tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-157631482011-07-07T20:43:04.928-04:00A place to read about the antics of the Stringer girls.Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.comBlogger1381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-52569789795612736542009-12-28T16:07:00.010-05:002009-12-28T16:54:04.624-05:00

I can hardly believe it has been over a year since I last blogged. Where does the time go? Facebook has been a fun adventure, and I definitely spend way too much time there, however, it has not helped me with the writing itch. Life has sped by way too quickly in the 15 months since Trygve came into our lives. Katelynn is now in 6th grade, active in the youth group, and growing taller by the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-85019149930765544702008-09-24T22:33:00.005-04:002008-09-24T23:20:41.404-04:00

The Stringer Zoo has grown again. This past weekend I flew from Baltimore Washington International airport to Seattle-Tacoma airport to pick up a small bundle of fur and kisses. "Ali" was born on July 19, 2008 along with two sisters.It has been a whirlwind of emotions and a blur of sleeplessness all viewed from the top of Cloud Nine. It is just like having a newborn baby, except no one is

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-7681178779259112172008-08-13T00:05:00.002-04:002008-08-13T00:15:59.874-04:00

I really wish the 2008 Summer Olympics would be shown in real time. I'm up way too late (again) watching women flip, tumble, spin and fly through the air. Why? Does this really have any bearing on my life? Will it really matter tomorrow morning if the USA gets a medal in women's gymnastics? No.However, I am an American. A fairly proud one at that. I disagree with the direction our country

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-19714387817561139142008-08-09T22:38:00.002-04:002008-08-09T22:51:58.659-04:00

I'm really not in a writing mood right now, but as I sit here watching the Olympics I realize that I am surrounded by 3 beautiful, devoted dogs.Ever since I used to cry into the long fur on Mojave's chest (my very first dog), the idea that the Lord has placed dogs here to give us a glimpse of his unconditional love has grown in my heart and mind. Having Eli and Abbey share my life has only

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-64654272599695627752008-08-05T23:25:00.003-04:002008-08-05T23:37:39.525-04:00

Today, I break the blog silence to pay tribute to my precious husband... Scott turned 35 today. Where does the time go? I remember our first summer together, he turned 17 just before we began our senior year in High School. Is it possible that we've been together over half of our lives? What a journey life with Scott has been! We've been together, separated by deployments, on this coast or

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-79057931385760540012008-05-19T23:55:00.003-04:002008-05-20T00:01:46.194-04:00

Didn't blog last night because we pulled over at Exit 170 on the Ohio Turnpike around 1230 in the morning to finally get some rest at the Travel Plaza after about 12 hours on the road (only about 8 of which were actually spent making progress driving). Seven hours of driving today, and we're finally "there". We set up camp at Solomons Island Navy Recreation Center, across the river from the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-89246097096103975372008-05-18T00:16:00.003-04:002008-05-18T00:25:14.726-04:00

We were able to hit the road around 1pm today and made it across Iowa to Rock Island, IL, just across the Mississippi River. Hoping to make it to the Cleaveland area tomorrow, and Pax River by Monday evening. Trailer looks great. 4 new tires. Abbey's tummy is doing better, but she gets more and more neurotic with every day in the car. We finally had to buy a restraining bar to keep her from

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-42649229902804193322008-05-17T01:29:00.003-04:002008-05-17T01:38:34.112-04:00

Quick status update. Today was actually a very pleasant and relaxing day. The trailer damage repair estimate was less than $1000 (not including replacing 4 tires... we have no confidence in the original tires now). Repairs should be done by mid-morning tomorrow, and we'll be on our way again. We enjoyed a picnic in the park today, found some geocaches, and Janell bought some yarn at a local

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-34544602412632694872008-05-15T22:58:00.005-04:002008-05-16T00:00:02.397-04:00

Where do I start? You'll recall that our typical routine on this trip has been to hit the road around 11 or noon each day. This morning we set a goal to be rolling at 9am and actually left the campground by 9:07! We had a long day of driving planned, with a fun stop to meet a Farm Dog breeder for lunch. You'll recall that we started our day in Sioux Falls, SD. Our day abruptly ended before

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-70537498877279335652008-05-15T00:32:00.001-04:002008-05-15T01:25:09.157-04:00

Just a quick update before I go to bed. We arrived in Sioux Falls, SD, this evening around 8:45pm Central Time. Rushmore and the Black Hills were a great time. The girls again earned their Junior Ranger badges, and we also checked out the Crazy Horse Mountain project. Ran out of time and missed Jewel and Wind Caves, which we wanted to see. Today we drove through the Badlands National Park,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-55548732512434381532008-05-13T00:02:00.000-04:002008-05-13T00:23:20.462-04:00

We landed in Hill City, SD, this evening after a day of driving in the rain and playing leapfrog with semi trucks up and down the rolling hills of eastern Wyoming. The KOA here is huge and looks like it would be blast in the summer time. Pretty sleepy in the off season. We didn't get here quite early enough to do any sight seeing this evening, so actually had a "home"-cooked dinner at a normal

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-35092908790889502082008-05-12T00:34:00.000-04:002008-05-12T23:59:56.267-04:00

To friends and family of the StringerZoo, I must apologize for neglecting my blogging duties since we left home. I can't believe it's been over three weeks since we moved out! I also can't believe it's been since FEBRUARY that Janell or I have blogged. Life has been a bit overwhelming, I guess. Here's the reader's digest version of the past couple weeks, with a few pictures to help...Friday,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-55095190411531110782008-02-21T00:24:00.000-05:002008-02-21T01:14:06.767-05:00

