Plans, plans, plans

Oh my! I can't believe it has been 4 months since my last blog post. In case you're wondering, no I have not been on vacation all this time...well, physically I haven't been but mentally I probably have.  I've just had a bit of blogger's block and haven't really been motivated to write one. I've thought about it but just couldn't seem to get myself to drag out the computer, which by the way, is on the floor right beside me. I'm ashamed to even admit that! It takes a LONG time and a LOT of THOUGHT for me to do a blog. I just really haven't wanted to do a lot of thinking or any thinking for that matter! BUT... at the requests of my mother...I am putting my brain back to work.

Where and what have the Truckin Duo been up to the last 4 months?! We have been busy, busy, busy! East to west...west to east...east to west...pretty much the same route each time. Maybe that's why my brain quit working!

One exciting load that we did was an ULA load (United Launch Alliance). Well, we thought it was going to be exciting. When we got the load we were told that it was  15'11" wide, 9' high and 38' long and was called a PLF fairing. Yep, there went Los' excitement! "What the heck is a PLF fairing?" All Carlos knew was that it had something to do with NASA. So I quickly texted a friend to get some info. "Oh my, Los it's the cone nose on top of some of the unmanned rockets to protect the vehicle through launch. Once it's out of the earth's atmosphere, it separates from the rocket usually in two pieces. How cool is that!" I couldn't wait to get to Harlingen, TX to see it.

 

                                  What I thought I was going to see once we got to Harlingen.

                        

Well, shoot fire...that doesn't look anything like the picture she sent me. AND...there went my excitement! Oh, for the record, we only had half the fairing and another driver had the other half. We had to carry that enormous box all the way to Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. We had three escorts and the other driver also had three; plus we had hired security each night we stopped. Can you say "feeling special?" We were only allowed to do 300-350 miles per day (we usually do 500-600) and could only travel 55mph. With all the detours and no weekend travel it took us 14 days to get to Vandenburg and 14 days before Carlos could breath again. What started out as an exciting, interesting load turned into one huge migraine headache. There will be a lot of thought and prayer before we do another one of those loads.

If you would like more information on ULA and to watch a  live launch you can go to this website  http://www.ulalaunch.com/. They also have a facebook page that you can follow https://www.facebook.com/ulalaunch.

After we unloaded at Vandenburg Air Force Base we were able to relax and really enjoy the beauty all around us. Which is something we should do all the time and then maybe we wouldn't get so stressed out.

                                                               Grapes, grapes and more grapes

                                            

                                                                Beautiful scenery in central California

                                            Finally able to relax. Love seeing that smile!

                                  

Yeah, not so sure I would want to live at the top of the hill like that! With my crazy self I'd open the front door...trip...fall...and roll all the way down that hill!

                                   Enjoying God's little creatures while waiting to get loaded.

California is putting in a lot of solar plants so we've been hauling Power Skids to the job sites.  One of the largest solar photovoltaic farms is in Desert Center, CA. The facility will provide enough power to more than 160,000 California homes annually. 

                                                              Solar Plant in Desert Center, CA

                                                     before the solar panels have been installed

                                                   After the solar panels have been installed.
                              The building in the background is what we have been hauling.

                                                   This my friends is Desert Center, CA.
                                                          This is one side of the street.

                                                   And this is the other side of the street.

                              This...well I have no idea what this is or was but it's on the same 

                               side of the street as the caboose. And that concludes the sites 

                                      of Desert Center, CA. I hope you enjoyed the tour.

We have also hauled a couple of Verizon buildings/communications buildings or if you remember Connecticut made us call it a vault. If you haven't read that post and would like to read about our trailer falling from the sky, just click on this link.http://adventuresofthetruckinduo.blogspot.com/search/label/Connecticut. The first one we took was to Sturgis, KY which was almost as thrilling as the Connecticut load. Once again traveling down a tiny little pig tail road...then up a narrow, wet, slippery, rocky road that lead up to the unloading pad. Oh, I forgot to mention that if we had gotten off the gravel we would have been in a fine mess...both sides of that tiny so-called road was thick, mushy clay and we would have been...stuck. Carl already had to kick in the 4-wheel drive to get across all those slippery rocks. We would have needed a tow truck to get through that clay. Once again I was holding my breath. We made it and all was good...until! "Los, how are we going to get out of here?" "I'm not real sure. I haven't figured that out yet." Here we go again! "Hmmm, don't you think you need to be figuring it out! Well, we are not letting them pick up this trailer! We are not doing that again! I'm serious, now. Why can't we just back down the road" "Because there isn't enough room for us to turn around without getting off the gravel." I know what all of you are thinking and yes...yes, we did! They picked up our trailer and turned it around but this time we did it a lot different from the first time. I still held my breath and I still did a lot of praying. The Lord is probably thinking, "Girl, you have really got to quit holding your breath so much. One of these days you are going to pass out. Relax! Trust me! I've got this!"  I told the little Verizon man that was walking around that if I'd had my way we wouldn't even be up on that hill. I mean really, do these people think we're hauling these big ole buildings behind a little bitty pick up truck. Sometimes I wonder what they are thinking!

