Today, December 31st is a very special day for Gina and I. Today is a day of remembrance for us. Today, Rollie Joseph would have been 24 years old. We miss him so much and are thankful that Our Father let us have him for 20 years.  We rejoice in knowing he celebrates today in Heaven with His Father.

Well, we said our goodbyes to Thomas and Ashley and afterwards Mike & Janna took Emmi for a short walk. While they were walking Gina and I discussed what we could do today. We discussed our plans with Mike & Janna to see if they agreed. We decided to drive to New Orleans for the day. Our first item was to find somewhere to eat lunch. Now there are so many restaurants and all of them are good. I worked in New Orleans for four years and have eaten at a lot of them.


My favorite one for lunch is still a place called Jack Dempsey’s. It’s right across the street from where I worked during my last duty station in the Navy. Their baked macaroni & cheese is to die for and their seafood dishes are pretty good too. Mike and Gina ordered fried shrimp while Janna got the fried catfish and I ordered the stuffed trout. Everything still tasted just as good as I remembered it.

After lunch we slowly made our way to the French Quarter for Beignets and Café au lait at Café du Monde.


After we finished our beignets I took Mike & Janna for a quick tour down Bourbon Street and Jackson Square.  Here are a few pictures Gina took as we walked.


Along the way I stopped at Pat O’Brien’s and bought a Hurricane Glass for Mike as a souvenir so he can remember his trip down to New Orleans. Once we got back to the car I took them to see Lee Circle, which is famous because during Mardi Gras all Krewe’s from downtown toast the Uptown Krewe’s as they pass going around Lee Circle. In the middle of there is a large statue of General Robert E. Lee. I took them a little further through the Garden District and then headed toward home. We had a wonderful day and really enjoyed showing Mike & Janna New Orleans. It’s always neat to watch someone’s first visit to New Orleans. Its just so fascinating and watching Mike was no exception.


Gina and I have had one of the best years of our life traveling. The highlights for our year were meeting Randy & Pam in California, another fulltime RV'ing couple.  Experiencing and falling in love with boondocking in the desert.


This is where we met Mike & Janna and really got to know our good friends Jim & Ellie. Our next big highlight came when God placed Mike & Pat in our lives. We love them so much that now we just call them Mom & Pop’s. They have become so special to us and words cannot express how they have enriched our lives.  Thomas, our son was married on March 27th to Ashley.


We flew back home to watch Shane, our SIL graduate from Louisiana State University and to see Rickey, our nephew get married on June 27th.



Once we left Louisiana in June we made our way to the Black Hills of South Dakota. While we were there we built a small apartment in Mike & Pat’s pole barn for them. We met John & Sandy, while in the Black Hills.  They're fellow fulltime RV’ers too. From the Black Hills we traveled over to Montana spending time with Mike & Janna and experiencing Yellowstone National Park.


Since we were so close to Canada we drove up to see our friends John & Brenda. They took us around the Canadian Rockies and showed us some of the most beautiful sights we have ever seen.


We then traveled to Kentucky and spent time with my dad, his brothers and sisters along with their families. We discovered the Land Between the Lakes along with so many Bald Eagles.


To wrap up our year our RV friends John & Brenda spent time at our house for a visit and then Mike & Janna are here to ring in 2011 with us in Louisiana. 2010 has been so great for us and we cannot wait for what’s in store during 2011.

We really thank all of our followers who take the time to read and comment on our blog. From our family to yours we wish you all A Very “Happy New Year”.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Gina and I were up early Tuesday morning cleaning and straightening up our house while we waited on the arrival Mike & Janna, our friends from Montana. They pulled into our driveway around two o’clock.

After hugs and Mike parking their motorhome we went inside for a little catching up. Before long it was time for dinner. Gina had made another big pot of Gumbo and cornbread.

As we were going to bed, Nicole, our daughter called and said she had sewer backing up into her house. To make a long story short, Thomas and I went over there while the city sent a worker over to see if it was a city problem. Well, the city couldn’t determine if it was their problem or not. Nicole decided to sleep over at our house and we all made it back to our house a little after midnight.

Well I intended to wake up early Wednesday morning. However, that did not happen and I did finally get up around 8:30 and drove to our local donut shop so Mike & Janna and Gina could get a little sugar and cholesterol fix. After breakfast Gina and I spent a little time with Thomas & Ashley since this would be their last day here in Louisiana. Around noon they had a few errands to run and Mike & Janna wanted to look for a new loveseat to replace the couch in their motorhome. We took them to V. Watts furniture, which in our opinion is the best and least expensive furniture store around. It just so happens this place is in the middle of nowhere for around here. However, this place has been in business since 1959 and people drive from all over Louisiana and Mississippi to shop there. After looking and measuring all of the loveseats they settled on a theater seat. I guess they can now claim people drive from Montana to shop there too.


After we left there we went to Wayne’s Bar-B-Que. It’s the only acceptable place to eat out for town we were in. We then needed to head back home so I could borrow my uncle’s truck so Mike and I could pick up their new loveseat and Janna and Gina could go get pedicures.

After we made it back home with the new theater seat we began to remove the old couch first. Instead of trying to remove it as one piece, Mike decided it would be easier to take it apart first and remove it by pieces. I’m glad he made that decision. Gina and Janna made it back home just as we were installing the new seat. Gina’s first priority was boiling a chicken. Gina was making chicken & dumplings for dinner. She doesn’t cook them very often but it’s one of Ashley’s favorite meals and Thomas wanted to see how she made it. They tasted great!! We visited for a little while longer until we said goodnight and Mike & Janna went out to their home. A wonderful day spent with family and friends.

