Wow! Is it Wednesday already?! Time has gotten away from me.

I am here to report about my activities of the past week.

It all started on Sunday afternoon, last week, when my dear hubby and I were discussing our life plans, dreams, goals...you know the sort of conversation. We have recently decided (6-8 months ago or so) for reasons I won't go into here that we need to consider relocating to the Ozark mountains. In order to do this, however, we need to make a scouting trip to look for housing and check out the work possibilities, etc.. It seems that we just haven't been able to get away...either illness or money or time has prevented it...especially money or lack thereof.

During our conversation hubby said "Why don't you just take the kids and go? Treat it like a vacation and have lots of fun with the children, take lots of pictures and while you're at it deliver my resume to some places and scout for houses. That way I won't have to miss any work."

Let me explain that this is NOT the way we typically do things around here. My husband is very protective and prefers I not drive too far away...where he can't rescue me if need be. :-) Also, I don't really like doing things away from hubby, because... well...he's my best friend and I miss him so much when we're apart that it's hard to have fun. I spend all my time saying "Oh! I wish he could see this!"

This time, I said "Are you serious? I'll do it!"
I have been told that I am a little crazy and several friends suggested that I may be a little too desperate for adventure...'taking all 5 kids by yourself? for 6 or 7 hours one way?'

This was Sunday afternoon and I knew that with the current condition of my home I would have to spend all day Monday cleaning and doing laundry and packing in order to be ready. So we went to work, my parents came and helped again (God bless them so much) and we were able to leave Tuesday.

The trip up was pleasant and basically uneventful. Osprey was able to take some driving time and give me a break. We arrived at the motel and settled in and I was looking forward to seeing the local scenery and a few days of fun and games and rest.

During the night Little 4yo guy woke me with crying and a raspy, croupy sort of cough. I jumped up and put him in the bathroom to breathe steamy shower air and ended up being up for a couple of hours...after that I had to tend to the babies. By morning I was limp and exhausted but still optimistic.

Let me sum up the rest of the story with this: Every one of the children got sick! And so did I. The dry motel air only aggravated the problem so we spent part of one day buying a humidifier at the local StuffMart and that did help us sleep through the night. Being the stubborn and basically optimistic person that I am, I declared war on anything that would ruin our fun and we pushed forward bravely. We ate at a local BBQ place (spicy food is easier to taste than other foods when noses are stuffy). We climbed towers and visited lakes and drove mountain roads... but the biggest thing we did was lay in the motel and eat snacks and watch Andy Griffith. :-) Oh well, it was together time and there was no housework or cooking involved (except for the occasional hot dog in the microwave).

The scenery was just lovely...the dogwoods and redbuds were blooming:

(this pic is from istock photo)

I want to post some of my own pictures here but it may be later today or later this week. Our USB ports have all quit working so I'll have to go get the pics on disc and bring them back.

As it turns out, I am still quite sick and coughing and the littles are all getting well slowly. We have semi-quarantined ourselves from friends and family until we are sure not to spread this nasty bug around.

As far as moving...it's a go! Hip hip hurray!
I brought back my 'spying out the land' reports along with some giant clusters of grapes between two poles...and hubby says let's take the land! Never mind the giants...we've faced them before. God always makes the way for us. So now life has taken on new adventures. I started packing the house yesterday. I don't know exactly how it will all come together but it will. I'll keep you posted on new developments.