Friday, February 28, 2014

Week in Review - Where I Finally Feel a Little Relief

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for my family. My grandma is in the care of hospice and finally feels some relief from pain. That is a relief to me. I continue to deal with the inevitable, but knowing she is no longer in pain makes me feel better. 

This week we also got relief from sickness in the truck. Monday, with both of us feeling considerably better, we headed to Dallaa to load two engines to come to California. The engines were delayed in loading, and then the engines were delayed in being unloaded. Thursday morning we unloaded the engines and waited for the flap we brought to California two weeks ago to be done so we could take it back to Louisville. We are loaded and headed that direction as I type. Winter Storm Titan is dumping rain in California now, do we have decided to take the southern route and avoid as much snow as we can. The mileage isn't too different, and we'd rather stay out of snow for as long as we can.

This week we finished two more books. One of them reminded me that everyone is fighting a battle you aren't aware of. I try to remember that, but sometimes it can be difficult. As Christians we are called to love, especially when we don't feel like it or the person is rather unlovable. How much different would this world be if we loved each other and supported each other through our unknown battles? 
As I reflect on the relief gained and lessons learned this week, I am thankful for all those in our life. God has truly placed those I need in my life on my life at the right time. You are my greatest relief.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Choices

Recently I was reminded of just how much life is full of choices. Each day is full of choices. We wake up each day with a full set of choices available to us. We can choose to make it a good day or a bad day. Granted things happen throughout the day that can affect us, but we can choose to react in a good way or a bad way.
In the trucking world, life is full of even more choices. Do we choose to take route A with more miles but less weather, or route B and face the weather just so we can go less miles? Do we choose to fuel in one state where the pump price is less, or in another where we pay more at the pump but the fuel tax is higher reducing our IFTA costs? Do we choose to shut down in bad weather or when we are sick, or do we push through risking it all?
Personally, do we choose to drink the water we should or reach for the next sugary drink? Do we choose to exercise, or is the bed too comfortable? Do we choose to eat out or cook at home? 
Each choice we make can effect several different items throughout our lives. Choosing to eat out can effect our budget and our overall health. While we don't earn when the wheels aren't turnng, choosing to sit it out may be the best for everyone involved.
Everyday we need to remember our goals, decide if what we are doing will achieve those goals, and choose our next move wisely. God has given each of us today. Remember to thank him for it and choose those things that will move you in the direction you want to go.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Week in Review – The One Where I Got Sick

Tawas Point at the top of Saginaw Bay.

Well, last week’s review was written and posted, according to my phone, but for some reason didn’t make it out to the web. Sometimes I love technology, and sometimes I am frustrated with it. Last week I asked for a mulligan. There were so many things that went wrong, and by Friday, I was refusing to get sick. Well, by Sunday, I couldn’t deny it, I was sick.
Frozen branches in Indiana
When I last wrote, we were on the way to Michigan with an oversized load. Bonnie and I were able to get quite a bit done. From Michigan, we headed to Louisville to load. Along the way, we stopped in Indiana. When I left Indiana Tuesday morning, it was -17° outside. When we loaded in Louisville, it was 38°. That was already 55° temperature change. We went from Louisville to Anaheim, CA, then up to Victorville to load a local. When we loaded in Victorville, it was 88°. In less than three days, our bodies had endured a 105° temperature change. I don’t think my body was really ready for that. We went from Victorville, back into the basin, loaded in Sun Valley and then headed to Memphis. Monday, we delivered in Memphis, headed up to Cincinnati to load, and then delivered in Houston on Wednesday. We informed them when we got here we would need to shut down until I got better. I had already struggled to do anything; there was no way I thought I could endure any more. Yesterday, I finally gave in and went to go get medication. Sometimes all of the home remedies in the world don’t work. Today, as we sit in Houston, I am beginning to feel better. Medicine is kicking in, and I actually feel a bit better. It had been a struggle all week to eat anything, and today I can eat without feeling horrible. Sadly, yesterday my sickness finally started affecting my family. They got medication as well, so I am hoping it won’t take them a week to get back on their feet.
Over the last two weeks, Bonnie and I accomplished quite a bit, and she has finished four more books. Her appetite for books amazes me more and more every day. We have taken a little time off this week because I didn’t feel like doing anything, but before that, we covered the American Revolution and the Constitution. Our interest in our government has clearly been passed on to my daughter, and I am thankful for that. Science and Math are progressing. We have decided to take a little break from Spanish for now. I am hoping to pick it back up maybe in the summer.
Last time I posted, I shared we had gotten some bad news about my grandmother. Well, we have now been given a final word of sorts. Her cancer has spread to not only her liver, but also her lungs. There is nothing that can be done. We have two to four months left with her. It saddens me, and yet I know I need to remember there is no pain in heaven. We have been blessed by her presence. Now it is time for us to really come to grips with the reality. This life is not guaranteed. We never know how much time we have with anyone. Enjoy the time we have when we have it.
NM sunrise through a dirty windshield.
In the post that never posted, I shared how I wanted a mulligan. Sadly, we don’t get a mulligan. We can’t go back and change things. However, we can do things differently tomorrow. The things I typically want to change are my reactions to things that have happened. I can never do that. All I can do is try to change how I react to things in the future. Sometimes I feel like I need a large sign that says, “Work in Progress.” We are all works in progress. So many things we would love to do differently; however, all we can do is change how we do things from this point. We are all on a journey. I can only hope along my journey I will be loved, and remembered as someone who worked every day to make tomorrow better than yesterday.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Weeks in Review - Two weeks running