Ok, I swear that it was only a few days ago that I had my weekend alone. Really, the calendar is lying when it says that my last blog post was a month ago. There is no way that it is already past Valentine's Day. No way I tell ya!I truly don't know where the time goes. One minute I was sitting in front of "The Dog Whisperer" cutting out fabric and drooling over fabrics I wished I could afford

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-1613787454666888042008-01-16T17:46:00.000-05:002008-01-16T18:24:28.200-05:00

It is so easy for me to be consumed by things that I enjoy. I can very easily become passionate about my latest "hobby" and go all out in an effort to immerse myself. As my husband, children, and dear friend Melody can attest, I am addicted to fabric. "Hello, my name is Janell and I am addicted to material."I had thought that after all of my Christmas stitching (ALL but 2-3 gifts were homemade

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-2568109652232925722008-01-12T01:45:00.000-05:002008-01-12T01:55:17.639-05:00

Tomorrow morning, Scott and I will have the privilege of attending a conference put on by Focus on the Family's Truth Project. Check out their website for more information.I'm pretty excited! I've been seeing my perspective on life change as I have grown and (hopefully) matured. My becoming a parent and seeing my own girls grow and mature has really caused me to go to my knees in prayer. This

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-22713463755828458402008-01-09T23:18:00.000-05:002008-01-09T23:54:22.824-05:00

Why is it that whatever I am studying in my quiet-time almost instantly become applicable that day??? It is almost like the joke "Don't pray for patience - God will test you!"I've been working through a great book - "Wives of the Warriors" since January of last year. It isn't a long book, but I'm not working through it every day. I've been really surprised at this Army wife's perspective and

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-3464595785819335762008-01-08T23:10:00.000-05:002008-01-08T23:35:18.895-05:00

I knew I had taken a break from blogging, I just hadn't quite realized how LONG of a break. Sorry! Life has not really settled down here since Scott returned. However, yesterday marked our first day back at school after the Christmas holidays. (And yes, I said CHRISTmas.) I'm determined with so much change and chaos ruling my life that I have to get some sort of order back in my life and our

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-60730995137734472792007-10-28T21:21:00.000-04:002007-10-28T21:47:31.507-04:00

Since I have the pleasure of homeschooling my girls, I have decided that they should enjoy a hot lunch and a hot breakfast once in a while. (This decision also came about because we all get REAL tired of PB&J and cold cereal.) So, I recently thought I'd splurge and make french toast for breakfast. Since I am not known as a "morning" person, I was excited to find a recipe online for overnight

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-16787317637150125242007-10-26T01:22:00.000-04:002007-10-26T02:22:58.314-04:00

When the girls and I were camped out in Raleigh, NC this past spring, I blogged about cleaning out the trailer's RV water heater. (Read the post from March here.) I ended up covered with a super-fine dusting of soot that left black smears all over my arms, shirt and face. It was like the ash that would result from burning the tissue paper that you wrap around your Christmas presents. Maybe

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-68734890405343932442007-10-24T19:15:00.000-04:002007-10-24T20:41:17.584-04:00

fire·storm (fīr'stôrm') Pronunciation Keyn. A fire of great size and intensity that generates and is fed by strong inrushing winds from all sidesHow weird it is to survey my home and have to decide what I would take, and what I would leave behind in case of an evacuation. I've often looked at my belongings and truly tried to figure out what I would pack into the suburban if evacuation

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-19232684188231262502007-09-25T00:36:00.000-04:002007-09-25T00:46:02.596-04:00

I can hardly believe that it has been four weeks since my dear hubby returned home! I'm sorry for the lack of posts, we've been catching up with each other, and rebonding as a family. We've had visitors from out of town (smile and wave Kendigs!) and we've generally had a great time. However, today the bubble burst. :) Scott went back to work, and the girls and I began school yet again. 7:30

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-25670079657137035902007-09-02T01:59:00.000-04:002007-09-02T02:14:53.883-04:00

While I'm waiting for my film to develop so I can add pictures of our reunion, I figured I could use this space to show off a few of my projects from today. I took advantage of nap-time and finally finished two diapers for Hailey. It has been a while since I stitched up anything to cover her tush, and she is rapidly outgrowing her current stash. :)First diaper - Kaleidescope and purpleSecond

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-38225404293436549852007-08-28T23:56:00.000-04:002007-08-29T00:20:41.210-04:00

The Stringer Zoo is complete once again! Yippee!!!I know everyone has been praying for all of us through this. It has definitely been a challenging period of time for all the members of the Zoo. We all have been challenged, and encouraged. The Lord has provided in amazing ways.Psalm 91:1-2Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.This I

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-8903612040551067292007-08-25T13:17:00.000-04:002007-08-25T13:26:34.704-04:00

I REALLY should be attending to the crazy house, my screaming 2 year old, or the welcome home banners for Scott. Instead, I'm playing around online. :)The wives and better halves of the men and women of HS-8 have been petitioning friends for baked goods, and businesses for donations as we prepare for the homecoming. I sent a message to my homeschool group asking for help preparing for the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-18361178777215501102007-08-23T10:57:00.000-04:002007-08-23T11:10:01.668-04:00

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 was quite a momentous day for the Stringer Zoo. Katelynn and Laura (aka Nana) left Honolulu aboard the USS Stennis for the beginning of their Tiger Cruise. I was able to talk to Katelynn one final time while they were waiting to pull out. It is a really odd to think that my eldest daughter is several thousand miles away, among 5,000 crewmembers on a huge aircraft

