After our wonderful 2 weeks near Winston-Salem, it was time to start heading back west. We had a few stops to make on our way out of the state, so we didn’t drive far the first day- only about 2 hours. We pulled into a Walmart to park the rig while we ran up to visit the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse. But Vaughn did a walk-around of the 5er, and realized that we had a broken spring hanger, and another that also needed to be replaced. 
So out came the tools, and the spare parts we have learned to carry around with us! LOL! They replaced the spring hangers, but by then it was really too late to drive up to SP that day…so we spent the night in the parking lot. The next day we drove up to the SP warehouse, and got a great tour from several people – we got to meet ladies that we have spoken to over the phone, and got to see (and get a tour from) several of the guys that my volunteers have been on deployments with. It was great to check out where all the equipment was stored, and how things roll back at the warehouse between deployments! We never did make it over to the main Samaritan’s Purse headquarters, where most (normal?) people 😉 go for tours! we’re such rebels! LOL! 
We weren’t in any hurry to move on, and we wanted to go to one more place in the area, so when Michael, one of the guys who works for SP, and who we have been at 4 different volunteer locations with, invited us to park on his property overnight, we took him up on it! And we are SO glad that we did!
We had not met his family before (well, I met his wife for a few minutes in Augusta, but that didn’t count 😉 ), and we all got along so well! They have great kids! So great, that they couldn’t get rid of us! ROFL! I think we ended up staying for 3 nights!!! 
We ended up going to a museum together…
(but that’s another post)
They have a pond just down from their house, and it was teeming with frogs!!!
So the first night, after invading their house to watch the Duggars together (which we had not seen in years!), we went back down to the toy hauler sitting in the field, dug out every flashlight/headlight we could find, and hunted for frogs!
…while Mike’s fam watched from the windows laughing at the kids’ excitement because lots of frogs are no big deal to them! ROFL!!!
The kids found a few…
No, we didn’t eat them or anything, and I don’t think that any frogs were hurt in the frog hunting… 
It sure was fun – we always hope to keep our kids grounded enough that they take pleasure in the simple things in life, like hunting for frogs.
We also had a campfire one night, and roasted marshmallows and made s’mores.
The guys shot skeet off their porch, us girls gabbed, and we just hung out having fun together!!! It was one of those times when you meet someone that you just connect with, and you are instantly good friends. <3
But, since we wanted them to continue to like us 😉 and because we were really wanting to get to Oklahoma to volunteer with storm shelter installations and rebuilds, we had to hit the road again…
North Carolina holds many dear memories for our tribe!!! New friends and great fellowship, fun family-friendly stops, and fabulous experiences while working on ice storm clean-ups. It was hard to leave, but we hope to be back!!!
I tell everyone how amazing your kids are. I love the fact that they can get excited about frogs rather than the latest video game. Well balanced and loving life.