Upcoming Events

In January we will be in Sarasota, Fl for the month . We will be RVing at Sarasota Lakes. We hope to catch up with Wilbur's aunt Laura and Wilbur's brother Stan while we are in Sarasota. We also want to see many of my cousins who winter in the area.

In February we will be in Polk City, Florida, RVing with our friends, Walt and Jo Aschenbrenner. We won't make a certain date for returning home, because it will depend on the weather.

We hope to see many of you in the south this winter. We will be blogging from Florida, so catch up with us via blog if we don't see you in person. We love your comments.

Fall Activities

One the way home we stopped at Brush Colorado to visit our good friends Tim and Lana Stutzman. They are the owner/operators of the High Plains Livestock Exchange. It is now October and we are in the middle of harvest. The soy beans are finished and the corn is in full swing. I will add a few pictures of harvest and other fall activities at the Litwiller household.

Silverton, Colorado

We have been home since the end of September, which was a month ago. We spend the last day in Colorado on a shorter, less difficult trail, also just as beautiful. We took a few pictures of Silverton, our newest favorite town in Colorado.

Today I am just adding some pictures of beautiful Colorado that we took on this trip. Pictures cannot even begin to show the beauty. We were just a bit early for the fall color show. We are leaving tomorrow morning and hoping to get to Brush, Colorado by evening in order to see our friends, Tim and Lana Stutzman. We should be back home sometime on Friday.

Dated September 15: We have been waking up to frost the last few mornings. It gets very warm during the day but really cools off at night. Yesterday we went on several trail rides with our jeep. We went on Ophir, then later in the day we went on Poughkeepsie Gulch, it was a doozy. You can see some of the pictures we took of the road. We had a thrilling ride but much to Wilburs dissapointment when he (we) decided we had to turn around when the rocks were the size of 3 watermellons. We had also had a calm ride up the Last Dollar Highway. All of these roads gave us a lot of beautiful scenery. We ate lunch at True Grit in Ridgeway, which was a tribute to John Wayne. The movie True Grit was filmed on the Last Dollar Highway and in Ridgeway. We drove through Telluride, a nice mountain town but with lots of activity. We are getting to know these mountains here in this area. They are rugged, huge and varied in looks but all beautiful. Today is our last day on the mountains and tomorrow we are heading toward Iowa.

Yesterday we went on a road trip with hard surface roads, to Black Canyon in the Gunnison area. It was like nothing we have ever seen before. It was a very deep and wide chasm. It is a National Park and the roads and stop offs are clean, and easy to get to. We saw several deer. It was nice and warm and we enjoyed the drive. We ate at Silverton in the evening when we got back. We are camping here in Silverton. Our plans are now to stay here until Wednesday morning and then we will start home. We do not have to go to Texas now. Right now the concern in Texas is for daily needs such as food, water and shelter. After this has been met then it will go to the cleanup and rebuilding stage.


That is Ouray and a nice size and unique town and was home of many gold miners many years ago.

Today we went on another Jeep trip. Its called bounce this way and then that and hang on for dear life. then when we got to the top of the pass (12,000 feet) we had to drive through slippery sliddy snow. Yes, we were sliding around the S curves a few times. The rocks were big but the jeep handled it well. We both loved the trip, and we took our lunch and had it at the top of one of the mountains on a meadow. We saw a lot of other Jeep and 4-wheel drive vehicles on the trail. A regular car or pickup could never have made it.

We are having a good time here in southwest
Colorado. We had no idea how many off road
trails are in the area. We will stay in the area for one more day then head home or to Texas.

Our knees are repairing, we are not up to hiking but we can do Jeep hiking. It was 12 weeks ago that Wilbur broke his knee cap and 3 weeks ago that I had the arthroscopic surgery on my knee.

We were really ready for a vacation and we are not ready for it to end, but all good things come to an end, oh, I don't really believe that saying.

This is the picture that got covered up in our first post this week. It is our son Mike's family on the night before they took their oldest daughter, Alyssa to orientation for Radical Journey. She will be going to Sweden for 10 months. Radical Journey is program sponsored by the Mennonite church.


