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Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Debra

We Love You!

Dad & Mom

 

 

Trust the Lord, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

Psalm 37:3 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

~~~

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

John H. Shammis

 

 

 

Today Cerwin and I are Celebrating

A Special Date

 

Today is the anniversary of our first date – fifty years ago – August 26, 1961.

We don’t have many photos from our dating years, and think this one was taken in 1962.

If our plans work out, we are going to visit the Golden Gate Bridge this evening. How appropriate is that for a golden celebration.

Fifty years ago we double-dated with our friends Mark and Marcy and played miniature golf in New Holland, Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

O Lord, you are my God. I will highly honor you; I will praise your name. You have done miraculous things. You have been completely reliable in carrying out your plans from long ago.

Isaiah 25:1 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

~~~

God’s faithfulness comes to my mind this morning – because He has never failed us.

 

 

 

A Busy Day

A Busy Truck Stop

Tuesday, August 23

 

I am backing up a bit – to Tuesday – because I had been too busy to post some of the photos I had been taking around the 49er Truck Plaza in Sacramento.

 

 

A broad view of the travel plaza from the truck entrance.

 

 

A truck coming off the interstate – something you see all day long if you stand at this spot.

 

 

The scales is available for those who need to check the weight of their load.

While standing here, I noticed a homeless couple who were trying to hitchhike to Ohio. Cerwin and I prayed with them.

 

 

The fuel island is always busy – at least during the day.

 

 

As I walked away from the fuel island (back right), I came to the pretty entrance area to the restaurant and store.

 

 

 

 

Cerwin and Chaplain Jerry were pleased to have the new entrance door installed by the end of the day despite the steel framework that made it a bit challenging. Also, we had several visitors.

A man came in asking for prayer concerning paperwork that was not coming through – I think it was something to do with insurance.

Another man (Al) came to the chapel when he saw me outside sanding the “mobile chapel” letters. He wanted prayer for a friend.

As I listened, I thought, “He is trying to control her and bringing more stress on himself than necessary.” As I shared that concern with him, he was quite receptive and challenged by the thought. Cerwin and Jerry came back just as I was about ready to pray with him, so I shared a short version of the situation so Jerry could pray for him.

Later in the day, Al came into the restaurant where I was sitting, and asked if he could talk to me. I invited him to sit across the table from me, which he did.

It was rewarding to hear him say that he thought I was right-on in what I noticed by our conversation in the chapel. As he talked, I was encouraged to hear him solve his own problem with his friend.

 

 

It was a beautiful evening, so Cerwin and I decided to walk around the entire truck lot.

 

 

We had to keep our eyes open, because trucks were always coming or going. There is a continual rumble of trucks, so the sense of hearing isn’t as helpful as always looking around before moving to a new location.

 

 

 

 

Drivers have to pay to park here unless they purchase seventy-five gallons of fuel. (Cerwin heard that the first four hours are free, even if they don’t purchase fuel.) The exit toll booth is usually busy.

Someone told us that there is an average of 500 trucks going  through here in a day.

 

 

Signs on the parking lot side of the truck stop.

 

 

We climbed a set of steps to get these pictures. The top of the steps was actually the exterior entrance to the hallway of the motel room. However that is always locked. It is probably an emergency exit from the inside.

 

 

A view from the top of the steps.

 

 

The exit ramp from I-80.

 

 

Trucks park anywhere there is room.

 

 

Most are in the regular parking places.

 

 

 

 

Cerwin noticed this unusual way (side window) to air condition the cab of a truck.

 

 

That is quite a sleeper.

 

 

This driver noticed us, and assumed that we are Christians. Maybe he noticed us a the chapel. He was fun to talk too, and it seemed like he had a solid walk with the Lord.

 

 

They do have beautiful rigs in this truck stop.

 

 

The sun was setting as we were headed west in one of the truck lanes.

 

 

I love taking truck pictures at sunset.

 

 

 

 

It was getting dark as we headed toward the chapel. As this man began walking toward us, I recognized him as the first driver who came to the chapel today – asking for prayer for some paperwork to come through. He came to thank us for praying, and said, “The paperwork came through this afternoon.”

That was good to hear.

 

 

He was carrying a serious water cup. It looked like it held two quarts or more. He said he fills it up with ice so he has cold water all day.

 

 

Darkness is peaceful in the truck stop. However, it is not quiet, because there is the constant rumble of hundreds of truck engines and refers. Someone told Cerwin that the lot holds 350 trucks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset photo from the front yard of the plaza.

 

 

This driver was leaving the lot to begin his jorney for a pickup or delivery.

It was a wonderful day.

 

 

 

 

What Kind of Bird is This?

