Our Journey -- Another Open Door

I've learned over the years that God closes some doors, and opens other doors.  Sometimes I try to open those He has closed, and sometimes I balk at stepping through those He opens.  More recently, though, I've been stunned at the doors He has opened, and I've simply walked right through, venturing on to the next step in Fernando's and my journey together.

One of those mind-boggling doors opened last week, and I ran through.  It opened in the form of a phone call:  "Can Christine drive for you on the 18th/19th?"  Every now and then, a driver is needed to get the truck operator (technically, he's a satellite uplink technician) from one job to the next, if those jobs are back-to-back; the operator needs to sleep between jobs and can't drive.  Fernando needed a driver, I had been cleared to drive, and the door opened.

Fernando had a transmission in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the evening of the 18th, then in Muncie, Indiana on the afternoon of the 19th.

Facts:  Tulsa and Muncie are 10.5 hours (straight-through driving) apart.  The time from the end of the Tulsa job (~11pm ET) to the on-site time of the Muncie job (12:30pm ET) was 13.5 hours.  You get the math.  This would be a bear of a drive, my first time out.  But the door opened, and like I said--I ran through it.

I was hired.  I am a truck driver.  *goofy grin*

Just in case you want to know just what it is I'm driving.

Wednesday, February 16.

I've never visited the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, but I've passed by it four times now--to and from, two times.  Fernando was driving this third time as we headed west toward Tulsa.

Fernando had a hankering for some St. Louis barbecue, and thanks to my brilliance (ha!) with the Google Maps app, I found a local diner for our late lunch.

We switched back and forth driving the SAT truck, and finally ended up in Oklahoma.  The next day was windy (an understatement!) with a smoke/fire warning (we smelled the smoke the night before when we arrived at our hotel).  Fernando and I knew I would need to be able to get as much sleep as possible that afternoon, since I would be driving all night.  He had run out of the sleeping aid he usually used, so we made a trip down the street to Walgreen's.  As we pulled out of the hotel and onto the street, the heavens parted and the Lord shone His glowing rays down on a huge ice cream cone with a rotating sign:  our hotel was directly next door to Andy's Frozen Custard!!

We got our sleep aid, saw a Chipotle, and stopped there to share a burrito for lunch.  Share = I ate not quite a fourth of Fernando's burrito.  :)

Dessert was a given.

Back at our hotel, I settled in for an afternoon of trying to get some sleep, while Fernando drove the truck to the University of Tulsa for the NCAA basketball game for which he was providing the uplink.  The sleep aid was effective, mostly, and I ended up sleeping on and off through the late afternoon and evening.  I ate some supper (microwave Asian noodle bowl--at least it was organic!) and waited for Fernando to return so we could get on the road.

And I waited.  He was stuck at the site until another truck moved out of the way...

Friday, February 19.

By the time we were loaded up, checked out, and on the road it was about 12:15am.  Remember the windy day?  It hadn't let up, and I drove down I-44 East, traveling back through Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.  It was interesting driving, to say the least, and a constant fight against the crosswind.  I have a new appreciation for semi truck drivers!

At one point I passed an accident--a semi had most likely been blown off the road on my right, the trailer twisted and mangled at its front, and the cab lying there, all beat up from rolling onto its side.  I prayed for strength and safety--and felt the prayers of my friends/family as the Lord buoyed me up and gave me His strength.

Driving all night is lonely.

The view from my seat at a rest stop somewhere in Missouri, 4:13am.

Lonely is okay, though.  Fernando slept in the reclined seat next to me, and I sang quietly to the music playing on my phone, and I was filled with His endurance for the journey.  Fernando cautioned me that I didn't have anything to prove, and we could tag-team drive if I needed that; I made it to about 9:30am without having to wake him up.  I pulled off somewhere in Illinois to gas up (chanting diesel, diesel, diesel!!!in my head), wake up Fernando, go to the bathroom, and drag my spent body into the passenger seat.


Although I didn't sleep until we reached our hotel, the rest of the morning was a blur:  driving, talking, stopping at Cracker Barrel for lunch, parking at the hotel.  Fernando drove to Ball State University to work the basketball game (1pm arrival for set-up), and I crashed for three hours.  Three hours can be completely refreshing!

