Weekend Update January 30, 2009
Posted by praise365 in CDL, Christianity, america, faith, first amendment, life, misc., random, trucking, weekend.2 comments
It’s the weekend 
Had a pretty good first week of driving. Four nights out this week running a 500 mile round trip to Milford, CT. from Harrisburg, PA. Didn’t do much driving on Tuesday night because of the snow and ice. My trainer Ralph did most of the driving and that is just fine with me 
All total I had about 1,550 miles. We were running full trailers to a drop yard for the Milford drivers and bringing loads back. Monday night I had 38,000 lbs. of ice cream and Wed. night 28,000 lbs of syrup. Last night we pulled an empty trailer back. The reason for running shuttles this week was to give me some driving time and to shake out the butterflies. All in all it went well. My shifting is getting a lot better already and you do a LOT of downshifting when you have 42,000 lbs. on the trailer.
Our trucks a governed at 61 mph. which means we get passed ALOT 
and they have cruise control so most of the time you just guide it down the highway. A couple of thrills were the single lane road construction on I-287 in NY with the concrete wall on the right and cones on the left complete with lane shifts and getting passed by trucks on both sides going up the hill on I-78 outside of Allentown PA ( I was in the center lane of a 3 lane, ok I’m AWAKE now 
) and rolling through tool booths at 35 mph with ezpass….
The time driving actually went by pretty quickly and I was praying and talking to Jesus the whole way. Actually most of it was thanking Him for getting me through it safely and keeping me alert because of driving all night and not being used to the new schedule. Let me tell you, IT WORKED 
This is “my truck” Taken this morning around 2 am. at the Petro Truck Stop on I-95 in Milford CT. We stopped to get Ralph a cup of coffee.
ESV Daily January 23, 2009
Posted by praise365 in Christianity, blogged bible study, faith, first amendment, freedom, life, random.2 comments
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
The first thing I saw on Twitter this morning. You can see it too
Just sign up for Twitter and search “find people” for ESV…
There, wasn’t that easy
Head First January 22, 2009
Posted by praise365 in CDL, Christianity, faith, family, first amendment, freedom, life, misc., random, trucking.2 comments
Got done with orientation today. 3 1/2 days of everything you need to know to be sucessful in food service delivery Going out on my first run Friday night as a helper. Leave Harrisburg with 2 other drivers, make deliveries (10 or so) in Philadelphia. On the way back we stop to pick up a trailer full of Wendy’s hamburgers. They really are fresh, never frozen
After that I get Saturday night off and start my professional driving career Sunday night making runs from Harrisburg to Connecticut and back. I do that every night next week and then I get on a route with a trainer for about 4 weeks. That run will be out 2 days, home a day, out 2 days, home 2 days etc………….
That’s all I know for sure at the moment other than after training I will be doing normal runs with another driver. Maybe the same one or maybe different each time, probably 3 nights a week with a night off in between.
Head first into the wonderful world of trucking. This got me thinking about how I approach my relationships with others. Obviously I dive head first into my relationship with my family. I am also (as you can tell by the content of most of my posts lately) diving head first in faith into a new career that God willing, will provide for our needs.
But…… Do I dive head first into my relationship with Christ? Sometimes not so much. I’m not afraid to admit that my focus is often not where it needs to be. I am easily distracted. If I can’t admit to that, how can I expect it to ever get any better?
God has been extremely faithful to this family, full of mercy and grace. Even during the times when I have been a less than faithful servant.
Faith in God has led me to pursue this career, which we believe will ultimately give us the freedom to be flexable with our location. Faith in Christ has led me to salvation. Something I can no longer ignore.
Father God, forgive me for not giving You the honor you deserve, for letting my focus fall away from You. Help me to remember always that my life is a gift from You and to use it for Your will. Thank You Lord for You are faithful and You alone are worthy of the praise for all of the good that is within me. It is my desire to be where You are and that my deeds would be a reflection of Christ. Always…. In Christ’s name, Amen…..
Psalm 73:25-28 the Message
You’re all I want in Heaven, You’re all I want on earth. When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock firm and faithful. Look, those who have left You are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God- Oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made the Lord God my home.
God, I’m telling the world what you do!!!
