Thanksgiving is once again upon us. The official day set aside as Thanksgiving is one week from today. As I think about the many, many things for which I am thankful, there is one thing in particular that I would like to write about in this blog.

Teresa (my wife) and I, as many of you know, are full-time RVers. We have been living the RV life since my retirement in 2018. About 10 years prior to my retirement, we began planning for this new adventure, and for these past seven years it has been a huge blessing to see this dream come true.

Over these years of RV living, we have been met with mixed reactions from people when we tell them of our present living status. We have met quite a few who have responded by saying something like this: “That’s exactly what we want to do when we retire!” Others have said that they envy us for living our dream. And we have even had a few who said they wanted to be like us when they grow up! It is always a joy to share our adventures with others who express their excitement over the prospect of living the nomad life.

However, others have not been quite so enthusiastic about our decision. Some, without realizing that this was our decision, based on our dreams, have asked if we were forced into this lifestyle due to financial restraints. Well, I can honestly say that we are a far cry from being wealthy, but we were not forced into this lifestyle because of finances. We chose this lifestyle. Others have become somewhat incredulous over the thought that anyone would ever choose to live as full-time RVers. But we did – and over these past seven years we have met so many others who have made the same decision.

Let me take a few moments to share with you some of my thoughts of thankfulness for the incredible journey. Teresa and I have been married since 1973 – 51 years! We have traversed these years together through 40 years of pastoral ministry, teaching ministry, marriage counseling and seminars, and a countless number of personal, one-on-one ministry opportunities. I am so blessed for these opportunities, and thankful that God gave us these special blessings as we have served Him together.

But these past seven years have offered us ministry opportunities we would have never had if we had not decided to become full-time RVers. We have now lived in just three campgrounds during these past seven years: Camp Wilderness Campground at Carowinds, Mill Creek Campground (Pigeon Forge, TN) while we worked at Dollywood, and now Wateree Lake RV and Marina (Liberty Hill, SC) where I serve as campground chaplain. We have crossed paths with people we would never have met had it not been for living the RV lifestyle.

We realize that this lifestyle is not for everyone. But it is for us. And we feel it is for us because it is God’s plan for us at this stage of our lives. We are thankful for the amazing way He has opened door after door for us to meet people with whom we have been able to share His love and grace.

This Thanksgiving season we want to give Him the thanks and praise He so richly deserves for allowing us to share in the blessings of showing His love to others who might not hear otherwise. To Him be the glory, great things He has done.

Until next time:

Blessings