Then, I had a friend to call--Magy, whose home was exactly 1.8 miles from our hotel.  She graciously picked me up and we spent the evening together, talking, reminiscing, and sharing dinner with her and her family.  They wanted to see Fernando, and were happy to drive down to the university, just 12 minutes away.  We met Mark (I'll get his job title wrong--I think it was the production manager?), who is from New Jersey!  Based on the fact that he and I share that birth state (that's what I say, anyway), he gave the L. family and me a mini tour of the production truck.

The L. family took their leave, with an open door for us to come back to their house after the job ended (I left my camera bag there, after all!), which we did before heading back to our hotel.

I experienced my first car rental adventure the next day, since I would drive home while Fernando continued on to Murfreesboro, TN for the next job.  The four hours in my rented Toyota Camry was a breeze, for sure!

Back home, I shared lively conversation with my guys, who had (mostly) cleaned my kitchen.  I whipped up a quick dinner, which my friend Becki and I shared together (she came to pick up her co-op order and to visit me for the evening.

Later on, as I relaxed on my couch and looked at the family room the guys had "decorated" in dorm-room style, I realized it didn't bother me.  I was home, I was useful, and I was blessed.  Nothing more was needed.

Today, this very afternoon, I savored the oolong tea I had been drinking routinely just a few weeks ago, while Fernando was gone all those January/February days.  Life had taken yet another turn, down yet another new road--employment, for me.  And not just a job, not just an open door for me.  For Fernando, too.  He had longed for this through all those years of travel with his job early on in our marriage:  longed for his wife to be able to accompany him, to experience everything--new sights, new adventures--he got to experience.

And now she can.


Back to life,
Christine

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Our Journey -- Together

Tuesday, February 9.

Fernando left again.  He backed the SAT truck out of the driveway, put it in drive, and pressed his foot on the accelerator, and he was off.  But something was different this time.

Here's Fernando, below, about an hour away from home, driving south to his next job.  This was obviously not a selfie--see both his hands?  That's because I took this picture with my phone.  This week, I left with Fernando.

The afternoon before, Fernando got the okay for me to accompany him on this trip, which would be a good indicator of my ability to adapt to life on the road, life with my husband while he works, life in hotel rooms and not-so-healthy-but-take-what-you-get food.  With just a few hours to prepare, I had suitcase and camera bag in hand.  And last Tuesday morning, I climbed up into the passenger seat of Arctek Purple and left home with my husband at the wheel.  God opened this door, and I walked through.

I actually rarely used my camera, since most of the views were as we drove along, heading south toward Texas, and work, and friends, and family.  That first evening, after a rest, food, and fuel stop, somewhere in Oklahoma, we watched the sun set in front of our eyes.  Colors from pink and purple to orange, red, and yellow spread from far to our left all the way across to the sun setting, then all the way as far as we could see on our right.  As our route turned south, I opened the window to capture a fragment of the majestic beauty.  We were truly on a new journey, to places we've never been, and God's presence is there, too.

This actually was a fun road trip, since I got to spend Wednesday with my dear friend and "sister" Janice and her daughters and granddaughter while Fernando did the uplink transmission for the NCAA college basketball game at SMU in Dallas.  We had Thursday and Friday to make our way to New Orleans, so we drove through Houston to visit Fernando's cousin and her family.  They fed us (a huge blessing, in my book!), even picking oranges and grapefruit from their backyard trees for dessert!!  *happy dance*

On Friday morning, after a hearty breakfast with our cousins, we headed over to Louisiana and New Orleans for the next job.  Bayous, swamps, lazy rivers, ponds--water, water everywhere!

Along I-10 in Louisiana, headed toward New Orleans.

We drove across so many bridges!  As we headed toward, and past, New Orleans (had to stay outside of the city), we crossed this bridge below.

We missed breakfast at the hotel in order to arrive on site (Tulane University in New Orleans) by 7:00a.m.  Arctek Purple is Fernando's work space, and that huge trailer is the production truck.  These work together to tape the event (NCAA basketball), get the signal to the satellite, and out to TVs everywhere.

It was fun to watch Fernando work his magic.  We like to joke that it's pixie dust that he uses, finding the satellite (the "bird"), tuning things (really, I have no idea), making sure the DSS is working and signals are correct and a whole bunch more of tech stuff I never knew existed.