                                          Our little pig tail road leading up to the job site.

                                              It kept getting narrower and narrower.

                                                    Carlos going to check things out.
                                          I REALLY REALLY should have gone with him.

                                                               And here we go!

                                                                      Up it goes!

                                                   I hope what goes up, gently comes down.

   It was hard as all get out to walk on those rocks. They were so big and slippery. We kept waiting for one of us to fall down or twist an ankle...oh wait, Carlos did slip and fall. I so hate I missed it! 

                                            Too bad the crane driver was all eyes!                                                          

                                                                 Here we go again!

 

                                Happy happy happy! Gently went up and gently came down!

                                        All turned around and ready for our next adventure.

As many of you know, we absolutely hate to tarp. I usually feel like I have just completed a triathlon. No, I've never competed in a triathlon and I don't plan on it. All I know is that every bone...every muscle...every vein...every hair...every inch of my body is tired, sore and aches when we finish a tarp job. Oh, and did I mention...DIRT! Dirt and grease from my head to my toes. I really really do not like to get dirty. My family used to call me the Queen Bee; well, Queen Bee's are not supposed to get dirty...are they? And no I'm not being a little wimpy tail; Carlos feels the same way because we usually shower, eat and go to bed once we are done. Even though we despise tarping we always make the best of it and some how laugh our way through it. Just like everything else in life you have the good and then...you have the BAD.

                                              FYI this is what I look like after a tarp job. 

                                        I swear sometimes I think I get nastier than Carlos.

We plan, plan, plan! Plans for doctor appointments, vacations, visits with friends, shopping; we have to plan for just about everything in our life. Plans are great otherwise our lives would be a chaotic mess and as long as those plans fall easily into place, we're happy as a lark. The problem with planning is that we want it our way on our time and when those plans are altered or do not go the way we want..look out... frustration, aggravation, sadness, madness, disappointment and irritation are just a few of the emotions that take over. Carl is really good about just going with the flow and taking things in stride.  I don't know about you but I can become a real sour puss. Being in the trucking business our plans are always changing which is usually fine until...it's time to go home or our truck breaks down. Recently I let that frustration get the best of me. 

At the end of February, we had to put our truck in the shop for some much needed work. Well, one problem turned into two problems into three into four, five, six...you get the picture. After four weeks and a small fortune we finally had LC back. We were good to go, shouldn't have any more problems. I mean we practically had a new truck. Finally back on the road, trucking up. We had it all planned out. Work, work work until June 25. On the 25th, we wanted to be home packing and getting ready for our week long vacation with family at the lake. Everything was going smoothly just like we wanted. We had load after load after load...busy, busy. Two weeks before the 25th we picked up a Verizon building in Louisiana and headed to Columbiana, OH. That should be a clue right there...Verizon...there is going to be a problem! We had plenty of time to get there, unload, get a load headed south and be home by

 June 25. Sounds like a plan to me.

We make all these plans but our plans are not always God's plans. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. No, God doesn't promise us a life filled with a bed of roses...a life without problems...without frustrations and disappointments, but what He does promise us is that He is always here for us. He has not forgotten us. He loves us. He has a plan. He knows our future. He wants us to trust him...have faith and praise him during the good times and the BAD. It's easy to trust when things are running smoothly and going just as planned. The real faith comes when a plan has turned topsy turvy and we seek him for peace, comfort, reassurance and guidance. My life (and Carl's life) would be so less...aarrrrgggghhh if I would just do this more often.  I tend to get all frustrated and stressed before praying and turning to God. It should so be the other way around...pray first...no frustration! What in the world is so hard about that? 