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-48070244383649695082007-08-20T21:14:00.000-04:002007-08-20T21:20:50.674-04:00

I'm pleased to report that Katelynn has landed in Hawaii with Nana and has met up with Scott. My little girl is growing up!It felt a little weird to watch Katelynn and Laura walk into the security queue at Lindburgh field this morning. I was holding Hailey, while Emily and Beth peeked over the temporary barriers. We waved, blew kisses and made funny faces until we couldn't see Katelynn behind

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-48452863356033979462007-08-17T02:03:00.000-04:002007-08-17T02:41:07.835-04:00

The Goughs and the Stringers have many similarities. We've often marveled at how easily our families mesh together. Having Melody and the kids here this past week really helped me in so many ways. However, Mel and I discovered yet another eerie similarity between Scott and Rich...Melissa was here this weekend to help celebrate Beth's birthday. She had helped me rearrange the downstairs a

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-51858413538593410012007-08-11T02:41:00.000-04:002007-08-11T02:50:48.311-04:00

Tomorrow we'll celebrate Beth's 4th birthday, eleven days early. At the beginning of this adventure called deployment, we had hoped that Scott would be home before Beth turned 4. (The navy had other ideas, and he'll be home a little less than a week later.) In fact, during the month of January, while Scott was still home, we kept telling Beth that "Daddy would be home for her birthday." Each

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-20727381799193926212007-08-06T01:48:00.000-04:002007-08-06T03:20:08.002-04:00

If you are born on this day, August 5, you have many character qualities that draw people to you.Your attention to detail helps you to focus in on the "little things" in life.Yet, you have the ability to see the big picture.You are strong, and will help others in need.You know how to kick back and relax,or sit and enjoy time with others.You never forget that everything in life is a gift from the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-24097460922179476602007-08-05T02:21:00.000-04:002007-08-05T02:56:33.205-04:00

It has been a day of conflicting emotions here at the Zoo. The girls and I seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Hailey was screeching, Katelynn was grumpy, I was down in the dumps, while Emily and Beth just tried to stay out of our way.So tonight I have decided to post a few pictures, just to make you smile. No other reason. They're random pictures from my files, I hope you

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-5011536993422303712007-08-04T02:08:00.000-04:002007-08-04T02:55:16.595-04:00

Sometimes there are HUGE benefits to not planning life. (I'm really good at planning things in my head, I always come up with grand ideas, it is just the implementation that gets me down.) The drive from Atascadero to home this past Sunday was one example of where the unexpected can really bring joy to life.The girls and I set out from Amanda's house with our sights set on the Borders bookstore

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-78437510544595133992007-08-03T01:55:00.000-04:002007-08-03T02:37:24.863-04:00

When we last left our story, the heroine was weaving her way through the curved forest road. Her red horse stretched his muscles, carrying her swiftly over and around any obstacle. Four young princesses rode in the carriage behind, giggling with delight as they bounced over rocks and dodged trees...Oh, oops. You don't remember that from last nights blog? Hmmmm. My bad.The Zoo and I arrived

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-50061970965164672132007-08-02T01:28:00.000-04:002007-08-02T01:54:31.586-04:00

If you have spent any length of time with me, you will know that I can often mix up my words. I have a horrible habit of leaving sentences half finished (this drives Scott nuts). My brain often works faster than my mouth, so the result is often a jumble of words that have no relation to each other. Go figure.So, the next few blogs will reflect this unique part of my personality. I've decided

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-30594716358111302882007-07-31T23:57:00.000-04:002007-08-01T00:15:48.255-04:00

The girls and I have returned to Chula Vista and are already deep in the throes of homecoming preparations. Today marked the last day I'll probably talk to Scott before he sets foot back on American soil (he'll call from Hawaii when they arrive), and we have less than 4 weeks to becoming a complete family again!!!Singapore was phenomenal! As I've told everyone I've talked to since returning, it

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-24928134643022344482007-07-21T22:02:00.000-04:002007-07-21T22:04:56.388-04:00

While Scott and I have been enjoying the tastes and sights of Singapore, Nana has been corralling the younger portion of the Zoo up in Northern California. I pray that they aren't running her too ragged. :) When you have a moment, run over to her new blog to see what the girls have been up to...Nana's News.Scott and I are going to go get a late breakfast, and try to find a local geocache. I've

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-64834305372591527032007-07-19T21:13:00.000-04:002007-07-19T21:23:30.374-04:00

is the Stringer Zoo?MMmmm, good question. The younger portion of the Zoo is camped out in Lake Almanor with Nana. I've been told that they have completed their dirt house, and have fun in the small pool they have named "Little Lake Almanor". :) For the past two days, Scott and I have been enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of Singapore. It has been wonderful to be together again!!! This

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-8152556538046836592007-06-26T22:04:00.001-04:002007-06-27T10:25:59.406-04:00

If I wasn't sitting here watching this, I would think that it was impossible. Katelynn is sitting here, playing Mancala with HAILEY!!! Hailey is actually following Katelynn's directions. Katelynn will finish her own move, then ask Hailey which cup she wants to play. Then Katelynn will instruct Hailey on how to move her stones. It is quite humorous! These girls never cease to amaze and amuse

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-14743373558589402552007-06-26T02:37:00.000-04:002007-06-26T03:22:06.715-04:00

I sure hope that last night made it real evident how positively IN LOVE with Scott I am. :) However, I have an admission. There is another male in my life, and there has been for the past 11 years.Today was yet another momentous occasion for the Stringer Zoo. My fabulous, red, golden retriever, Eli, arrived at his eleventh birthday. We celebrated by singing "Happy Birthday" to him and