My Papi Bear paused for a sweet pic before tip-off.

There were down times during the afternoon, so I had to get a picture of myself, too!

As we were preparing to leave, Fernando said his goodbyes to the production crew.  One guy, who glanced at me, told Fernando, "You be careful now."  A few looks and Fernando understood what he was saying.  His response:  "Um, that's my wife."  The guy was dumbfounded.  (Whatever...!)  I think others thought I was his, um, "road buddy," if you catch my drift.  No wonder I got some strange looks.  We'll have to rectify that on the next job site.  Sometimes it's funny that Fernando and I look so different, even in age, but sometimes it's tiring.  Mostly we just laugh about it.

Seeing that Valentine's Day was the next day, I texted with a friend who has a brother in New Orleans to find a great authentic restaurant where we wouldn't feel out of place in jeans, and where we could celebrate being together this week, and celebrate the love the Lord has blessed us with these past 28+ years.

One lady walking by came up to the truck and I chatted with her, then asked her for restaurant recommendations:  New Orleans Food & Spirits.  My texting friend Cindy confirmed with her brother that was a good, and casual, restaurant.  Even though it was north of the city, we decided to check it out.

Our local beers.

After I took a picture of our--quite impressive--drinks, the waitress offered to take our picture.

The food was amazing, the atmosphere hoppin', and the waitress helpful and so very friendly.

Together, at work and play--well, I was his road buddy, after all!!


Back to life,
Christine

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New Every Morning -- Eight Days

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

Read previous segments here:

The Beginning
The Injury
The Furnace
The Waiting
Employment
The House
The Phone Call
The Truck
The Car
The Business
Nightfall
The Gift


Eight Days

Now that a month has gone by, it's time for an update.  Fernando's current work with Arctek is indeed a gift, as I called it in the last post.  Unwrap any gift, however, and you'll find not only gratefulness and excitement, but responsibility, and sometimes even burden as well.  Such is the case with this precious gift of work.

Off on his next job assignments.

Eight days.  That's the sum total of time I've seen my husband since he started working from January 4 through tonight..  Home late on a Saturday, or perhaps a Sunday afternoon, then gone again Monday afternoon, or Tuesday morning.  Precious days, or just hours, scattered here and there throughout the last month and a half, slivers of time we've held on to because it was trickling away.

Grateful?  Absolutely.  Bills are being paid, and the household is running more smoothly.
Exciting?  Definitely.  I'm excited for Fernando, who loves to travel and work with people; I love to see the photos he posts on Facebook, and I enjoy the stories he tells me over the phone of his adventures, the assignments, and the people he meets.

Then there's the responsibility, and the burden--both obviously Fernando's, since he's the one with the job.  But both mine, too.

I shoulder the responsibilities and burdens of home, and taking up those things I haven't normally had to do:  minor home repairs, new windshield wipers on the car, paying bills, even filling the car with gas. I've become the "business widow," the woman who stays behind while her man goes away to provide for his family.  Don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining!  There are blessings spread throughout the alone-ness...

Dog-sitting this bundle of (mostly) fun was a delight!

There's less laundry to do...

I'm still making delicious meals, and there are plenty of leftovers!

Our bed looks like this; I flip down a corner at night, and when I wake up, flip it back up and poof--the bed is made!

We've been through so much that I can't not think about those blessings!  The Lord has opened this door and ushered us through, each with our own responsibilities and burdens, at the same time walking the road together.  And, as the days apart tick away, I start looking forward to our days together.

The weight of Fernando's leave-taking becomes replaced with the anticipation of his return, this particular day being Jake's "Games 'n Grub" party he likes to throw for his birthday celebration late January.  I told the boys to make a sign and prop it up in the driveway so Fernando would have a parking space when I got home that evening.

Jake's cake--Almond Cream Cake--became more than just a birthday cake to me, and the celebration became in a sense more than just Jake's birthday.  Fernando would be home!

Happy birthday, Jake!  (Thanks, Vic, for grabbing my camera and taking this picture!)

This time, we had a day and a half together.  Fernando fell into bed 8:30 that night of the party, we attended church services the next morning, and we napped in the afternoon.  By Monday afternoon, he was driving away again.

