Journey Begins

My husband was up by 4:00AM and we were on the road by 5:00AM. The goal was to get as many miles behind us on Day one of the travels as possible. We traveled about 1,100. My husband is a great driver! Traffic was mild, the weather was beautiful, and we made great time. Here are some of the pictures I took along the way. This was our first stop for gas.

Along the way I pulled out my computer and wrote the following:

The ride through Tennessee was short. Love those “narrow” states! Makes long road trips go by so quickly! We’ve always loved Nashville….there’s good shoppin’ and good eatin’….but none of those things are on the itenerary for this trip. The Nashville skyline has grown quite a bit since we lived in that part of the world.

Seemed like we were entering Kentucky in no time at all! I had hoped to get my husband to stop at each state line marker to take pictures. No luck with that! I had forgotten how much farm land there is in Kentucky. To the right and to the left, as far as I could see were cornfields; one right after the other. As I was noticing the tassels topping the stalks, Luke Bryant’s song about Corn began playing in my head…Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my baby a little bit friskey… My literacy friends would notice I’m making connections….although my connection is only surface level, some may know more details than just a trademark name, Jim Beam ® Kentucky. I think Luke knows what he’s singing about. There was so much corn I asked my husband if Kentucky had changed their state crop!
As we continue driving, I notice railroad train cars full of coal, one after another, a track full….

All was going well until we entered Illinois and our GPS system wanted to send us on the scenic route. My husband rerouted quickly, saying it was much too early in the trip to begin sightseeing.
I’m learning there are many “rules” for co-piloting this expedition. My husband has been wearing his Human Resources hat and has called it “my induction”. He said it was important for me to know and understand what is expected of the co-pilot, because if I didn’t know what the expectations are, then I might think that all I have to do is enjoy the ride. Here’s what I’ve learned thus far:

Rule number 1: When we stop for gas, I, as co-pilot am responsible for finding all trash and properly disposing of it. An alternative to cleaning out the trash is offering to pump the gas. If I offer to pump the gas, this may be an indication that I desire to take over the responsibilities of the driver, including driving. I opted for trash detail.

Rule number 2: I should not ask the driver to talk on the phone. It’s not that he can’t or won’t talk on the phone while driving, I just shouldn’t ask him to talk to someone because when I ask him to talk on the phone, if the GPS system gives directions, it causes him to lose his concentration on driving.

Rule number 3: Always take a bath before getting in the truck each day. It’s important to smell good if you are going to be stuck in a car for a long time with someone.
We’ve been on the road for about five hours and 15 minutes. Can’t wait to see how long this list of rules, pardon me, induction process, becomes!!
Illinois, Land of Lincoln. Flat land. Fields and fields of corn, grain bins, barns, houses, and an occasional church steeple.

Keep following....more pictures to come....it's been a long day....

Phase Two--Weigh the Truck

There are two parts to this phase. The first part begins immediately after picking up the truck. It is important to locate certified scales. Then the truck is weighed before the items are loaded. Next, the truck is weighed after everything is loaded. By doing this, the exact weight of the load can be determined. Here's a sign of the place we used. There is a one-way road entering the business which loops around to exit. My husband pulled up on the scales, the truck was weighed, and we were given a print out of the information. As we pulled straight ahead, we noticed someone had left a semi-tractor trailer in the drive through area. There was just enough room for us to squeak by without hitting the mirrors on the trailer. My husband commented that the trailer had been left in the wrong area, that this was the driveway and the parking lot was to the right.

