Howdy folks! It's been quite a few weeks since my last post so let's see if I can get you up to date with what's been going on in the truckin' duo world.
First let me update you on how Timothy is doing. He loves trucking and has already enjoyed seeing some of God's amazing country. He was faced with a few challenges his first couple of weeks on his own but he handled them great. Just like his mama and daddy he loves the west and just like his mama...he loves to talk on the phone (which I am so excited about). During one of our many phone conversations he said, "I think I am going to move out here to Washington. It's so pretty." "Oh no you're not! You can go visit anytime you want but moving is out of the question!" When I told Carl what he said he just laughed "He'll change his mind once it turns cold." Then it happened..."Mama, I woke up freezing this morning. I had to get up and turn my heater on and now they're talking about snow. I've got to get a load and get out of here!" Just like his mama and daddy...he does not like the cold. "Ahhh, yes...Lord I love your timing!"
Now...on to us. We said goodbye to the east and headed south to Louisiana and then up to Oregon. Since we were in Oregon and Toot was in Washington, we were hoping to meet up with one another but we just couldn't get it to work out. So close but yet so far away!
I am always excited when we get a load that takes us on a different route and to remote places. I just love the changes in scenery and the places people live. This trip we were able to see the salt flats in Utah. I've never really thought that much about salt and where it comes from other than the fact that I love it on my food and I buy it in the store. Now, I sound like my little kindergarten kids..."Where does corn come from?" "The store." Where does our meat come from?" "Winn Dixie." They bought it at the store so that's where it comes from. Well, I buy salt at the store so that's where it comes from.
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| Beautiful! Loved how the crystals sparkled in the sun. |
As you can tell by my expression, it was not what I was expecting. I had in my mind that it would taste like the salt from the ocean. Oh my, what a surprise! It was much saltier. Carl said it tasted just like salt out of a salt box but I think it was saltier.
Even Spice enjoyed the view.
Carlos checking out the salt crystals.
Mama, this one's for you!
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| Got Salt! |
As we were riding and looking at the beauty of the salt flats, I was reminded of the verse about being the salt of the earth.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." Matthew 5:13.
Just as salt adds flavor and makes a difference in the way our food tastes, we as Christians should add flavor and make a difference in this world. When people look at us they should see Christ. Our love...our works...our behavior and attitude towards people and situations in our life should reflect Christ. If we are not being obedient to Christ and our life is not reflecting His love, then we are just like salt that has lost its saltiness. We are useless! Being a Christian is so much more than just believing Christ is the Son of God...that He died for us and rose again and that He is our Lord and Savior. A Christian believes all that PLUS lives for Christ...works for Christ...loves like Christ...and is obedient to Christ.
Luke 14:34-35 says, "Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!" What good is a Christian who doesn't live as a Christian? As Christians we should not just blend into the world, we should stand out and make a difference. We should stimulate in others the thirst for Christ just as salt stimulates the thirst in us.
As we were riding and looking at the salt flats, Carl said, "Look how the salt crystals shine and sparkle in the sunlight." That should be us...we as Christians should sparkle. Shine. Stand out. Make a difference.
Are you a salty Christian shining with Christ's love or have you lost your saltiness and sparkle?
And now for the rest of our trip. There is only one road that leads to Fields. When we turned on the road the first thing we saw was a sign that said...Next gas 179 miles. Yep, better make sure you have a good car and plenty of gas when traveling this road. We even saw one man carrying an extra gas can with him on his motorcycle. Guess he's traveled this road once or twice. Hmmm, wonder if he learned from experience.
About 22 miles before we got to Fields was a little town called Denio, NV. Let me just say that calling it a town is a bit of a stretch. It is a census-designated place with a population of about 47. It has a post office, a hotel with a restaurant and The Diamond Inn Bar; where all the action takes place.
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| Diamond Inn Bar |
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| Post Office |
When we got to Denio it was already dark and hauling a wide load in the dark is a big no-no. So as soon as we came to a wide pull off in the road we stopped. We didn't realize we were across the road from the happening place in Denio, the Diamond Inn Bar or we might have gone over and shaken a leg or two.
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| Our home for the night. |
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| Our view when we woke up the next morning. |
When Carl called to get directions to the delivery spot, we were told to stop at Fields Station. "When you get to Fields there will be a station on your right. You can't miss it. Make sure you don't go pass it because the road turns into a dirt road and gets very narrow and curvy. There won't be any way for you to turn around." At the time we had noooo idea that Fields Station was the only and I mean the only thing in Fields. So we really weren't sure what we would be getting into. We thought they were going to meet us and lead us to the job sight...oh no...they unloaded us right there in the parking lot of Fields Station. They had to unload the building off of our trailer and put it on one of theirs and they were going to haul it to the job sight using a dump truck. The guys told us it would take them 3 1/2 hours to get to the job sight and it was only 21 miles away. The job sight was at the top of the mountain and the road was a dirt, rocky, curvy road that was more like a path than a road. They had to take a bulldozer to widen it and then use the bulldozer to pull the truck up to the top because the incline was so steep. All I can say is thank goodness for Fields Station.
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| Fields Station was a happening little place...seriously! It was a grocery store, a gas station, a liquor store, a café and a motel. If you're ever in Fields, OR check them out. Carl said, "That's the only thing to check out!" |
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| Moving the Verizon building from our trailer to theirs. |
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| They had to put weights from the crane in the back of the dump truck to keep it from popping a wheelie. |
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| Taking care of business in the drive of Fields Station |
I know one thing if you live in Fields or Denio you certainly don't run to town every night to pick up groceries for supper. I asked the young couple that owned Fields Station if they have a lot of visitors and much to my surprise they said yes. "What do people come here to do?" "Hunting, bird watching, hiking, and to go to the hot springs. We actually have several things to do." Well, now I know...never judge a town by its what appears to be "nothingness." I do know one thing, when Verizon gets finished with the new tower they will have better service out in the middle of nowhere than we get in the middle of somewhere. "Can you hear me now? What about now? Can you hear me now?" That little man needs to make his way to south GA!!!!
It took 4 1/2 weeks but we were finally able to meet up with Toot. I was one excited mama. I even got to ride with him for a couple of days. Oh yeah baby...my excitement was through the roof!
We are now off to our next adventure...Connecticut...with a wide load. We're so excited and we just can't hide it. We're about to lose control and we think we like it. NOT!!!
Til we meet again!
Only by Grace!
Lynne
