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Visiting Kristen & More Trucks Arriving

On Monday evening Jere took his older children (Josh, Jana, and Ian), also Abigail, Hezekiah, and Cerwin to see the Barnstormers – local baseball.

That left Jared and me, so we decided to visit Kristen in the hospital.

First, I took him to a local greenhouse to choose an artificial flower for his mom.  He was quite opinionated , and after saying, “I don’t like that,” several times, he finally settled for this one, and was quite pleased with himself.

She has been getting a lot of real flowers and plants, so I thought it might be nice for Jared to give her one that looks real.

Walking by the construction at the hospital entrance.

In the elevator.

Surprising Mom! 

It was the first time I saw her standing in three weeks!  She was heading back to bed after a short walk.

Saying goodby.

Afterward we stopped at McDonald’s for supper.

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Keep Jere and Kristen in your prayers. 

She had another amniocentesis today – to see if their baby is ready to be delivered by C-Section.  Her discomfort level is progressively getting worse, so they think tomorrow would be a great day to have a baby!

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More Trucks Arriving at the Expo on Saturday

 Rigs Kept Coming

From the North and South ~ East and West

 I wish I could insert the sounds of Jake Brakes, engines, and horns.

My 2nd favorite trucker (oldest son) pulling into place. 

Wolfpak’s Beautiful Fleet Arrived Early

Fifteen in this row ~ with two more in the back

They promptly began touching up their rigs.

When these guys heard the click of my camera, they quickly dispersed, thinking I wanted a picture of the truck.  Actually, I wanted exactly what I got ~ a photo of their shirts.

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Congratulations for winning the trophy for largest fleet.

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Breakfast

Truck Rally Continued

About fifty Truck Rally committee members and day volunteers met for the 6:00 AM breakfast on the day of the Rally.

Before asking a blessing on the meal and the Rally, Gene Gehman (Rally Coordinator – standing on the left), challenged us to look for “God things” during the busyness of our day.

One of the fun happenings of the morning was that the waitress wouldn’t let anyone sit in “my chair” (the empty one on the left).  I didn’t realize that I usually sit in it for this once-a-year breakfast – or that anyone noticed!  Even though Cerwin and I arrived at 5:50,there were a few there ahead of us, and when Mark Leatherman (orange shirt) tried to sit there – she told him that is “Doris’ chair”.

We enjoyed that – and felt blessed that she was comfortable enough to have fun with us.  It is not a restaurant most of us frequent during the rest of the year, as it is out of our area.

Proud First-Time Grandpa!

Paul Sensenig (Truck Rally CDL Roadeo) enjoyed showing off their first grandchild.

OK, It’s Time for Truck Rally Details!

Beginning with the preparations ~ earlier in the week

Hezekiah’s job was to wash the chapel 

At the same time Don Hollinger was making the old Mack look good.

This tractor was recently donated to TFC.

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Friday, June 22

After an incredibly busy week, Friday evening arrived ~ as we knew it would ~ and it was time to open the vacant Lebanon Expo buildings and start getting ready for the weekend activities.

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However, some of our activities were put on hold to watch Bethel Truck Service lay a rig over in preparation for Saturday’s demonstration on how First Responder’s and a towing service deal with accidents that involve a rollover.

Getting the rig in position

Positioning the car

 Preparing the trailer

 It’s time for the rollover.

Scott Bross overseeing the process

The process is finished ~ and the car is smashed under the burned-out tractor.

Lucy and Barry Grim (campground hosts for the weekend), and a granddaughter prepare to leave the “scene of the accident”.

Notice the FedEx doubles in the background.  Paul Sensening and John Peachy are setting up the CDL roadeo course ~ hoping two trailers will add new challenges to this year’s competition.

As I was leaving the Expo Center ~ the sight of these three early arrivals made me excited for the next day.

We rarely have more than three or four rigs on the grounds overnight ~ and those usually come from a distance. 

There were already a dozen there when I left on Friday evening, and nearly two dozen on the grounds when we arrived at 7:00 AM Saturday morning.

Truck Rally 2007

The Weather Was Awesome

If there was a more beautiful day in twenty-six years of Truck Rallies, we have forgotten about it. 

I don’t have much time to post this morning ~ we must get back to the Expo Center to prepare for Truck Rally Celebration (morning worship) ~ but I wanted to show you a few pictures of the parade from our grandson’s (Hezekiah) point of view.  He was in the passenger seat of TFC’s promotional chapel ~ the leader of the parade.  There will be MANY more pictures to come!

One unusual happening in this Rally was the presence of two chapels.  Cerwin drove the local promotional chapel, and the brand new, East St. Louis chapel was pulled by Volunteer Chaplain Jake Wise.  Lettering was completed on Friday ~ and Jake brought it to the Rally from the sign shop on Friday evening.

This is my favorite photo from Hezekiah’s perch in the passenger seat.

This is the reason you will see many more pictures of the Rally ~ and what every driver saw ~ me taking pictures! 

This is the Day!

Truck Rally

The scene when we left the Lebanon Expo Center last night.

A beautiful sunset – with a gorgeous day predicted for today.

Too Busy for Posting!

Truck Rally is Happening Tomorrow

Keep the day in your prayers.

Pray especially for safety, as there are a lot of trucks, adults, and children.

Pray that the Lord will show Himself strong in meeting our needs for the day!.