November of 2009, Stephen and I made a monumental decision that changed how we live. Our eldest, Rebekah, was off serving us all in the US Navy. Sarah, our next oldest, was a college student we trust to live at home without us. Elisabeth, our busy b, was happily living and going to public school with her momMOM. So, we decided to live, school, and work on the road with Rachel, our youngest daughter, and Nathaniel, our only boy. 
We packed the old Chrysler van to the gills with homeschool supplies, clothes, books, household needs, and toys. The poor thing almost drug the ground from everything we thought we needed. Then off we journeyed to Stephen's first Travel nurse post in Uvalde, TX.
The job in Uvalde, which is in the Texas Hill Country 2 hours west of San Antonio, was a learning experience for us all. Stephen learned new things about his job AND we all learn new things about each other and ourselves. Those first 13 weeks of living in closer quarters in a remote area with few social entertainments brought growth to us all. Stephen and I became a stronger couple because we had to depend on each other for most of our emotional support. I had never realized how many people I placed in my vital contact list til I had only him. The children also began to play, really play. They no longer had activities going all over town. Instead, we did, saw, played, and experienced life as a team and a family. We had homeschooled from the beginning but now we had fewer distractions. 
From our cabin in Concan, Texas on the Frio River 20 minutes from Uvalde's hospital, the children enjoyed watching a variety of birds, deer, armadillo, and bugs. The spider hunting with our cabin next door and the resident entomologist and his wife was coupled with hiking near the river, making paper boats, wading, and field trips to San Antonio. We even played Pooh sticks off a nearby river crossing. 
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