Through the weight of watching Fernando leave, waving goodbye until the SAT truck disappears around the curve and turning away toward the responsibilities waiting for me just inside that front door, I take a breath.  Then one more, deep; I hold it for just a moment, then release it.  I shut the door, and turn to this new life.

Over the last (almost) three years, the Lord has brought to an end so many things in our lives--employment, homeschooling, self-sufficiency and complacency, even our church home.  He carried Fernando and me to this completely new road, not one we would ever have chosen for ourselves, not one we could ever have envisioned for the second half of our life together, but it's His way for us, by His leading.  He closed the door on yesterday, and opened a new one, a beginning, for today and tomorrow.

I'm now at the point where I feel like I can breathe again, where I can see His light along the road ahead, while knowing that when I look back I will see the depths of His grace in our lives.  It's time, and I step into the future, lit by His grace.



Back to life,
Christine

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PB Cup Delight

In the mood for chocolate and peanut butter?  Look no further.  I experimented a few times with this recipe, even though for the life of me I couldn't cut the cake in beautiful wedge-shaped slices as the original blogger did (and her photos are beautiful!).

Honestly, though, you won't want a wedge-shaped slice.  One little piece is all you'll want, possibly with a cup of black coffee.  This is a rich, decadent beast of a cake, meant to be savored in small portions.  Keep this in mind when making it, since you will be able to feed a lot of people with this triple-layer cake from heaven.  Or just maybe, you won't get tired of eating small pieces every day for a couple of weeks, while hiding the cake container from your family.

This recipe has three components:

• Three layers of flourless chocolate cake (hey, it's gluten free!)
• Peanut butter buttercream frosting
• Chocolate ganache

Once each component is prepared, you have to assemble this triple-layer monster.  After trial and error, I think I've come up with a successful assembly method.  The first time I made this, I had to deal with trying to spread the buttercream frosting over soft ganache--yeah, that was a mess.  So make sure you read the assembly instructions before you just dive in, and consider these words your fair warning.  :)

One small piece of decadent chocolatey heaven.

Peanut Butter Cup Delight
Serves 30, if you cut really small pieces.  Or hey, just overindulge--I'm not your judge.

The Cake
1 cup (two sticks) butter
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chopped from a bar)
6 eggs
1 cup cane juice crystals (or sugar)
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 cup cocoa powder (I use Dutch process)

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease three eight-inch cake pans and line with parchment paper.  Melt the butter and chocolate chips in a medium saucepan over low heat (can use microwave).

Meanwhile, beat the eggs and sugar together for 3-5 minutes (I use a super powerful Bosch Universal Mixer on Speed 3 or 4 so it doesn't take that long) on high speed until pale and more than doubled in volume.  Add the vanilla to the eggs and beat until combined.  Sift in the cocoa and salt and mix again until combined.  Stream in the melted chocolate and butter, and beat until combined.

Divide into the prepared cake pans and bake for--start with 15 minutes, and add time up to 25 minutes--until an inserted toothpick comes out with some crumbs attached but no longer wet.  (The first time I baked the cakes at 20 minutes, they came out dry, and my oven usually bakes more slowly.)  Remove from oven, carefully invert onto cooling racks and cool thoroughly.

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
If you like, you can prepare this once you've spread the ganache on the cake layers.

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter (I use natural pb)
1 1/2 cups (three sticks) butter
1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
6 cups powdered sugar
8-10 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Cream together the peanut butter and butter.  Add the salt and vanilla.  Alternately add the powdered sugar and cream.  If too thin, add more cane juice crystals; if too thick add more cream.  Beat until fluffy.

Chocolate Ganache
3 cups chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) -- can use combo of semi-sweet and milk chocolate
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter

Prepare the ganache once you're ready for assembly, since you'll want to spread it on the cake layers right after making it. Melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan on low heat (or use a double boiler, or the microwave), stirring pretty much constantly until it is melted and smooth.

Assembly Instructions

Once cakes have cooled, make sure each cake is un-stuck from its respective cooling rack! Also, when spreading the chocolate ganache, make sure you divide it evenly enough for each of three layers plus the top of the completely frosted cake.

