Summer Travel!

 Welcome to the Summer 2023 Edition of Weber's Chosen Odyssey!

After returning from our May trip east (www.weberschosenodyssey@blogspot.com), we have loved our new setup with a full-sized SUV and a 26' Rockwood Mini-Lite with a Murphy bed and huge ourdoor kitchen!  This edition features four adventures from late June through mid August.  We were exhausted, but blessed, and did not look forward to returning to the Texas heat!

1. Inks Lake State Park, Burnet, Texas.  June 7-9.   This is a delightful state park about an hour NW of the Austin metroplex.   Great water and fun with our friends Dave and Donna Sommers and our son John and his girlfriend Kayce Rae Bryant.

We love the water!

Inks features a small cliff behind us.  Kids love to jump off!

John's girlfriend Kayce, Linda, our friend Donna Sommers and son John

Here is very nice picture of our son John and his girlfriend Kayce Rae Bryant

2.  Potters Creek Park, Canyon Lake, Texas - June 27-30

Canyon Lake is 45 minutes NW of San Antonio, TX.   We had a spiritually refreshing time with the Texas chapter of Campers For Christ.  In addition to the breakfast,worship, and enciouragement from God's Word each morning, we had the opportunity to give Gideon New Testaments to a number of children.  What a blessing!

3.  United Airlines to Michigan for 9 days - July 2-10

This was mostly a trip of love and compassion, as both John's Aunt Anne as well as Linda's best friend Suzie Helphill were in hospice care facing final days.  We had multiple visits with both and it was a God honoring time.  Suzie slipped into glory the day after we saw her last.  Aunt Anne went to heaven August 17.

Suzie Hemphill with hubby, Jerry

Also during this week, our friends, Mike and April Spring held a Hoedown at their farm to celebrate their 50th anniversary and renew their vows.  We were blessed to catchup with 3 other couples who are lifelong friends and also married in the early 1970's;  Mike and April Spring, us, Larry and Libby Wolosiewicz and Ed and Connie Sonnenberg.

Oh...the stories we shared, from our youth, around a campfire!  

4.  Camping from Texas to Michigan and back for 3 weeks - July 24-August 15

As we learned of the timing of Suzie's Memorial, we began planning to go back to Michigan with the trailer and also take the opportunity to see the beautiful west coast of Michigan.  Again, we had great opportunites to encourage people along the way with Gideon New Testaments, catch up with relatives and see beautiful places.   

A Divine Encounter!

In a Cracker Barrel Restaurant, I overheard a man say to a group of students, "today you are going hear about faith" as the man and his wife were with four young people.  AfterwardI saw him outside and asked about his comment.  He is a Pastor.  He asked about Linda and I learned of our commitment to the Lord years before of "whatever, whenver, wherever" and how we place one foot in front of the other as God provides light for that step.  It requires a certain amount of faith and trust that God knows what He is doing!   The pastor was so excited, he told his students "this is what I was talking about"!  We had a great time of prayer right there in the parking lot.  They blessed us with funds for more Gideon New Testaments!  They invited us to come worship with them in West Memphis, Arkansas, along the Mississippi River, anytime we are nearby!

Michigan....Ahh...It was great!

  Linda giving New Testaments to kids at the Tri-ponds Family Campground in Allegan, MI

Nephew Keith Page and his wife Becky on a tour Lake Kalamazoo and the shoreline of Lake Michigan in Saugatuck, MI

Linda and Her sister Marian Tison in Port Huron, MI

This is the Blue Water Bridge connecting Port Huron, MI with Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Tacos for lunch at the Ludington Beach State Park

Nephew Kirk Page, Linda's sister Marian and Kirks kids/friend.  Kirk's wife Shelly seems to be hiding behind Kirk.  Someone told me: "from anywhere in Michigan you never more than 5 miles from a lake (on average).  Seems true.  There are 11,000 lakes in Michigan

Another boat!  Our niece, Kari Nies (on my left) and her hubby Jason Nies on his Moomba boat for making perfect surfing waves on a lake!  This is on Elizabeth Lake near Pontiac, MI

Did I happen to mention how much we love water...especially in Michigan summers!

Some other cool Michigan stuff...

Michigan viewed from space

Photo credit: Niece Kim Murphy from a friend of hers

Couldn't resist this cool shot of Michigan patio furniture

Also, couldn't resist this shot of our friends Mike and April Spring's barn in Armada, MI.      April was raised in Texas. 

On our way out of Michigan, we stopped at the famous Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI.  Here is a classic 1931 Cadillac 370 V12.  This collection of fine and rare automobiles is outstanding and the largest in the country.

Last, we had a wonderful dinner with John's cousin Morris Moos and his wife Dawn.  Morris is a beloved pastor of 30 years at the Davison Assembly of God church in Davison, MI.   

So...What's next?

Linda and I have been blessed beyong measure, camping through 35 states full-time and part-time for the past 2 1/2 years.  It's hard to believe.  We love meeting people along the way and seeing the country, friends and relatives.   In between travels, we have been blessed to stay at our son John's home in Leander, TX,  We are grateful but it is not a long term solution.

So, we are praying about an apartment in 55+ active community, in Georgetown, Texas.  From there we can come and go for shorter trips for the foreseeable future.   Part of that may involve the SOWERS Ministry (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready).  Its a non-profit that organizes projects for Christian RV couples to volunteer helping Christian ministries for a 3 week period as part of a larger team.   

Our key verse for now is Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart man makes his plans but God directs his steps"

Faithfully,

John and Linda