On one of our winter trips to Texas, while visiting in Waco with our pals the Gaines’ (just kidding, I only pretend we are friends, they don’t know us:)) we stumbled across a COE campground. I found the Speegleville COE campground using my handy RV Parky app. I had never heard of COE campgrounds before, but we quickly learned that although the campground was a bit off the beaten path, the extra 10 minutes added to our drive was well worth it for the oasis that we discovered.
Let me tell you why we have fallen in love with the no-frills, all-views, COE Campgrounds! COE is short for Core of Engineers, (technically, the name is United States Army Core of Engineers, but that is a mouthful!) According to their website :
The Army Corps of Engineers is the steward of the lands and waters at Corps water resources projects. It’s Natural Resources Management mission is to manage and conserve those natural resources, consistent with the ecosystem management principles, while providing quality public outdoor recreation experiences to serve the needs of present and future generations. https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/visitors.cfm
High Quality H2O
So the COE campgrounds are centered around water recreation in some form. This is reason #1 why I love them. Hello beautiful sunrise/sunset! There is just something peaceful and wonderful about looking out over the water. There have always been wonderful water views whenever we have stayed at one of the COE parks. Fishing, swimming, boating, or just hanging out on the shore and skipping rocks with your kids, there is plenty to do along the water.
Wide Open Spaces
Sometimes you roll into an RV park because it is convenient, right along the highway, or maybe you like extra ammenities like cable and free wifi, typically (not always) these convienient types of RV parks are a bit on the crowded side. I don’t know about you, but I don’t particulary love being about 10 feet away from my neighbor’s sewer hose. Reason #2 that I love the COE campgrounds – Very Spacious campsites! These sites are, by far, the largest, most spread out RV sites of any that we have stayed in over the past 4 years.
Bargain Hunters Unite!
You would think that with all this bragging on the great features of my favorite campsites, that I would be trying to justify an expensive price tag. But, I don’t have to because these guys are totally affordable. Reason #3 that I love the COE campgrounds – affordability for families! Like 20s-30s, and if you are a senior citizen, you can buy some sort of lifetime pass and get 50% off! We travel as a party of 7, and sometimes campsites like to charge an extra $2-$5 per person over 2 people, per night. The COE campgrounds we have stayed in allow 8-10 people per site! As a disclaimer, I wil mention that these campgrounds do not offer long term stays – two weeks is maximum in one site. This does not bother us as we are on the move often.
Is there anything not to love?
I feel like I should give full disclosure that as a nomadic family, we really keep on the move. Most of that is due to the fact that my husband is preaching in a different church every week. Sometimes we will be able to stay in one spot for a couple weeks at a time if the churches are close together. Because of this constant moving, we are able to see alot of campgrounds and compare them. Typically if a campground is level and not overly expensive, we are good to go.
We do not tend to look for campgrounds that have lots of activities and amenities just because we are not there long enough to enjoy them. Honestly, we rarely go into the shower/bathroom facilities because we have our own. So, if you are looking for a long-term type of stay with plenty of entertainment, this might not satisfy your desires. If you are looking for a peaceful, no frills getaway check out the COE campgrounds!
Bonus – an adorable visitor
This post would not be complete without mentioning the little visitor who came by during our stay at the Airport Park COE near Waco. According to another camper, this little guy was rescued by a couple older ladies when they saw his mother die after being hit by a car. They were raising him when they were reported for not having the proper license to care for a wild animal. It was decided to drop off the young deer at this local park because it was known that a group of deer lived here. When dropped off however, the fawn went directly to the campsite to be with people, with whom he had an attachment.
He would come by often and visit with us, he was very friendly. We did get to pet him and he had the most beautiful big eyes. Unfortunately he did not love the jumping and nipping from our puppy Oliver and eventually started to attack him with his hooves.
Thank you for reading along as I talked about the COE campgrounds, so far we have stayed at Speegleville Park and Airport Park both in Waco Texas and Millers Ferry Campground in Camden Alabama.