 

This bird was keeping an eye on me as I scraped and sanded the mobile chapel letters on Tuesday.

 

 

I tried to find it on the internet yesterday during my afternoon break from painting, but didn’t have enough time to do serious research.

 

 

 

~~~

It’s time to get to work, as we must take advantage of the cooler morning hours – before the sun beats down on us.

~~~

 

Cerwin needs to trim the door and window.

 

 

I want to get as much painting done as possible. I finished the letters M, O, and B yesterday.

 

 

 

When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them?

Psalm 8:3-4 Good News Translation (GNT)

~~~

We are seeing beautiful skies here in Sacramento each evening – and fabulous weather. It made me think of this verse.

 

 

 

O Lord, I will always sing of your constant love; I will proclaim your faithfulness forever. I know that your love will last for all time, that your faithfulness is as permanent as the sky.

Psalm 89:1-2 (Good News Translation)

~~~

That’s how I feel after two days of praying with troubled drivers, talking to victorious Christian drivers, and spending time with an agnostic who sat next to me in the restaurant yesterday. (He opened the conversation.)

 

 

 

Working on the Chapel

Tuesday, August 23

 

Cerwin began the process of removing the old door before Chaplain Jerry arrived at 9:00 a.m.

 

 

By the time Jerry arrived, the door was ready for removal.

 

 

 

 

I began my work of scraping and sanding the letters – Mobile Chapel – after Jerry found a ladder for me in the maintenance room.

 

 

It was very hot with the sun beating down on me, so I did one letter – then took a break in the chapel, and a drink of water, and proceeded to the next letter.

By afternoon I had to stop, because the sun and ninety degree temperatures were too much. I finished the word chapel before stopping.

I will start earlier on Wednesday, because we now know where to find the ladder.

 

 

This is when Cerwin discovered there was going to be more work to installing the new door than he thought, because this was an old reefer, and the door opening was made of steel.

 

 

Preparing to install the new door.

 

 

Cerwin had lag bolts along, but they did not work with the steel plate, so they went to a nearby hardware store for self tapping steel screws. By evening the door was installed. He will do the trim work later this week.

We had a fun question from a driver’s wife in the restaurant. She asked if Jerry and Cerwin were twins.

 

 

 

 

Supplies to Repair the Chapel

August 22

 

We are staying in the truck stop motel (highest building) behind the travel store. It is actually quite nice, clean, with a TV, queen-sized bed, and a small bathroom/shower. The best part, is that the cost is about 1/3 the price of the motels next door.

It is also very nice to be so close to the chapel and a restaurant,  as everything is on the same property.

 

 

This is a typical breakfast for us when we are on the road. I get one poached egg and an english muffin. Cerwin gets an omelet with all kinds of “stuff” in it, potatoes, and two slices of toast.

 

 

The chapel is just outside the restaurant.

 

 

I can see it from my “office” – a table in the restaurant. I always sit at the same table because it is the only one with an electrical outlet for my computer.

 

 

This is the reason we are here – to replace the entrance door.

 

 

It sure does need replacing.

 

 

Cerwin also wants to repaint the “mobile chapel” lettering, because it is beginning to look worn.

After looking at it, I thought, “I can do that” …or I can at least sand and scrape it so it is ready for Cerwin to paint. Cerwin seemed quite pleased with my proposal.

 

 

There is a nice rose bush in front of the chapel – with a few roses, each with a beautiful scent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love finding beauty where I can – even at a truck stop.

 

~~~

Our first job of the day was to pick up supplies for the repair work. Our first stop was Home Depot where Cerwin picked up paint, and a few other things. However he could not find the window he needed.

I did not bring clothing along for climbing a ladder and painting, so while Cerwin got his supplies at Home Depot, I walked next door to look for something suitable.

 

 

I figured Wal-Mart would be a good place to find what I needed.

 

 

I got a cotton shirt and baggy cargo pants.

 

 

The man at Home Depot was quite helpful in locating a window in the area, so our next stop was HD Supply where Cerwin found the size window he needed.

We are grateful to have our GPS unit along.

 

 

Then we went to Burnett & Sons to pick up the door Cerwin ordered two weeks ago.

 

 

Then it was back to Home Depot for a few more supplies that Cerwin discovered he would need to install the window and door.

I enjoyed the palm trees that lined one driveway in the large shopping complex.

 

 

They are a treat to my eyes, because we don’t see palm trees in the northeast.

 

 

We discovered that there is a man with a “smoker” out in the front yard of the truck stop – and the meat is sold in the restaurant. We shared a BBQ Tip Sandwich. Cerwin had the baked beans and I had potato salad.

 

 

Oh, yum! What a delicious supper.