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-26369852794011292452007-06-25T01:24:00.000-04:002007-06-25T02:38:22.723-04:00

I can remember the excitement as we drove into the church parking lot. I couldn't keep from grinning. My cheeks hurt because my smile was so large! California's "June Gloom" hadn't yet broken, so the sun's light was diffused by a low layer of clouds. Looking back, the day appears to glow in my memory.Scott and I met in Math class, our junior year in high school. Nearly six years later, we

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-31966715269243166852007-06-24T02:29:00.000-04:002007-06-24T02:44:11.175-04:00

Yesterday, Friday, was an extremely tough day. Hailey cried - unless she was asleep. I'm not positive, but I think she is getting molars. However, they are coming in the way far back of her mouth, not right behind her first set of molars. I'm not quite sure what to do with her.However, today was a FABULOUS day!!! I was cooked a delicious hot breakfast. I didn't have to make my daughters

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-74664862272040481372007-06-22T02:31:00.000-04:002007-06-22T04:47:19.404-04:00

OK, is is plain that I'm excited? I just spent a ton of money over the past 24 hours.Last night I purchased 6 tickets to a Rascal Flatts concert that will happen in our hometown in September! My sister, Melissa - or Auntie Mo, has slowly converted me into a country music listener. Last summer, she and I, plus all 5 of our girls, trekked north into Jackson Hole, WY for a family reunion. During

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-49508113592065417442007-06-17T01:15:00.000-04:002007-06-17T02:08:52.957-04:00

I love lavender. I love the plants, I love the scent, I love its effects. So last year, when Scott and I read about a local lavender field, we were off. We packed up lunch, the girls and the dogs into my Mother's Day present - the Suburban, and headed north. We picnicked at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, where Eli and I had learned flyball back in 1999. Then into the back country we headed.I

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-85396002151211160042007-06-15T02:39:00.001-04:002007-06-15T02:52:16.877-04:00

no one is whining at me! :) It has been a typical third quarter of cruise for the Stringer Zoo. I don't remember much from Scott's first deployment. (Eight years and 3 children ago.) However, I DO remember that the forth month of cruise was the worst part. This deployment has definitely followed along those lines.My depression and lack of organization (funny how the two go hand-in-hand)

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-45321199274627301132007-06-10T01:58:00.000-04:002007-06-10T02:04:46.494-04:00

I can hardly believe that it has been over a week since I updated the blog. Hhhhurumph is all I have to say about that. Well, OK, I'll say a little more.I think I can speak for Scott as well as myself when I say that if our blogs are quiet for more than 48 hours, please up your prayer frequency for our family. I'm noticing that the crazier life is, the more fires I have to put out in a day,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-55469652602698549282007-06-01T01:46:00.000-04:002007-06-01T02:46:33.356-04:00

Once again, I'm exhausted, and the house is still trashed. Well, OK, maybe trashed is too strong of an adjective. It definitely looks better than it did when I woke up this morning, but there is still a bunch of work to do to dig out from under the chaos. At least the girls rooms are almost finished. I just have to rearrange closets so the clothes are in the right rooms, and they'll be done.

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-55404676947149495422007-05-31T02:43:00.000-04:002007-05-31T03:19:57.119-04:00

Have you ever felt like you worked extremely hard during the day, and yet you sit down at night and when you look around you realized the house is still a disaster? Today was definitely one of those days for me. I look around at the pack-n-play in the living room (Hailey's quiet-time space), laundry on the rocking chair, school books all over the school table and all sorts of furniture in th

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-39412311665448929242007-05-30T01:28:00.000-04:002007-05-30T01:38:22.109-04:00

Tonight is the last night that my "littles" are so little. Starting tomorrow night, Beth and Hailey will be sleeping in "Big-girl beds". It is wild to see how these two are growing up so quickly.I knew it would happen soon, I just wasn't quite prepared for it. Hailey, even in her non-walking state, is eager to do everything her older sisters do. Including sleeping outside of a crib. Since

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-78045626527496444482007-05-29T00:21:00.000-04:002007-06-15T02:33:13.279-04:00

When I stop and think about it, I'm just floored at how well the Stringer Zoo gets along with the Gough family. The Lord truly has blessed our family by bringing Melody, Rich, Kaitlin and Alec into our lives. The two families just mesh together so well! There is no one else in the world that I can even imagine spending almost four weeks with, day in and day out. More than that, I can't

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-22912193225862070902007-05-27T01:45:00.000-04:002007-05-27T02:42:57.366-04:00

The girls and I have LOTS plans for the time until Scott returns. Hailey wants to move into a big girl bed - meaning we have to buy another bunk bed set. The playroom will swap with Katelynn's room - so new paint and sewing projects. I really want to park my fabulously clean truck in the garage soon (I had it detailed this week), so I have to figure out what to get rid of in the garage.After

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-63241395214577552302007-05-26T15:51:00.000-04:002007-05-26T16:04:58.344-04:00

I'm sure I am not the only wife to take my husband for granted. While Scott is gone, I've realized how much his presence means to me and the girls. It's funny, but the smallest little things will bring about a feeling of melancholy. I really hate taking out the trash, its one of those necessary evils. Scott kindly usually takes over that task when he is around. So, now with him halfway around

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-50729036345032894852007-05-24T21:49:00.000-04:002007-05-25T01:50:22.958-04:00