Yesterday we got to Durango Colorado in the afternoon. We found a nice campground and got settled, then we went for a drive to see the countryside and the town. We grilled Iowa rib eye's for supper. Yum! Yum! We have been watching the weather channel a lot. As I am sure you all know, hurricane Ike has been on the minds of many. We may have to go to Texas next week.

Today we took a 3 1/2 hour jeep trail ride. It was not for scardy cats! We really enjoyed it but we hung on the side of the mountains many times. The jeep trip began in Silverton and we saw a lot of snow. I will try to add a few pictures.

The first picture was taken today as we got close to Alamosa. The picture of Mike's family was taken at Alyssa's farewell/birthday party on Friday night.

We left home on Saturday afternoon and got as far as Bethany, Missouri on Saturday night. Bethany has a great Wal-mart!!! Then on Sunday we got to Emma and John's around 10:30 am. We had a great time with them and of course John was up to his usual good cooking. We had ribs on Sunday night- aren't you jealous. Emma went to work on Monday and John went to grandparent day with 10-year old Emily. We checked out the nice little town of Plattsburg. We left their house on Tuesday morning and headed toward Colorado.

We did not realize what a big/almost boring state Kansas can be. We did not make it quite into
Colorado on Tuesday. Today we left from Colby, Kansas and tonight we are at Alamosa, Colorado.We are camping at a KOA, where we have internet access. Yah! We have driven through some mountains but we will see more tomorrow as we head toward Durango.

Today we met Phil Kinsinger at Walsenburg, Co and we had lunch together and it was good to get reacquainted.

Wilbur has been having 2 to 3 conference calls a day, which had hampered us making much time on the road. MDS is concerned about Hurricane Ike and where it will hit.

one more day of winter

Feb. 18, 2008

We came home one month early. This is what we find. snow.

Arkansas Tornado news

We spent Saturday at Gassville. I will include a few pictures of the distruction from there. We were very tired by evening. We toured around with some Amish Mennonite and they had 70 men and boys working at cleaning up. Mostly it was picking up debris and cutting down limbs and trees. They did tarp one house. These people all have insurance and they will have funds to rebuild ot relocate. MDS has had the policy if helping the down and out, those who have no where else ot turn and don't have any insurance.

Sunday we went to Shady Lawn church, a Beachy Amish church in rural Mountain View. Wilbur was asked to pronounce the benediction, which was both an honor and a shock(we are Mennonites).We were invited home with a couple and they had a total of 19 people for a big Sunday Meal. Yum!

I did not feel the best all day yesterday, and really fought sleep in church and when we were driving. We go to the motel at 6:15, I was asleep by 6:30 and woke up at 8:30 and was awake for 2 hours and went right back to sleep.. What ever I had , I guess I slept it off!!!!

Today, we meet 2 couples in Atkins Arkansas and the men are surveying the damage today. The ladies went to serval thrift shops and Hobby Lobby. I then came back to our meeting place and took care of the emails, etc. We will stay with Vince Hostetlers tonight in Clarksville. They have 10 children with 9 still at home. Their children range from 1 year to 20years old.

Back home again

Our trip to the south is over (for this year). We had a really good time with friends and also by ourselves. We got home on the first Saturday afternoon of February, right between snow storms. Iowa had snow on Saturday morning and then we really got hit hard by another snow storm on Sunday night (Super Bowl night). We had another storm on Tuesday, from 12 noon to Wednesday 3:00 PM. Our plans were to fly to Portland Oregon for the annual MDS meeting on Wednesday. Our 9 AM flight was canceled, then the rescheduled flight for 3 PM was canceled. There was nothing available for Thursday flights out of Cedar Rapids, after the cancellation of our 3 PM flight. Our MDS meeting would have almost been over by the time we got to Portland on Friday eve. Hence, we opted to stay home.

We are in Gassville, Arkansas, right now! Since we did not go to Portland - we were asked to go to the south and check out what Tornado damage was done on Tuesday evening. We left home on Friday morning and plan to be gone until Thursday the 16th. We will post some pictures of the area that was hit in the next blog.

