I just got off the phone with Donita’s husband. OMG!! He told me Donita was struck by a car a few hours ago while cycling home from school. She had been life-lined to Indianapolis. She is alert and can move her hands and feet. He didn’t have much info for me but we will get a better feel for how she is doing tomorrow. This is UNBELIEVABLE! I’m in total shock and really don’t know what to say or do at the moment. Please, please pray for her! Will update you when I get word. Thank you for your prayers for her.

Kelly and I enjoy joyed our sight seeing adventures at Mt Rushmore, the BlackHills park, Crazy Horse before we headed toward Wyoming. It was really a great morning. It was on the chilly side, low 60’s when we jumped out the car to snap a few pics of the 4 presidents. They are still as cool as they were the last time I saw them in 1983. When we got to Crazy Horse we had to pay a crazy fee just to see his face. I remembered coming here 33 years ago and thinking how in the world are they going to make a man and a horse out of this rock. (please click the “READ MORE” for rest of post and photos.

We didn’t struggle to get up early because we were both eager to get to the Badlands before sunset. It was a fun start to our trip going through the same little towns we remembered visiting back in 1983 on our first vacation as a family out West. I called my husband to find my old ’83 photo album and he sent me the photo of us at the town named Vivian and Kimball. (Vivian is our late G-Ma, and Kimball is our maiden name.) So many good memories! Love Kelly’s 1983 mullet. Today all she needs is long hair in the back and she would match her younger self in the photo of us at Kimball. LOL. (Please click on the “Read More” button to see our photos from today.

Kelly and I met with Donita yesterday and loaded all the supplies and her bike into my car and now we are packed, packed, packed! Did I mention we are PACKED! So Excited!!! Kelly and I are now officially on the road heading West! Donita has some school to finish up and one last family and friend get together before she hops in the car with her son to drive him to ID for his summer job. Then on May 29th, she takes a flight to San Fransisco where Kelly and I will pick her up from the airport and drive to the Golden Gate Bridge. This is where we will officially start our adventure. To say we are excited is an understatement. Kelly and I got off to a rather late start, so we ended our day in LaCrosse, WI tonight at the Best Western Riverfront Hotel. It’s nice to end a day of driving on the Black River. Pretty river. Night ya’ll! Big day of driving tomorrow to the Badlands, SC. Can’t wait. T-Minus 7 days until we start cycling!

T-minus 1 day! Sh*t’s getting real! The last few days have been busy getting last minute items for the trip and seeing family in Indiana. I got to stay with my niece at her farm, see a beautiful sunset, have dinner with my cousin, lunch with my brother and his family, see my best friend, and spend some time with mom and dad. Overall, it was a fun few days and a nice send-off. Love my fam! T-Minus 8 days until we start cycling!!

Friday,  May 20th, Donita, Kelly and I were so honored to have the privilege to meet with Marine Cpl. Zachary Nelson and his wife Kiley at their beautiful home in Noblesville, IN. Theirs is a story of true love overcoming life changing obstacles from the war in Afghanistan. With a soft spoken disposition Zachary shared briefly the recovery journey and how he came to hear of Homes for Our Troops. He shared the struggles he faced moving back home and having to rely on others due to inadequate wheelchair access. There were so many things around the home that proved very challenging. (more…)

I am packed and ready to head to IN! It’s been a long year and a half of prep that both Donita and I put into this little adventure of ours. It finally is becoming a reality. My time in IN will be short and sweet as I will see my parents and other family members. Kelly and I will then pack the car with the rest of the supplies that we are grabbing from Donita as well as all her bike equipment. We should be hitting the road around the 22nd. Kelly and I will be stopping at the Badlands and Rushmore in SD, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons in WY, Salt Lake City, UT, and then on to San Francisco, CA! Lawdy, I can’t wait! (click on the “READ MORE” tab to see my gear)

What a fun and incredible send off party last night for me!! THANK YOU to all who came out to support me and help me raise funds for Homes for our Troops yesterday! I am truly humbled by your generosity to this great organization! Just yesterday alone you helped me raise over $1188. WOW! that nearly doubled what I had already raised these last few months. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Also thank you for the support you have given me to help offset my cost as well as the goodies I will be able to take with me, and your kind words of encouragement and offers to keep me in prayer. I am truly touched by your belief in me. It will keep me pressing onward!  (please click on the READ MORE tab for rest of post and photos)

25 more days until our journey begins in San Fransisco! We are super excited.  Just a quick update and exciting news. We have added a new partner in crime to our Wandering Project team.  Our third partner will be driving our SAG wagon (Support and Gear car).  My older sister, (yes, I have to point out that she is older than I am so that there is no confusion) Kelly Huskins, will be along on our journey.  We are happy to have her accompany us on this trip for however long she wants to be with us, especially now that she will haul my favorite pillow. 🙂  If I can’t sleep with two people snoring at least I will be comfortable laying in bed counting sheep.  Kelly and I will be heading to CA via car around the 20th-21st. (more…)