Welcome Home

Getting ready to deliver the wreaths

Hello all! Merry (belated) Christmas and happy New Year! Hope you are having a joyful holiday season!

Life has been quite busy lately, but mostly in a good way. Our regional route has been mainly uneventful, but we did have the honor of running a load of wreaths for Wreaths Across America, all the way from northern Maine to Chattanooga, Tennessee! It was quite an adventure getting up to Maine, and we were blessed to slip in and out again in between storms. We took the load down to Georgia, spent some time at company headquarters with the corporate people, and then delivered our wreaths to the Chattanooga National Cemetery early on a Saturday morning. Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay for the ceremony of laying the wreaths, but it was still quite an honor to transport them.

Holding the keys!

Some of you know that we have been in the process of buying a house. Well, after over a year of searching, and two months' hassle over a mortgage, we finally closed on the house, took possession, and moved in - all on December 23rd! That's right, we signed closing papers in the morning, loaded up the Uhaul in the afternoon, and moved everything into the house that evening.

My wonderful in-laws have been so kind and helpful - my hubby's parents helped clean the house, and they and my brother-in-law helped unload the moving truck. They have also helped with many little projects around the house. We spent Christmas day with them as well. It's wonderful having them close by now!

Pretty new mailbox!

The first few days after moving to a new place are always busy, but we have accomplished so much in the past three days. Not only have we unpacked all the essentials and much of the non-essential stuff, set up furniture, etc., but we've also made several improvements and made it more our own. We bought and installed a new front door, door casing, and front and back door knobs and locks; we changed several of the light fixtures and nearly all of the light bulbs; pulled out the dilapidated old mailbox and put a beautiful new mailbox in; completely re-coated the master bathroom shower; set up the master bedroom and furnished the guest bathroom; changed out old air and water filters, and cleaned years of dust, calcium deposits, rust, and grime out of the house. Needless to say, we're a little worn out!

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have our own place, our very own house. And not only is it our own house, it's also our own property - six acres of property, in fact! We have big plans and dreams for that land (think garden, chickens, pigs, cows...), but there will be time for all that in the future. In the meantime, it's just so wonderful to come home to our own place, sleep in our own bed, cook in our own kitchen, dream our dreams...

I pray peace for each of you during this holiday season, and that the new year brings a fresh start and renewed life to you. Merry Christmas, happy New Year, and best of luck to you!

Catching Up

Snow accumulation in Pennsylvania

Well, it's taken us a little while to get settled into our new routine with our regional account, but we're starting to get the hang of it! I like knowing where we're going to be at any given time, it takes a lot of the uncertainty out of driving. Hubby gets a little bored with going to the same places all the time, but it is nice knowing what to expect!

In the meantime, we did attend one event in Georgia, and are planning to do another in December. We had dinner with a Georgia state senator and a state representative; we've had a little snowfall in Indiana and a snow accumulation in Pennsylvania; and we celebrated our second wedding anniversary and our third Thanksgiving together!

Anniversary date night!

Our anniversary was spent on the road, but I made my sweetheart's favorite pot roast and a delicious peanut butter chocolate cake for us to share. That weekend we had a very special date night - an hour at the shooting range and a nice dinner at a hibachi grill! It was definitely one of the best date nights we've ever had.

We were blessed to have Thanksgiving and the extended weekend off of work - a first for us! We've always had to work over holidays before, but since our new account is closed on major holidays, we were thankful to have the time off. We had a very pleasant Thanksgiving dinner with Don's parents and aunt, and spent the rest of the weekend enjoying fellowship with them. We helped set up Christmas decorations, had several good talks, and really enjoyed the time with family. It's the first time in many years for each of us that we've been able to be with family for Thanksgiving!

We're back on the road now, hoping that the weather holds off and dreading the upcoming winter weather. Stay safe out there!

Veterans Day

On November 11, 1918, the horror of WW1 officially ended. Still recovering 20 years later, our nation voted to honor WW1 veterans for their service with legislation deeming November 11 to be "Armistice Day." By 1954, however, we had seen WW2 and the Korean War, and Armistice Day was replaced with Veterans Day, a day to honor and recognize all veterans.

My husband during his service

Today is Veterans Day, 2016, and I would like to take a moment to reflect. I honor veterans of all wars as well as veterans of peacetime. I honor my grandfather, uncle, and cousins for their service in the Air Force; my father-in-law, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War; my husband, who served 9 years between the Army and Navy; and all of my brothers and sisters in arms, past and present. I honor those who were wounded in the line of duty; those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their very lives; and all of us who raised our right hands and took an oath, willing to make that sacrifice if necessary.