As we pulled on through, we noticed red backing lights ahead of us from a cab of a tractor trailer truck. We realized the truck was backing, backing, backing, getting closer and closer to us. I said, "I don't think he even sees us sitting here!". "I think he's going to hit us!" When we were both convinced he was not planning to stop, my husband exited our truck and walked up beside the tractor trailer truck. I could hear loud voices and see my husband waving his hands in the air. He came back to the truck saying that the driver couldn't speak English. The driver simply said, "need to load trailer". There seemed to be nothing we could do except back up....So my husband backed our truck up, once more squeaking by the trailer. It was a lot more fun squeaking by it going backwards!! I could tell that this was going to be an adventure of a lifetime! We hadn't even left home and already excitement was in the air! My only regret is that I didn't take my husband's picture while he was standing beside the truck, waving his hands in the air. I think I was too afraid to have the camera in my hands....I thought I was going to have to jump behind the wheel and begin backing some more, because I wasn't sure the truck would ever stop!

U-Haul Adventure Alaska Bound

Loading the Truck

Phase One of Trip--Load the Truck

Two of our son-in-law's very special friends came to our house late Tuesday evening to help load the truck. These two guys aren't just ordinary guys. They are highly skilled movers! With their manpower, the truck was loaded in about two hours. Love these guys!

Summer Nights

Cicadas singing.....fireflies twinkling.....warm breezes blowing.....seems like an old-fashioned summertime! Some have said that fireflies are disappearing....but this summer I've seen more fireflies than I've seen in the past four years. The shrubs flicker with lights....the grass sparkles as little lights flutter all around.

Potential Documentary on U-Hauling to Alaska!

My husband and I have a big adventure ahead of us. In the not so distant future we will be packing some of our daughter's furniture and wedding gifts, loading them onto a U-Haul truck, and then driving them to Alaska! It's only a little more than 4,000 miles!! I'm beginning to think about the many opportunities that will be afforded to us on this adventure. Here are some of the things I'm wondering.....



1. How many states will we pass through? I think we should take a picture at every state line.

2. How many hours will we drive a day? My husband has some pretty ambitious ideas......but I'm not sure how that will really pan out.

3. How long will it really take us? Sometimes things take longer than expected.

4. What will the roads be like in Canada? My husband made the adventure in October. Winter weather had already set in and deep layers of ice were on the roads. We think some of the roads he traveled may not really even have been paved! He just didn't realize it because the roads were a very thick layer of ice! But the big break up has occurred (that's what they call it when summer arrives and the ice melts)....and now the roads may not be quite so smooth!



Then....when I stop and think some more.....there are so many things even before we hit the road that I'm beginning to wonder about...such as:



1. Packing the truck. We have a lot of stuff to put in the truck. Will it all fit?

2. Weighing the truck. The truck has to be weighed before we load it and after we load it. I wonder how much all of the stuff will weigh?

3. How long will it take to load the truck? Luckily some very strong guys are coming to help load the truck...without them, I'd be really worried...and without them, I'd definitely be trying to recruit some helpers.

4. How fast will we be able to drive the truck? Where will we stop and rest?

5. How many miles will it get to the gallon? How much money will the gas cost?

6. Is my husband really going to make me take a turn driving? Seriously, he trusts me to drive!? Not usually.



As you can tell from this list of questions....my researcher's hat is back on again.....I think this adventure might be one to document. Who knows....someone else may need this information!! I doubt too many people will want to drive to Alaska, although we've been quite surprised at how many people have actually asked if they could make the journey with us. When you really stop and think about the opportunities that a trip like this will provide, that list can get pretty long quickly....



1. Seeing the United States of America....cross country....including parts of Canada.....and then all the way into Alaska.....close up and personal. Most people only make this trip at 50,000 feet....and then they miss the landscape, the people, the very fiber of our dear country. We'll have a chance to capture every bit....almost in slow motion....and savor it for eternity.



2. Time together. I've been consumed with working on my PhD for the past six years. My husband is a great conversationalist. He's a great listener. We have no problem filling up time. We talk about everything and anything. I've been consumed with work both professionally and personally and we have lots and lots to catch up on. I also love to read when we travel. Sometimes, if I'm reading a really good book, and he's driving, I'll read it aloud to him. Sometimes he tells me he's had enough and he needs some quiet time. And that's OK too. Everybody needs peace and quiet sometimes. We've been married 32 years. This will definitely be the biggest adventure we've ever encountered. Not packing the truck, not moving the furniture....we've made lots of moves......but the distance of this trip....from start to end. It's the greatest adventure we've ever embarked upon.



