Week in Review - lots of changes

I know, it's Monday, but it's as good of a time as any to review the last week, right? 

Last Friday we loaded out of California and slowly headed to Louisville. Winter storm Titan was coming, so we stayed as far south as long as we could to stay out of its path. We made it to Glendale KY (45 miles south of Louisville) and ran into ice. After nearly an inch of ice built up on the road, snow started falling. We waited it out in the comfort of our truck. Thanks to technology, we could see when the roads clear. We love technology!

We delivered Monday afternoon in Louisville, and reloaded Tuesday morning in Cincinnati. Tuesday night we loaded another item in Memphis, then delivered in Jacksonville and Miami. On Thursday we were empty and able to do a little work.

Thursday we replaced our cabin (sleeper) batteries with ThermoKing Eon batteries. So far we love them. And the thought of a four year full replacement warranty made them worth the price.

Friday we were able to run errands (wash clothes and such), which makes it sort of stressful. 

We sort of took some time off from school. With all the weather, it throws things off a bit, but my daughter still finished two more books.

This week I began reading Thin Healthy Mama. I was blown away by the ability to finally understand insulin resistance. So, this weekend I began eating the THM way. I will keep you updated on my progress. 

This weekend we also decided instead of totally refurbishing our trailer (at a cost of $30,000 - $55,000), we would buy another new to us one. 

This coming week we are hoping to get a load to go in the direction to get that trailer and be able to go out to see my grandmother before she gets too sick. Pray that things go well.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Week in Review – The One That Is Late

If I thought last week was so busy I forgot it was Friday, it had nothing on this week. This week was one of those weeks where when Friday came, I was glad of it, but yet so worn out I didn't want to do much of anything. We turned more miles in one week than we have in a long time. I am thankful for it, but have forgotten how turning that many miles, and quite a few of them in questionable weather, can wear you out. Looking back I know that when we first started trucking, we turned almost half again as many miles, but at that point my youngest daughter wasn't on the truck.

This was the snow that had fallen in Cincinnati just three hours after we got there, at which point we were still waiting to load the engine, and the snow was still falling.

This week also included our first shut down due to snow. We started the week in San Antonio (last Friday). We deadheaded all the way up to Cincinnati, hoping we would be able to get there, loaded, and start on the way out before the snow hit. Well, that didn't work out so well. Instead we got there, and waited nearly six hours to load an engine they told us it would take two hours max to finish. As we sat there, the snow rolled in. The roads were slick in the city, leaving us to question how horrible the roads would be on the open road. Since our route included several hills and curves, with questionable roads, we made the call to stop and wait until morning. By morning, it was smooth sailing.

Snow on top of already icy roads in North Indiana. 

Snow covered Chicago Midway.

Monday, which was a holiday, left us wondering if we would be able to deliver the engine in Houston. After waiting to leave because of the snow, I had battled fog on the last stretch, and really needed a little rest. No rest for the weary, we went up to Dallas and loaded going to Indianapolis and Chicago. The roads weren't too bad until the last stretch, at which point the water in the sleeper of our truck had froze. We were in desperate need of a thaw. Thankfully, we got word we would get that thaw. We reloaded in Indianapolis, after waiting for a squall line to move through and an airplane to leave the hangar, and then loaded another engine in Charlotte and headed to Miami. While on that stretch we had a light bar fall off (that was loads of fun to try to stop without having too much more damage), and the governor on our air compressor freeze. We thought the latter of those two repairs was going to be a pain to fix, but thankfully, I was able to get in touch with a dear friend, who reassured us it is an inexpensive fix that is not difficult.

You can say what you would like, and call me a fair weather trucker, but I dislike driving in most weather. I dislike rain because, while I can see, it seems most cars can’t see too well, so I am watching even closer to make sure I can see everything. I dislike fog because I have seen too many times where the other people didn't slow to the conditions and cause major wrecks. I dislike snow because you get the worst of the wetness the rain brings, and then the fear the roads will freeze to an ice skating rink, leaving you no way to control what happens. I trust my driving; it is the other people I don’t always trust. This week had me battle fog, my husband battled snow and ice, and I had a few flurries and thicker snow lines to deal with myself. We made it through safe, and thankful for God’s hand guiding us.

It is now Sunday. My husband’s birthday is tomorrow. While we were en route, I was able to stop and get his “birthday chrome,” a tradition we started. Of course it was no surprise to him what I got, but it is rather difficult to keep things a secret when we live within fifteen feet of each other. We spent yesterday getting parts for the truck and walking the mall. I was so worn out yesterday, the last thing on my mind was sharing our week.

I was blessed that this week she wanted to do schoolwork on her own. It amazes me how that works out sometimes. She finished three books on her own this week. One, we had been working on together, and the other two she just picked up and read because she wanted to keep going. I am so proud of her. I kissed her forehead several times this week and said thank you. While I grew up not hearing, “I am proud of you.” I have tried very hard to let my kids know when I am proud of them.