We are surrounded by numbers. I even like the TV show by the same title. :) Here are a few numbers from our trip...27 states79 days of travel6 families hosted us (many more visited with!)19 campgrounds7 National Parks1 dry tank of gas1 broken tongue jack1 leaking trailer window3 days of rain while traveling19 meals prepared and stuffed into trailer freezer for Westbound trip15 of those meals

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-27600452184059799962007-05-20T03:30:00.000-04:002007-05-20T03:37:51.785-04:00

The Stringer Zoo has landed, at HOME!!! After visiting with my grandmother yesterday and this morning, the girls and I headed south for the last time. We have arrived to a HUGE home, amid screams of joy. Even Hailey was sure excited to see all her toys again. My emotions are bittersweet. I'm excited to not have to step over or around things/kids/dogs/etc. every time I want to move, but I

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-46647855776106629432007-05-15T21:21:00.000-04:002007-05-16T23:20:17.192-04:00

I had such a great time reuniting with the Smiths last week. It was great to see how Kayla and Sierra have grown. They did have school while we were there, but that didn't stop them from introducing my girls (and me) to DDR. Actually, Jenn turned it on for us while the girls were still in school. DDR stands for Dance, Dance, Revolution.In Dance Dance Revolution, a player must move his or her

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-24616878104531158342007-05-15T12:46:00.000-04:002007-05-15T13:03:21.593-04:00

God is my provider. I know I need to update with pictures and tales from our trip to Cheyenne and Colorado Springs, but something more pressing happened as the girls and I packed up to leave the Air Force Academy yesterday morning. There are plenty of moving parts on the trailer, some to get us hitched, some to make living areas larger, some to stabilize us when we camp, and one very important

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-45794274616661380992007-05-13T22:58:00.000-04:002007-05-13T23:45:33.754-04:00

I know Scott said it didn't feel like Mother's Day on the ship, it didn't feel too much like Mother's Day out here either. :) The girls and I have been camped on the US Air Force Academy for the past 3 nights, and are definitely enjoying a slower pace. We haven't seen half of what we had planned on while in Colorado Springs, but we have really loved our time here.Today the girls and I woke up

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-43546247183698224012007-05-11T00:55:00.000-04:002007-05-11T01:22:26.516-04:00

Well, last night I alluded to a situation where the Lord was truly protecting me. I just love creating an air of suspense! What a cliff hanger, were you drawn back, hoping I'd elaborate? *giggle*The Lord is truly my protector, I will trust in HIM, and him alone. Kraig took my Suburban to the auto shop on base to get the oil changed. It has been about 5,000 miles since my oil change in Durham,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-87456985349983978142007-05-10T01:19:00.000-04:002007-05-10T01:53:33.621-04:00

WOW!!! It is so nice to know I am missed. :) I have been having fun in Wyoming, and flexing with life. I have to laugh at how many times I've said "the plan is..." and then had to write about how the plan was changed. Once again, the Lord had a better idea in mind than I did.We left Yellowstone before 8am on Monday, like originally planned. (Yeah!) I still didn't have any propane because

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-72773155921095742422007-05-07T01:08:00.000-04:002007-05-07T01:28:48.993-04:00

I want to be a National Park Ranger at Yellowstone!!! I want to live here. Hmm, think there are any Naval Air Stations nearby? The girls and I sure enjoyed ourselves today, although nothing went according to plan.Like I stated last night, we were going to get up early and head out in search of a few more animals we had not yet seen. Yeah, right. Not going to happen when Mom stays up until o’

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-15278063121857296552007-05-06T00:16:00.000-04:002007-05-06T01:07:34.562-04:00

Today, the female portion of the Stringer Zoo headed out to Old Faithful. The girls woke me with the words "There's SNOW on the truck." But by the time I pulled myself out from under 2 dogs and 4 kids (yes, they were all cuddled with me a few minutes after they woke up), the snow had melted. However, it was COLD!!!I bundled up everyone as well as I could and we once again headed south into

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-56732753100974002062007-05-05T01:29:00.000-04:002007-05-05T02:46:10.629-04:00

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you walked about and explored their depths

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-56139063386445869552007-05-04T00:30:00.000-04:002007-05-04T00:45:33.357-04:00

Thank you for praying for me and the girls, and my aches while driving! The Lord was truly protecting us today. The wind was especially strong today, so I didn't do much snacking, as I had to keep both hands on the wheel as I drove. The girls were super-well behaved, and didn't seem to mind that I couldn't play the roll of flight stewardess today. We stopped for lunch when Scott called

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-74668005428828663842007-05-03T12:18:00.000-04:002007-05-03T12:24:57.348-04:00

The girls and I enjoyed the "deluxe" site in Buffalo, WY last night. It has a hot tub, which we all truly needed, and a large fenced area for the dogs to play. We had breakfast outside this morning, and have recouped from a tough day yesterday. I'll post some pictures of our trek to Devil's Tower when we stop in Montana tonight, but I wanted to ask for prayers before we leave Wyoming for the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-66941578791428081932007-05-02T02:23:00.000-04:002007-05-02T03:28:39.458-04:00

Why would this profile of George Washington be lit up at night? Hint, it isn't lit by the National Park Service, or your tax dollars. Confused? Wait until the end of the blog. :)Today began as a very relaxing day. The girls all played outside this morning, until Hailey took her morning nap. Then the "Bigs" and I did a bit of school (Grammar and Phonics, oh my) before lunch. It was so fun

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-88548494103169386132007-04-30T23:20:00.000-04:002007-05-01T12:38:07.195-04:00

The girls obviously didn't read last nights blog, as I had stated that we would SLEEP IN this morning. Katelynn was up around 7am, and the rest soon followed. ARGH. Just once I want to be the first one up, I guess that would entail going to bed before midnight. Oh well.Even with our early start, we didn't roll out of camp until around 11am. With snacks packed and plans to eat lunch at Mt.