WW2 veterans

Last night I had the privilege of attending a high school Veterans Day concert. The concert was very well done, but what was most meaningful to me was the time taken to honor the WW2 veterans present. Of course it is wonderful to pay tribute to their service and sacrifice, but it is absolutely essential that the young people of this generation are taught to respect and honor these veterans, and that respect and honor be modeled for them to emulate. In this day in age, when it seems that so many people feel entitled to everything, it is so important to recognize those who have fought to preserve the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Myself with our truck

This Veterans Day, when you see an older gentleman wearing a Vietnam Veteran hat, shake his hand and thank him for his service. When you see a few young guys sporting crew cuts gathered around a bar, raising a drink to a buddy who didn't come  home, show some respect. We all know someone who served - go thank that teacher or janitor or parent or relative or whoever it is. Let us all be grateful for the sacrifices made for all of us and our great nation.

Happy Veterans Day.

Stories From the Road

Sunlight peeking through autumn leaves

There is something that happens - a phenomenon that occurs with a predictability that rivals the daily sunrise - every time multiple people gather together who share a common occupation, hobby, or background. It happens at doctors' conventions, teachers' meetings, and office employee breakrooms. It happens at hunting lodges, retirement homes, high school reunions, and military barracks. It happens when farmers meet in feed stores, when homeless congregate around burn barrels, and when suburban housewives run into each other at the supermarket. And you better believe, it happens with truck drivers.

What is it?

Storytelling.

Let a few people gather together with something in common and the spirits of the medicine men, bards, and historians of the past rise up again. The most experienced try to top each other's tales with another more interesting or more dramatic than the last, and the least experienced listen in awe. Of course, a dash of exaggeration is often to be expected, but there is an element or morsel of truth in every story. It's a tradition old as time itself, passing on one's own experiences for the enjoyment and instruction of others.

And we have stories to tell. Believe me, we have stories.

The time we pulled a U-turn in a cemetary on a snowy evening in Virginia. The time we drove down a gravel road, between cornfields and through a river, to a solar farm in rural Texas. The time we delivered supplies at an inner-city hospital clinic in downtoon Brooklyn, NYC.

We spent Christmas on the beach in Miami, and Valentine's Day slogging through the snow in Vail Pass, Colorado. We've driven through flooding, hail, smoke, snowstorms, fog too thick to see the hood of the truck, and wind that threatened to tip us over.

Double rainbow after a storm

Oh, but the things we've seen along the way! Snowcapped mountains and craggy bluffs, the changing colors of autumn and the first new buds of spring, oceans on both sides of the country, sunrises and sunsets that take your breath away. Moose drinking from a Montana river, eagles circling in a cloudy Pennsylvania sky, antelope and buffalo grazing on Western plains.

Of course, we're regional drivers now, so our view of our wonderful nation will be restricted to a slightly smaller area. However, when you open your eyes, you find that there is beauty all around you, wherever you are.

These are the stories that we tell when standing around a parking lot or truck stop, chewing the fat with others like us. These are the stories we will tell our children someday. These are our adventures so far on the road!

Regional Drivers and a Discussion of Romance

Autumn in Pennsylvania

Well, after a year of being on a dedicated OTR (over the road) account, things have changed for the Davis team. We are now going to be dedicated regional drivers. What this means is that, instead of going coast to coast as OTR, we will now be driving within a certain mile radius of home, thus being regional. It also means that, instead of being on the road for 3-5 weeks, home for drill weekends and a few days for running errands, and back on the road, we will now be home on weekends! We may choose to work extra on some weekends, but for the most part, we will now be on the road for only 5-6 days at a time.

We are excited about the change. It came a little sooner than we had planned, but in the long run, it will be a good thing. Since we've been together, we've never had weekends off together on a regular basis, so this is a welcome opportunity to spend time together outside of the working environment.

Speaking of the working environment, it has been good for our marriage to live and work together in a tiny space 24/7, but it has also been difficult in some ways. For instance, it has taught us to communicate clearly and work together as a team; however, we sometimes have to remember to be not only coworkers but spouses and lovers as well. It can be hard to keep the romance alive when so many of the typical things (gifts, surprises, date nights, etc) are next to impossible on the road!

My favorite of several photos taken this month

I am thankful for this season of life, in which we have spent so much time together and learned so much about each other, and I pray we never forget the lessons in communication, trust, and teamwork that we've learned. And yet, since a great deal of the time is spent sleeping and nearly all the time one or both of us is working, it's like spending time in the presence of the other person but not really spending time WITH them.

One thing we have certainly learned this year, however, is to appreciate the little things. Too often we can take for granted the ordinary, everyday stuff that we do for each other - make lunch, take out the trash, sweep the floor, hold a door open - and yet, those little things are very important, especially when you live in a space the size of a closet! Just a simple thank-you, letting the other person know that these things are noticed and appreciated, is its own love language. So are back rubs. So is letting the other person speak without interrupting. These little things are, in their own way, the truly important things that make a spouse feel loved and appreciated. Sex is wonderful, but doing the dishes or letting the other person sleep in a few extra minutes are also powerful romance!