If you would like to read more about our ministry, Kingdom Pursuit Ministries, go to www.kpministry.org.
Our family of seven has been traveling in a 36 ft RV since April of 2016, but this blog is a new thing we have tried this year, so this will be the first time to do a year end review. I enjoy looking back to see where we have been and reflecting about the places we have experienced and the friends we have made along the way. This blog has been a fun way to share about our travels, and I think it will be fun to put together a list of all the places we have been this year.
Sometimes I am surprised at the places we have seen in such a short time. Sometimes I get mixed up with the timeline of things. So, I have put this together month by month, listing the places we stayed, the churches where we ministered, and some Highlights and Crazy Moments that happened.
January – Elwood, Indiana to Memphis, Indiana to St. Louis, Missouri to Claremore, Oklahoma to Norman, Oklahoma to Waxahachie, Texas
Churches where we ministered:
Open Door – Converse, Indiana (Sat-Sun)
First Assembly of God – Norman, Oklahoma (Sun-Thur)
Revelation Church – Duncanville, Texas (Sunday)
The River Center – Tool, Texas (Sunday)
Highlights:
Starting out the year at Open Door (the church where Matt got saved as an 8year old boy) has become a special tradition for our family. Not only for sentimental reasons, but because the services are always powerful and, in a way, seem to set the tone for the year.
Our old car bit the dust on Christmas Day, someone generously gave us $5,000 for a new car!!
Visiting the Blue Whale on Route 66 along the way.
Extended services in Norman Oklahoma, there was an excitement present and people were committing their lives to the Lord!
Staying for a couple weeks with our dear friends, Randy and Joanna Herndon!
Eating super yummo tacos at Taco Suave in Waxahachie!
Returning to Revelation Church and visiting with Matt’s old college professor Randy Jones and his cool family.
Our kids especially enjoyed playing with the Herndon kids while in Texas.
Crazy moments:
Losing our windshield wiper and then burning up our windshield wiper motor while driving through a snowstorm southwest of St. Louis.
February – Cayuga, Texas to Waco, Texas to Dulac, Louisiana
Churches where we ministered:
New Beginnings Assembly of God – Cayuga, Texas (Sun-Thur)
Lord’s House of Refuge – Dulac, Louisiana (Sun-Sun)
Highlights:
We were at two new churches this month, both of which were very hospitable and friendly. They both welcomed our family and we truly felt loved.
We made our second visit to Waco, Texas, this time staying over for a few nights in a beautiful campground outside the city. Mammoth bones, shopping downtown, and of course, the Silos. This time we even drove by some of the houses featured on Fixer Upper.
So much food!!! Southern hospitality is really a thing, these churches loved us with food, we ate so much! In Louisiana, we tried so many new foods, their spices are unique and delicious.
Salvations, Healings, People getting more excited about God!
We loved listening to the accents of our new friends in Texas and Louisiana.
The landscape in Dulac, Louisiana on the bayou was so different and unique, we feel blessed that we were able to explore the area for nearly two weeks.
March – Dulac, Louisiana to Mobile, Alabama to Clanton, Alabama to Prestonville, Kentucky to Brown County, Indiana to Elwood, Indiana to Clay City, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Temple Asssembly of God – Clanton, Alabama (Sun-Thur)
Calvary Full Gospel – Prestonville, Kentucky (Sunday)
Holy Chapel of God – Shepherdsville, Kentucky (Sunday)
Discover Church – Indianapolis, Indiana (Sunday)
Clay City Assembly of God – Clay City, Indiana (Fri-Tue)
Highlights:
2 revivals in one month is alot, but it was awesome!
The pastor in Clanton gave us a tour of his beautiful property – he has an impressive collection of horses and cows, and a cute basset hound.(the cows were my favorite)
We enjoyed a short return visit to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Catching up with pals at return churches is always a blessing
Particularly powerful altar ministry time in Shepherdsville Kentucky
Celebrated my mom’s 60th birthday party at Brown County State Park, it was a fun family camp out time, complete with an old-fashioned group photo.