 As I mentioned earlier, we had a plan to be home June 25th. We made it home about 10:30 p.m. a little later than we wanted but we made it on the 25th. Great, everything went just as planned...wrong! We took the Verizon building to Columbiana, OH with no problems but...yeah here comes the but! Once again Carlos had to kick in the 4-wheel drive to get across all the thick rocks and up the hill and that's when we heard it...pop, pop, pop. With eyes as big as an owls and fear in my voice, "WHAT was that?" "I have no idea! I think something just broke!" Every time Carlos would take off...pop, pop, pop. Ok, this was not in the plan! We finally made it up to the pad, got unloaded, back down and checked things out. Los crawled under the truck but couldn't find anything wrong...nothing was broken. New plan, head home with no load so we could put LC in the shop. Columbus, OH is NOT home! The popping continued to get louder and louder every time we took off. There was no way we could make it home so in the shop LC went...for THREE days...that was SOOOO not the plan. My frustration level went straight through the roof. We just spent a small fortune on LC in February and 4 months later we are spending another small fortune which included part of our vacation money...once again SOOOOO not part of the plan. I kept trying to focus on the positives like...thank goodness we missed out on the load going to Washington State. We could be stuck in the middle of no where dealing with this or it's a good thing it happened before going on vacation and not after...when all our money was spent or at least we had enough money to get it fixed and didn't have to borrow any. If I had prayed and thanked God for the positives of the unplanned circumstances, I would have had the peace that I needed.  But no, I was ill...thoroughly disgusted...highly aggravated...just put out and then there's Carl the complete opposite...calm...smiling...having fun aggravating me...resting nicely in the hotel room...yep, he had peace. Yes, he did get frustrated but the difference between us was that he didn't let it take control...unlike me. He would quickly turn his attitude of aggravation to an attitude of happiness.  This my friends is something that I really struggle with but also something that I am working on. "They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD." Psalm 112:7. My prayer is that when plans do not go as expected that I immediately pray for peace, comfort and reassurance. 

"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." 1 Corinthians 14:33.

Pray first. Pray first. Pray first

 

                                       Unloading another Verizon building in OH.

After being on the road for what seems like forever and spending 3 days and a small fortune in Ohio with our truck in the shop, it was time to head home for some much needed R&R. Our glory load of all things would be a jet engine that had to be...TARPED! But that's ok, if it's gonna take me home I'll tarp 20 jet engines.

 

                                    It might be smaller but we were still just as tired and sore.

                                 Our escort leading us out on the tarmac at the Atlanta Airport.

                                        Ready to unload that jet engine so we can go HOME!

                              I told Carlos it was too bad we couldn't load LC up on that plane 

                                                           and let it fly us home.

                                                     Now that is the best sight ever!

Those are just a few of the exciting/stressful/adventurous loads that we've done since April. Hopefully my blogger's block has been unblocked and it won't be 4 months until my next post.

     

Til we meet again!

Only by His Grace!

     Lynne                                                                                   

Remembering Our Spice Girl

This is a very difficult post to write but one that I want to share with all of you. There will be many tears shed during this writing so just bear with me.



As many of you know, in January 2013, we went from being the truckin' duo to the truckin' trio. Our sweet little Spice girl joined our trucking team. She loved to ride...in cars. This was a first for her and we weren't real sure how she would like it. It took her a little while to adjust but she quickly began enjoying the trips as much Carl and I. She was always the happiest little girl so it really didn't matter where or what she was doing as long as she was doing it with us. Spice girl was a south GA baby but she sure did love the snow. Carlos and I would get so tickled at her prissing and prancing around in that cold, wet white stuff.  She went from playing in the snow to trying to get a little taste of the salt from the salt flats in Bonneville, UT... to trying to jump in the water at the Jersey shore... and to hiking in the mountains of Northern CA while daddy worked on the truck and my oh my how that little girl loved to go for walks with me around the truck stop parking lots. She met friends from the east coast to the west coast. She quickly became a truckin' baby and loved it but when it started getting dark she was ready to stop. Her work day was over and she would aggravate the mess out of us until we stopped. Her philosophy was...work and ride during the day...stop, rest and sleep as soon as the sun started going down.

She always sat right here waiting and watching for us to return...even if it took 2 hours.

Playing in the snow. Not sure what she called herself doing but she
had nose all buried down in it.

I just love this picture of her running in the snow!

Checking out the salt flats in Utah.

This is what she would do when she was ready to stop.

Spice girl had the sweetest little face and a tail that was always...always wagging! She wasn't a lap baby but she was definitely a foot baby. She loved to be right under our feet. If I took 500 steps a day, she took 500 steps a day. If Carl took 500 steps a day, she did too.  If our feet hit the floor, hers did too. I believe she slept with one eye closed and one eye open. That way she could move if we moved. She loved to run and play outside and there was something about pine cones. She loved to run by and just reach down and grab one in her mouth. It seems like she was always carrying around a pine cone. How in the world her mouth didn't stay cut up and sore I'll never know. She also loved to go for daily rides when we were home and even if it just meant going around the block that's what we would do. She would get so excited when she saw us grab our keys and some how or another she could always tell if if was a trip that she could go on or not...without us even saying a word. She would start hopping, jumping, bouncing, walking sideways and turning every which way in pure excitement. The best part of the ride was when the window was down so she could feel the wind blowing in her face. If the wind was blowing while we were taking a walk, you might as well hang it up...she was not going to get in a hurry. Feeling the wind in her face was a glorious thing to her. She was always concerned about where Carl and I were. She liked for both of us to be in her sight at all times. Oh my goodness, if I had to get out of the truck for some reason she would worry herself to death looking for me. It didn't matter if we were home or in the truck she wanted us all together at all times. And if Timothy was home during the same time we were...that little girl had her paws full...keeping up with 3 people was a job...but she did it.