Spread a layer of ganache on top of each cake layer, then carefully set each layer--still on its cooling rack--into the freezer for about 5-10 minutes. This helps the ganache to harden, making it sooo much easier to spread the frosting on the layers. You'll have to trust me on this. If you haven't done it yet, prepare the buttercream frosting while the cakes are in the freezer. The cakes can stay in the freezer for a while if you need--though if you let them stay there overnight you should carefully cover them in plastic after the ganache initially hardens.

Once the ganache is hardened, remove the cake layers from the freezer one at a time to frost them. Frost the top of the first layer, then add the second, frost that, then add the third and frost that. Finish frosting the sides, then spread the remaining ganache on the top of the cake, letting the ganache drip down the sides.

And, since I had some Trader Joe's dark chocolate mini peanut butter cups in my pantry (because who wouldn't make sure her pantry is stocked with those?), I used them for decorating--whole ones for the top, and cut-in-half ones pushed gently into the frosting all around the base of the cake..

Cutting Instructions

You didn't think the cutting part of this recipe would be easy, did you? *wink* The only easy part of it all is actually eating it. Because this cake can really soften into a mess, I initially store it in the fridge. But, although this keeps the ganache cold, it also keeps it hard. So, for cutting and serving, I keep the cake on the counter or table anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour before serving. You can cut it right out of the fridge, though--just be careful and go easy and slow. If you don't care how messy this gets, get a really sharp knife (I use a long serrated one) and start cutting. Otherwise, run the knife under hot water to warm it up, then cut. When the knife gets too gooey and full of yumminess, scrape it off (because you'll want to eat that part), run it under hot water again, and continue the process.

To get the maximum number of servings--instead of watching people eat a quarter of their pieces then throwing the rest out (it's that rich)--make your first slice straight across the cake about a third of the way in. Then cut slices perpendicular to that initial cut. Once that section is served, make another long cut across the remainder of the cake, cutting it in half, then cut more perpendicular slices from there. You can easily serve 30 people cutting any cake this way!

Whew, that's a ton of work.  But this beast of a cake is so worth it!

Back to life,
Christine

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Beef Liver and Onions

Yes, I really typed that.  Liver.  It was in a side of beef that we had purchased a while ago, and I had no idea what to do with it.  I've had people tell me to cook it "low and slow" and "high and fast."  What to do?  I asked a couple friends then went surfing around the internet for help.

What I learned:

1. Soaking the liver in milk rids it of that liver-y taste (if you don't like it).
2. Don't overcook the liver; it will become tough.

Based on these things, I decided that higher and faster would be the way I would go.  One thing I didn't like, though, was the onions cut in rings.  The next time I made this, I just chunked them up--no strings of onions to try and cut through, and the taste was the same.  (I have texture issues...)

This recipe turned out delicious!  I was surprised that I liked liver; now on the off-chance we order more beef in the future, I'll know exactly what to do with the liver we get.

Here's the recipe!

Beef Liver and Onions

1 1/2 pounds of sliced beef liver
milk as needed to cover the liver (one cup, maybe more)
2-4 tablespoons of butter/oil/lard (whatever you use, or combination), divided
2 medium/large onions, either cut into rings or chopped to your preferred size
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup or so of all-purpose flour
garlic powder, salt, pepper -- for seasoning

Gently rinse liver slices under cold water, swipe moister away with fingers, and place in a bowl.  Pour milk over liver until covered; let stand 30 minutes to an hour.

Heat two tablespoons of butter/oil/lard in a large skillet set on medium heat.  Stir in the onions and garlic and saute until soft.  Remove to a separate bowl.

Drain the milk from the liver.  Season the liver with salt, pepper, and garlic, and dredge in the flour (or sprinkle the flour over the slices).

Meanwhile, heat the remaining two tablespoons butter/oil in the skillet on medium-high.  Place the coated liver slices in the pan; cook until nice and brown on the bottoms.  Flip and cook the other sides until browned.  Add the onions back into the skillet and reduce heat to medium.  Cook just a bit longer to meld the flavors together.  Don't overcook!  Cut a piece to see if it's a teeny bit pink inside, then remove from heat and serve.