Well, my hope of being able to at least post once a week has kind of went by the wayside. It wasn't that I didn't really have the time to do it, it was more that posting how our week went was not as much of a priority.
Our truck in Tampa with the sun setting behind it.

When I last wrote, we were in Miami. We enjoyed our time thawing in Miami. We spent my husband's birthday weekend making some repairs on the truck. We were able to complete all the repairs and then had to take him to the emergency room because of an infection that started moving from his ear down his neck. Antibiotics and time has allowed it to heal, thankfully. From Miami, we took a load to Atlanta and then up to Newark. We thought we would be able to sit for a little in the Northeast and watch the Superbowl, but instead we high tailed it to Tampa, only to watch my Broncos be humiliated.
Shortly after sunrise in Miami
This past week, we went back to Miami, up to Memphis, back to Miami, and now en route to Michigan. While we were in Miami, we were able to catch up with friends, and make a few new friends. We were able to meet people we had only talked on the phone with previously. Time with friends is truly treasured. Our current load is oversized, so I get to spend time catching up on things, hence the ability to write.

On the school front, Boo has finished two more books. At this rate, she is going to finish her books before we finish the rest of the school items. She digests books at such a high rate, I am amazed at her. For a girl that fought me to read, she now would rather have her nose in a book, or listen to a book when she can't read than not. The kindle my middle daughter bought me was such a blessing, and now her kindle is blessing us even more. Technology is a wonderful thing. I have a very hard time limiting technology time, since her nose on the kindle reading is really no different than my nose in a book at any other point.
My husband getting antibiotics.

This past week also brought us some disturbing news. We found out my grandmother is having some health issues. Out of respect, I will not disclose all of the details about her concerns, but I will say it has made all of us realize that, sadly, she will not live forever. My grandmother has lived a full ninety-three years. She is the rock of our family, and many times the glue that holds us together. Our family is very large, and as I would expect happens in many families, we are many times at odds with each other. My grandmother always shared with us that while we may not like each other at times, never ever stop loving each other, and never ever stop praying for each other. I ask that anyone who reads this to pray that above all else, God's will be done in this, and allow all of us to handle whatever God's will is.

Because of the family drama, love was consistently brought to mind. God brings friends into our lives to love us through different phases of our lives. Sometimes, those friends are family as well. Even if we choose to shut someone out of our lives for a time, we only hurt ourselves in the end. It is vitally important that we forgive and love each other. God loved us so much, He sent His only son to cover all of our sins. He loved us. It is our responsibility to love each other as well. He loved us first, when we were still sinners, and even when we don't agree with choices of others, we are still called to love them.

As we continue our way to Michigan, I am not looking forward to the weather conditions ahead of us. I am not looking forward to the possibility of freezing lines again. I realize this is our job, but it doesn't make me like it any more. I don't know where the roads will lead out of Michigan (other than south), but I know wherever we go, it is my responsibility to go where He leads. He never puts us in an area without allowing us to learn something. It is my responsibility to listen to His leading, love those around me, and never stop praying for His will to be done, whether I understand it or not.