Tut, tut. It looks like rain.

Apparently I am the only one who knows what movie that line comes from. I feel like a little black rain cloud right now, and would love something sweet (like honey).

Today, I drove into Miami just as Hurricane Sandy hit Cuba. Two things that normally don't go well together are Floridians and rain. Every time I drive into Miami in the rain I am amazed at the wrecks. You add gusty winds to the rain, and throw that at morning traffic, let's just say NOT GOOD.

So here we sit in Miami, watching bands of Sandy pass, praying for safety, and arranging to meet friends to get rid of stuff we don't need, but they do, and it is taking up VERY precious space, what happens? The phone rings. Air China is flying a plane with defective landing gear from LAX to JFK. Who needs landing gear to fly a plane? Noone. You only need it when you land. What could possibly go wrong? They could fall off the runway into the Hudson and Manhattan. Who cares, right? I care, not only because it makes no sense, but because IT MESSES UP MY PLANS!!!!! Now not only can I not get rid of unnecessary stuff, I also cannot get good Louisiana boudin. Uuuuugggghhhhh!!!!!
Plans seem to get messed up quite a bit in life. If things went according to my plan, I don't think I would have had my two oldest children or have went through the rapes, abuse, and adulterous relationships. I wouldn't be where I am. I surely would not have driven into bands of a hurricane in a truck. It is days like these when I am reminded that even in the rainy days I would rather not be in that I am reminded this time will be rewarded by God with His plans for me. In the movie the title came from (I know it, I am still waiting to see if ANYONE else does), Pooh did not plan on becoming a rain cloud, that only happened because things didn't work out his way. I am reminding myself of this, as I challenge anyone reading, don't concentrate on YOUR broken plans, have faith this is all part of HIS plans, and we are all thankful God's ways are not our own.

Feeling out of sorts

We recently got a new harness for the dog, and it goes on her differently than the old one. This one she can also reach a lot easier, so she tends to chew on it. As a result we take it off her after she goes out. Putting the harness on her, and taking it off makes her do what she had always done before. She is still learning the new way to do things. This makes her feel out of sorts.
Last night we decided to watch the latter part of the Alabama vs. Tennessee game. Anyone from either state knows the third Saturday in October holds a very heated rivalry. Given Alabama's domination in the past few years, we expected Alabama to win, but knew it had the potential to be a good first half. The game was being broadcast on ESPN, so we could not watch it in the truck. We spent the first half listening to it. When the third quarter seemed like it was going to be a pretty good quarter, we decided to go in and finish watching.
As I stood watching, and yes yelling, at the game (my kids will tell you I can be louder than most men when I watch football), I slowly realized I was the only one yelling. Now, let me remind you we were watching Tennessee (unranked) up against Alabama (#1) in a truck stop (lots of men) in New Jersey. I knew we would be one of a few, but I guess I wasn't expecting to be the only one yelling at the game. I was THE ONLY woman watching the game, and I was the one yelling. Talk about feeling out of sorts. I turned to my husband and told him what I just realized, he said it is OK, that is who you are.
Some of the guys heard and laughed. As Alabama continued to dominate, the channel got turned to a much closer game, Florida State at Miami. We began to talk football. As usual, someone turns the conversation from college to pro, and I continued to stay with the guys on the conversation. Most of my family will understand and say again, that is just me. 
Many times throughout our lives, choosing to be true to yourself will make you feel alone in your doing so. I drive OTR. I am one of the few women in this industry who total approximately 12%. I am half of a husband/wife team, and for whatever reason that trims away quite a few women as well. I am a homeschooling mom, now you are talking about one of a handful. I realize no matter how you slice it, I am in the minority, but sometimes it feels weird.
Chances are all of us do something that makes us feel in the minority. Whether it is praying, sharing your faith (even with someone you would have thought was a a believer), sharing your story, or simply choosing to drive the speed limit, there are many times throughout the day I feel alone in what I am doing. I know I am not. I know I have friends who are in the same "alone" feeling. And, I know I will always have my true partner, my husband. It is just weird sometimes.
It says in Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Sometimes I have to look at the Amplified as well to see more translations and get a better look at things, which reads "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.") This verse gives me comfort so many times. If I just keep being me, just keep doing good, just keep on the road God has laid before me, I will persevere  I just need to keep doing it. Just keep praying, just keep sharing, just keep teaching, just keep being safe, and just keep believing that in the end He will work it all out. Whether you are struggling with a change in your life, or struggling as a minority, just keep doing good, and you will make it through. 

Plans

So many times throughout the day, as I drive, I start thinking and making plans. Most of these plans are simple things like where I am going to stop to go to the bathroom, take the dog out, or check the load. However, there are many times I start thinking of things a little further off. Blogging was a plan. I planned on having time to sit down, type on the phone or on the laptop and publish whatever was happening that day, or week, or whatever. What happened? Life. I can't always break out the computer, because sometimes I need to sleep, and even my desire to write on a more regular basis is more important than sleep!

While most make their goals at the beginning of the year, I am choosing to start writing my plans, now. I know, how silly, but in the next couple of weeks our life will get turned on its head again, before it can settle down. I feel maybe having this to remind me of my grand plans will help, and I will hope someone (maybe my friend and driving buddy, or my sister) will hold me accountable for some of what I write (since both are fellow bloggers). I know having an "accountability partner" creates success for so many things, and hopefully just someone asking how are you doing with..... will help me. 

For my blog, I plan to follow in my sister's steps and for the entire month of November I will recognize something I am thankful for. I also plan to recognize different Godly women in my blog on the 31st of each month (I know kind of silly, but since we all strive to be Proverbs 31 women, I thought it would be kind of appropriate). Along the way, I plan to share more of the many things I have been meaning to say, and yet have not.

For homeschool, we get to have Bonnie come back on the truck at the end of the month. I plan on sharing all the wonderful things I have been reading in her books, and discussing things with her. We will probably take a few days and discuss nothing but the election, its implications, and I even have a book thought of to share with her.

For the dog, I plan on really working with her on training and learning to be quiet. If you have ever met our dog you can see why that will be an issue. She thinks the world should love her and play with her, and most do.

For our finances, I want to have the "emergency fund" fully established by March 31, 2013 (end of 1st quarter). I plan on paying off at least two bills within the next quarter. We have really come far in that now we are caught up! Again, those in the trucking industry will understand how many times it is difficult to say that.

For the truck, I plan on having our sleeper extension plans developed and a price tag set by the end of the year, so we can figure out how to save for it in the budget. We plan on doing things like installing EcoPur and a few other things when we go home. Hopefully those things will help our comfort, and expenses ($300 oil changes about every 3 weeks is getting pretty expensive). 

For some reason, I thought I had thought of so much more before, and now I can't remember it. Guess it must be that sleep thing I need to do. So, with that I will close for now. I would love any advice on how to keep with my plans.