More Boring Trucking Info.. HaHa January 21, 2009
Posted by praise365 in CDL, Christianity, america, faith, family, first amendment, freedom, life, misc., random, trucking.2 comments
Been a crazy week so far. A LOT of information to digest with the new job. Rules, regulations, Haz Mat, Log books, Hours of service, a lot of sitting and watching videos on safe driving techniques, winter driving, how to unload product at the stops, how to handle being robbed ( hey, I’m sure I’ll be at the Wendy’s in the Bronx at some point )
One more day of orientation, spending time in the truck learning unloading techniques, how to operate the reefer unit, the computer logging system, and other basic how to stuff.
I go out Friday night on my first run as a helper, not driving, no idea where yet and will spend next week running a trailer from Harrisburg, Pa. to Milford, Conn. and bringing one back. After that I will be with my trainer doing 2 layover runs (out making deliveries, layover in a hotel, finish deliveries then come home) a week until probably mid march or so…
So far it has been very good as far as training, emphasis on safety and running legal, the benefits are very good and the people all seem to be very helpful with wanting us to succeed.
Thank you for your prayers and please don’t stop now!!!
Thank You God for this opportunity to get into a new career and help me to take it where You want it to go…
My How Time Flies…… January 16, 2009
Posted by praise365 in Christianity, faith, family, football, life, misc., random.3 comments
So our baby boy is 13 today
Lacey & Trina with Derek 1996
Derek 2008
I’m so amazed that I could have a part in the creation of something so perfect. Thank you Darla for making this possible and thank You God for blessing us with Derek. Love ya man, you’re the bomb-diggity
It’s Official January 8, 2009
Posted by praise365 in CDL, Christianity, america, faith, family, first amendment, freedom, life, misc., random, trucking.11 comments
I just got off the phone with Human Recources at SygmaNetwork. I passed all the physicals, strength assesment and the driving test…
I GOT THE JOB
I start on January 19th. A few days of orientation and then 100 hours driving with a trainer ( which should take me mostly out of the winter driving season ) and then as a relief driver until a route opens up and I can bid on it.
This is like what I’ll be driving. A Volvo VN430 with a 48ft. reefer. I’ll be making deliveries to Texas Roadhouse, Panera Bread, Wendy’s, Jenny Craig, Panda Express and Cold Stone Creamery resturants in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C, Deleware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and NewYork. 3 to 4 runs a week average 20 hours out each run. At the current time most of these runs are with 2 drivers so half of that time ( in theory ) I’m getting paid to be a passenger.
They just cancelled the second shift where I work now and let 5 people go, possibly 2 others tomorrow. That makes a total of 12 people laid off since October (about half of the shop)
God’s timing is amazing as usual. He is faithful and deserves the praise for this excellent opportunity. Thank You Father God for Your blessings on this family.
Please pray for a safe and enjoyable time of learning for me and patience and encouragement for my family as we all adjust to this new schedule.
ps. you are getting verrrry hungry, go to Wendy’s and buy a triple already
Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes January 4, 2009
Posted by praise365 in CDL, Christianity, faith, family, first amendment, freedom, life, misc., random, trucking.6 comments
First off, this is not a post about new years resolutions. To be honest I haven’t made those for quite some time now. It is however, what I think is a season of change for my life. God has been very faithful to our family the last few years. We have been blessed beyond what we could possibly deserve. Some of the things that are happening now I believe are a direct result of God leading us in a new direction. I will be posting some of these changes as they occur.
Probably the biggest change on the horizon is my job. I have been in the plastic injection molding field since 1986. It’s not what I wanted to do with my life (we can’t all be rockstars now can we ) but it has provided a decent life for myself and my family.
Since October of 2008 God has opened the doors for me to be able to get a CDL and remarkably enough, actually find a great paying driving job with a LOT of home time. I’ve had several people tell me that this is the worst they have ever seen the trucking industry and there are a lot of experienced drivers looking for work right now.
Given the fact that I have basically no experience, to land this job was nothing short of a miracle.
I have never been one for being patient and in the past have been impulsive when it comes to making decisions about the future. Gods patience with me on the other hand has been huge.
Father God, we look forward to this exciting time in our lives. Thank you for Your guidance and we pray that we would see clearly the path You are laying before us. Help us to make good decisions and most importantly follow your lead. Take us where you want us to be. Thank You for your blessings in Christ’s name. Amen