I'd love to hear your ideas or suggestions for making your significant other feel loved and keeping the romance alive. Until then, I'm off to go snuggle with my sweetheart. ❤

US Xpress Military Program Videos

When US Xpress commissioned the military tribute trucks, they also signed a commitment with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, ESGR, to specifically target hiring veterans and current service members as employees. Here is the video made of the ceremony where they signed the commitment and presented the trucks to the drivers:

 

At the same time, they also interviewed several current drivers who are veterans or current service members. Here is the video compiled of those interviews:


We were honored to be a part of this program. We enjoy working with a company that is actively interested in both honoring the military as well as listening to what their employees have to say!

Freedom Truck

Freedom, Marine, and Navy trucks

Back in July, when US Xpress wrapped six new 2017 Freightliner Cascadias in decals honoring the military and our country's independence, we were honored to be chosen to drive the Coast Guard truck. Now, three months later, we have changed trucks again, this time to drive the Freedom truck!

Unlike the other trucks, each honoring a branch of the military, the Freedom truck is not branch-specific. Rather, it represents stages of our country's independence, from Revolutionary War to now, and the photo of Arlington represents the true cost of freedom. This truck is applicable to all branches of the military as well as to everyone who has given their lives in defense of our country.

Freedom truck

We are excited to be driving the Freedom truck now. Unfortunately, when we got into the truck, it needed some maintenance to bring it back up to show standard. In the meantime, we've had a little time to relax and rest in a hotel while we wait. #3 is stretched out on a hotel bed, rolled on her back, snoring and twitching - I think she's enjoying this!

The weather is getting cooler, and leaves are beginning to change colors; autumn is upon us. It's time for sweatshirts, jeans, hot chocolate, and everything pumpkin! Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cookies. So much autumn goodness! What's your favorite thing about autumn?

Happy Driver Appreciation Month!

Don talking with drivers at a Driver Appreciation event

September is Driver Appreciation Month, and I wanted to take a moment to thank all of our fellow truck drivers for everything you do. Our country would come to a screeching halt if truckers stopped moving freight around the country! Here are some statistics from the American Trucking Association (ATA):

Minor food shortages of perishable items would occur in one to two days, significant shortages in as few as three days.

Supplies of fresh drinking water would run dry in two to four weeks without the chemicals needed to filter and purify the water sources. Unpurified water will cause more sickness, further taxing the now compromised healthcare system.

Hospitals, nursing homes, etc will run out of food supplies for patients in 24 hours, and medicines, oxygen, and medical supplies will be depleted quickly as well. In a matter of hours, the healthcare system could no longer provide care to injured or sick patients.

Trucks keep the country moving!

Gas stations would run out of fuel in less than two days. Without fuel, private vehicles as well as public transportation would not be able to run. Without transportation, many people can't go to work, earn money, or access whatever food and healthcare supplies are left.

Waste couldn't be removed, literally burying us in our own trash. Banks would run out of cash, businesses would close their doors, manufacturers would shut down their plants. Sick people would die, and even healthy people would starve.

If trucks stopped moving, so would this country. Thank you, truck drivers, for moving America!

What's It Like to Be a Trucker?

#3 keeps Don company as he shines our truck rims 

One of the questions that we hear frequently from friends, family, and people that we meet is, "What's it like to be a trucker?" Some people are amazed that a normal, educated young couple like ourselves would be trucker drivers; a lot of people still stereotype truckers as old, nasty, stinky, and perverted. Other people are surprised that a woman can drive, that a couple can drive as a team, or that we would even want to drive a semi.

So what's it like to be a trucker?

It's hours and hours of sitting in a not-overly-comfortable seat behind a steering wheel, staring out a window at traffic and scenery.

It's a hundred thoughts and decisions running through your head at once, watching traffic - both nearby and farther out - trying to predict what the drivers of vehicles around you will do. It's slamming on your brakes because a car just cut you off and slowed down in front of you. It's knowing that you can't stop 80,000 pounds fast enough to prevent hitting a minivan that just changed lanes in front of you, traveling 35 mph to your 65 mph, and the lives of the kids in their backseat flash before your eyes.

Miles of desert 

It's watching the miles of roadway slip away, the trees or rocks or desert or fields all blending and blurring together outside your windows. It's watching a sunrise or sunset, admiring the way the sunlight reflects on the clouds, and wondering where your loved ones are and whether they're too busy for a phone call. It's talking on the phone with someone you care about, only to lose reception and drop the call.

It's traveling, seeing the country in snapshots from the interstates, passing by national monuments and natural wonders. It's the traffic congestion around big cities as thousands of people push their way forward in a self-centered mayhem of honking horns and angry voices. It's breathing more freely once you're out of the narrow city streets and back on the open road. It's a little kid asking you to blow your air horn, and the giant smile on their face when you do.

It's waiting for a late load, waiting for directions from someone five hundred miles away, waiting for a tire to be changed, and falling asleep waiting for the phone call assigning your next load. It's people with no concept of what your job entails trying to tell you how to do your job. For us as a team, it's living with your spouse in a space the size of a walk-in closet, working and communicating and sharing - and yes, sometimes squabbling - but always loving.

