Fun with Family: Come Rain or Come Shine

This beautiful morning scene is a picture of the calm after the storm.  About 3:30 this morning, I was awakened by the sound of John, Linda, and the kids coming into the motorhome and the sound of strong winds blowing.  Because of the winds, they were having trouble keeping their tent up so they abandoned it for the stronger walls of a motorhome.  I made a quick trip outside to secure chairs and found that the tablecloth had already blown away.    The four of them got settled and then the rains began.  It was a good thing they got in when they did.  Carol slept through it all!

It was nice to actually see the mountains this morning.  It was like I said, the calm after the storm,

We went to the Cracker Barrel for lunch.  It was very busy so we wandered around the store area.  By the time we left the Cracker Barrel, the weather had changed from sunny to heavy clouds and winds and cooler temperatures.

After lunch we went to Harvest Farm where John works for their annual Fall Festival.  All money made during the four weekends of the festival goes toward the ministry of Harvest Farm.

Pumpkins of every shape, size, and color were available for purchase.

Aidan tries his hand at the corn shooter.

Katie's turn is next.

This man is "loading" the corn shooter.

Grandpa proved to be a dead-eyed shooter. He hit the target.

John had a chance to shoot.

John, Aidan, me, Katie, and Linda.

Katie climbs on her horse to lasso a cow.

Aidan has his chance to rope a cow.

The kids talked grandpa into trying and trying is all he did.

Katie is trying to get out of the "spider's web."

John, Katie and Aidan on the hay mounds.

Aidan and Katie

Katie got "caught at Harvest Farm."

Aidan also got "caught at Harvest Farm."

Katie is such a happy young lady.

Harvest Farm is a working farm so they have lots of animals.  I found these two goats enjoying the shelter of a large crate.   Besides goats there are rabbits, cows, chickens, and pigs.  There is also a farm dog named Abbey.

There was an obstacle course and Aidan is balancing on a teeter-totter.

Katie is on the teeter-totter.

The winds were getting stronger and the temperatures felt like they were dropping.  The skies were getting dark in the west over the mountains.  Then an announcement was made for everyone to seek shelter because severe storm warnings had been issued for the area.  We were in the shelter for about 30 minutes until the storm passed over.  We decided to call it a day.  We didn't get to go through the corn maze, ride the haywagon, or see the pig race.  I really wanted to see the pig race!   It was still a fun time.  The men and staff of Harvest Farm worked hard to get set up and it is sad that this first weekend ended with bad weather.    We met several of the men who participate in the Harvest Farm program and they really seemed to like and respect John.  It made us feel good to know John is making a difference in the lives of men who need direction and support as they work toward changing their lives.

We had to say goodbye to John, Linda, Katie and Aidan.  Despite having to deal with changing weather, rain, cold, and winds, we had a great time with them.

When we got back to the campground,  we left the stormy weather and returned to partly cloudy and milder temperatures.  This is a picture of the mountains in the west.  Below is a picture of the sky in the east.  It looks like they may be getting the stormy weather we experienced at Harvest Farm.

We spent the rest of the afternoon packing up everything we could in preparation for leaving tomorrow.  Even though we have three days of travel to get back to Decatur, Illinois, it feels like the trip is over.  We will be driving every day with no sight-seeing.  It is at this point of any trip/vacation we take, that we are both ready to get on the road and get home.