We were up early this morning to tell Thomas & Ashley bye as they started their drive back to California. We have had so much fun with them. We'll be seeing them in February for a few days before Thomas deploys to Afghanistan.



Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

I’ll try to cover the last ten days or so the best that I can considering it seems like just yesterday that Gina and I arrived back here in Louisiana.

First thing Saturday morning we said our “see you later” to John and Brenda, our friends from Canada. We’ll see them again real soon in the desert. We had a great time with them and are so glad they took the time to come see us.


Saturday and Sunday found Gina spending time with Nicole and Ashley. They spent their time together Christmas shopping before they go back to work on Monday.

Monday we went shopping to try and finish up our Christmas shopping. Tuesday we were up early again to get massages that our children gave us last Christmas. They were fantastic!! Afterwards I called all our children to thank them and to let them know they could give that every year. I do not believe I have ever been that relaxed.

Tuesday evening Thomas and Ashley, his wife arrived from California. We invited her parents over for dinner. Thomas enjoyed one of his favorite meals, which is fried pork and homemade mashed potatoes.

Thursday night was our family Christmas party at my sister’s house. It’s one of the only times that all of us Thurston’s kids and our children get together since we all live all over the place. Gina and I got the best Christmas present as parents Thursday. We found out that we will be grandparents (GiGi & Pop's). Thomas and Ashley announced that they are expecting their first child in July next year. We are so excited for them.


Christmas morning found all of our children at our house at eight o’clock in the morning ready to open their presents. However, they pleaded with their mom to make homemade biscuits for breakfast. While they were baking they all opened their presents and afterwards they enjoyed hot homemade biscuits.


Later Christmas Day, my sister and her family came over and we all celebrated Christmas dinner together.



Sunday we spoke to Mike & Janna before they left Arkansas. Gina convinced them to come a little further south and see us. We didn’t know for sure if they were coming until yesterday. We are so excited that they are coming to see us. They should be here sometime Tuesday morning.

Well, that is a very brief overview of our happenings the past ten days. It may not seem like much but it sure feels like we have not slowed down any. Our focus now is spending time with our children and friends before we get back on the road toward the desert in Arizona.

We hope your Christmas was filled with joy and here's wishing all of our followers A Very Happy New Year!!!

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Wednesday got started off with Brenda getting her hair done at Gina’s salon. It looks really good (of course it looked good before she went too). I guess Gina must have caught my cold as she woke up not feeling too well. Later that evening we enjoyed a dinner of leftover spaghetti that was followed by that excellent homemade Key Lime pie Nicole made Tuesday night. Since Gina wasn’t feeling too well we just called it an early night.

Thursday morning found Gina feeling even worse and a doctor visit was in order. While I took Gina to the doctor, John and Brenda drove out to Cabala’s. After Gina received two shots and two prescriptions we all met back up at our house and sat outside in our garden swinging and chatting.


We all left the house around 6:45 to meet up with Parker & Ashley so we could celebrate Parker’s birthday at one of his favorite restaurant, Chimes East. We were joined by his parents Phil & Wanda along with Nicole. After enjoying a wonderful meal we sung Happy Birthday and watched Parker open his gifts.


We then ate some fantastic strawberry cake and tiramisu (an Italian cake). John commented that we all would need the desert just to lose some weight after all this food we have been eating. We finally said goodbye to everyone and headed back home. Another wonderful day spent with family and friends.


I believe most of our fellow RV’ers are now situated where they intend to spend the holidays. If not, we wish everyone safe travels as they head toward their holiday location. Especially, Mike and Janna as they avoid snow while they make their way to Arkansas to spend the holidays with Janna’s family.

Congratulations to Mom and Pop's for selling their lot in Retama Village.  We love and miss you guys!!!


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

It’s hard to believe we have been back at our stick and brick house for three and a half weeks. Gina has been busy decorating the house for Christmas while I have been sick with a cold. I guess I’m having trouble with all this cold weather down here when it should be warm. We have finished most of our doctor visits and now are focused on Christmas and spending time with family and friends.

Here are a few pictures to show everyone what we have been up to.


Saturday night Ashley and Parker flew in from Granada and Gina cooked lasagna for their arrival. We had a great get together at Parker’s parents house.


Monday, John & Brenda, our friends from Canada arrived here in their beautiful motorhome around noon. We enjoyed a light lunch of cheese and crackers while getting caught up with our happenings. Gina decided to cook spaghetti for dinner. We waited for Ashley & Parker and Nicole to arrive so we could all enjoy a wonderful dinner with family and friends. Our children were excited to finally meet some of our friends from the RVing world that we talk so much about. Dinner was great and Ashley made homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Except for the cold weather you couldn’t ask for a better or more exciting day than spending it with family and friends.

Tuesday found Brenda and Gina out shopping before she took Brenda to our family doctor for a little relief of the pain in her knee. While they were gone John and I did a little shopping of our own. First we headed to Camping World and while we were there we walked through a bunch of motorhomes. I was quite surprised that I didn't care for any of the floorplans. Well, I guess I'll have to keep what I have. From there we stopped at our local Bass Pro store. We didn't buy anything but John thought Bass Pro did a great job of capturing the decor of south Louisiana. Once we finally made it back home I got started on cooking some chicken and smoked turkey so it would be ready for Gina to cook up some of her chicken & sausage gumbo. We were having another big get together tonight. Dana & Rickey, my sister and BIL, Brandi, who has a special place in our heart, and of course Nicole, our daughter were coming for dinner. While Nicole was here she made a Key Lime pie which will be for Wednesday.

As you can see we are really glad to be home for the holidays and spending time with our family and friends makes it all the more special.



Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.