This week, while listening to the radio I heard, “What would you have tomorrow, if you were only left with what you thanked God for today.” Several times throughout the week I thanked God he got us to this place safe, or got us through that weather situation. When we sit to eat we thank God for our meal and the safety we have had up to that point, and pray for continued safety and wisdom. I have to say when I heard that question, I thought of how few things I would have. Sometimes, I tiring day or week can leave you thankful for the ability to make it through, but too tired to be thankful for much more. That was this kind of week. As I sit here, with everyone else, even the dogs, sleeping, I am reminded to pause and be thankful for what we have. We have been blessed with this truck, and the ability to make enough to keep things going. We have been blessed to have found a company where we can turn enough miles to get our bills caught up (this week we even paid off a credit card). We have been blessed to have our health (while my sinuses hated the dryness, we still have been blessed with very few down days due to illness). We have been blessed to be out here with each other, learning, sharing, and growing together. We have been blessed with friends who are reassuring and knowledgeable, without them we wouldn't try to handle so many things on our own. This week I am very grateful for my dear friend, Jeff, who truly blesses our lives continuously. I have been blessed with a hard working husband who wants me to just keep driving in fair weather, and have him take all the funky weather. I have been blessed with a teenager that appreciates how hard we work to keep things going. I am thankful for these things and so many more.

God blesses our lives continually. Sometimes it takes going through a rough patch to see the blessings on the other side, but if you look, you can always find something to be thankful for. No matter how hard things in your life may be, there is someone who would be thankful to be in your shoes. Remember to stop and thank God for your blessings.

 

This was from my fortune cookie during our birthday weekend lunch. While I am not a man, I am happy!

Oh, no, is it really Friday

Indiana sunset. I definitely enjoy being able to watch sunrises and sunsets from our moving office.

Where has this week gone? Last thing I remember we were wondering what we would end up getting out of Chicago, as we sat in Minneapolis. Now, here we sit in San Antonio. This week has flown by. Incredible how time flies. 

This week has brought a bit of progress on the homeschooling front. No multiple books finished, like the last few weeks, just trotting along. Bonnie did finish another module in science, and is readying to take a test on that material. She is almost finished with yet another chapter in PreAlgebra, so she will be taking a test in that shortly as well. I really need to update the spreadsheet and get first semester report figured out.

Notice the speed limit. 19, not 20. I just thought it was silly.

As far as our loads go, we ended up hauling a LM6000, which was something new for us. We had to look it up to see what it was, and fretted about how we were going to tarp it. I was concerned because there is something sticking up in the middle that I was afraid would make tarping a bit difficult. In the end, it was in a can, so we didn’t tarp it at all. The kit that went with it was no big deal to tarp. When we got to Cincinnati to load, I felt rather silly for worrying about something I really didn’t need to worry about. Isn’t that life, worry about something for no reason? When we delivered in Houston, we immediately got a load going to San Antonio. When I was checking in, they made a comment about it being oversized, so we checked the engine and verified it was a little over. Since we were only going 200 miles, I thought it wouldn’t be too bad to just move it and hope things went alright. Sure enough, a scale that is never open was open! To top it off, after I entered the scale, they closed it. I was sweating bullets. The sheriff who was watching as we went across the scale kept getting a phone call, so he only asked how much the engine weighed and then let me go. At that point we had 50 miles to go in the trip. I was so scared the whole time, knowing I was wrong. Trust me that will be the last time I try to fly under the radar with an oversized load. I am thankful that scale didn’t have lasers to measure things, or my goose would have been cooked.

The "naked" engine that gave me so much grief. They removed the ECM, but not the wiring that goes with it, and the oil cooler, but not the filter. Doing half of the job on each side left the engine 106" wide.

Personally, I have really found myself struggling with blame. I am not being blamed by others, but I blame myself. I blame myself for not being the best mother my eldest daughter deserved, or any of my daughters for that matter. I wonder how things would be different if I hadn’t allowed pride to enter in. Would my eldest be a felon, with two children she can’t really take care of? Would she be under the influence of all the drugs she is, and would she be a stripper? I thought I could do it, and then repeatedly failed. If I had stopped my pride from the beginning and allowed my aunt and uncle to adopt her, would her life have been better? I blame myself for my grandchildren’s current plight. They didn’t ask to be born into this situation, and all anyone can do is try to shelter them from her circumstances, but that ends up hurting them as well. Blame has definitely rooted itself in my brain a great deal. I am praying for things to be worked out, and for the blame to lose its grip.

I pray this week has been productive, and safe for everyone. I encourage you to not worry about things, especially before you absolutely have to. I definitely wasted time worrying this week, and it was unnecessary. God has it all under control, and all we can do is keep trotting along sometimes.