{"id":2041,"date":"2016-06-28T22:09:59","date_gmt":"2016-06-28T22:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/?p=2041"},"modified":"2016-06-29T12:02:27","modified_gmt":"2016-06-29T12:02:27","slug":"exclamation-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/06\/28\/exclamation-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclamation point"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ever since I met Steph we&#8217;ve made trips to Phillipsburg KS at least once a year to see her family that is there. \u00a0So I&#8217;ve been there at least 19 times and Steph at least twice as many times as that. \u00a0So Phillipsburg almost feels like home. \u00a0We planned to spend our last few days of this adventure visiting the little town that feels so familiar. \u00a0Phillipsburg will be our exclamation point of this amazing trip. \u00a0It was about a 6 hour drive from Kansas City to Phillipsburg and we made the trip without issue. \u00a0We are staying at the Cottonwood Inn RV park on the east edge of town. \u00a0We checked in, picked a spot and set Ava up for the last time on this journey. \u00a0The kids and I put on our swim suits and headed straight for the pool to cool off&#8230;it felt great! \u00a0After dinner Steph&#8217;s cousin Tiff and her family stopped by to visit for awhile after they did chores. \u00a0Dacen and Michael played with Legos while Brielle\u00a0and Chloe played with Barbies.<\/p>\n<p><!--more-->The next day I stayed back at the rig to work while Steph and the kids met up with Tiff and her kids to see the animals. \u00a0They got to groom and bottle feed a couple of calves and then got to slop the hogs. \u00a0Chloe and Michael are raising pigs for the first time this year. \u00a0Chloe named hers Pork Chop and Michael named his Abraham&#8230;.get it? \u00a0AbraHAM!! \u00a0After taking care of the animals they went to Tiff and Curt&#8217;s house for lunch. \u00a0They played Xbox, practiced batting outside and had a campfire cake to celebrate Chloe&#8217;s 8th birthday! \u00a0Steph and the kids came back to the rig later in the afternoon and all 5 of us went to the pool to play before dinner. \u00a0After dinner we went to the softball fields to watch Chloe play in her tournament and then had snow cones afterwards to celebrate her team&#8217;s\u00a0victory. \u00a0I&#8217;m not a huge baseball\/softball fan, but I used to go and watch games with my dad during the summer. \u00a0So that feeling of sitting outside on a warm summer evening watching softball just seemed like the perfect place to be.<\/p>\n<div id=\"flickr_72157670278969366_1371\"><div class=\"slickr-flickr-slideshow landscape medium \"><div class=\"active\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7518\/27970296795_5bebf90b6d.jpg\" title=\"Cottonwood RV park\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cottonwood RV park<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7264\/27935987356_afe70dcd3e.jpg\" title=\"Nasty look\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Nasty look<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7404\/27970247195_44eb73cefe.jpg\" title=\"Jumping\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Jumping<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7334\/27356614453_04c52546a1.jpg\" title=\"Breakfast table\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Breakfast table<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7311\/27892938981_381439c327.jpg\" title=\"Walking the calves\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Walking the calves<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7542\/27357372914_8a63a5e4bf.jpg\" title=\"Feeding Midnight\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Feeding Midnight<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7321\/27970179565_b9c196d69f.jpg\" title=\"Feeding Snowflake\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Feeding Snowflake<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7441\/27893009591_e8926830d2.jpg\" title=\"Midnight\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Midnight<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7219\/27892915311_85fe35d882.jpg\" title=\"Chloe&#039;s boots\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Chloe's boots<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7638\/27892820341_0f559d8304.jpg\" title=\"Spoiling Midnight\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Spoiling Midnight<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7251\/27690493150_b1f4a9cdfd.jpg\" title=\"Brushing\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Brushing<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7214\/27690483750_f0ef49f78e.jpg\" title=\"Grooming Midnight\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Grooming Midnight<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7551\/27690480140_25eddfcdb5.jpg\" title=\"Cousins on the fence\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cousins on the fence<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7247\/27935713456_fc2e297b51.jpg\" title=\"More food for AbraHAM\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>More food for AbraHAM<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7716\/27970303725_6bc958aa79.jpg\" title=\"Feeding Porkchop\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Feeding Porkchop<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7263\/27970302105_6ff83667a4.jpg\" title=\"Feeding AbraHAM\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Feeding AbraHAM<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7301\/27357215754_b3c3e9ac35.jpg\" title=\"Xboxing\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Xboxing<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7267\/27970300685_2cb0126de5.jpg\" title=\"Campfire cake\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Campfire cake<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7076\/27970299795_bda64e1aca.jpg\" title=\"Launching balls\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Launching balls<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7407\/27868345132_6ec79fc7bc.jpg\" title=\"Practice\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Practice<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7429\/27868336442_0c5eb4d233.jpg\" title=\"Beachball fun\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Beachball fun<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7682\/27868333822_6ee3227ac4.jpg\" title=\"Pool boy\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Pool boy<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7282\/27868330512_674f043f73.jpg\" title=\"Fans\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Fans<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7307\/27970042075_1d389d3324.jpg\" title=\"Sky box\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Sky