The week went very fast

It is hard to believe that we arrived at Quartzite, AZ, one week ago. We have again, had struggles with our internet connections. I hope we can refine this by next summer when we go to Alaska.

This is the group that came to enjoy some warm weather and the Flee Market. In the front are Elsie & Fred Gingerich and Dorothy Marner. Starting from the left in the back two rows are: Bob Miller, Phil Marner, Mary Snyder, Bob Yoder, Lorena Swantz, Chuck Swantz, Al Snyder, Huch ?, Wilbur, Cheryl Miller and Mary.

We have had some good food, good fires and great discussions. We have played a few games and have gone to the Flee Market and RV Show many times. Wilbur and I went on a gravel road trip along the Colorado River . California was right across the river.

Yesterday, 9 of us went to California for a nice trip. We saw Date trees and had date shakes, we went to the sand dunes- very impressive. We went to Palm Springs and to the Saltun Sea, which is 350 feet below sea level and is salt water. It was a big day but a really good day with friends and wonderful scenery. The mountains were beautiful.


This was the sunrise this morning from inside our motor home to the mountains in the east.

Friday, January 18

This is the group that went to Bob Yoder's in Mesa yesterday. I told you incorrectly yesterday, that we were going to Apache Junction to see him. This house is in Mesa and he wants to sell it for 7 M. and has another house in A. J. , that he will move to, when he gets this one sold. Bob made clam chowder and corn bread - Yum!

In the picture, from left to right we have: Bob & Cheryl Miller, Phil & Dorothy Marner, Lorena &
Chuck Swantz, Bob Yoder and yours truly, Wilbur took the picture.

Time, has a way of slipping right past us. We are doing errands and washing, etc today in preparation for leaving tomorrow for Quartzite.

We ate at El Paso's this noon, one of Kent and Theresa's favorites when they lived here. We now know why they loved it. It is a very good Bar-B-Que Restaurant . Lorena Swantz invited the gang of winter birds from Iowa for Pizza tonight.

Wilbur and I are both getting a lot of reading done this winter. I am reading The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks and he is reading a book on two women in Afghanistan. He read the Kite Runner and then we went to see that movie. It was very good and touching.

I cut out blocks for a quilt but I am going to wait until I get home to piece it. Going to Harbor Freight... store this morning was to Wilbur what going to a fabric store is or me - wonder and glory!!

Wednesday, the men went to the Camping store again and to Flying J - both places seem to be their favorites. While they were gone the ladies went to Walmart and had a pedicure. Then we met the guys for lunch at Kiss the Cook . The cook gave all the guys a kiss!!!!

Today the Iowa group is all going to Bob Yoder's in Apache Junction for lunch. Bob was a fellow school mate of mine, at Snake Hollow School . He used to in Bettendorf, Iowa, but he and his wife were building a house down here and his wife Jan died about 3 years ago, just when they had planned to move into their new house.

We will pray for Gretta, as she gets ready for the toncilectimy on Tuesday and try to keep calling her to encourage her.

We will be moving on to Quarzite on Saturday and it is unknown if we will have the internet there.

We think of all of you as we write. It has been quite cool in the morning - but its gets warm at noonday.

1954 Kaiser Convertible

Tuesday, Five of us men went to Barret Jackson Auto show and sale in Scottsdale. It is about 40 min. from where we are living. They are selling cars all week with the real expensive ones selling Saturday and Sunday. They stated the sale with a 1929 Mercedes-Benz Roadster Re-creation. It sold for only 7,500. Boy, did my mouth water. It costs $500 just to get a bidding number. They have all kinds of cars. If you watch Speed channel this week it is being broadcast live. Time is going very fast for us. We don’t do anything all day but we are very busy. The first and second pictures are the Dale Ernhart intimanator and the real Beverly Hills buggy.

