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.

Weekly Update: An Excitingly Busy Week

Oh, my goodness. It's Friday already! We have had an excitingly busy week. This week started with some wonderful news that upset me as the week went on, but at this point, I have put on my big girl pants, and it will be alright. The Lord truly was looking out for us this week, and we are ever thankful for his guidance.
Saturday night we spotted Momma June and Sugarbear, along with their entourage. Since I am not a fan, I was not impressed, nor did I really see a reason they needed said entourage. (Yes I realize Saturday is really not part of this week, but it was after my last weekly update, so I thought I would share.)
Sunday, we picked up a load in Charlotte and headed to Miami. The polar vortex was coming in that direction, and we prayed to stay south of the freeze line, and luckily were able to.

The view across the runways at MIA

Monday, we delivered that load, and were amazed to get a load right out. However, as it turned out, we didn't have the space (weight-wise) to load all the wanted. Instead, we ended up doing a local and waiting for other items to clear customs so we could leave with a full trailer. We felt God kept us in Florida until the "heat wave" hit Minneapolis (our final destination), and got us out of Florida before the flooding started there. Ten stops total for the week. We are beyond thankful we got to move. While they may talk about how much better the weather is here in Minnesota, it still is pretty awful. It looks like a beautiful winter wonderland, but the fog in the dark with freezing temps is not so wonderful. Not to mention, our truck started the week all clean, and now looks like I took it through a mud hole somewhere. I hate even getting in and out of the truck because it is such a chore to not get dirty. Please Lord, let us go somewhere warmer soon so we can wash the truck!

Cleaning the runways at MSP

Bonnie was able to finish two books this week, one of which wasn't required! She really is loving her Christmas present she didn't want. Sometimes I have to remind myself she is a teenager, so I am wrong, but this week I was able to remind her of two more things I tried getting for her that she refused and now kicks herself for doing so. One is a fleece lined sweatshirt. She said she didn't like it, and wouldn't need it, and would rather have a huge parka. Well, this week she has borrowed mine several times and said how she wished she had one. "Remember, I tried talking you into getting one." She rolled her eyes and sighed. Then, she decided to borrow my fingerless gloves that flip over to become more like mittens. She again fell in love with them. "I seem to recall suggesting you get a pair, and you said you would rather have just normal gloves." She finally admitted maybe sometimes moms do know best. That is one moment I will hold onto.
Today, as we sit in the freezing cold, we are playing chess, enjoying the quiet. God has kept us safe. He has been our provider. We are blessed. As you look back on your week, I hope you too recognize God's guiding hand in it. I pray you will stay safe throughout the week to come.

Absent Parenting

When I was growing up, both of my parents were in the military. This meant lots of missed birthdays, and very few holidays or other of life’s events with our extended family. When we were able to attend a family event, it was always something to remembered, to me anyways. I enjoyed being around my cousins, of whom there are now well over thirty, and my five aunts and three uncles. Not all of our family can be in one place at one time, as a matter of fact, the last time I remember all nine of my grandmother’s children being together was when she turned eighty. While there are some within the family that would rather complain about the family, I remember always cherishing the time we had together, and enjoying the fellowship.

Among the many things we are asked about being on the road, one of them is don’t we miss our family. My family is spread from one coast to the other, and everywhere in between. We enjoy the times we can spend with family as we get close to them; however, with the distances between my family, it was rare to have true family time. My husband, on the other hand, has lived within a few hundred miles of his family all of his life. It was because of missing out on his children’s lives that he decided to stop truck driving at the time. Whenever we are asked the question, our answers used to be the same, but I fear they won’t be soon.

This week we found out my husband’s oldest son’s girlfriend is pregnant. While my eldest daughter gave us our first two grandchildren, we rarely get to see them or have much to do with them. (That situation breaks my heart, but my daughter desperately needs to be a better mother. Watching her self-destruct and take her children down with her is very heartbreaking.) My husband has trepidations about this news, mainly because the new father is still in college, and isn’t doing that well financially, but otherwise is incredibly excited. He can’t wait to be a Paw Paw. We asked if we could host the baby shower, and were immediately declined, but told we could “bring something to it if we wanted.” Furthermore, it was stated, we aren’t home enough to handle anything, and can’t be depended upon.

I immediately got upset about the reaction, and was more upset when I found out we were declined in favor of my husband’s ex-wife. I realize our job takes us away from daily life for college kids, but up until now, we really didn’t feel like we were missing anything. When we were home, and they lived at home, we rarely saw them as it was. Now, we have to make special requests just to be able to see them ever. Before we started trucking, we had spent the previous three years covering for all the broken promises she made. Believe me, when all of it was happening, and we had to be real, and then cover her lies, it was horrible. It made me thankful my children and I were thrown away. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you can’t, you had better own up to why you can’t. It is beyond frustrating when after all we have done, including getting his car out of repossession, one simple request to host the baby shower was declined. My feelings are still very hurt.

Of course, even when we started discussing the baby shower, I revealed that my eldest daughter would end up getting upset. Every child is convinced we love someone else more. Of course, nowadays, they all agree the youngest, who is on the truck with us full time, is the most loved. One thing usually leads to another as we discuss things while one of us is driving, and this discussion was no different. We ended up talking about who had most-favored status in our family when we were growing up. And then we discussed how each child has different roles.

Later, as I drove, I reflected upon the discussion. I was struck by how different our earthly family is from our heavenly family. While none of us could ever live up to Jesus, as far as being a son or daughter of God, God loves none of us different. He loves me the same as he loved Mother Theresa. Even though I am not blessed with the knowledge or words to be able to lead thousands to Christ, my role doesn’t affect His love. God loves all of us as we are, no matter how much we show up, no matter what we look like when we do show up. He always responds with open arms, and an open heart, ready to hug us. Our absence doesn’t make him replace us with someone else. Thank you God for loving us like you do.

While my feelings are still very hurt by the attitude with regard to the baby shower, I am also realistic. I miss the days of get-togethers at our house. I miss decorating, and taking a theme to extremes (my daughter’s friends still talk about her sushi birthday – even the cupcakes looked like sushi). A party brings out the Martha Stewart in me. I will never be the same as those that are in their lives on a regular basis. We are, absent parents, and will end up being absent grandparents. We won’t love them any less, but the feeling isn’t mutual. This makes me thankful even more for a loving heavenly Father, who loves us no matter what.

I encourage all of you to enjoy any time you have with your family, enjoy your family any time you can, and most of all remember that regardless of how our earthly family treats us, our heavenly Father is always there with open arms, ready to love us.