box<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7348\/27892741711_0ef89f745a.jpg\" title=\"Outfield\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Outfield<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7116\/27970041485_f3af99e35b.jpg\" title=\"On deck\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>On deck<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7333\/27892737171_6c7bdcbe18.jpg\" title=\"Here batter batter\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Here batter batter<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7462\/27970037645_9e544f3354.jpg\" title=\"Snow Shack\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Snow Shack<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7304\/27970298745_02961c7aca.jpg\" title=\"Yum, snowcones\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Yum, snowcones<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7115\/27970290225_c6a9e2b135.jpg\" title=\"Sidewalk graffiti\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Sidewalk graffiti<\/p><\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">jQuery(\"#flickr_72157670278969366_1371\").data(\"options\",{\"delay\":3000,\"autoplay\":true,\"transition\":500,\"link\":\"next\",\"target\":\"_self\",\"width\":\"\",\"height\":\"\"});<\/script><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Our last day in P-burg Chloe and Michael came to the rig to play in the morning while Tiff did some volunteer work. \u00a0The kids played a couple games and lots of Legos. \u00a0There was a short thunderstorm that put the kybosh on our plans to meet Curt out in the field tonight for combine rides. \u00a0After lunch we all went to the community pool to swim, dive, splash and slide. \u00a0Afterward the kids were exhausted but we went to the Horseshoe to see Uncle Denny\u00a0who insisted he buy\u00a0us a round of drinks (Sarsparillas for the kiddos). \u00a0It was great to see Uncle Denny even if it was a short visit. \u00a0I sure miss Grandma Gerry, Grandpa Merl and Aunt Marcia. \u00a0I remember the first time I met Aunt Marcia and how she made me feel like part of the family by giving me a Kansas cowpie (a giant chocolate chip cookie) as a gift! \u00a0She was always so fun and full of smiles and laughs just like her girls are. \u00a0After the Horseshoe we went to dinner then said our goodbyes and headed back\u00a0home for our last night in the rig&#8230;at least on this trip.<\/p>\n<p>We had a dish of ice cream and somehow the kids talked us into also having a piece of Dove chocolate. \u00a0No joke, the message inside Dacen&#8217;s wrapper said&#8230;&#8221;Go anywhere but home.&#8221;<br \/>\n<a title=\"Can you believe it?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/27936143306\/in\/album-72157667602575114\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c3.staticflickr.com\/8\/7338\/27936143306_ef3d800a2b_n.jpg\" alt=\"Can you believe it?\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nSorry Dove, but we&#8217;re heading home tomorrow&#8230;as much as I don&#8217;t want it to be over it is time to return home.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Lord, thank you for this extraordinarily amazing adventure and for the best wife and kids ever. \u00a0You have provided us safety for this entire journey and so I pray again for our safety on this last leg of our journey. \u00a0It is a long but familiar drive. \u00a0Surround us with an army of angels as we roll on down the road toward our home in Colorado. \u00a0God I also ask for a smooth transition back into our sticks and bricks life and I thank you for the friends and family we have there. \u00a0Amen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"flickr_72157667602575114_388\"><div class=\"slickr-flickr-slideshow landscape medium \"><div class=\"active\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7221\/27936109196_b618dfbb74.jpg\" title=\"Jungle Speed\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Jungle Speed<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7526\/27690891880_fb5f283340.jpg\" title=\"Flipping\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Flipping<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7739\/27970472885_6331f1d028.jpg\" title=\"Slide fun\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Slide fun<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7293\/27357622214_a01b69b4dd.jpg\" title=\"Weeee\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Weeee<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7383\/27868800222_541e6587df.jpg\" title=\"Cousins\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cousins<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7104\/27690881300_51f7118c74.jpg\" title=\"Tiff and Steph\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Tiff and Steph<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7345\/27690874460_e51178f6a4.jpg\" title=\"&quot;Hey man&quot; or Baywatch\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>\"Hey man\" or Baywatch<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7361\/27356927293_be503444d0.jpg\" title=\"The Horseshoe\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>The Horseshoe<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7421\/27868795512_df57ef688a.jpg\" title=\"Belly up\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Belly up<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7457\/27936164986_28716e2578.jpg\" title=\"Sarsparillas\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Sarsparillas<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7469\/27936155376_56562c8c2a.jpg\" title=\"Kids with Uncle Denny\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Kids with Uncle Denny<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7338\/27936143306_ef3d800a2b.jpg\" title=\"Can you believe it?\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Can you believe it?<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7482\/27970491605_dbedbd5428.jpg\" title=\"Last night\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Last night<\/p><\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">jQuery(\"#flickr_72157667602575114_388\").data(\"options\",{\"delay\":3000,\"autoplay\":true,\"transition\":500,\"link\":\"next\",\"target\":\"_self\",\"width\":\"\",\"height\":\"\"});<\/script><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever since I met Steph we&#8217;ve made trips to Phillipsburg KS at least once a year to see her family that is there. \u00a0So I&#8217;ve been there at least 19 times and Steph at least twice as many times as that. \u00a0So Phillipsburg almost feels like home. \u00a0We planned to spend our last few days [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[73,75],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2041"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2053,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041\/revisions\/2053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}