A recent load allowed us a quick visit with my parents

It's going home for a few days and realizing how much you need to get done in a short period of time. It's trying to explain to doctor's offices and realtors and family members that you're only home once a month, it's the only time you're available, it's really nothing personal. It's people that you love and miss asking when they will see you again. It's passing through the hometown of people that you care about and not telling them, because you're on a deadline with no time to stop and visit. It's missing out on birthday parties and family events and feeling like life is passing you by.

It's not forever, at least not for us. I keep telling myself it's not permanent. It has its ups and downs, its pros and cons, but it's not a bad life. I will forever be grateful for these years we spent together on the road, getting to know each other and ourselves as the miles pass. Someday we will be settled down and it will all be a memory. Someday my Pinterest boards full of chicken coop blueprints, casserole recipes, and parenting articles will come in handy. Someday the photographs of bucolic pasture scenes and mischievous children will be ours. But until then, I will be thankful for the time spent with my sweetheart, working toward our goals, seeing sights we may never see again. This is so much bigger than simply driving a big truck. This is what it means to me to be a trucker.

Time

Could I the fleeting moments grasp,
And hold them as a string of pearls -
To lay them forever in your clasp,
I would travel 'round the world.

Or could I catch each passing hour,
Golden as a grain of sand;
And were all time within my power,
I would place it in your hand.

Alas, I cannot make them stay -
But cherish each as past they fly.
Every moment of every day,
I'm glad that you are mine.

2016 Rebekah Davis, all rights reserved

Happy Birthday, My Love

It's my sweetheart's birthday today and I thought it was only fitting that I share a little bit of our story. It's amazing to look back and see how far we've come, and I can't wait to see where the future leads!

When we first started out together, we spent two months living in a tent, in the primitive area of a local campground, with no electricity or running water - and yet we had never been happier, because we had each other. We got an apartment together and furnished it mainly with things given to us and thrift store purchases. Over time, we made it our own and we enjoyed our little nest. We got married, we grew together; jobs and schedules came and went but our relationship was the anchor, the constant in an ever-changing world. Then we decided to go on the road for awhile, to pay off debts and save money for the house and lifestyle that we want in the future. And here we are, a year later, driving across the country and happy just being together.

I love you more today than yesterday. I love you with all my heart and everything in me. I love you for ever and for always, and always will. I love you.

Since Then...

Beautiful mountains in Utah

It's been a couple weeks now since we got the new truck, and we've been busy! We put over 6,000 miles on the truck in the first 8 days - Georgia to California to Massachusetts! We're getting to know the new truck's personality, its kinks and quirks and the way it works. It's a 2017, a model year newer than our old truck, and there's definitely a few differences in how it handles.

The reactions we get from people when they see the truck are priceless! Cars on the road sometimes honk and wave, and other truck drivers often do a double-take when they see it. We've had people come up and want to shake our hands, take pictures of the truck, and tell us about their own and family members' military experiences.

We've also been back to our CDL school, Truck Driving Institute, to say hi and show off the new truck. They did an article on us for their national website, too. It was great to go back to where it all started and encourage other people just starting out in the industry.

We are really enjoying driving the Coast Guard truck, and the doors it opens for talking to the people that we meet. If you see us going down the road, be sure to wave!

Politics

I know I've shared a lot of political stuff lately, and usually I try to stay away from politics (especially on social media!), but this is something I feel very strongly about. Since this is my blog, I will take a moment to tell you how I feel.

I'm all for having a female president, but the current democratic nominee is literally one of the worst things that could happen to our country right now. She and those who support her are proven criminals and liars. The blood of multiple Americans is on her hands now, and if she takes office, there will be many more American lives lost. By law, as a person guilty of federal crimes, she actually isn't even eligible to run for president...yet somehow, here she is. Of course, the path to getting there is strewn with staff members and associates who have mysteriously died or gone missing...and let's not even bring up her husband's presidential scandals.

Is the alternative option great? Not really...but he's a whole lot better than her. He is bigoted and sexist, sometimes petty, and has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. However, he doesn't owe anybody anything and hasn't been "bought" by anyone. He says what he feels, and he feels strongly about America. He still believes in the American dream, supports our military, and isn't afraid to be politically incorrect.

Here's the deal. There hasn't been a president elected who didn't belong to the major parties (Republican and Democrat) since the founding fathers. One of these people is going to become our next president, and no amount of burying our heads in the sand will change that.

#3 getting into the patriotic spirit!

Of course, the vote of the people isn't really that important anymore - the votes of the other people we have voted into various political offices is really what will make the decision. But we, as the American people, have the right and the responsibility to make ourselves heard, to voice our opinions and beliefs, and to rise up against evil and injustice in our country.

This year's election is a very difficult decision for some people. I ask that you take time to pray about what you should do, but please do not, under these circumstances, do nothing.

Happy Independence Day!

