Category: Rachael

A day we drove

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October 28, 2015

Yesterday we drove.  That is about it.  We drove all day.  We slept in and went down the road from Nashville to the Alabama/Florida boarder.  We did school work.  We made lunch in the RV.

BUT, today… today the kids are in the pool swimming.  We are heading to the ocean.  We’ve done E fit and sweat because it’s almost 80 degrees out.  And, I head that it is not almost 80 at home right now.  In fact, I hear that there is something white in the air.  So, today will will take in every bit of sunshine and warmth that we can.  I don’t miss that white stuff.  But I sure do miss my friends and family at home.  It will be YOU that gets us back to a Minnesota winter!  Love you all!

A change of plans…

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October 26, 2015

It’s mom’s turn to write.  So, here is goes.

We left Talladega this morning with intentions of heading to Florida.  Those intentions changed when we realized that the weather was still not pretty that direction due to the hurricane in the Gulf.  Since I’ve lived in MN all my life I can honestly say I’ve never watched the weather for hurricane warnings, but since being on the east coast we’ve done plenty of that.

My mom called as we were headed down the road for the day.  In conversation she told us about a movie that she had just gone to yesterday with a friend.  The movie: Woodlawn  The location of the true story: Birmingham, AL  At that time, we were 29 miles from Birmingham and it was raining out.  We decided that it would be a good day to head to a movie theatre and why not see Woodlawn right in a Birmingham theatre and then drive to Legion Field where the big game in the movie took place.

We’ve watched our kids walk hand in hand through the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in DC.  We’ve learned a lot about the Civil War and have seen battle sites such as Gettysburg.  We’ve listened to President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.  We’ve sat in the bus that Rosa Parks made her stand in.  And today we went to the movie Woodlawn that again talked about civil rights – in the 70’s.  It’s sad, it’s liberating, its painful, it’s freeing and it’s crazy for my mind to think about the changes that have happened in this country in my life time alone.  The first winning game shown in the movie Woodland was on my exact birthdate!  This storyline happened while I’ve been alive.

Here is the thing that crosses my mind as I think about all these different things we’ve seen.  This world is full of adversity but it is amazing to see how when one person makes a stand to do the right thing and has a team that comes along side them change is made.  Even when things seem so bleak and unfair, miracle happen and miracles are seen!

In the movie Woodlawn before one of the games is started one of the main characters, Hank is asked to pray.    When asked what he is doing, he said he is giving “credit where credit was due” and continued to pray The Lords Prayer.  I can’t tell any more because it will give away that part of this storyline, but it was a really neat.  I pray that we all realize our significance in life and stand up to do the right thing.  To me, that often seems like it involves being a voice for those who do not seem to have a voice.  And then, give credit where credit is due.

“When you play for yourself, you can be great. When you play for something higher than yourself, that’s when something extraordinary can happen. God has a purpose for all of us and it is not insignificant…God wants you to be a superstar.” – Hank

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There you have it.  A movie review and my scattered thoughts after walking through this side of the country for the last few weeks.  Go see the movie!

After the movie we drove to see some friends that live in TN.  We gave them a couple hour notice we were heading that direction and they made time for us to come and see their beautiful home and enjoy an evening of catching up.  Thanks, Kenyons!  It was awesome to see you!  I Wish I would have taken a picture, but I forgot to pull out my phone and snap a few pictures.

 

 

Letting Go

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September 29, 2015

Yesterday, we woke up in Illinois and drove to Ohio.  It was a nice drive and we stopped in Indiana at the Sand Dunes and walked to a beach on Lake Michigan.  It was windy and the locals said that it was the best waves they had ever seen on the lake.  We have seen so many amazing things on this trip.  Our creator God is totally amazing.  There really are not any words or pictures that could describe the beauty that this county holds.  Yesterday were able to see Chicago from a new perspective.  From a distance.  It looked much different than it did as compared to being in the heart of the city.

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And that is where my heart is today.  Perspective give so much to a situation.  I didn’t know what to expect as we set out on this adventure.  I wasn’t sure how my kids would do.  I wasn’t sure how Ryan would do.  I wasn’t sure how I would do.  But, I knew this was a journey that we were to embrace and embark upon.

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As the seven of us live together in an RV we are learning to love well.  I see my own faults come out.  I see when I get frustrated with situations and lean toward taking the frustration out on one of the kids or Ryan.  Maybe it’s because no-one can really escape.  At home we can run to our rooms with hurt hearts.  Here, our hearts are more exposed when they are hurt.

I’m learning to let go of some things.  I like things tidy and neat.  That is hard to accomplish that to my standard while living in an RV with seven people.   And there are so many things I miss.   I miss my college kids who are working hard at school in MN.  I miss family.  I miss friends.  I miss doing church and the fellowship that we have at our church.  I miss my bed and my bathroom.  I miss my washing machine.  I miss my friend who cuts and colors my hair.