Enjoying the nice weather while waiting on me to finish up in the shop.

Enjoying the wind in her face.

She and I stayed home from Thanksgiving to the first of the year to enjoy all the family activities that we have during the holidays. On Wednesday, January 1 we packed up all our stuff and hit the road for Minden, LA. It was time to go trucking again. When we left home, she was feeling good...wagging her tail, following our every move, eating, drinking and prancing her little self around...and then...in the blink of an eye it all changed. Wednesday night she began having trouble walking...she would not eat or drink, began throwing up and became very lethargic. We made it to Minden during the early morning hours on Thursday and quickly found a vet. Our world as we had known it came crashing down. Our sweet little Spice girl was very sick...suffering from renal failure. When I asked the vet what we needed to do...now, I am expecting her to give us some meds and all would be good again. Oh no...she recommended that we tell her goodbye. "WHAT? She was fine yesterday and now you're telling me I need to say goodbye!" I just looked at Carl..."We can't leave her here! I'm NOT leaving her here!" Quickly, Carl left the room and called my parents and told them what was going on...without hesitation they jumped in their motor home and made the 10 hour trip (one way) to bring me and Spicy home. Spice was given something to help with her nausea and some sub Q fluids Thursday and again Friday morning. This was to help ease her discomfort for the ride home. When we left Carlos, he didn't think he would ever see his little "Cooter dog" again.

Before I go on, I just have to say that I have the best parents...EVER! No matter what the situation or the circumstance they never hesitate to be there when one of their girls needs them...even if they have to drive across country to get them. This by the way is the second time they have made a lengthy trip for me. The first was a 12 hour trip and then this 10 hour trip; one way both times. Love, love, love them!

As I said, Spice girl was a sick, sick baby. We headed home Friday morning and on Saturday morning we had an appointment with our vet. A visit I was not excited about but then...things began to change. On the way home I began to see a little glimmer of hope and improvement in our baby. She wanted to eat and she wanted chicken. Mama and Daddy had some boiled chicken in the frig for their little baby but I'm sorry to say...my little baby got that boiled chicken! She also had her own piece of grilled chicken from Wendy's. She was gobbling that stuff up faster than I could give it to her. She began drinking water and her walking began to improve. She was still a little wobbly and slow but when we stopped for restroom breaks you would have thought we were stopping for a little stroll in the woods. During the stops on the way home I never did put her leash on because she was moving slowly and was always right by my side...but Friday night...I had to threaten to put the thing on that little girl. She started having a little pep in her step and I was having a hard time keeping up with her. Daddy and I got so tickled at her walking off from me. I just knew in my heart that this was not the end.

We made it home late Friday night and off to the vet we went Saturday morning...for a second opinion and to see what could be done...NOT to say goodbye. I have to give a huge shout out to Spice's doctors because they are the BEST. Dr. Kidd agreed with the test results from the Louisiana vet but she recommended that Spice stay in the hospital for a couple of days and get some heavy doses of fluids. That my friends is exactly what we did. I went home and got her special pillow, her treats and some CHICKEN to help her stay be a little more comfortable.

Talking about lonely...oh my goodness...I was sooooo lonely those 4 1/2 days. I picked her up on Wednesday morning and brought my baby home. I must say, when I brought her home I just knew that I would be bringing my old Spice girl back home...but...I didn't. She was better but not the way I was hoping. Her walking was still slow and wobbly and now she decided she DID NOT like chicken. Let the fun begin. That little girl started getting her own special cooked foods...hamburgers, hot dogs, roast, Hamburger Helper...but not just any hamburger helper...it had to be the Three cheese lasagna Hamburger Helper and cube steak...which by the way...she didn't like at all. She quickly turned her nose up and walked away. I know...some of you are probably thinking I can't believe she is letting her eat table foods. We didn't up until now. She wouldn't eat any dog food, can or dry and she had lost so much weight that I was going to do whatever it took to get some weight on her. That was the most important thing...weight... not how she got it but that she got it.

We went back to the doctor on Monday to check her blood work again. Her numbers were still high and Dr. Kidd recommended that I start giving her sub Q fluids at home. Well of course I would. I could see so much improvement in her since that awful night on January 1st. Her tail was wagging again and she looked and acted happy. There was no way I was going to let her start going back down hill or even say goodbye when she had pep back in her step. So the fluid giving began 500ml twice a day for 3 weeks. We gradually moved up to 1500ml 3 times a week for about 5 weeks and then the last 2 weeks she was getting 2000ml every other day. The fluid is given under the skin and is absorbed into the blood stream to help with dehydration and to help flush the toxins through the kidneys. Oh, and it is not painful.We had the large bags, needles and iv tubes and for 10 weeks I was a pet nurse and would do it again if I needed to.  Just like us though she didn't like seeing that bag, tube or needle coming her way. It usually took her a few minutes before she would lay down on her pillow but once she did she was a perfect little patient. She laid still and waited patiently for it to be over. Again, some of you are probably thinking "That is just crazy!" "Lynne, why would you do that?" "Just go ahead and say goodbye all you are doing is prolonging her life!" My answer to that is...YES, it did prolong her life but she lived those last ten weeks abundantly and full of joy. She was just like her old self again. When we are sick, don't we take any measure possible to help us get well or to at least feel better? Then why shouldn't Carl and I offer that same advantage to our baby girl. We could and we did!