You, me, and #3

Happy Independence Day! Today we celebrate the birth of our nation and the freedoms that we enjoy in our great country. However, those freedoms are not free. They have been and continue to be purchased for us by the men and women who sacrifice of themselves, sometimes their very lives. To our service members and veterans, thank you...and may we never forget the price of our independence. 

Presenting Our Tribute Truck!

Our employers, US Xpress, are starting a new initiative toward hiring more veterans and service members. As a part of this program, they have commissioned six new trucks, wrapped in decals honoring branches of the military and our nation's independence. We are honored to announce that we were among those chosen to drive one of these trucks!

Our new truck, honoring the Coast Guard

They did a very nice job wrapping these trucks in decals, plus there's some new technology on the trucks.

Some of the other trucks

 We are honored to be a part of this program and excited to see where the future leads!

Our official picture!

Happy Father's Day!

Hubby and I, with our families

As thankful as I am for all the family that God has blessed us with, I am very thankful for our dads. My dad has been very influential in helping me become the person I am today. He is respected in his field of expertise and loved by his family, and he loves the Lord with all his heart. My father-in-law is also a strong man of God. He is a man of good character, one that my husband and I look up to and value his wisdom. We are very thankful for our fathers' involvement in our lives, both during our childhoods and now in our adult years. The blessing of a Godly dad cannot be overstated and is one of the great joys of our lives. Thank you, dads, for being there for your families!

Life Lately

G. W. Bridge, New York

Whew... Life has been crazy lately! It's been awhile since I posted here last, so I'll just give a quick rundown of some of our adventures. Let's see...

There was the load that we tried to deliver in the middle of a thunderstorm, only to be told that the facility was on a lightning lock down and couldn't unload us. We returned the next day and had to navigate a long gravel driveway under about a foot of water to get to the facility, which turned out to be a solar farm surrounded by cornfields!

There was the time we had to pass through New York City on Interstate 95, on the Friday before Memorial Day. Keep in mind, we never left the interstate, but it still took us about 5 hours to travel maybe 15 miles. I greatly detest stop-and-go traffic...

Downtown Boston 

There's been multiple runs between Columbus, OH and Boston, MA. We've come to know that route very, very well.

We both got sick again in the past week. Don caught a bad cold first and was unable to breathe for a few days. Then I caught it, and my body tried to flush it out, so I got to experience the joys of puking in a shopping bag while in a moving truck [again]. We're finally starting to recover now.

Camping with the kids

We recently took a small vacation and went camping. Don has kids from a previous marriage that live several states away, so we don't get to see them very often, but we made the drive out there and took them camping for a few days. It was a great time and we made some very good memories. We wish we could see them more often, but for now, we'll be thankful for the times we have.

Well, that about wraps things up for now. Hope y'all are doing well. Drive safe!

Happy Mother's Day!

My wonderful mothers

Today we celebrate and honor our mothers. In this I am doubly blessed - I have a wonderful mother that I was blessed with at birth and another wonderful mother I was blessed with at marriage! Both of these mothers are incredible blessings to my hubby and me. Let me tell you a little about these amazing ladies.

My lovely mama

My mama is probably the most cheerful person I've ever known. No matter the situation, even if she's feeling down or discouraged, she manages to find and focus on something positive. She makes being flexible and adapting to various situations look easy, and she stays calm even in the midst of crises. She is kind to everyone, and even the grocery store cashiers and post office clerks know her by her smile. She sets a good example for me and other young ladies to follow by modeling Godly womanhood.

I have so many good memories with my mother. As a child, she was my mommy and my teacher; as an adult, she is my confidante, mentor, and best friend. Relationships change as do peope, but I am so thankful that my relationship with my mama has stayed strong despite the miles between us!

My lovely mother-in-law

And yet, not only am I blessed to have a great relationship with my mama, but then the amazing man I married gave me another wonderful mother! My mother-in-law is kind and generous, another beautiful example of Godly womanhood. She has always been caring and sensitive to me and welcomed me into her family. The more I get to know her, the more I love her and thank God for her. She is a tireless prayer warrior, active in her church and community, and a model of God's love to everyone who knows her. I am so thankful for both of my wonderful mothers!

So today I want to honor both of my mothers, as well as the kind ladies that have befriended and mothered me along the way. I also want to honor several of my friends who have recently become mothers and are doing a wonderful job of raising their bundles of blessings. Happy Mother's Day, from my heart to yours!

The Latest Adventures

#3 falling asleep in the drivers seat

It's been a couple weeks since I posted last, and boy have we had some adventures! One thing you can say about trucking: it's pretty much never boring!

Let me back up. Our truck is a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia. All vehicles have their quirks, of course, but this truck has had a gremlin in it since we first got it. It was brand new at the time, with plastic on the seats and 7 miles on the odometer, but within the first week it did something a bit odd. While driving down the road, the dashboard suddenly went blank and all the gauges died. The truck continued to operate normally, but with no way of knowing its speed, fuel level, rpms, or anything else, we immediately pulled over and shut it down. A few minutes later we started it back up and everything ran normally.

