September 28, 2010

 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

Good Morning, 

The past week was a rough week for me -so I will beginning with our trip to Colorado last weekend. The mountains once again took my breath away!  We spent the weekend at the truck stop which I'm sure to must not sound very fun but I actually enjoyed meeting the old time truckers and sitting around drinking coffee and hearing their truckin tales. It reminded me of my childhood sitting around listen to grumps old stories. We went from Denver to Fort Collins to get our next load .

Once it Fort Collins we headed to Wichita TX- We stopped at a rest and only in Texas would you see this sign and believe me I did not wander of the sidewalk at all and my eyes were wide open in the restroom!

We didn't spend long in Texas and then we headed to Greenfield MO for a pick up to be delivered to Topeka KS.. As we drove down highway 70 in St Peters MO during rush hour traffic it felt like we were still in Texas traffic..We sure don't drive much better in MO!
  
We went from Topeka KS to Independence VA where we would be spending the weekend!  When your confined to the truck all week long the weekend means time out of the truck. Virginia is my favorite state to travel through. I love the winding roads edged with the mountain walls. What better place to spend the weekend with my husband "Virginia is for Lovers".

Jeff took me out for Prime Rib at steak house down the street from the truck stop Saturday night. Sure was night to eat something that wasn't cooked in the microwave!  We woke up Sunday morning to the sound of rain drops hitting the windshield and a gloomy sky but we got up and went to church at a local church to praise God for all he has given us! We headed back to be lazy in the truck and watched the race. It was a nice relaxing weekend for us!

Sept 21, 2010

But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Psalms 3:3

I can’t believe it’s been almost a week since I have updated our blog. We had a load on the 16th that took us down hwy 55 right past our apartment which gave me a chance to pick up some fall clothes and drop off some things that we didn’t need and take a shower in the [privacy of my own home Jeff gave me two hours that I exceeded we were back on the road to Plano IL. With our load finally delivered in IL we waiting for our message to see where our next adventure would be. Excited filled my soul as we found out we were going to St Paul MN for pick up with delivery to Wheat Ridge CO. Finally we were heading west. The air was misty and chilly as we pulled into the truck stop for fuel. Yeah for hoodies! The sky was gloomy as we drove though the mist heading towards Colorado. We stopped at the Rest area in South Dakota for a break and as I stepped out of the truck the feel of autumn enveloped my body. As I walked to building I looked out at the hills of South Dakota and it took my breath away. I ran like a small child to take it all in and I discovered there was a small offbeat trail that led down to the bottom of the gorge so I took off running and giggling Jeff following me saying you’re going to get lost..Slow down baby! Knowing if I kept walking I would ever be able to make it back I grabbed Jeff’s hand and we slowly walked back up the trail breathing in the fresh air. Back in the truck we headed towards God’s Country! It would be Saturday when we arrived and we didn’t have to deliver until Monday morning so we would get to spend the day in Colorado.

Sept 15, 2010

Thank you God for the beautiful rainbow you placed in the Arkansas sky this morning to greet me as I woke up. Just a reminder that you are indescribable, unattainable, you are amazing GOD!

Good things  come to those who wait. We excitedly opened the doors to the brand new 2011 Prostar International with a mere 800 miles on her and my nose was filled with that new car smell. Plastic still covered the seats as we step inside and awed at her flawless beauty. Pure and clean we new her name needed to Faith. Her engine purred like a content kitten as Jeff started her up.  Putting her in gear I grasped onto the shelves in the berth anticipating  the jerks that always felt like a roller coaster when we took off  but as she shifted into gear it was as smooth as ice! We were finally back on the road again!  We were headed to Muskogee OK for pick up to be delivered to Memphis on Thursday with a stop in between in West Memphis to pick up our belongings that we had to leave behind over a week ago. It will sure feel good to wear something new today!

Sept 11, 2010

Honoring and remembering  those we lost!

Having never ridden a greyhound bus before I had no idea what to expect. We were taken by cab into Memphis past Biehl Street.The lighted buildings created a glow in the darkness of night as people scurried from club to club. Arriving to the bus station which was small but filled with people from all walks of life I observed children laying on the dirty floor, heads propped up on backpacks, parents standing besides them as we made our way to and empty bench to wait for the ticket window to open. The place was filthy and unfortunately I had to use the bathroom and I wont even share the filth that was in there. Finally with our tickets in hand we waiting in line for our bus to arrive. Behind us in line was a very young couple ( who looked to be about 14 or 15 years old) carrying backpacks that held bedrolls and a tiny tent.  They were friendly and we soon struck up a conversation with then and discovered they were in their 20's and we just taking an adventure for about three weeks before college started. They shared with us how nice people had been to them and how when they felt dismayed things always seemed to work out. It was our opportunity to share our faith with them. The young girl shared with me that when she left home she wasn't sure whether she believed or not but as she was traveling and things began happening she realized these were not coincidences but something great than that and then she showed me a gold ring that bore a cross that someone had given her at the truck stop she was at earlier in the day. She then proclaimed she  knew that there was a GOD.. I shared with her the things that God had provided us with over the last few  months and how faithful his love is everyday. What an overwhelming feeling to see someone accept Jesus and what and awesome God we have. We then boarded our bus and she sat across the isle from me trying to get comfortable by using her backpack as a pillow. Knowing she hadn't rested her head on a pillow for a few weeks I tossed her mine to use and with in minutes she was sound asleep.  Unfortunately I was never able to get myself comfortable and thought the bus ride would never end. We finally arrived in Van Buren 5 hours later. A shuttle took us to the terminal and we couldn't wait to get our truck and start rolling again but that was not to be the plan as we soon out- the truck we were there to pick up was in the shop and wouldnt be ready until Monday at 9 pm  We were then shuttled to Meadors Hotel for the weekend.