Now, back to the eating. Talking about a challenge...now that was a challenge! I said she reminded me of my niece...one day she likes it and the next day "I not wike it!" Thank goodness Carl was able to come home during some of this time. He was home for several weeks and between the two of us someone was always in the kitchen eating...which meant Spice girl was in the kitchen snacking and trying new things. Nilla wafers, town house crackers, chips, pound cake, the crust from an egg custard pie, bread...but only the crust, steak, pork chops, sausage...not the meat just the skin, spaghetti and Vienna sausages and vegetable soup...of all things can you believe she liked the vegetable soup...vegetables, meat, juice and all. CRAZY, CRAZY little girl. Oh, and get this, one night she ate french fries and tater tots but wouldn't eat them the next night and then Carl remembered...salt. He forgot to put the salt on them...she wanted her food seasoned...she didn't want that old bland mess and she didn't want leftovers or want it cold. It had to be freshly cooked and she wanted to make sure we could and would eat it also. Can you say "SPOILED!" But that's ok because she was eating and she was gaining weight. Each trip to the vet received a positive report. They always asked about her eating and got tickled at the eating stories I had each time. The vets told me that as long as I was willing to keep trekking along so were they. They wouldn't stop until I told them to. One of the vets told me that we had ourselves our own homemade remedy for dialysis with the fluids. I said as long as it worked I would keep doing it but the day it quit working is the day I would stop.

She had her a little smorgasbord almost every night.

Loving her some vegetable soup!

This was her Valentine's Day meal! The steak was a huge hit!

Loving her Valentine's Supper!

On March 15 that day came. It was a day that I hoped would never come but knew it would. I won't go into any details because I want to remember her the way she was and I want you to have the picture of her tail wagging, her sweet, big brown eyes and her little ears all perked up...not the way she was the last day and a half. The vets always told us that we would know when it was time. And on a cloudy bittersweet Sunday morning of March 16, 2014 we said goodbye to a sweet reddish blonde, brown eyed, fluffy tailed Springer Spaniel named Spice who had blessed mine, Carl and Timothy's lives for 16 wonderful years. She was a loving, devoted, loyal, friendly, prissy and even sometimes a bit hardheaded companion. We always told Timothy he had a sister and her name was Spice. 

Isn't that the sweetest little face!

During those ten weeks, we prayed for Spice and we had friends and family that were praying for her. I believe that I will one day see my Spice girl again. The things that we love and enjoy on earth will also be waiting on us in heaven. The beauty of the trees, the sparkling of the waters, the singing of the birds, the love of family, the fellowship with friends and the companionship of our beloved four legged babies. Only in heaven, it will be in a perfected manner. C. S. Lewis wrote, "All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of [heaven]—tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. . . ." The real thing is heaven.  Job 12:10 says "In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." So you see our little Spice girl is in the hands of Christ. I can just see her now with her ears perked up and wagging her tail as she is prancing herself around on the streets of gold and as Timothy said she's probably telling Ginger and Cheyenne about all the rides and home cooked meals that she had.

Thank you LORD for bringing that little bundle of joy into our lives 16 years ago on a cold December night. We love you and will miss you dearly but look forward to seeing that precious face again one day.



"And EVERY creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and ALL that are in them, hear I saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the lamb forever and ever."  Revelations 5:13

Honoring our Veterans

I am always giving the east coast a hard time but I must admit that I really enjoyed traveling up to Connecticut. The mountains were full of trees bursting with vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges. The rolling hills were filled with green pastures and fields of corn waiting to be harvested.  Houses sitting on tops of hills surrounded by all the colors of fall while overlooking a valley full of beautiful horses and cattle grazing in the cool air. It was absolutely beautiful. I don't think we really get to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of fall in south Georgia.  We have a few trees with bright reds and yellows but for the most part we go from green to brown. Although, we do get to enjoy the milder temperatures...which I love!