It's done this a handful of times since then, always the same way. The gremlin also shows his ugly head periodically by cancelling our cruise control, telling us the brakes won't work for a few seconds, and randomly flashing varios warning lights on the dashboard. We've put the truck in our company shop a few times, but they cant seem to find anything wrong with it.

Fast forward to last week, when we were driving through Wyoming and the whole truck suddenly shut itself off. This time it wasn't just the gauges - the engine died too. Next thing I know, I'm coasting uphill and rapidly losing speed! I got the truck pulled over and safely stopped and turned the key off in the ignition. After a few moments' discussion, we turned it on again and the truck fired back up like normal.

We made our delivery in Chicago then put it in the company shop again. This time they took us seriously and put us in a hotel for the weekend (at no expense to us!) while they tried to figure out the problem. They were on the brink of giving us a different truck and taking ours to a nearby Freightliner dealership when they tried a new idea and seemed to have it fixed. We took our truck back out on the road, and it hasn't shut down the gauges or engine since then, but the gremlin is still there, regularly flashing dashboard lights at us. He's probably sticking out his tongue at the same time. We'll see what happens. If it shuts down on us again, I will be on the point of demanding a different truck. It's a scary thing!

Oregon was beautiful 

We've had some very scenic drives lately. The run from Seattle, Washington to Sacramento, California is one of the most beautiful drives we have taken in a long time! In the Midwest, trees are in bloom, and the South is full of vibrant spring greenery. I love seeing the colors of the seasons, and springtime fills me with such gladness and celebration of new life.

In other news, we recently were stopped in Indiana by an accident that screwed up traffic for several hours! We didn't see the accident, but we heard all about it on the CB radio. It seems that a flatbed truck swerved to miss another vehicle and jackknifed, flipping over and spilling his load everywhere. Afterwards, apparently the driver was so shaken that he was in shock and unable to climb down from the flipped truck. He sat on that truck until they finally brought out a boom crane and lifted him down! Once he was on the ground, a wrecker crew was able to flip his truck back over and clear the roadway.

Meanwhile, we were sitting in a rest area that happened to be right where we had stopped in traffic. While there, we struck up conversation with several other drivers also waiting out the traffic jam. Even some car drivers came to join us as we stood in the parking lot chatting about trucking, life, and everything under the sun. It's always interesting to hear other drivers' experiences and perspectives, and we can all learn something from each other. The time passed relatively pleasantly until the interstate was cleared and we were able to get back on the road.

Spring in Tennessee 

Talking to the other drivers and the car people made me think about the last 8 months of trucking. It has been challenging, at times frustrating, at other times discouraging; yet there have been new experiences we could never have gained any other way. We've been able to see most of the country, we've spent a lot of time together, and we've reconnected via phone calls with people that are important to us. It's been good for our relationship too, teaching us to communicate and work as a team. I'm certainly looking forward to when we come off the road and settle down, but this has certainly not been a waste of time. We're meeting our financial goals and improving our marriage at the same time, and for that I will always be grateful.

Drive safely, friend.

Easter

The Easter story, much like the Christmas story, can easily seem old and cliche. If you grew up in the church like me, you've heard it since childhood. Jesus was born, He lived, He died on a cross to save us, and three days later He rose from the dead.

But when you stop to think about the impact of those words...the story holds new meaning every time. Because all of that was done for me. His suffering, His excruciating death, the despair of His loved ones - that was for me. The triumph of His resurrection, the joy of knowing He is alive and victorious even over death - that was for me. The forgiveness accomplished by those acts is daily for me.

Today, take time to ponder on what the Easter story means to you.

Never Again, New York City

#3 in the drivers seat

A few days ago, we had the misfortune to be assigned a load to Brooklyn, New York. No, we've been through parts of New York before, and upstate New York is beautiful, but we've never had to drive in downtown New York City before. Not only was this delivery right smack dab in the middle of Brooklyn, it wasn't even delivering to one ofour typical locations - it was delivering to a hospital!

The trip went smoothly until we crossed from New Jersey into New York and headed for the city. We exited the interstate into Brooklyn and immediately knew we were in trouble!

The city streets are very narrow and lined with parked cars on each side, and some random cars stopped in the middle of the road as well. The traffic seems to think that following normal rules of the road is overrated, and generally has no respect for stop lights, road markings, or slow moving semis. Taxis and personal cars zipped around us without caring about little details like driving on the correct side of the road! The roads were certainly not built with large vehicles in mind, and it's nearly impossible to turn from one city street to another without taking the whole intersection. Several times we very nearly hit or scraped against parked cars, impatient taxis, and careless pedestrians.

When we finally arrived at the delivery location, we found it to be a small inner city hospital with one loading dock directly off the street. We had to block traffic in all directions and back up across the entire intersection, and our front end still hung out in the street even when we were fully backed to the dock. We were relieved to be there at last...until they told us that nobody was available to unload our trailer and asked us to come back in 4 hours. What?!