Sept 10,2010

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)


 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

TGIF- Called the garage this morning and were told to check out of hotel and come to terminal.  We quickly packed up ready to get back on the road so you could imagine our surprise when we got there and was told our truck was being sent to the dealer for repair and we were getting a new truck. The tow truck was arriving in ten minutes and we needed to get everything out of Shirley. Now most of the guys travel alone so only have one duffel bag of stuff but  those of you who know me will understand why it took 7 large boxes to hold our stuff. I was dripping with sweat and just ready to go and then they announced  pack bag with only necessities because you will be taking a bus to the Chicago terminal to pick up your new truck....sure didn't make sense to me with a yard full of trucks surrounding me. We quickly packed a small duffel bags and headed back to the drivers lounge to wait for the fleet manager to call us with our bus time.At 4:30 pm  we finally  received a call the truck that was suppose to be ours in Chicago was assigned to someone else so we were being sent to Van Buren AR to get ours.  The bus would leave at 3:30 am.  See we settled down once again in the drivers lounge and wondered were we really going to Van Buren ...I guess we have to wait till 3:30 am to see!!

Sept 9, 2010

  For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalms 1:6

Our  truck Shirley was pulled in the garage to repair.  The mechanic said it would take some time and Shirley may have to visit the dealer. So here we were in the West Memphis USA truck terminal. Having no idea what to expect I was lead to the drivers lounge, which was filled with large puffy leather recliners one which was literally calling my name. Plopping down I sunk into the recliner and sighed. Ahhh! finally rest! The terminal was filled with other truckers also having their rigs repaired and we quickly made many wonderful friends.  Little did I know I God had some more gifts for me. I met Suzanne another trucker wife like myself along for the ride. We shared stories and recipes..experiences and laughter. Since Shirley would be down for a few days we were put up in a hotel. Relaxation fell over me as I stepped into the hot bubbly water for a long well deserved bath. The sandman came quickly me that night- myself dreaming of what adventure would fill my day tomorrow...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Sept 8 ,2010

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

After four good days home Jeff feeling temporarily relaxed and myself barely able to stand we made our way to  Clarksville, Arkansas. Jeff decided to take the shortest way (shortest way by car) which was to cut down 65 past Branson, Missouri and hit the side roads. after winding turns and perilous hills (the kind we called screebilty roads a a kid) we found some parts to be right out of the deliverance movie. I swear I could hear the banjo's play in the misty black mountains as the sun was beginning to set. The roads became black and the elks were coming out and they sat there on the sides of the road we hoped we were getting closer to our destination. After the fog settled and the brakes smokin hot from the hills we made it, we dropped that load and headed to Little Rock with no directions available we looked up the address on the laptop we were off. Halfway there Jeff stopped for fuel in Russelville another normal stop but very late. As we were leaving Jeff pulled out to exit when another driver blared his air horn at us as if we cut him off. This part unknown to that other driver Jeff saw a figure in the shadows that the other driver would not have seen. By God's intervention i believe Jeff blocked that other truck from not running over that person in the shadows. Now the only reason I say this is because after Jeff was calm and the other driver so belligerent,that other driver suddenly stopped complaining after Jeff explained he would have rather been hit by the truck than let a person get run over.
   By the morning we were already at our loading place. We thought we weren't going to get loaded because wal-mart called saying they were taking the load. After about a half-hour things got straightened out and we were loaded and off to Douglas.Georgia. The troubles didn't really start until we stopped in a rest area real quick for a break. Well at this point the truck decided she did not want to start. Turning the key one time, two times and then a third smoke came barreling out from under the hood. Thinking there was a fire Jeff yelled Jen get out. So I grabbed the laptop , my purse and shoes and jump out of the truck into the rain. Seeing no fire we knew we were stranded now if only breakdown people from USA would believe us we could get out quicker, but that would not be the case. We had to turn the key on and off a bunch of times wait 15 minutes and then the truck would start (so we were told).The rain had poured and we got a jump start, so off to W.Memphis to get another problem resolved. Little did we know it would be a number of problems.
   Shirley (our truck name)  must have known she was at a terminal, because she decided to stop right there in front of the gate having to be towed over to the shop. Turns out the starter burned up and the clutch went out we were stranded  again this time for a while until she was fixed.  The best was we got to stay at a hotel, with full size bed and cable TV.  God knew that I needed sometime to recover  from the calcific tendinitis. He truly takes care of his children's needs.

Sept 8, 2010

Galatians 3:26
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Well we broke down in Arkansas today and they came out and jumped us and directed us to the USA garage in West Memphis and we pulled up to the gate and the truck died. The starter is burned out and the clutch is out. So USA is putting us up in a hotel tonite. We could be here until Thursday. God always takes care of my needs I believe he wants me to get some good rest and recover from this calcific tendonitis before we are out on the road for a month.

Sept 7, 2010

Declare Everyday

The favor of God is resting upon me everywhere I go, his favor goes before me opening doors that no man can shut, blessing my life and lifting me up, I cannot fail because I am destined to win. He gives me victory again and again. I will not give up and I will not fear because this is my time and this is my year!

We left at 1:30 today back on the road for another 30 days ( my health permitting).  Heading to Arkansas.