1929 Mercedes-Benz Roadster.

Sunday Service

We went for a day long drive yesterday out to the east of Phoenix. We followed the Apache Trail, not a lot of miles but much scenery. Half the road was gravel/small pea sized, and the other have was hard top. The jeep was perfect and performed wonderful in all the ups and downs. We had a lot of one lane roads, the kind we love.We ate lunch at Tortilla flats, the little restaurant was papered in one dollar bills. We got back to the city at 6:30 last night.

We went to Chuck and Lorena Swartz' and Bob Miller had brought homemade ice cream. The ladies planned some food for the week at Quartzite, Arizona. We will have 6 motor homes at Quartzite Flee market and RV show for a week. We plan to circle around the motor homes as in olden days!!! Too much fun. This is one crazy group - I haven't laughed this much for a long time!!! We will be dry docking, that means that we make our own electricity, and they bring water to fill the tanks as needed. We leave for Quartzite on Saturday and we don't know what we will do for email out there.

Tonight we are taking Keith and Helen Erb out for dinner. Keith took Wilbur to and from the airport, last week when he flew out.

We will try to add some photos.

Note: to all who comment, we love your comments, thanks.

Phoenix

It has been cool in the morning and evening, here in Peoria, AZ. It gets nice and warm in the middle of the day. The furnace has been running in the morning. It seems all we do is eat out, nice for me, I don't have to cook. Its like my dad used to say about Sarasota: you could go to a different restaurant for every meal for a year and you still would have some that you did not go to.

Wilbur comes in tomorrow night at 9:20, Arizona time. We hope to do some sight seeing this weekend with our Jeep.

We will blog, when we can.

Write, when you can.

Silver Springs MD

I flew into BWI and arrived in Silver Springs MD last night but have no Idea where that is. I rode a shuttle to my hotel. The meetings are at the Adventist community services headquarters. This is the National VOAD Board meeting. I will be flying back to Phoenix Friday afternoon. I am tying to get a map to see just where I am.

Wilbur

We had rain this morning, which is unusual for Phoenix at this time of the year. We needed to wear sweatshirts today. We expect the sun the rest of the week.

Wilbur went to a camping store this morning and I got my plan established for the next few days. I found out that I need some things to sew the American Girl clothes that I plan to make for Grace's birthday, while I am down here. Grace and Jesse both have their birthdays while we are down here in Phoenix.

Wilbur is leaving for Washington DC tomorrow morning and he will be home on Friday night.
I will go out for coffee with the Iowans tomorrow morning. We are enjoying Phoenix and getting re-aquainted with former Iowans.

We have had a horrendous time getting on the internet. I will try to keep you updated, as we can.

Note: to you techies- we have not been able to put any pictures on the Blog. Any ideas?

Phoenix at last

We arrived last night in the Friday night traffic jam. It took 2 hours to get to our location after we hit town. We are staying in Peoria, AZ, at Sundial RV Park for two weeks. No frills but it has all that we need. The water, electricity and elimination means! Yuk!

Tonight we went for pizza with Chuck& Lorena Swantz. It rained this evening and everyone here treats rain like we do a big snow storm in Iowa. The resturant was not busy because everyone stayed home because of the rain.

We don't have any concrete plans for tomorrow. We may go to Trinity to church and then go for a drive in the afternoon. ----if its not raining!

It was shirt sleeve weather today. Wilbur washed the RV and Jeep today and I tried to get the RV organized. We went to Walmart for a few things and walked out with $124.00 worth.

We are relaxing now that we have arrived. Of course, we are too young for the good life.

Tonight we are able to get on the internet-finally. We stayed in Guymon, Ok. last night. It was cold and we saw snow all the way from home until today when we were in southern New Mexico.

We left on New Year's day and it was cold, and blowing snow when we left. We kept asking each other if this was a good move to leave then but the sun and warm were calling us. We plan to be in Phoenix by tomorrow afternoon.

The scenery on our trip today, has been great and we have been taking our time. We love it.

Wilbur has continued his Love/Hate relationship with electronic gadgets. He has spent hours trying to get the satellite TV to work. It is finally working tonight so we can see what is going on at the IOWA caucuses.

Thanks for the comments.