Tunes For My Heart

It has been my tradition, as long as I've been blogging, to share some of my favorite music on my birthday. I am so very blessed!

How He Loves Us - Jesus Culture

How Deep the Father's Love - Selah

In Christ Alone - David Arkenstone 

I Come to the Garden Alone - Joey and Rory

Where the Soul Never Dies - Oakridge Boys feat Gaithers

From the Valley - Civil Wars

New Year, New Projects

Photo not mine

Happy 2017! My goodness, where did the past year go? Time seems to drag by slowly day by day, until you reach a place of looking back at the past - and then you wonder where it all went.

New Year's resolutions are a part of our culture, and yet it is as stereotypical to break them as it is to make them. It's a standing joke in our culture that gyms are busiest during the first 2 weeks of the year! However, if I'm going to make resolutions, I want to make ones that are challenging yet attainable. They should cause personal growth without being immediately discouraging.

With that in mind, my resolutions for this year go hand in hand, feeding each other along the way. They are:

1. To be content,
2. To be thankful.

The first, contentment, is something I struggle with, especially in our current season of life. There are many goals and dreams that I have personally and that we have as a family, and it's easy for me to become so focused on those future goals that I become discontent with my situation right now. At the same time, if I don't keep the future goals within sight, it's also so easy to become discouraged and overwhelmed by the frustrations of the here and now, and forget why we're doing what we're doing now. There must be a balance, as with everything else in life. I know that, if I am not content with where I am now, then I will not be content when I am blessed with more of what I hope to gain in the future.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13 NKJV

The second goal is to be thankful, which ties together well with contentment. The more thankful I am, the easier it will be to be content; and the more content I am, the easier it will be to be thankful! I saw an excellent idea online and decided to try it, so this year I have made a Blessing Jar. It's a simple mason jar with a stack of scratch paper beside it, and throughout the year we will write down blessings and drop them into the jar. At the end of the year, we will be able to look back, remember, and give thanks for those blessings all over again!

...but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ... Ephesians 5:18b-20

Current condition of the bathroom

As we walk through the coming year, in contentment and thankfulness, there is much to look forward to! I can't wait to see what the Good Lord has planned for 2017. In the meantime, we are enjoying having a house of our own to go home too! We have also begun working on larger projects in the house - namely, the guest bathroom. In a few hours' time, we had taken everything out of the bathroom and knocked out most of the walls! It is now down to studs and base flooring, and awaiting being put back together. We got some good deals and have been planning it all out, and I'm really excited to see how it will all come together.

I'm very blessed to have a very handy hubby! Drywall, electrical work, plumbing, mechanics - you name it, he can do it or teach himself how. He enjoys working on projects and I enjoy helping him, and it's great being able to do all the work ourselves instead of paying someone to remodel our home.

We are also blessed to be living much closer to my wonderful in-laws now, and it's a joy to see them regularly these days. We had a big family get-together over New Years, which was crazy and chaotic and beautiful. Growing up as an only child, I remember hoping that my someday husband would have a large, close-knit family, and while of course no family is ever perfect, it blesses my heart to finally have an extended family and be able to spend time with them.

There is much to be thankful for, and I pray we never lose sight of the many blessings surrounding us. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

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!