BACK TO 'NORMAL'

Hello Y'all:

Since the last post we have been to Iowa, to return Samantha to Davenport. She just was a hand-full for us to handle. We left Livingston at 9:30 am and drove as far as Pevely, Mo. before the winter weather forced to stop for the night... After extensive meetings and counseling sessions Dad decided to leave Samantha in an evaluation shelter for a 2 week period. She is doing pretty good , but not looking forward to spending her 16th Birthday with-out her friends. Samantha mom is checking her out maybe over the weekend.
While we were in transit Judy received a call that Rich had been returned to MHI in Independence, Iowa ,, for another round of meds adjustment and evaluations, So we visited him on Saturday evening. Then we went to Belle Plaine, Ia and spent the overnight with Loretta Cronbaugh ( BIG HUG AND THANK YOU ...LORETTTA.) We then went to 2nd service at Christ United Methodist Church, BP,,, time just wouldn't allow us to linger as we still wanted to travel on to Iowa City for a visit with Andy... We found him in good spirits and doing good.. reports that he is taking another class at Kirkwood and really enjoying it. We also spent a brief visit with Judy's sister Diane and Chuck where we had a relaxing visit while waiting to go see Rich.
We started returning to Texas on Sunday evening so that we could avoid the pending storms and bad driving weather. We went as far as Mexico, Mo and found very nice Days INN on the South side for those of you passing through this area we would highly recommend this for a stay. If the TRAVELING CATS would of stayed, they would of given it 5 paws.

We then left around 8 am and drove Okalahoma and Texas and took a Mis-route for 20 miles ,, THANKFULLY as this allowed us to miss a terrific storm at Mt. Pleasant, Tx. according to Police officer, who stopped us for a burned out head light and NOT ABLE TO READ OUR SALT AND ROAD DIRT COVERED LICENSED PLATE. ( Thank you Officer for not writing any tickets just the oral warnings to repair and wash ,,which is accomplished) We arrived at Rainbows End , Livingston at 2:30 am Tuesday,, and found the cats and motor home ok . (THANK YOU JEAN for the excellent care of the Traveling cats.)
We have asked to be reinstated as Nomads and resume our assignments at Gore, OK and Talaquah (sp) beginning March 9th, so we will be staying here at Livingston til next Friday morning.. We will returning to Iowa at Altoona and Adventureland on April 21st. for the summer..

Also for those of you that know that John had spent a lot of the last few years with the Ray Family racing midgets across the USA. Well we just received word that Davey Ray as won the Australian midget championship for the 2nd time. (WELL DONE DAVEY).. Also congrats are in order for Davey's sister Heidi on her recent marriage.
We will try to get pictures up here next week of the work we accomplished at Pharr.

Until then God Bless and guide each one

Judy and John also the Traveling Cats

WHEW!!!!!!!!!! 'Home Sweet Home' - Texas that is.

Yes we are still alive and well!

We were only capable of only completing the 1st week of Period 2 in PHARR , Tx. As John was called back to make arrangements for getting Samantha into his custody. John left early on Feb. 1st and drove almost non-stop straight through 1500 miles, he did it in a little over 27hrs. Then while awaiting for the things to get accomplished, with the school and courts, he developed a severe cold , then the snow !! inches and cold set in..... HOPEFULLY that was the last white stuff he will see.
So then when he and Samantha returned to Pharr, to get with Judy and the Traveling cats and retrieve the Motorhome , he had to make arrangements to get the tow-dolly fixed so it was capable of making the trip to Livingston. Thank you BELSAZARR for your great assistance. We will be staying in Livingston until it is time to head to Altoona and Adventureland in April. So that Samantha will be enrolled into the school system here.

Since we now have Samantha in our roving home,,, we are not allowed to be participating NOMADS. So we have withdrawn from the spring projects for now and trying to get things worked out with some type of a guided living program for Samantha in the fall. Hopefully in the Quad-Cities area.
This new addiction has also made things living a more tense and we all have to learn to give and take,, so please pray that we all make until August.

We have heard that Baby SHAYLYNN is NOT doing really well and they have Hospice involved.... please remember that family ,,, Also Period 2 is over today for the NOMADS so there will be a lot of NOMADS UNITS on the move over the highways the next couple of days.. also pray that their works will bring honor and glory to our GOD.

John finally gets to join the Retired folks tomorrow (2/15) as he turns 62... It is also Valerie's 19th .

We sure would love to here from you all now that we aren't busy working.... Judy can be reached at 319-521-4458 cell John at 319-899-7602 cell e mail at jw_long2002@yahoo.com for either of them. The snail mail address is
Judy and John Long
215 Rainbow Dr, P.M.B. 11532
Livingston, Texas. 77399


Love and miss you all and think of our friends and family often.