We left Connecticut, went to Pennsylvania and loaded some Hummers going to Texas. This was a simple load with not as much adventure as the last couple of loads but it was one that got me thinking about all the things I am thankful for. I am so thankful to have a living, loving, caring and forgiving God. I am also thankful for the loving, patient husband that God has blessed me with and for the young man that he blessed me with 24 years ago that I am honored to call my son. My whole extended family...parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, in-laws, nieces and nephews...the whole crazy bunch that I love to the moon and back. I'm  thankful for my friends and for my church family. Then there are the little things...my son's laughter...my husbands little winks...the hugs from my little munchkins and not so little munchkins anymore...the 24/7 job that I get to share with Carlos (yes, I am very thankful for that)...camera phones...oh yes, how I am thankful for camera phones. You see those camera phones provide me with long and short conversations with my Toot Toot and with the rest of my family. They also provide me with crazy silly photos of the munchkins and sisters, while I'm on the road. It's not the phone but what the phone gives me...time, comfort, peace and happiness and a lot of laughs...it keeps us connected while being separated and for that...I am very thankful for camera phones. I could go on and on...thankful for my health and my family's health...our home...the sunrise and the sunset...the opportunity to see and explore God's amazing country...for LIFE and for so much more. I am also very thankful for all our men and women that have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces...The  Air Force, The Navy, The Marines, The Army and
The Coast Guard.

The Hummers we picked up in Pennsylvania were by no means new. In fact, they had all the signs of being in combat. I usually take pictures of our loads but I just didn't feel it was appropriate to take pictures of this one. As I looked at the hummers and all the damage, I couldn't help but think about the brave men and women that were in them and what they must have endured. I know my thoughts...and visions...and emotions are nothing compared to what was really felt.

Just a few days ago was Veteran's Day. A special day set aside to honor the men and women that have served and sacrificed so much to keep our country free. Freedom is not free...it comes with a price...a huge price! Veterans should not be honored just one day a year, they should be honored every single day.

Our Government is in such scrambled chaos right now. So much money, time and energy are being spent on programs that are useless and do not work.  One of our government's top priorities should be working to help vets get jobs, find homes or get the help and support they need when diagnosed with PSD. I know there are programs out there but when funding for those programs get cut...well, funding to help our military past and present shouldn't be on the list of budget cuts. I was watching a program on CBN this weekend on Veterans. I was left in awe when it was reported that an average of 22 suicides per day...PER DAY are being committed by our vets. One vet had been waiting for months to get the help he needed...the paperwork and approval came in the mail the day after he committed suicide. 

As Carl and I are traveling, we see so many people that are homeless and probably half if not more are vets. We usually try to give food or money when we can but they need so much more. I read a report that said there are about 50,000 homeless vets. The VA is committed to ending homelessness in Veterans by the end of 2015. The one person who should not be homeless is the person who fought to keep us safe and free.  To find out how you can help visit this website http://www.va.gov/homeless/. 

To all the Veterans I say "Thank you and to you Daddy for your service during the Vietnam War. I know you didn't get the Welcome Home that you deserved so here's a great big THANK YOU a thousand times over!

The next time you see a veteran or an active duty serviceman thank him/her for their service. 

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13

 

Blessings to all!

   Lynne



What Goes Up Must Come Down

Connecticut...REEEAALY...Connecticut!

Not real excited about our next trip Carl looked at me and said, "I sure will be glad when the freight picks back up so we can be a little more selective about what we haul and where we go. We are taking a communication building to Connecticut." "I know but I was sitting in the back praying for a load when your phone rang...with an offer on a load. So I don't think we need to turn this one down. The Lord just answered my pray. Next time I'll make sure I am a little more specific."

From the moment we got the load it seemed like Satan was putting people in our path to discourage us about going to Connecticut with an oversize load. First, we had someone to ask us how we were going to enter Connecticut because they do not allow prefab buildings into their state. "Really...that is the craziest thing I have ever heard!" Then the same man asked Carlos if we did get in how were we going to get out.  I was like what...drive out just like we drove in.  Who knew it wouldn't be as simple as that. Our permit would allow us to enter but once the load was delivered we would not be able to travel in that state because we would be too long. "Great...so what are we supposed to do...just sit in Connecticut from now on?" So, Carl called the permit office to find out if what he had just been told was true. "No, they do not allow prefab buildings, instead of listing it as a communication building we will list it as a concrete vault." What??? Looks like a building...built like a building...all the other states say it's a building...so it must be a building. No...it's not a building it's a concrete vault! Okay..whatever...as long as we can deliver this building aka vault...we don't care what it's called!

We were then told we would have to buy another permit to leave Connecticut...CRAZY!!!  Then a few days later we had another driver tell us that Connecticut only allows oversize loads to travel Tuesday thru Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  He also looked at our Pennsylvania permit to see what route we had been given. His comment to that, "Good luck!" By this time Carl had gotten really discouraged. He kept saying, "What have we gotten ourselves into?" "Don't worry, everything will be just fine. Don't start stressing. Lets just wait until we get our Connecticut permit and see what it says then we'll deal with any problems." After our Connecticut permit came in and Carl read over it, he realized that because of the way the state measures the length, if he raised the third axle off the ground we would be good to go. Yay! Another problem solved.