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-27740360244799357882007-04-30T00:00:00.000-04:002007-04-30T00:09:29.011-04:00

the girls will PLAY!!!We had a long drive today (probably close to 7 1/2 hours due to an spontaneous detour through the Badlands), and didn't arrive to the campground until after dark. I set up alone outside, without my usual helpers, as it was just quicker to do it myself. This is what the girls were up to while I was working...Tomorrow we'll sleep in, and head out to Mt. Rushmore and the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-76518966939191514492007-04-29T10:26:00.000-04:002007-04-29T12:19:14.083-04:00

I must admit that I usually don't think of South Dakota when I think of the ideal vacation spot. This weekend has changed all that!The driving from Minnesota to South Dakota was not hard, but I sure seemed to be going through gas quickly. Once I eventually found a service station and climbed out of the truck, I realized why. There was a steady headwind. For the rest of the drive you could

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-73746316390525129092007-04-27T00:49:00.000-04:002007-04-27T01:18:20.806-04:00

I was originally going to title tonight's blog "Trailer Life - Love or Hate it." But, hate is such a strong word, I don't ever HATE trailer life, I just don't always like it as much as I usually do. Most of the time, I do LOVE the adventure of pulling the trailer, stopping when we desire, and using my problem solving skills to see how I can manage black and gray water with only 30 gallon tanks.

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-21537172412727958212007-04-24T22:25:00.000-04:002007-04-24T22:47:07.165-04:00

Our adventures over the past two days have been pretty unadventurous. We drove through very high winds in Canada, spotted 3 of the Great Lakes, inadvertently had the dogs go for a swim right before loading up into the truck, and broke a Corelle dish while driving. Pretty much run of the mill stuff for the Stringer Zoo. Oh, and Beth has developed a nice chest cough, and Hailey is running a mild

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-88935539971712718272007-04-23T00:37:00.000-04:002007-04-23T09:21:22.897-04:00

Katelynn told me more than once that today was the best day of her life. WOW! What high praise. I'm still grinning as I remember walking back to the car with her, the sun had set, our bellies were full, the Falls were lit up in pinks, oranges and purples, and roar of the water soothed my frazzled auditory nerves, and the cool mist from the Falls floated through the air, chilling our faces and

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-63466006830550790342007-04-22T22:58:00.000-04:002007-04-22T23:44:10.357-04:00

The female portion of the Stringer Zoo has spent the past two days enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of Niagara Falls. On Saturday, March 21, we finally left our KOA campsite around 11am, and eventually made it to the American side of the Niagara Gorge by noon. (We are only camped an exit away from the Falls, but with 4 girls, and two dogs, one exit turns into one hour.)We could hear the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-60138030695420706052007-04-19T21:10:00.000-04:002007-04-20T09:22:57.188-04:00

New York City - There was an unusual sight in New York City today. A semi-sane woman was followed around the City by four rather rambunctious children. I surruptitiously followed and have recorded their antics.The group drove a large red Suburban into uptown New York City, prepared to pay an arm and a leg for parking. Then then piled out of the automobile to venture out on foot for a few

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-70522939041519993132007-04-17T08:43:00.001-04:002007-04-17T10:48:53.663-04:00

It looks like the girls and I are going to hit the road again. The weather has calmed down - just a bit windy, and the refrigerator burner dried out and it working again. Melody and I worked Sunday and Monday and got 19 meals prepped and loaded into the trailer. I used the Low Carb Mega Menu-mailer from the Dinner Diva and was able to pack 16 meals into the trailers freezer. It is stuffed,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-54485301873944218242007-04-15T23:22:00.000-04:002007-04-15T23:31:06.423-04:00

Originally, the plan was to leave Maryland on Monday, April 16. Hmmm. Weather has made me rethink that plan. Then today, when I tried to load 10 freezer meals into the freezer - the freezer was not cold. OK, there is one RV service place here in Southern Maryland, we'll see how quickly they can work me in. Plus, the rain has decided that the window above my bed would be a great place to come

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-75286903895707294212007-04-11T23:15:00.000-04:002007-04-11T23:26:07.923-04:00

I promise that we haven't fallen off the face of the earth! We've just been having so much fun, and really enjoying ourselves here. It is so hard to believe that we are coming to the end of the 3 week visit in Southern Maryland. I've got so many pictures and stories to share from our adventures, I really need to spend more time updating this blog, don't I? :) I will do some updating slowly

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-34409346941535738922007-03-31T21:44:00.000-04:002007-03-31T22:08:31.561-04:00

Whew! I would never characterize myself as a shopper, but boy did I do some damage this weekend! Two friends and I went to Stafford, VA, for a "Second Helping" clothing sale. A local elementary school (Anne E. Moncure Elementary School) holds a semi-annual used clothing sale each spring and fall.What craziness! Since Gretchen, Melody, Kristen and I volunteered to help with the sale, we were

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-11293904062813118602007-03-29T22:02:00.000-04:002007-03-29T23:09:47.204-04:00

I had the extreme privilege tonight of joining Kaitlin Gough at her 3rd grade recorder concert. Kaitlin recently earned a "black belt" in her music class, attaining the highest level possible - only a handful of students in the 3rd grade have achieved this.Tonight, all of the 3rd grade classes assembled to entertain and delight the parents and friends who gathered. Once the kids entered the

