Our plan was to be in Council, Idaho for around two weeks and attend the Mennonite church there for two Sunday morning worship services. We really didn’t know anyone personally, but we knew of some of these dear people - friends of friends connections if you will. As it worked out, many of the group was north in Bonners Ferry, ID for a wedding that weekend, and church was canceled. Owen and Jenni, who had stayed home, graciously reached out and welcomed us to their home for Sunday lunch and the afternoon. Both Xavier and Leif were delighted - Xavier with the endless pile of new books to read and Leif to be in a house again!
After a few nights in the RV park we rattled our big rig over a mountain road to Shingle Flats up in the mountains. 
This was our first experience with off grid camping, and it really was an exceptionally good experience. One thing about off grid camping is that water is an extremely precious commodity and keeping the waste tanks from filling too quick is an interesting challenge.
At Shingle Flats we had a fresh mountain stream that was close by and we could use freely for extra water. We also made use of the public outhouse to help make everything hold out longer so we were able to stay parked in the mountains from Monday to Sunday afternoon.
We so enjoyed the new friends we made here. I told Eric one night, “I hope one thing I learn while traveling is to go home and put to practice all the best qualities we see in the folks we meet.” We got to share meals in many of the church family’s homes, and were blessed in doing so. We did lots of laundry at the laundromat, (and drank too many coffees/energy drinks from the coffee shop attached to the laundromat) biked a tiny part of the Weiser trail, saw beautiful northern lights 
and a once in a lifetime comet sighting. 
We walked and we conversed and we prayed, and our hearts were filled here in this community.
After our time in southern Idaho, we headed for Montana. I know this sounds backward, but it’s how things worked out. We parked in Missoula for a little over a week while we found a shop that had an opening to work on the pickup and got that worked on and fixed. We visited churches, making new acquaintances. We spent time with friends both old and new. Leif turned six and we celebrated with Panda Express and Dairy Queen cake for dessert! And now I’m just over here left wondering how my baby is 6 already.
October was a month mixed with much joy and delight and so many tears. I was learning how to juggle the roll of both Mom and teacher. Xavier missed his classmates and a classroom setting for studying. Leif was getting used to the routine of school. And Eric was kept very busy with his IT work. This month grew us in patience and acceptance.
I’m so incredibly grateful that even though something is the right choice doesn’t mean that it won’t be hard, but there is always grace upon grace from our God who is always the same.