Matt was healed from his painful diverticulitus that he had been diagnosed with back in Nov.(2018)!
Crazy moments:
This was the month where I decided it would be a great idea to start 7nomads, an online t-shirt shop. I didn’t discover until a couple weeks in that there was a blog option included with my online store package. As you can see, the store didn’t make it, but the blog took on a life of it’s own!
We discovered, on the way to church in our tow vehicle in the most unpleasant way, that our youngest gets car sick on winding roads…
Poor Caleb broke his wrist during the family-campout at Brown County in an unfortunate scooter accident.
Speaking of camping – Indiana State Parks do not turn on the water hookups until late-April/May. We should have known that…
April – Elwood, Indiana to Memphis, Indiana to Elwood, Indiana to Argos, Indiana to Edgerton, Ohio to Elwood, Indiana to Jasonville, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Grace Tabernacle – Laconia, Indiana (Sunday)
Restoration Church – Sellersburg, Indiana (Sunday)
Trinity Assembly of God – Lakeville, Indiana (Sunday)
Cornerstone Assembly of God – Elwood, Indiana (Wednesday)
Jasonville Assembly of God – Jasonville, Indiana (Sun-Wed)
Highlights:
This was a month of preparation for our Alaska trip, it was full of excitement and anticipation, as well as a month of soaking up the love of friends and family. We had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday with family up in northern Indiana and Ohio.
A dear friend from Edinburgh set up a get-together, it was wonderful to see some old friends.
Powerful worship service at Grace Tabernacle in Laconia!
We really felt the love and support of the churches this month as we prepared for Alaska.
Crazy moments:
It seemed like a rush to get all the kids’ dentist and eye doctor appointments in this month and last month, plus the extra appointments for Caleb’s broken wrist.
May – Jasonville, Indiana to Urbana, Illinois to Clinton, Iowa to Storm Lake, Iowa to Plankinton, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota to Miles City, Montana to Conrad, Montana to Balzac, Alberta, Canada to Rochford, Alberta, Canada to Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada to Pink Mountain, BC, Canada to Muncho Lake, BC, Canada to Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska to Denali National Park to Houston, Alaska
Churches where we ministered:
The Church of New Beginnings – Storm Lake, Iowa (Sunday)
The Oasis Group – Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada (Sunday)
Harvest Church – Fairbanks, Alaska (Fri-Sun)
South Fairbanks Assembly of God – Fairbanks, Alaska(Sunday)
Highlights:
The Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, crossing into Canada, making it to Alaska!
There is really too much to share about this month, it was amazing!
I did a whole blog series for this trip if you want to read more about it: Epic Road Trip to Alaska
Crazy Moments:
So.Much.Driving.
June – Houston, Alaska to Anchorage, Alaska to Nikiski, Alaska to Whittier, Alaska to Chickaloon, Alaska to Tok, Alaska to Destruction Bay, Yukon, Canada to Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada to Iskut, British Columbia, Canada to Hope, BC, Canada to Seattle, Washington to McMinnville, Oregon to Waldport, Oregon to Crescent City, California to The Redwoods in California to Boonville, California to San Francisco, California
Churches where we ministered:
Hilltop Assembly of God – Houston, Alaska (Sunday)
Aurora Heights Assembly of God – Nikiski, Alaska (Sunday)
Bethany Church – Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada (Sunday)
Hope Pentecostal Assembly of God – Hope, BC, Canada (Sunday)
Family Life Christian Center – Boonville, California (Sunday)
Highlights:
Like the month of May, this month was filled with unforgettable experiences, most of which are documented in the blog series “Epic Road Trip to Alaska”, feel free to check it out.
Hope, British Columbia was amazing in so many ways – what a beautiful place! Several movies were filmed in this location, and it was easy to see why. The church services were powerful here as well, with the small Canadian congregation and pastor’s family being especially kind and welcoming to us.
