More of God's beautiful country. . .

On Thursday morning we headed up Highway 89 toward Page, AZ. Before we left the Flagstaff area completely, we took some pictures of the snow on top of the mountains.  Glad it did not snow down where we were!

 On the way, we stopped by Sunset Crater National Monument and Wupatki National Monument.  Wupatki is an area with some pueblo ruins.  When I was just a kid, I remember visiting some like these.  We weren't sure if the parking lots at the Visitor Centers at both places would have space for us, but we had no problem.   We only drove through the area of Sunset Crater because some of the areas would definitely not hold our camper.

The lava along the road at Sunset Crater National Monument Park

Although the weather was a little chilly, we enjoyed walking around the ruins at Wupatki.

Our next stop was Page Lake Powell Campground where we would spend the weekend.

Friday was our rest, laundry and Walmart-run day!!

Saturday was a sight-seeing day and will be the next blog!  Aren't you excited??  Until then. . .

Just a little of why we love our life on the road

While driving from Lubbock to Flagstaff, we realized anew why we love this vagabond life!!  One minute we are looking at rocky cliffs. .

. . . watching trains go by beneath those cliffs . . .

. . . staying in campgrounds with terrible (insert smirk here) views . . .

. . . driving another day and seeing views like these . . .

. . . and wondering how anyone could deny there is a Creator!  Then reminding ourselves that this very same Creator loves us unconditionally.  What a blessing to be able to enjoy His mighty works!  Thank You, Lord!!

Now we are snuggled inside the camper trying to stay warm in 40-degree, rainy weather!  We are staying in Flagstaff, AZ spending a couple of days resting before moving on toward Zion National Park in Utah.

The above pictures were taken between thunderstorms.   Here is a picture of one of our "neighbors"!  Never know what is creeping around!

"Mr. Fox Squirrel"

Livin' It Up in Lubbock. . . part 2

Lubbock is one of our favorite stops on the way West because we get to see long-lost relatives.  My Uncle Earl, my Aunt Edith and my Cousin Mike and his wife, Kristen, all live here.  Uncle Earl recently lost my dear Aunt Louise, so this was a very special visit for us.  Earl is my mom's only brother (guess he was probably spoiled rotten by the girls, or they were tormented by him...depends on who you talk to!).  My Aunt Edith is my mom's oldest sister and is 90 years "young"!   I think she is going to outlive all of us.  Uncle Earl, Max and I all went over to the Assisted Living Facility to visit with her.  She is always so gracious and loving when we get a chance to visit.  I didn't think she was going to let go of me.  I think she is always glad to see girls since she only had boys to raise...lol.  It's hard for us to believe that she is still going strong (well as strong as a 90 year old can go) since she was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was younger.  Once she got rid of that thing, she has outlived two younger sisters.  

 Aunt Edith with her baby brother, Uncle earl

 Love these two special people

I asked them if they were getting ready to race!

On Tuesday, my "Cuz" Mike and his wife, Kristen, came over to the Camper for supper.  We had a great visit telling tales to Max & Kristen about our adventures as kids.  Mike and the rest of the "boy cousins" all lived here in Lubbock while growing up.  When we lived in California, Janice and I always had fun when we would come back for our yearly visit.  Then we added Susan and Jan to the mix for even more fun.  Mike said that after we moved to NC, he would always wonder which accent we would show up with!!  I think we missed out on a lot of mischief also since Mike loves to tell the story of all the boys spending the night in the jailhouse with Papaw!  Papaw was my mom's dad, who was a Deputy Sheriff!!!  Jan told me, when we visited her in Oklahoma, that she was always jealous because SHE didn't get to go with them!!  

Kris and Mike

"Kissin' Cousins"?....hmm, maybe!!

Max didn't make the picture...somebody had to take it!!

Thanks, guys, for making this trip so special.  Hope to see you again soon!!!

Livin' It Up In Lubbock!!

It's been a while since I've posted because we have been busy, busy, busy visiting family in Lubbock, TX!  After leaving Oklahoma City and a wonderful visit with Jan, we headed West on I-40.  Our first stop was West 40 RV Park in Shamrock, TX.  We arrived a little before dark, didn't even unhook the camper, and settled in for the night....we THOUGHT!  We knew the weather was "iffy", but had no idea just HOW "iffy"!!  Max took this picture as a storm began to rumble in.

We ended up in the laundry room of the campground while waiting out a Tornado Warning only about 10 miles from us!  We don't like to take any chances these days.  Guess we were the only cautious people, we were totally alone in the laundry/TV room!!

The next stop was on I-40 on the way toward Amarillo.  This amazing place is called Cross of The Christ and has some of the most beautiful sculptures we have ever seen.  These were some of the newest additions...

If you ever are driving west on I-40, you really need to make this one of your stops.

Next overnight stop was at Palo Duro RV Park in Canyon, TX.  We were going to stop at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, but it was a little bit further than we wanted to go PLUS the drive down into the Canyon with a camper is interesting, to say the least!!  Later we found out that it had flooded quite a bit from the storm!  The RV Park was right on Highway 27 on our way to Lubbock, so that worked out better for us.