Downtown Brooklyn 

Of course we couldn't stay there, so we had to find somewhere to go park for a few hours. The nearest safe place to park was about half an hour away, but we didn't even get halfway there before we were stopped by a low bridge ahead that we wouldn't be able to clear under. We tried another route and ran into the same problem. We also got into road construction in an area that blocked off the road and left us a passage so narrow that our front corners were nearly touching the wall and our back tires were rubbing against it! We managed to back through an intersection and get turned around, and ended up pulling over on the side of the road and parking with the cars for a couple hours.

When we returned a few hours later, backing into the dock was even more difficult due to the increased traffic in the area. Don ended up helping the staff unload the trailer, and even with his help it took them about four hours to get us unloaded and reloaded. When we finally left, it was mid-morning in downtown Brooklyn and traffic was even more insane! The interstate was only about 3 miles away but it took us an hour and a half to get there through the narrow, crowded streets while dodging the hordes of rude, impatient drivers and pedestrians.

We finally got out of NYC and breathed a deep sigh of relief. We don't want to ever go back! It's bad enough driving through that city in a car, but navigating it in a semi was a nightmare!

Spring and Changing Seasons

Wow, has it really been a month since my last blog? I'm sorry for my absence, it's been a very busy time.

Recent hiking trip with my wonderful in-laws 

I'm happy to say that, at least back home in Indiana, spring has sprung. Fields are being prepared for crops, vibrantly green new grass blankets the roadsides, and the first of the wild daffodils are tentatively turning their pretty faces toward the sunlight. It's still chilly in the evenings, but the daytime weather has improved enough for relatively pleasant walks outdoors.

The changing of the seasons brings to mind the seasons of life. Our current season, living on the road, can sometimes be very frustrating and I have to remind myself that it is only a season, it's not permanent. This to shall pass and become a memory. Instead of focusing the things we aren't able to do right now, I try to remember the positive things. We won't always be able to spend this much time together or see the landscapes of our great country, and I would rather enjoy these things while I have them then waste my time wishing for the things I don't have right now.

Seasons change, but each has its beauty, its hardships, and its joys. I think back to when I was single and longing to find my soulmate, the one to share my life with. Looking back, though our beginning together was difficult and sometimes I wish the timing and circumstances had been different, I wouldn't trade the relationship we have for the world. To say that God's timing is always perfect sounds so cliche, but it's absolutely true.

This morning I sat in a restaurant booth and watched a group of ladies talking nearby and passing around a precious baby girl. My heart ached to be that new mother, sweetly kissing her newborn. It seems like nearly every time I access social media, someone else is pregnant or is posting photos of their little ones. My news feed is flooded with baby bumps, nursery decor, chubby cheeks, dimpled hands, and toothy smiles. Yet as much as I long for that season of life, I know it is not the right time yet. When the timing is right, that season will come for us as well. Until then, I will see the beauty of the season I'm in.

Camping with my sweetheart

There will be other seasons in life, and each has its share of joys and sorrows. In springtime, it's easy to become discontent wishing for land to plant a garden, room for baby animals to grow and thrive, and a place of our own to watch the wonders of spring come to life. While these dreams may be fulfilled in a different season, longing after them will only foster unhappiness with the season I'm in right now.

So, for now, I will focus on the positive and appreciate the beauty of our current season of life. Today's sunrise is different from yesterday's, and tonight's sunset will not be the same as tomorrow's. From Seattle to New York City, and from Miami to Sacramento, the view outside my bedroom window changes with the diversity of scenery in our beautiful country.

Happy spring!

Weather Woes

Cascade Mountains, Washington

Fraulein Maria may have included "snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes" in her list of favorite things, but they are certainly not on my list. In fact, I'm pretty much tired of snow in general!

It's been a few weeks since I last blogged...and boy, do we have some stories! It's been a crazy few weeks, with weather, mountains, new states, and new experiences.

Did you hear about the huge storm that slammed the East coast a couple weeks ago? Thankfully we weren't stuck in it, but we did get sent to Connecticut shortly afterwards. The interstates were clear, though local roads were still in bad condition.

Snowy trees in Wisconsin 

However, from there we went straight down to Richmond, Virginia...by way of New York and New Jersey! And of course, I made a wrong turn and ended up going right through the Bronx. Let me tell you, not a fun experience! We made it through that, but when we dropped south into Maryland, the road conditions changed drastically. Maryland was not prepared to handle the volume of snow they received, and they were still working to clear the interstates. There were plow trucks with no warnings and accidents caused by slick road surfaces, not to mention that the outside lanes kept disappearing under snow!

We finally got down to Virginia, and conditions improved slightly. When we got to our shipper location, however, they had no signs or markings on or around their building and we unintentionally passed it. Thinking to loop around the block and come back, I turned at the next intersection...only to find myself on a narrow, 2 lane country road lined with houses. After 5 miles, we finally found a local church and cemetery with a large snow-covered parking lot. It was nerve-wracking, but we got ourselves turned around and headed back in the right direction! We eventually got back to the shipper, but since we had been slowed down by the weather, it was 11pm and they had all gone home for the night! Sighs...

