Hello Again

I've been thinking about you lately; thinking how I have abandoned you and how much I used to love talking to you here. (Maybe because I got to do all the talking and you always listened so well).

So I'm back. It was kind of you to wait. I want to say though that I don't get time very often to write but I will as often as I can.

Paul & I are enjoying driving truck together. We have been getting experience on the mountains and building our stamina on the long hauls. This month we did about 19,000 miles which isn't a huge amount but its good work.

The most exiting news is that God is speaking to me about an area of my life that has brought me consistant pain. I can be going through a day, happy when suddenly its there washing over me. Taking away my breath and peace.

I was reading 1 Cor 13 and it was the same as always until I came upon this phrase, "keeps no record of wrong." Me? keeping a record of wrong? The Holy Spirit put his gentle hand on the truth of what was there. Yes, I was keeping a record of wrongs done to me by a varied group of people. But is not that easy to get rid of something you tediously collected and came to treasure. So now I am working on cleaning out my attic. As those memories come back to me I stop the emotional tsunami by repeating and remembering, "keeps no record of wrong." I speak out loud, "I forgive you. Jesus taught me to forgive and gave me the right to forgive by forgiving me."
Little by little, memory by memory the sting of death is being emasculated by the power of forgiveness.
Working on becoming a beautiful old lady, denise

The New Adventures of Denise & Paul

I said goodbye to Paul 10 minutes ago. He's heading for Delaware and then will be out on the road with Hendric, his over the road trainer, for 11 days. I wait here in the Schneider National Operating Centre to meet my over the road trainer, Bonnie. I have no idea where I will be going but we will be out for the same period of time.
Since Easter Sunday we have been training here in Aberfolye, ON at Schneider. Our goal of driving as a team together is closer than it was yesterday. So many people here have helped us to move forward; Rick, a generous and gregarious classroom instructor; Mario, a patient driving trainer; Kim, a super encouraging range work trainer; and everyone else who support us as we train. Thank you to all!
Schneider has overwhelmed us with support, care and generousity. We are working for a great company. I want to make them succeed in return for the way they wanted us to succeed in our training.
So many trucking companies are in need of drivers but won't take anyone without experience. Schneider however steps up to the plate and puts money (approx. $8,000/driver) on the line to train their drivers. We are so privileged to be part of that program.

We also want to thank everyone who prayed for us to get on with Schneider. Those who spent their whole holiday praying for us whenever they spotted a big orange truck on the road! Thats a big commitment especially when you go into the States for your holidays! We still need those prayers.

Driving a car well is not easy. Driving a truck well is harder yet. That 60' of truck/trailer carry up to 80,000 lbs of potential. When you pull out in front of an oncoming truck you are really in much more danger than you could ever guess. Please give drivers lots of room and lots of time...it might be your grandmother driving :)

Today we read in Matthew when Jesus sent his disciples out into the boat and a storm came up, so he went to them walking on the water. We are trusting the Lord as he sends us out on the road to keep a close eye on us.
So, as Diane used to say to me as I stepped out of the RV, "See you down the road!"

Hello Again Friends

Hello all, not that anyone is out there reading this ignored and dusty blog. But some of you might have put on a feed alert and be surprised when you see my new blog pop up!
NOTE: We only have dial up internet at home and are not able to include photos on the blog unless we drive at least a half hour into town and sit in a coffee shop with wireless. It took me at least 20 minutes to get to this screen. So when I can I will include photos but not alot...sorry.

So what have you been up to lately? Well, I have been stepping into a new and unfamiliar experience...Paul and I are at truck driving school. We have spent two weeks in class and two weeks in the trucks learning, learning. All together though we really have only spent a small amount of time behind the wheel on the road. I felt that I was doing pretty well and confidence was growing until today!
Our trainer Pierre is a great guy who has a wonderful french accent. He grew up in Kapukasing and loves the outdoors. He has been training truck drivers for at least 10 years and most of that with the military and colleges. Unusual for the school they put Paul and I in the same truck to train together. We are so happy with that and are enjoying our training.
Today however I got behind the wheel first and Pierre said that we were going to "play in traffic" today. I really didn't do well. After a four day holiday from driving I somehow left my brain at home or forgot to connect my head and body. I missed almost every shift - EVEN UP SHIFTING! Down shifting...well nevermind. I cut corners and ran over curbs (that could have had a person standing on it). Then a supply air hose got a huge leak. We could hear it in the cab and we made a B-line for the shop. I was under alot of pressure, as was the governer that had to keep resupplying the air tanks as the air evacuated out of the ruptured airline. So as I took the last turn on to the road where the shop was I forgot to flip the paddle down to low and ended up in 10th gear and promptly stalled it while my cab was over into the oncoming traffic. No one was in any immediate danger just held up but I had overshot my turn and I was facing a snowbank. I had to back up! Pierre was so great, and Paul is so encouraging. I am praying for help to learn this profession. I would really appreciate ANYONE'S prayers for me (don't worry about Paul he's doing really great :) What I wouldn't give to borrow a tractor and trailer and get on a private road to practice. All my friends that own them live 36 hours away.
So tomorrow I am going to, "turn down the sucks and turn up the awesome," as Andre another trainer says. But only with God's help.
Depending on Him to get me home (in more ways than one), denise