TELL our families about this ridiculous plan. I just wanted to hold up a sign that said,"Don't blame me, blame God!"

But as hard as it is to upset your family, it would be even worse to upset God.  We can only pray that God provides peace and understanding to our family in the weeks and months to come.

I pray that eventually they will see what an amazing opportunity this is and be happy for us. Also that they would be proud that we so boldly followed God's leading. That may be asking a lot, but a girl can pray.

Well that's enough for now.  In future posts I will be writing about what RVing full time involves, where we are in the process and everything else that goes with such a radical concept.

I leave you with a passage from the bible that kept coming to mind during all this.  I never want to be the person who hangs my head and turns around when Jesus asks me to follow because I am afraid of what I have to give up...

 Matthew 19: 17-22 

Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

 Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.”

The man asked, “What in particular?”

Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”

 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”

 “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”

That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

Many Blessings,

The Mama