Now really...does this look like a road that needs to have a wide load traveling on it.
We ended up basically shutting the road down to get through.

One of our detour roads.

This is not a sign you want to see anytime...especially with an oversize load.

Then while sitting in a rest area in Pennsylvania, we had another driver that came up to Carl and just started talking. I tell you what, he must have a face that says, "Come talk to me. I'll listen." Anyway, he was asking Los where we were headed with the building aka vault. "Stonington, Connecticut." "That's where I live. It's just a little ole fishing town. I don't know where you're going to park with that thing. There's nowhere in Stonington. The closest place is an hour and half away."  WOW!!! What was it with all these people giving us discouraging news about this load. I don't think this has ever happened before. Satan was working overtime on this one. But we stayed strong and faithful and didn't let him get us down. It was a little difficult at times but God is Good! He helped see us through each frustrating moment.

For those of you that may not know, let me explain about the permits. Whenever we are hauling a load that is oversize which means the gross weight is over 80,000lbs or the height is over 13'6" or the width is over 8'6"...we have to have a permit. Each state issues its own permit and they tell us what roads we can travel and what times we can travel. This is to avoid roads that are under construction, bridges that may be too low and rush hour traffic in high populated cities. Also, if you are caught off route you can be faced with a very hefty fine!  Simple enough right...until the detour is through towns with narrow, narrow roads or the roads have trees with low hanging branches or the roads are as curvy as a snake or it takes 106 miles to go what would have been 20 miles on the interstate...not so simple then and also extremely stressful.That is why the driver told us to have fun on the Pennsylvania detour. Don't you just love sarcasm!!!

Now, back to our journey that has been filled with reassuring words from our fellow drivers.

We ended up spending the night in the parking lot of a closed down shopping center in a little town just outside of Stonington. It's times like these that I am so so so so thankful that I have all the amenities of home in this truck...especially, a bathroom!!!

The next morning one of the crewmen from the job site came and picked us up. It is always so encouraging when we have to have a guide to lead us to our final destination. The journey to the site was about 22 miles of little narrow curvy two lane roads and more overhanging tree limbs. Once we finally reached our destination it was a sight to behold. I wasn't really paying any attention when our guide rode off into the woods and we pulled off the road...well, I can't really say we pulled off because there wasn't a shoulder to pull off on. We were more like half on and half off. But anyway...I was sitting in my seat playing with my camera not paying any attention to what we were doing at the moment. After about 15 minutes of sitting there Carl says, "They want us to go up there." I turned and looked, "What? Up there! There is no way we can get up there! We will tear our truck up!"  I just started laughing. "They have lost their mind!"

The road to a day full of excitement

Sitting on the side of the road with our communication building aka vault.

After anxiously waiting another 15-20 minutes, one of the crewmen finally walked down the hill to get Carl so he could go scope things out. He was not a happy camper when he came back "Yep, we have to go up." It took all four of the men to help guide us up the hill. We had an 11'11" wide load and the road was 12'. It looked like someone went in there with a chain saw and cut down enough trees to make a path. There were large rocks on either side of the road and trees all up and down the edge of it. The limbs from the trees were hanging low and across the road. One side of the road was a hill that went up and the other side was a hill that went down. We had 2 men walking in front on each side of the truck and 2 walking in the back. The men up front had to make sure we would make it under the trees and that we had enough room to get between the trees. The men in the back had to make sure that when we went around a curve that the trailer would not hit a rock/boulder or hit a tree or for goodness sake slide off the hill. It was a very tedious job. The road was about 1/2 mile but it took us a good 15 minutes to get up. Finally...we made it to the top. Oh my...a little square with enough room for us to pull straight in...room for the crane...the pad for the building aka vault and another truck...that was the job site!

Our little hole in the woods.

Trying to relieve some stress.
 I couldn't even take the sign off the truck because of the trees.

A view of our surroundings.

Finally, we got unloaded! Now, the fun part...getting out! One of the men told Carl that they could pick up our trailer with the crane so we could back up and get turned around. Yes, that would be so much better than trying to back down and risk tearing up our truck. So, I grabbed my camera and got ready to do some picture taking.

