Ups and downs

DOWN
1) Got up early on a Saturday (instead of sleeping in) so I could get my studded tires off before the big rush next week because of the deadline imposed to get them removed by April 1st.
2) Planned to have to get 2 new tires but they said I needed 4!!! Apparently, if the tread between the old and new tires are too much apart it will ruin something in a 4-wheel drive.
3) They didn't have any tires I needed in stock and would have to order them.
4) I have to go back later next week.
5) Totally frustrated that I have to pay double what I planned.

 UP
1) We have the money we need to get the tires we need. With as much as I drive good tires are important. 2) Terry will be home next week and said he would make the trip to get the tires put on.
3) Having a WONDERFUL husband who can cheer me up and encourage me when I am down.

 DOWN
1) We have had cold weather, rain and snow the first 2 days of spring. Highs in mid-40's and lows in low 20's.

 UP
1) Tiny signs of spring
                     

2) Our grand daughter's birthday

Happy Birthday Christy!!

Getting 'Cabin Fever'

I was looking through some of my old pictures and started getting 'cabin fever'.  Terry and I had so much fun on our trip to Utah and Mesa Verde (the cliff dwellers) in 2005.  Hard to believe that was almost 8 years ago.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from that trip in our RV with 2 cats but they hid under the RV couch most of the time!!

Canyonlands, UT

Mesa Verde

Canyonlands

Arches National Park, UT - My favorite picture!!

Cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde

Zion National Park, UT

Sprint in Utah

Shadow coming out of the shadows

Too late to worry

Have you ever found out something that would have made you quite worried but by the time you were told about the problem - it was resolved, and there was no more reason to worry?  Well, that is what happened yesterday.

When I picked up the dogs from the "dogsitter" (Terry's brother Jim) he told me that Birdie had gotten herself in a stack of wooden pallets and apparently could not figure out how to get back out.  She must have been chasing a rabbit or squirrel.  Jim looked all over for her Thursday night - in all the places they like to dig on his 2 acres.  She did not bark and the tags on her collar did not "jangle".

He said Bogey (Birdie's brother) and Daphne (Jim's dog) went to different areas so they didn't really point out where Birdie might have been.  It got dark and Jim was sick wondering where Birdie was.  It was a long night for him and he dreaded having to tell me and Terry he had lost Birdie.  About every couple hours in the night Bogey would bark.  Jim would go to the door hoping Birdie was on the porch but she was not there.  I wonder if Bogey could hear her bark in the night as both dogs have very good hearing.  The temperature was in the low 30's.

The next morning, Jim called Terry and told him Birdie was lost.  In the meantime, Terry's other brother Tim started looking and listening for Birdie and heard her yipping.  They finally found her in the pallets and rescued her.  It was about 10 minutes after Jim had called Terry and Terry had lifted up a prayer to the Lord that Birdie would be found.

I was traveling home from Fruitland, ID to Prineville and so was oblivious to all the drama.  When I got to Burns, OR and had cell phone service, Terry told me that Birdie had been lost and then found.  Terry thought she had only been lost about an hour that morning.  It wasn't until I got to Prineville and got the dogs that we found out she had been lost all night.

I was so relieved that she was ok and felt so bad for Jim.  I know he must have had a horribly long worrisome night, dreading every minute to have to tell me and Terry.  He loves our puppy dogs as much as we do.  Praise the Lord this story has a happy ending.  The Lord is so good to us!!!

Christmas is over already

We have had a wonderful Christmas WEEK!  It has been awesome having the kids and grandkids here for the holidays.  We ate way too much but the food has been awesome all week.  Thanks Julie, Ryan and Terry for cooking.  We played lots of games and have been having a wonderful time.  I got a new Kindle Fire for my main present from Terry.  The grandkids have downloaded several games and has been playing on it most of the week.  I have downloaded some books and am getting used to reading on it.
Here are some pictures of our week so far:

Lance, Shella May & Liam

Liam and Shella May playing in our 4" of snow

Liam & Shella May

Liam & Shella May

Lance practicing violin which he played at the church Christmas Eve service. Liam played too.

Liam handing out the Christmas gifts

Julie looking at new camera, Ryan, Shella May and Lance

Shella May, Lance & Liam after all gifts opened

Wrapping paper tossed into the dog bed

Daisy all worn out from the festivities, trying to fit in Bogey & Birdie's bed.

Ready for Christmas (I think)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

I haven't kept up with my blog very well because I have been so busy with work and getting ready for the Holidays.  But Terry was home for Thanksgiving week and we are looking forward to having a family Christmas at our house with more kids and grandkids than normal!  So, I have been decorating the inside of the house and Grandpa put lights up on the outside of the house before he left.
Haven't had any snow yet but it was down to 25 degrees last night and were dark clouds in the sky all day today.

Pray for Terry - ANSWERED!

To anyone who prayed for Terry to have safe travels up to NY, Thank You!  And thank you for all the times you have covered him in prayer for his travels.
The trip to NY went well.  He never had any trouble getting fuel or motels and did not have to take detours.  The interstate he was on led through Bronx and Queens but he did not see much destruction so it must have been farther away from the interstate highway.  He had to pay over $100 in tolls but had enough cash, and after undecking the trucks and turning them over to the customer, he had an hour taxi ride to LaGuardia airport where he did not have any airline delays.
Now he has a load to haul from Mount Holly, NC to Surrey, British Columbia and it is looking really good for him to be home for Thanksgiving!!
Thanks again for your prayers.

Pray for Terry

Terry finished delivering his load of trucks yesterday in Hurricane Mills, TN and then they flew him to the company terminal in Mount Holly, NC.
He signed the "seniority" board and was the 7th person to get a load (out of 7 loads).  The load he was given was to deliver 1 truck in Richmond, VA and the other 3 trucks to Kings Park, NY.  To get to Kings Park Google Maps routes through Queens, NY out on Long Island.  He has to travel through New Jersey and these are areas that were hit really hard by Hurricane Sandy.  They also have gas shortages in places and electricity outages as well.  He has only a 50 gallon fuel tank so will have to get fuel about every 150 miles.  There may be a different route to take but he won't know until tomorrow when he calls the customer.
Both of us are trying to remember that in all things the Lord is in CONTROL and that there are no accidents or coincidences so the Lord must want Terry to take this trip.  I find myself worrying and remind myself of the Lord's control and shake off my worry and then a few minutes later I find myself anxious again.  It is a continual battle.  Terry seems to be handling it better than I.
I find I am riding the same roller coaster about the results of the election.  Why do we find it so hard to lay our requests and worries at Jesus' feet and leave them there?  I am continually going back over to the burdens I lay at his feet and pick them up again.  Then lay them down and pick them up over and over.  You would think I would lose weight with all the exercise of bending down to pick up the burden!!  God has proven He is faithful and cares about us in everything we do but I keep forgetting.
sigh.....