3. Squeezing in a few more days of time with our daughter and our new son-in-law. We won't see them again until the holidays. We need to love on them, up close. We need to help our daughter set up her new classroom....because that's what we do. We are her number one helpers....no matter where she lives....our goal is to always be there to help her set up her classroom. She's our only one.....and a big priority in our lives. Can you tell? I think the opportunities and blessing are endless.....I hope to capture them all.

Where I'm From

I am from South Georgia,
"How ya'll doing"?
From Bessie Irene, Willie Clyde,
J. R. and Foy.
I am from gardening, canning,
quilting, and sewing
From scary stories, jokes, and
giggle boxes turning over.

I am from good, down home, cooking
fried steak and gravy,
fresh peas from the garden, creamed corn,
homegrown tomatoes, and biscuits that melt
in your mouth.

I am from nurturers,
protectors, from "No, you can't" and
"Please, be careful", cuddling, rocking, and sweet songs of
Amazing Grace and
Swing Low, Sweet Chariots.

Here Comes the Bride!

Here are our wedding day blessings:

1. It was a perfect day. A beautiful, sun shiny day. The first wedding that hadn't been rained on at Grandview all summer.



2. Aubree was radient. I have never seen anyone so happy or enjoy themselves so much! She smiled from ear to ear all day.



3. The day was everything that Aubree had dreamed it would be.



4. The flowers were beautiful. When we visited the florist, the wedding consultant took Aubree into the cooler and showed her several flowers. She clustered the ones together that Aubree liked. Aubree explained she wanted the flowers to look natural, as if they were just picked from a field. The florist captured Aubree's heart and she loved everything they prepared for her.



5. The band was awesome. I fretted about the band more than any other aspect of the wedding. Contracting with a band was a big committment and I was worried about many things. Number one, I don't have much expertise in hiring bands...I worried about whether they would be any good? And...would anyone dance? And...would they take too many breaks? And...would they make the reception fun? And...would Aubree and Barry like them? None of my worries mattered. I would hire them again tomorrow! Love, Peace, and Happiness out of Chattanooga. Definitely a blessing.



6. The photographer was wonderful. She worked her heart out...spent about 7 or more hours with us...capturing every single aspect of the wedding...can't wait for the pictures. Liz Powers Photography another blessing.



7. The wedding party was unbelieveably wonderful. The bridesmaids made Aubree feel like a princess. They waited on her hand and foot. They truly made her feel like the most important person in the entire world. It was her day. They made sure of it and I love them for it!



8. The food at the reception was wonderful. Although I didn't eat anything during the reception, we brought the leftovers home and everything has been delicious.



9. The minister. A dear friend performed the marriage ceremony. He personalized the wedding for Aubree and Barry. Because he spoke from his heart and made the ceremony very special.



10. Even though it was the hottest day of the year....family and friends hung in there and helped us create memories that will last a life time. Thanks to all of you for sharing this with us!

Wedding Blessings

Counting the blessings we've received from the family and friends who have given so generously to Aubree and Barry. Here are a few pictures of their new things....

Everyday Dishes.....


A cookbook filled with Aubree's Mimi's favorite recipes.....yum-yum....
The recipe book is full of recipes written on individual cards....Aubree is learning to cook :)

Here's the fine china....it's a Kate Spade pattern. There are polka dot dessert plates that will go with these too.

Mimi and Papa gave Aubree a full set of Christmas china....polka dots, stripes, and whirls! Woo-Hoo!

I love it!! Too cute to use just for Christmas....

I'm lovin' this huge oval bowl from a special friend.....If it goes missing, it will be at my house!