Recently, we were stuck in Wisconsin about 24 hours due to a cracked windshield. Another vehicle had thrown up a rock, and what started as a tiny chip grew rapidly in the frigid air until it nearly reached top to bottom on the driver's side. Of course, the local glass repair technicians were out of our model of windshield until the next day!

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington 

Last week, we were assigned a load from Columbus, OH to Seattle, WA. We ran into a few snowstorms on the way out there, and some slightly concerning mountain passes, but for the most part we were doing fine until we hit Snoqualmie Pass. Now, the Cascade Mountains receive one of the highest annual snowfalls in the world. The Snoqualmie Pass is far from being the steepest or narrowest pass we've ever driven, but it was under 6-8 feet of snow! The interstate literally wound between walls of snow on each side. A recent snowfall had left slush and ice on the road, making the pass especially nerve-wracking!

From Seattle, they sent us back to Michigan. We had to stop for about 12 hours in North Dakota due to high winds, the kind that threaten to knock a grown man off his feet. Another bad snowstorm hit us in northern Indiana, but after many several delays we finally made it to Detroit. That city is one of the few places we have traveled through while trucking where I have actually felt very uncomfortable. I was glad to leave that city and head back down to Ohio...only to be given another load, this time heading to Sacramento, CA! We've already stopped twice on this load due to snow and ice. We'll see how it goes.

Stay safe out there!

A Few Good Songs

Today is my birthday, and if you've followed me in the blog world before, you may know I have a tradition of posting some of my favorite music on my birthday. Enjoy! :)

Bluegrass Gospel







Contemporary Worship







Hymns

So Far 2016

Sunrise over Flagstaff, Arizona 

Well, we're a few weeks into the new year. Already several celebrities have died, the stock market has plummeted, several intense storms have hit the country, and we continue to discuss  (with no small amount of trepidation) who our next president may be. On a personal note, after spending a drill weekend outside in snow and subzero temperatures, I came down with a persistent cold.

Sheesh. Not a very cheerful January so far.

Good thing we know who is ultimately in control, right? 

I mean, c'mon - I've read the back of the book. Our side wins in the end! It may be awhile, and there may be some pain and difficult times in between, but in the end Jesus is victorious and heaven awaits. 

In the meantime...we are still rolling across the country, making money! Well actually at the moment we're parked in Chicago because our load got cancelled  (a pretty typical happenstance during this time of the year). That's quite ok though - it gives us time to relax, cook, and catch up on sleep that we have been sorely lacking. 

And, in other news, tomorrow is my birthday! If you have followed my blogging journey through the last several years, you know what that means. Check back for some of my favorite music!

Thankful to see her!

We were blessed to see both of our families recently! We took a load to California and got to see my parents. They kindly brought my favorite cake, gifts, and (as a very special surprise) my niece! I haven't seen her in years, but she is so precious to me and will always have a place in my heart. I can't believe how big she has gotten! 

We also saw Don's parents a few days ago. We happened to be passing through the area and had a fuel stop not far from their house, so they sweetly met us at the truck stop and had dinner with us. It's the first time they've seen the inside of our truck! I'm so blessed with my in-laws - they are such kind, loving, welcoming people and we enjoy spending time with them.

Well, my lovely readers, I am going to close for today with a prayer request. There is a lot going on right now that is causing me to feel very stressed out. Some situations are beyond our control, and there's so much on my mind and heart right now. Please keep us in prayer as we take it all one step at a time and seek God's will for each step. Thank you!

Happy New Year!

2016... Wow. Hard to believe 2015 is gone already!

Christmas Eve, Miami Zoo

2015 was a difficult year in some ways and yet we have been incredibly blessed through it all. It was our first full year of marriage, which has involved a lot of growing together. We began this trucking adventure, and while it has turned out to be harder than we thought, we are accomplishing our goals - I am thankful to say we got another debt paid off on New Year's Eve! We have been blessed to spend time with our family and some dear friends, and reconnect with others through technology.

Goals for the coming year: to continue growing together; to communicate more with each other, loved ones, and our Lord; and to pay off more debts and spend wisely with our future in mind.

A year ago, I began this blog with a resolution to be real. "So many people wear a mask, only showing what they want everyone else to see. I can't live like that. Not in my personal life and not in my personal faith."

#3 being her beautiful self

Let's continue to be real, with God and with each other. He would rather have our heartfelt love than our hypocritical lip-service. Let's love each other in the things we do and say, instead of pretending to care to cover up our selfishness.

Let's make 2016 a year we can look back on and know that we did our best to carry out Jesus' commandment to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. What that love looks like...let's let Him show us. Let Him guide us. If we are listening for that still small voice, He will tell us when and where and how to love.

May your new year be blessed!