In this month, we drove through Washington and Oregon, skirting the Pacific Ocean for a couple days. It was beautiful, and we were even able to land an ocean view campsite on my birthday!
Seeing (and also smelling, unfortunately) wild seals along the Oregon Coast.
The Giant Redwoods in northern California!
The Golden Gate Bridge, and other random interesting sites in San Fransisco. I know this sounds overdramatic, but when we pulled out of the tunnel just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and I first caught a glimpse of it, it literally took my breath away. It was spectacular.
Crazy Moments:
The drive to Boonville, California. It was beautiful, but also extremely curvy.
Driving around Portland, Oregon, unable to find a campground (all booked up and no boondocking allowed around the city)
July – Somewhere northwest of San Fransisco to Fernley, Nevada to Salt Flats, Utah to Brigham City, Utah to Green River, Wyoming to Cheyenne, Wyoming to Loveland, Colorado to Pueblo, Colorado to Ordway, Colorado to Colby, Kansas to Kansas City, Kansas to Edina, Missouri
Churches where we ministered:
Green River Assembly of God – Green River, Wyoming (Sunday)
Edina First Assembly – Edina, Missouri (Sun-Wed)
Highlights:
The Salt Flats in Nevada! We didn’t even realize when we were planning this trip that we would be going through the salt flats, so it made for a very cool surprise!
We made a small detour up into Idaho so that we could put the sticker on our USA map, AND visit the home of Napoleon Dynamite and friends.
Wyoming is a very scenic state, and we quite enjoyed the change to wide open spaces after being in the more densely populated areas in Washington, Oregon, and California.
The pastor at Green River took us for a drive into the Flaming Gorge in Utah. It’s almost like the Grand Canyon, but a bit smaller and less crowded.
We reconnected with one of Matt’s college buddies and his wife and kids while in Wyoming and they showed us around their lovely state.
My parents came out to Colorado while we were there, enjoying a week vacation around scenic Colorado.
We also visited with some old friends who live and minister in Colorado. They took us on a trip to Bishop’s Castle near Pueblo, it was quite an interesting place, it deserves it’s own blog posts one of these days…
Crazy Moments:
The RV sprung a leak in one of the hydrolic hoses, but it happened when we pulled over checking on the generator that had stopped working. If we had been driving, it could have been very bad, causing a fire or even an explosion. God was watching out for us, as soon as the leak was discovered in a parking lot, the generator started working again. Matt was able to replace the hoses in Wyoming because he’s a stud.
Just East of California, we stumbled across a historical marker that told the tale of the Donner Party. If you, like me, forgot this story from your history books don’t look it up and then read it out loud to your children before reading it yourself first. Chilling.
August – Edina, Missouri to Elwood, Indiana to Union City, Indiana to Argos, Indiana to Edgerton, Ohio to Columbia City, Indiana to Elwood, Indiana to Vevay, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Calvary Assembly of God – Union City, Indiana (Sun-Wed)
Victory Barn – Edgerton, Ohio (Sunday)
Power Surge Tent Revival – Edgerton, Ohio (Sun-Wed)
Victory Christian Fellowship – Columbia City, Indiana (Fri-Sun)
Vevay Assembly – Vevay, Indiana (Sat-Sun)
Highlights:
Powerful altar times in Edina, Missouri.
Family wedding in Kokomo, it was great to see everyone in one place for such a joyous occasion after being gone for 3 months.
Our first Tent Revival to plan ourselves. We had great support from family and friends, as well as the Victory Barn Church.
Great services at the Outpouring Conference in Columbia City with some old friends.
We looked at, in person, the lake house that we had been looking at online for some months now, and then we made an offer!
Powerful services in Vevay Indiana.