We finally made it to Lubbock and were in the process of setting up the camper at Lubbock RV Park when Uncle Earl came riding in!!!  I think he was ready to see us!!

I'll blog later about our visit with all the extended family, but just HAD to add these last pictures!  Seems like we can't get away from unusual weather!  We were in Lubbock this week during the Haboob (new word for SANDSTORM)...what a way to end our visit!  I'm not even going to guess as to what is ahead for us.  Our life is never dull, that's for sure!

Yep, that's RED dust blowing all around...

With family... time never passes!!

We have been so busy catching up with family that I haven't posted on here.  After leaving Arkansas and a great time with Uncle Ron, we headed west on I-40 toward Oklahoma City, OK!  Our first stop was Lake Eufala State Park in OK.  During this time of year, it is very easy to find some of the "best" campsites in many state and national parks.  All the kids have gone back to school, vacations are over and only the "oldie-goldies" are on the road...well, mostly the "oldie-goldies"!!  Our site was right on the lake with a beautiful view.

Our site at Lake Eufala State Park

Sunset on the lake

Huge knot on a tree at our campsite

We only spent one night at Lake Eufala because we were anxious to get to Oklahoma City where we were going to see my Cousin Jan.  It had been over 40 years since we had seen her.  She was a cute little 13-year-old with braces back then.  We had gone to Texas to visit my grandparents and Jan was visiting also.  She fell in love with little Beth...wish I had a picture of them together to post!!!  Wouldn't that be something, Jan!!!

We were able to find a spot at Tinker Air Force Famcamp for our stay..not the most glamorous Famcamp, but very convenient, not to mention inexpensive!  Most of the Famcamps are reasonable so that the military people can afford some rest & recreation...don't get me started about CALIFORNIA Famcamps though!!

Tinker AFB FamCamp

After settling in, heading to the commissary for much needed groceries and a night of rest, we met Jan Wednesday evening at the front gate for our start of a wonderful, fantastic time of catching up!  The next day we spent sight-seeing while Jan worked and then met her for supper at Chelino's Mexican Restaurant in Bricktown.  THAT was a great meal!  Friday was a day of rest for us (you can wear yourself out trying to get 40 years of catching up done! lol) and then Friday night we went over to Jan's to see her beautiful home and out for great pizza at Hideaway Pizza...she sure knows good places to eat!  

Don't know what Max said, but it must have been good!

What fun catching up!

Jan fighting the wind coming to Chelino's

Nurse Jan fixing my eye!! lol

We talked and talked and then talked some more!!!  I learned so much about Jan's life since that week in Texas so many years ago and I tried my best to let her know all about our family, Janice's family and Susan's family!  Poor Max got an "earful"!  Thanks, Jan, for such a good time!

Later, I will post comments and pictures of our sightseeing trip . . . there is just not enough room or time for both family AND sightseeing here!  Guess that shows how long-winded I am!!

Relatives and Relaxing

Today is a day of rest for the Skinners.  We have been having LOTS of fun with Uncle Ron, running around seeing all the fun places here in the northwest corner of Arkansas, but today we are taking a break and just sitting around the campsite.  We NEED to get out walking and will do that sometime today.  It's kind of embarrassing when your uncle can out-walk you by, oh, about SIX miles!!!!  Uncle Ron walks a total of about seven miles a day (divided up into three walks), but still....he puts me to shame!!!  He has inspired us to get back into the walking routine.

Wednesday was a great day of catching up when he came out to the campground and had lunch with us.  It was so good to see him (although I sure missed having Aunt Sue with him).  Back in June, I lost two of my favorite aunts within just a few days of each other.  We are going to visit with Uncle Earl in Texas in a couple of weeks.  Back to the fun times with Uncle Ron...we just sat around enjoying the time together all afternoon!

I think they were comparing haircuts!!...lol

On Thursday it was time to visit Ron at HIS home in Bella Vista...

Ron was a GREAT tour guide and took us to several places in the area...

Cooper Chapel...beautiful, peaceful place in Bella Vista

Of course you KNOW Max liked this place!

Then, because we are in "Walmart country", you HAVE to visit the Walmart Visitor Center in Bentonville!!  This is where it all started!  This was a fun place...small replica of the Five & Dime and then museum with lots of exhibits that told the story of Walmart & Sam's Club!

Crazy Max had to "do his thing"!!..lol

In between stops, we had a great meal at the Golden Corral...senior lunch is great at this one in Rogers, Arkansas!  Thanks, Uncle Ron, for a wonderful day!

On Friday, Ron came back out to the campground and we rode all around Beaver Lake checking out the other Corps of Engineers Campgrounds for future endeavors!  Silly me forgot to take any pictures though!!

Tomorrow will be a day of worship with Ron at his church, lunch and then goodbye until next time.  What wonderful memories we will take with us!!!