Nothing is too small

Minnesota sunrise

Trucking...not your typical girlie girl job and certainly not one that most people thought they would ever see me doing. I am still very much a girlie girl even in my jeans and Georgia boots. Morning shower, hair fixed, make-up and yes that definitely includes lipstick, bling bling and cute clothes will always be a must for me. That's just who I am! The only thing I did have to give up were my "heel highs" as my niece says. Although, I did think seriously about putting some in the truck but then again decided that might not be such a good idea.

Many of the job sites we go to require us to wear hard hats, safety vests, jeans and boots. Well, I am sorry but the blue hard hat and orange safety vest I was having to wear just wasn't working for me....so.... I got me a hot pink hard hat and a hot pink safety vest. Oh yeah...I am stylin' now! Just because I am doing a man's job doesn't mean I can't look like a lady.

I am always getting asked if I enjoy what I am doing. YES, YES, YES!!! I LOVE IT! Making money while we travel and seeing new places plus being with the one I love 24/7.... what's not to love? Ok, I know the 24/7 would turn some people off immediately but we really enjoy it. I tell Carlos all the time that I wish he had a pocket to put me in. You know like a kangaroo pouch. That way he could just carry me with him where ever he goes. He just laughs and is probably thinking yeah right! And just for the record....I do work.

While I was on vacation, Carl was hauling windmill hubs from Pensacola, FL to Hardwick, MN. I am always fascinated when we see fields and fields full of windmills. So, I was so excited to join him and see all the work in progress. We have delivered hubs to job sites before but this was the first one where we could actually see the different stages. It was really amazing. It is astonishing how something so huge can look so much smaller when it is viewed from a distance.

Windmill hub

Windmill tube...takes 3 per windmill

Windmill blade

Look real close and you can see a man at the top of
the first tube

two down one more to go

windmill cell

blades connected to hub...hope next time I can see them being
connected to tower

Standing in the corn field looking at all those windmills, I started thinking about how awesome and amazing our LORD and Savior is. His power is so great but yet nothing we go to him about is too small. He doesn't love us from afar. He loves us up close and personal. He loves every tiny little detail of our lives and He wants us to come to Him no matter how small or how insignificant we may think the problem is. When I am trying to find a parking place I always pray for a spot close to the door. He may not always answer that prayer because sometimes I know He is saying "Now Lynne, you really need to walk and get some exercise!" We finally got a new refrigerator for the truck but 2 days later it quit working so I prayed and asked The LORD to please show us what the problem was. He did...a loose wire. NOTHING is too small for Him. If it is important to us, then it is important to our LORD. Just like those windmills that can appear smaller in the distance sometimes it may feel like God is distant from us. My dear friend keep your faith and trust in Him. He is always faithful and is always right by our side. Put your sights on the LORD and what He wants you to do not on what you want to do. If Christ seems distant don't turn away from Him turn and reach out to Him. If you want to see and feel His greatness get up and go to Him. The closer we got to those windmills the more substantial and powerful they got. Stay close to The LORD by praying, reading His Word and having an intimate relationship with Him and you will see just how powerful and mighty He is. And remember nothing...I mean nothing...is too small for Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior.

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Only By Grace!
   Lynne

Faith, Hope & Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

 But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

WOW!! It has been a while since my last post. Carl said this should be a short and easy post to write "I stayed home with my mommy and my daddy!" HaHa! He is so funny!

My sweet sweet daddy!

My silly playful mama!

I did stay home....for 4 1/2 weeks....and that still wasn't long enough for mama. She kept me hopping the whole time. She thought if I stayed busy I wouldn't miss Carl....yeah right! Every night when I would talk to him he would always ask "Well what does your mama have planned for you tomorrow?" And there was always something.

After being gone for 9 weeks our first stop....find Timothy!!! My how we missed that boy! I think he was missing us just as much because he called several times during the day wanting to know where we were. He was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his mama and daddy. That was the best looking face we had seen and the happiest laugh we had heard in 9 weeks.

Birthday parties, family time, football games, shopping with family, yard work, DIY projects, lunch with friends, Church, Prayer group, more shopping, family time, talks with Timothy, soccer games, Church, sitting on the front porch talking to Timothy and more family time....yes, it was a busy busy 4 1/2 weeks but I loved every sweet precious minute of it.

It was a joyous time but was also a difficult one. While at home we had to say goodbye to our baby girl Cheyenne. What an enjoyable 10 years we had with her. We called her our tornado dog. In 2002 our community was hit with a devastating tornado. The day after it hit we went outside and saw a new face with big brown eyes looking at us. Ginger and Spice had them a new sister. I don't think they were ever real happy about the new addition. But I sure did love her and will miss her!

 Before Carl and I started our trucking adventures together we prayed that if we were doing the right thing that God would open doors and clear the path for our new adventure together. I prayed very specifically for things to happen but only if it was God's will. Not only did He answer the prayers I prayed but He also went beyond that and met needs that we had not even prayed about. It was like a neon sign flashing.  Three months later our adventures began only to have them come crashing down 1 month later. I shared with you about the storm we went through and that I never asked God "Why us?" But I did let Satan get in my head. I began to question if we had done the right thing.  "Would it have happened if I hadn't been with Carl?" "He might have been in a different place maybe even at home." I knew in my heart that God had answered our prayers and had opened the doors for us, but I was letting Satan do just what he loves to do...get in my head and make me doubt. Well, we came through that storm stronger than ever...in our faith, our trust in God and our love and commitment to each other. This past week I had a real eye opener. As I was studying my Sunday School lesson Dr. David Jeremiah stated that opposition can actually be a sign that you heard God correctly and that Satan is doing all he can to discourage you and cause you to turn around. I would have missed out on so many blessings and adventures and moments with God if I had listened to Satan and turned around. The LORD opened that door for us and only HE can close it! What a blessing each and every adventure has been! One year of work, play and adventures down...and oh, so many more to go!

Well, my vacation has come to an end and it is time for me to join my sweet loving husband for our next adventure...can't wait to see what The LORD has in store for us this year!



"The LORD is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

Yes, mother I agree 8-9 weeks is too long to be gone and our prayer is that our trips will become shorter. But the LORD knows what needs have to be met and the time that is needed to meet each one. So be patient!

Til we meet again!

Only By Grace!
     Lynne