Letting go.  Ryan told me to sit on his shoulders while we were in the beach yesterday.  If you know me, you might know that my first response was “No… I can’t do that; you can’t hold me…” Excuses.  He gently encouraged me.  I did it.  Grace snapped a picture.  Letting go is a good thing to do.  Living in community is a good thing to do.

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I am so thankful for this time with my family.  I am thankful for this opportunity to grow in my marriage with Ryan and in relationship with my kiddos.  I am thankful to do life from a different perspective and am learning so much doing it.  I have a pretty amazing group of people to do life with.

Rachael

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

 

Friendship is a beautiful thing

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A few months ago, my mom and I went to Ethiopia together with group of 6 people from across the country.  We didn’t know each other before we left other than a few conference calls we had together, but it was an amazing trip and God surely knit together that group of people for the purpose of that trip.

Yesterday, we drove from Las Vegas, Nevada to Flagstaff, Arizona.  We were greeted in Flagstaff by my friends Carlos and Natalie and their family.  Carlos and Natalie were both on the trip to Ethiopia.  Yesterday, they drove hours to meet us for dinner and our families got to play together and we were able to enjoy a meal together and visit.  I think it’s amazing how God knits relationships together and am so thankful for friendships.   He sees no borders and distance is not a barrier.

Here are a few pictures of the time we spent together.  We were surrounded by quite a beautiful group of kiddos.  Carlos, Natalie and family… you are a blessing.  Thank you for taking time to hang out with us!  We love you all!

Rachael

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Grace and Abby

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We spent the weekend in Minnesota with some awesome family and friends watching Gracie and Abby at the State 4H horse show.    It was a weekend of learning and growing.   It was a weekend loaded with fun!  It is amazing to watch my girl and her horse!  Here are some things that Grace had to say about the weekend…

It was so fun to be able to ride in the colosseum and meet new people. I can’t wait to have more practice and hopefully get another trip next year. Abby did so good and I am excited to work with her more when we get back. I miss her already. Thanks to everyone who came down to watch us.  Special thanks to Jackie, Jamie, and Janelle for getting Abby ready and helping me with my patterns. Also a huge thanks to Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Linda for bringing abby down and to Grandpa Dennis for hanging out and helping me in the barn.   Another thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Pete and Virginia for coming down to watch. One last one to all of my siblings for coming and supporting me.  – Grace

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Wyoming

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Grace has put together this blog and written the last posts.  I think she’s done a great job!  She’ll be back as well as the rest of the kids taking their turn. For now, you get the musings from mom.

Today, as I sat listening to Burka read to me I could hear Grace and Greta at the table quizzing each other for their science test they take tomorrow. Hannah and Ryan discussing her Economics class in the front of the RV. All this was happening while were watching breathtaking views of Wyoming out our windows. I could not help but think I am one lucky mom.   Really, I’m not sure that it gets better than this unless my two college kiddos were with us. I love learning more about the hearts of my kids while we experience our beautiful county first hand.

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We woke up in Gillette this morning. We traveled up through the Bighorn Mountains and back down through them as well. I watched as my kids looked out the windows of our RV down to the valleys and up to the peaks. They noticed houses built way up high in the mountains and day dreamed about what kids would do if they lived there.   We talked about how getting groceries would be different if you lived in the mountains versus living in Alexandria MN.

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I packed our efit boards so Hannah and I got to get out and do a little stretching and working out in the Big Horn Mountains.  It sure did feel good to get out and move a bit on our long stretch of driving.

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Each of us has things that we think are great about our day as well as things that were not so great.  Things happen – like when Hannah lost a paper she wrote for her college class due to the Internet going down. It’s all part of the adventure.

In the afternoon we made our way to Yellowstone. The geysers and sulfur pools are really amazing. A bit stinky for some in our group, but really it blows my mind to think about these boiling pools of water.

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Buche is usually our comic relief and he’s not failed us on this trip. Our first stop in Yellowstone was “Mud Volcano”. We stopped in the bathroom before heading down the trail. After checking out the toilet (that did not flush) he said with a fearful look on his face… “DON’T fall in mom!”

The girls talked about memories we made on our trip with our friends the Thomas’ that we traveled to Yellowstone with some years ago. Those memories make me thankful for friends. Thankful for times spent together.

We watched the sun go down over Yellowstone tonight.  We walked a path until darkness had set.  It was beautiful.  It was quiet.  It was peaceful.  This place is a mystery to me.

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It is an adventure. It is good. And, I am so very thankful.

welcome!

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Hello everyone! Welcome to a page full of adventure. On this site you will read all about the McCleary family road trip. As we travel the country we will be posting and sharing with all of you! Seven of Nine will be posting on the road including, Ryan, Rachael, Hannah, Grace, Greta, Burka, and Buche, we will be missing Zach and Amanda. Hope you look forward to seeing all of our stories. We are very excited to get on the road. Our plan is to leave in September! Share this site with all of your friends. We will be looking forward to sharing with all of our family and friends.

Love, the Mccleary Family!

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