September – Vevay, Indiana to Elwood, Indiana to Akron, Indiana to Delphi, Indiana to Akron, Indiana to Columbus, Indiana to Memphis, Indiana to Akron, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Cornerstone Assembly of God – Elwood, Indiana (Sun-Wed)
Delphi First Assembly of God – Delphi, Indiana (Sunday)
Northview Assembly of God – Columbus, Indiana (Sunday)
Free Gospel Fellowship – Pekin, Indiana (Wed)
Faith Harvest – Greenville, Indiana (Friday)
Hardinsburg Assembly of God – Hardinsburg, Indiana (Sunday)
Highlights:
We bought a house this month! It’s on a lake! We love it!
We really enjoyed ministry this month, there were moves of God, and we saw old friends rededicate their lives to the Lord.
My parents selflessly helped us move all of our stuff from the parsonage in Elwood to our new home base in Akron!
We had a nice time in southern Indiana, exploring Corydon and Louisville, and visiting with Matt’s Aunt and Uncle.
Crazy Moments:
Extensive dental work the day before we closed on our house. Ouch.
We bought a house! I’m still in shock.
October – Akron, Indiana to Blanford, Indiana to Kingman, Indiana to Akron, Indiana to Prestonville, Kentucky to Akron, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Grace Tabernacle – Blanford, Indiana (Sun-Tues)
Spirit of Life Ministries – Kingman, Indiana (Sunday)
Calvary Full Gospel Church – Prestonville, Kentucky (Sunday)
Lakeville Trinity Church – Lakeville, Indiana (Sunday)
Highlights:
We invited all our family over for a birthday party at the lake house! It was still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors.
We enjoyed returning to familiar churches this month, they are open to revival, and are very loving towards our family.
We attended two very sweet weddings this month.
We were able to visit the Covered Bridge Festival while in the area holding services.
Matt preached at his dad’s church this month and we also celebrated his dad’s birthday.
Our oldest daughter got her driver’s license this month! We are still trying to convince her that she can drive the RV.
Crazy Moments:
Nothing too crazy, just enjoying life, getting used to having our own home base. We did alot of the boring stuff required of grownups: finding local doctors, putting up a mailbox, switching our address.
November – Akron, Indiana to Memphis, Indiana, to Akron, Indiana to Petersburg, Indiana to Akron, Indiana to Greensburg, Indiana to Akron, Indiana to Columbus, Indiana to Akron, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Agape Community Church – Cannelton, Indiana (Sunday)
Living Waters Assembly of God – French Lick, Indiana (Sunday)
Love Never Fails United Christian Church – West Baden Springs, Indiana (Sunday)
River of Life Assembly of God – Petersburg, Indiana (Sunday)
New Beginnings Assembly of God – Greensburg, Indiana (Sunday)
Come As You Are Ministries – Columbus, Indiana (Sunday)
Highlights:
We enjoyed returning to these churches this month, some of these pastors are among the first that had us come in and minister at their churches.
We celebrated Thanksgiving with Matt’s family and then hosted Thanksgiving with my famiy at our little home.
Crazy Moments:
We did quite a bit of driving this month, traveling on the weekends and staying at our lake house throughout the week. Although it did require more planning and packing, it is starting to get cold, and makes it a little more comfortable to be in the house this time of year.
Some crazy guy tried to intimidate and threaten the congregation during one the services this month. The church was prepared, though, and quickly diffused the situation.
Photo credits: Monica Middleton and Celia Fitzcharles (Thanks)
December – Akron, Indiana to Batesville, Indiana to Akron, Indiana to Edgerton, Ohio, to Akron, Indiana
Churches where we ministered:
Church on the Rock – Batesville, Indiana
The Reformation Faith Ministries – Kokomo, Indiana
Safe Harbor Church -Rochester, Indiana
Highlights:
It’s Christmastime! It has been fun to decorate our little lake house this year, and we are currently enjoying celebrating the season of our Savior’s birth!
In closing, it seems like this year could be described as “Going, Going, Going, and rest.” Thank you for reading along, I hope you all had a year of your own adventures!
If you would like to find out more about our ministry, Kingdom Pursuit Ministries, go to www.kpministry.org