Getting unloaded

They got the trailer hooked up and started raising it up. I'm standing down the road thinking this is the coolest thing everrr! Then I hear Kevin...oh for those of you that watch Big Brother and remember Jeff and Jordan from a few years ago...Kevin looked and talked just like Jeff. I finally asked him if he had a brother because I just knew he was Jeff's brother. They say we all have a twin out there somewhere...well, I met Jeff's twin. He was too cute! Ok ok back to the trailer...it's up in the air and I hear Kevin say, "Bring it down! Yes, bring it down now!" Then at that very moment the unthinkable happened...Our trailer. Fell. From. The. Sky.  My heart froze, my breathing stopped, my hands starting shaking and tears started filling my eyes. I just stood there...dropped my head and starting thinking Lord what are we going to do now. We can't afford to be out of work...how are we going to get our trailer fixed. I just turned my back to everyone for a few minutes and got myself back together. When I turned back around and looked at Carl, once again he was standing there cool as a cucumber. I thought, "Really, our trailer just fell from the sky! How can you be so calm?" When I said something about it later on he said, "Well, what was I supposed to do? I think I was in shock and couldn't believe what had just happened." 

After the trailer fell, everybody was quiet...nobody was saying a word. Then they started calling out to make sure everyone was ok and once everybody answered they got quiet again and just stood staring at Carl. He was like "Why are they staring at me?" I told him they were waiting for him to blow a gasket but he never did. He just said, "I am thankful no one got hurt. This trailer can be fixed." I was thinking, "Yes...yes it can, but how in the world are we going to get it out of here to get it fixed. I mean really...we're at the top of a hill and nobody can get out...and there isn't enough room for a tow truck to get in."

Going up...only for a minute.

Bent landing gear

No this should not look like this!
This is the rub rail...both sides looked like this.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

James 1:19 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

With everything we had just been through my dear sweet husband followed both of these commands. He just kept saying over and over "I am so thankful nobody got hurt." He stayed calm...never raised his voice...never had a look of aggravation or disgust...and he listened with an open heart as Kevin told him what he was going to do. He prayed about getting the trailer fixed and the potential loss of work.

Doesn't Carlos look calm!

Matthew 6:34 says, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Oh, how true this is and we certainly had enough troubles that day. Who had time to worry about tomorrow?? We had to focus on today. For a little while I thought we might be sleeping up in that little hole in the woods...along with 4 other people. But as I have said before God is so good!

Kevin immediately got on the phone and started calling people telling them what had happened and what they needed to do to get us out of there. He assured us over and over and over that his boss would fix our trailer. People...I can not tell you what a blessing that was. Most of the time if anything happens you are on your own. Not this time!

We were finally able to hook the truck and trailer back up. Let me tell you when I looked up and saw them raising the front of the trailer with the crane, I thought I was going to have a panic attack. But praise the Lord our truck and trailer were back together. They got someone to come up to cut the landing gear off (it had gotten bent and couldn't be raised). We were able to get the rub rail that had been snatched loose from the trailer cut off. I know this may sound quick and simple but it took about 3 1/2 hours. Now let the fun begin!!! When the trailer fell, it fell out of line with the road. Since we had no room and I mean noooo room to move around, Carlos had to move forward an inch back up an inch...turn the wheel to the right and move forward an inch...watch out don't hit the crane...turn the wheel to the left and back up an inch...look out for the boulders...turn the wheel to the left and move forward an inch...look out for the fence...turn the wheel and back up an inch...Stop...there's a tree...move forward an inch...stop...the fence again! This went on and on and on for the longest time. At one point we actually got to move 4 inches....oh the excitement there! If it hadn't been for the help of those 4 men guiding us and telling Carl how much room he had or which way to turn the wheel, I don't think we could have gotten out of there. Could ya'll see me trying to tell him what needed to be done....no....me either. But we finally did it....I say we...Carlos did all the work and I did all the praying! Bless his heart...his leg was given out after pushing on that clutch for so long. After the trailer was finally lined back up in the road, Kevin walked up to the truck shook Carl's hand and said, "After all that, backing down the road will be a piece of cake!" Once again with Kevin's help, we did what we did not want to do in the first place, we backed down the road. Finally...Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! We are out! 

Backing down this was so much fun!

We followed one of the workers back to their shop...filled our truck up with water...ate supper and went to bed. The next day they replaced the landing gear and fixed and replaced the rub rail to match what was on the trailer and by 5:30 we were on our way. It didn't cost us any time off work. So you see Matthew 6:34 is so very true. If we had worried about tomorrow it would have been worry for nothing. God had everything under control. Some of you may be asking,  "If He had everything under control then why did this happen?" Well, I don't know exactly why it happened. But I do know that it's just part of life. Things happen and  it's how we handle those things that matter...whether they're big things or little things our attitude...our words...our actions...matter. Jesus' life on earth was not a bed of roses so what in the world makes me think my life should be.  

Yes, our trial that day was nothing compared to what others have had to face. I think it is the little trials that prepare us for when those huge storms hit. If we can't handle the little things then how will we handle the big ones. Big or small...keep your faith and trust in Jesus. He will guide you through. I said we had 4 men helping us that day but the truth is we had 1 big powerful God who was leading...guiding...and directing 4 helpful men...1 happy couple...and 1 rambunctious little dog.

What an adventure this was!!

Til we meet again!
Only by Grace!
   Lynne