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-38132358103271094792007-03-28T00:13:00.000-04:002007-03-28T00:23:00.787-04:00

As I was bathing little Miss Bethie-Boodle last night, she was mumbling something about someone. I waited for her to straighten out her thinking, but I was NOT prepared to hear: "I don't like you." OK, where had this come from? I wasn't punishing her, she hadn't disobeyed a direct command in the last 5 minutes, she usually loves baths... What's the deal?The next sentence clarified everything:

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-77982877475909088382007-03-26T20:55:00.000-04:002007-03-26T21:47:49.268-04:00

As Melissa helped point out, I've been a bit lax in my posting since arriving in Maryland. Many apologies!!! No excuse other than I've been having fun catching up on the local news, playing games with the kiddos, dealing with a #$%^&* doctor in California, settling back into a routine, and laughing a Beth.The title of tonight's post comes from the amount of trash the girls and I accumulated

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-55176488150988840952007-03-22T23:16:00.000-04:002007-03-22T23:24:30.091-04:00

It is official. The first part of our mind-boggling, life changing, patience testing, epic cross-country adventure has come to a conclusion in Lexington Park, Maryland. We arrived around 5pm tonight, with many SCREAMS of joy - the girls screamed too. :) Everyone quickly piled out of the truck and dashed off to various parts of the house and yard. This was our first visit to the Gough House

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-64407024346849155592007-03-21T21:53:00.000-04:002007-03-21T22:29:54.708-04:00

In theory, the girls and I have one 5 hours of driving time left. In reality, that translates to about 7 hours of northward movement. Add in about 1 1/2 hours of preparation time, and hopefully 8 hours of sleep for me, and we have about 16 1/2 hours until the Stringer Zoo lands in Lexington Park, MD. Since it is about 10:oopm now, that has us arriving around 2:30pm tomorrow. Of course, that

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-30818969128089579712007-03-21T01:51:00.001-04:002007-03-21T01:57:32.558-04:00

We've had a great first day in the Raleigh-Durham area. (It's pronounced "Dur-uhm", not "Dur-HAM" by the way.) The girls and I made it up to visit with Lisa and the boys around 11am - the trailer is parked quite a bit further away from their place than I thought. After visiting for a short while, I left to get the oil changed in the truck. Lisa had selflessly volunteered to watch the giggle of

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-56299932163694138252007-03-19T21:55:00.000-04:002007-03-19T23:23:35.398-04:00

At the moment, Hailey is crawling around on the dinette bed, Katelynn is cuddled on the top bunk, Emily and Beth are actually quiet on the bottom bunk. We are listening to Adventures in Odyssey at 10 o'clock at night, trying to wind down from 6 hours in the car. Tomorrow we will get the oil changed in the truck and get to visit with good friends the Hassengers.It was an uneventful drive, albeit

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-70922655144902668312007-03-19T14:30:00.000-04:002007-03-19T14:37:46.874-04:00

We are parked in the middle of a Super-WalMart parking lot somewhere in Western North Carolina. (Near Hickory I think.) What a great few days in the Great Smokey Mountains we have had. I've missed having cell phone and internet though, I'm looking forward to the wi-fi internet access at Smithfield, NC KOA tonight. The girls are enjoying a lunch of chicken strips, the dogs are under the table

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-55781601081830435782007-03-15T01:06:00.000-04:002007-03-15T01:08:16.236-04:00

Just so people don't get too worried...the girls and I have safely made it to Kentucky. We enjoyed a FABULOUS dinner of BBQ tonight with Rich's Mom, Stepdad, Aunt & Uncle. I felt extremely welcomed to the family. :) I'm tired after driving bridges and two lane roads most of the day. I'll update on our Missouri trip when I catch a few moments tomorrow.

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-6778080525205373732007-03-14T21:08:00.000-04:002007-03-15T20:48:50.038-04:00

When the girls and I drove from Kansas City to Mansfield, MO, we past a few interesting sites. We were able to visit the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, we drove past Crazy Debbies Fireworks, and before those two spots, we drove through PECULIAR, MO. Now, I know we are in the middle of the country, and it is fairly sparsely populated, but come on. Naming your town Peculiar?We made it to

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-45890588797700076132007-03-13T02:58:00.000-04:002007-03-13T04:16:55.193-04:00

Our trailer has another sticker on it... We've added Kansas to the side of the trailer, proudly proclaiming where we've been. :)Our visit with my cousin, Lisa, and her family was awesome! I feel so recharged and ready to go. We arrived in Gardner, KS around 5pm to two boys and a beagle in the front yard. Nicholas and Nathan were ready to greet their road weary cousins, and Belle, the pup,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-54419972879878581492007-03-11T00:03:00.000-05:002007-03-11T03:31:50.392-04:00

Our time in Oklahoma has come to an end. We crossed the state boundary between Oklahoma and Kansas just after lunchtime. Katelynn and Emily were working on some Math and spelling while Beth and Hailey snoozed or looked outside. I was attempting to stay on the road with semi's passing me and the occasional wind gust. (Lots of red vines were consumed today - I stayed up way too late recently,

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-18385379467890549692007-03-10T04:43:00.000-05:002007-03-10T02:45:08.058-05:00

Two years ago I became a grandmother to 4 adorable bundles of fur. Abbey gave birth in the early evening of October 17, 2004 to 3 little girls and 2 small boys. (The last boy was a stillborn, perfect in shape and size, but not destined to survive in this world.)What a whirlwind we were in for. Little Miss Fushia, Miss Pink, Miss Orange and Mr. Purple (named after their rick-rack colors we used

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-59684135486959947192007-03-09T01:56:00.000-05:002007-03-09T02:03:56.382-05:00

The Stringer Zoo has landed...for at least the next two nights. Of course, it is after midnight as I post this, so maybe we're only here for one more night. Details, details.We had an uneventful drive from Amarillo, TX to Edmond, OK. My daughters have learned not to ask me how to spell when I'm looking for our next turn. I missed the entrance to the Scotts neighborhood and we had to drive a

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-87785209847362178192007-03-07T23:35:00.000-05:002007-03-08T10:35:01.052-05:00

We've landed in Amarillo, TX, at the Sundown RV Park. Some very friendly men in the RV next door offered to help me hook-up the rig tonight. Thank goodness I was almost done. OK, maybe they were just being nice, but it was dark, and I was a bit weirded out. However, this little park DOES have wi-fi internet, so I was able to add a few pictures to a past blog, and hope to make tonights blog a

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-68543263387818377112007-03-07T01:52:00.000-05:002007-03-07T01:57:17.092-05:00

WOW! What an awesome trip we've had so far. We are back among the connected, with cell phone and internet. I wish I could post some pictures for everyone tonight, but my cell phone battery is running low. My cell phone acts as my modem when I can not find a wireless connection. Most KOA's have wireless internet, not this one in Gallup, NM. However, it does have a 24 hour laundromat in front

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-65221217374738119882007-03-03T03:29:00.000-05:002007-03-07T22:15:20.630-05:00

UPDATED: Wednesday, March 7, 2007 - Pictures addedWell, we did it. The girls and I made it out of San Diego County, and are on the first leg of our epic, mind-expanding, strength-testing, nail-biting, cross-country adventure!!! YEAH!Of course, we left 3 hours later than I had hoped. Between my own lack of organization, propane issues with the trailer, and Hailey having yet ANOTHER ear

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-18738268012539641872007-02-27T20:49:00.000-05:002007-02-27T20:55:15.497-05:00

It is time for dinner around here, so I'm in the middle of preparing steak, beans and a sweet potato. (Anyone want to join us?) Beth is my ever-present companion these days, so I was listening with half an ear to her chatter as I busied myself with dinner preps. Suddenly she had my full attention when she expressed "I miss Daddy.""I do too, Sweetie." I said, wondering what brought that thought

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-76397045741199844292007-02-25T03:13:00.000-05:002007-02-26T12:51:27.638-05:00

Having Eli and Abbey around...how can I describe the pleasure and satisfaction I get from having these two furry beasts share my life? I watch them doze on the floor next to me, knowing that the second I make a move Abbey will be up, eager to go on an adventure. Eli's darker form is curled up, conserving body heat as the house cools off. Abbey's blond fuzzy feet stretch out in front of her.

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-15334497186131487252007-02-22T00:50:00.000-05:002007-02-22T01:34:37.034-05:00

It might sound strange, but cleaning my floor on my hands and knees really helped my outlook. I don't make it a habit to scrub my floor the old-fashioned way, but it just sounded good. (I know, I know, I'm certifiably crazy. I've heard it before.) The girls and I had a superbly efficient day in school, so I figured I would work on the floor while they played after lunch. It was actually

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-50295896970795667332007-02-19T16:21:00.000-05:002007-02-20T02:55:18.835-05:00

Surprise, surprise, I'm a bit stubborn. Hard-headed, obstinate, willful, contrary, stiff-necked and good old fashioned PIG-HEADED! Lately, as I operate on less sleep than my body likes, I've learned a few things the hard way. I thought that everyone might enjoy a short list of what I've learned. Maybe I can help someone avoid a similar problem!The more kids you have, the more your joy, but

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-89430800195845106082007-02-19T01:37:00.000-05:002007-02-19T01:39:58.361-05:00

Beth - hamming it up as usual!I've been feeling a bit down today, but a call from Melody and the posted picture have helped. I'll cuddle up with the dogs in bed, and work some sudoku puzzles - that always helps too. :)

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-15448212863513914622007-02-19T00:20:00.000-05:002007-02-19T00:39:58.766-05:00

Jehovah Jireh! God is my provider. I really struggle with obedience to the Lord in certain situations. I KNOW that God knows best, and yet there are times when I feel that I know a better way to accomplish my goals. (Hmmm, maybe that is part of the problem, MY goals, not HIS plan for me.) It is hard for me to ask for help, even when I am in need. Such was the case with getting back up to

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-12042627041889754362007-02-17T04:16:00.000-05:002007-02-17T04:23:29.272-05:00

Hailey is such an interesting child. Tonight she decided she would stand all on her own for the first time. She received cheers and thunderous applause - the 3 Beane girls are here for a weekend sleepover. She enjoyed being the center of attention, and proceeded to repeat her standing performance to receive more cheers and applause. Eventually, her sense of humor took over. She would proceed

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15763148.post-71109375993540928772007-02-15T01:07:00.000-05:002007-02-15T01:52:56.488-05:00

In the hustle and bustle of Hailey's physical therapy appointment, dinner at a friends home, and AWANA, it has been fairly easy to forget that today was Valentine's Day. Scott surprised me with a phone call and a package from Hershey! Both were unexpected and very appreciated. As I sit here, surrounded by Mt. Washmore (never ending laundry for those not familiar with Flylady), I am having a

Stringer Zoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371848290470636641noreply@blogger.com5