Back to life,
Christine

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Stovetop Hot Chocolate

Sometimes I get frustrated with my "from scratch" pantry.  That winter morning, for instance, I come inside from shoveling snow watching my son shoveling snow and want something to warm my  insides.  Or that January evening when I'm curled up in a chair actually reading a book from the hundreds I've pinned on my "to read someday" Pinterest board.  Those days, I wish I could rip open a packet of hot chocolate, heat up some water, and have instant sweet and hot swirling around my mouth and warming my insides.

Really, though, making your own hot chocolate doesn't take much extra time.  It's healthier than store-bought convenience packets, and if your pantry is stocked with the basics--cocoa, sugar, salt, milk, and vanilla--you're all set!  You can easily make a whole pot to share--you may as well, seeing that it doesn't take any extra time to measure out the extra amounts.  Leftovers, if you have any--can be stored in a Mason jar in the fridge; just reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

If you're a hot chocolate fanatic and want to make this frequently (or a super organized plan-ahead person like I am), make up the dry ingredients and store in baggies or other containers, whether single serve or however you like.  If you store it in one large container, you'll need about 1/4 cup of mix for a single serving.  Otherwise, just mix the dry ingredients, divide into fourths (a weight scale is the most accurate way), and store in small plastic food storage bags.  By doing this ahead of time, it becomes just as fast--and a whole lot healthier--than the store-bought version!

Stovetop Hot Chocolate
Serves four.

1/2 cup cocoa (I use high quality Dutch process)
1/2 cup (or less, if you want to cut back) sugar or cane juice crystals
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Measure the cocoa, sugar, and salt into a 2- or 3-quart saucepan.  Pour about half a cup of the milk into the saucepan and stir with a whisk until the dry ingredients have been incorporated.  Whisk in the rest of the milk while heating up to a nice, hot simmer.  Whisk occasionally so the milk doesn't scald, and once it's heated nice and hot (doesn't need to come to a boil--just taste it carefully!), ladle it into cups and enjoy!

Hot chocolate in my Lake Bonaparte mug.

Back to life,
Christine

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New Every Morning Part Twelve

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

Read previous segments here:

The Beginning
The Injury
The Furnace
The Waiting
Employment
The House
The Phone Call
The Truck
The Car
The Business
Nightfall

The Gift

Maple leaf tree ornament on our Christmas tree.

Happy New Year!  As our 2015 Christmas was celebrated and we headed into this new year, I thanked the Lord for a very special gift, which we actually began to open the week before Christmas.  We had just gotten home from California, where we had traveled to be with family at the death of Fernando's aunt.  There were vague prospects for employment for Fernando, and we took the next steps of life into a misty, uncertain future.

One of the homes on our Christmas light "sightseeing" date.

God had plans for us, however--plans that were months in the making, being woven into the tapestry that is our family's life, with gold- and silver-stranded threads we couldn't see until now.  It was time for Him to reveal the front side of our life's tapestry, as He does every now and then, to show us the beauty we many times don't see because we're looking at the back side into which He is weaving what seems like a confusing mishmash of variously colored threads and yarn.  Oh, the beauty of seeing His perspective from time to time, the awe of knowing how intricately He is involved in our lives!

Silvery snowflake ornament, a gift from my younger brother.

You may recall in Part Eight of our journey the story of the Arctek truck--how Fernando had had a month's work with this satellite uplink company, and how I thought that that work would result in more permanent employment, and how perfect that would have been so that Fernando could work every other month (as is Arctek's typical practice) and have time to build his business in the off months.  When those expectations faded, and Fernando started to build his business over the summer, I thought that may be the direction the Lord was leading; but then his business income slowed, and I was left with questions:

• Although I was thankful for the much-needed income that March, why just one month with this company, then nothing?  What was the purpose?
• Why had Fernando's business surged forward, then slowed?  What exactly were we supposed to be doing?

I had the whys of each of the other sat (satellite) truck companies figured out:

• STS helped Fernando get his CDL, and introduce him to the uplink operations part of the broadcast communications industry.
• Working with PSSI enabled us to keep our house with exactly, to-the-day three months of employment.

But the reason behind that March's work with Arctek eluded me.  Not that I needed to know--many times we don't know the why, and we may never know, until we see Him face to face, and all becomes clear.  I would have liked to know.

And now, I know.

The week before Christmas, Fernando got a phone call out of the blue from Arctek:  Are you still interested in working for us?  Fernando's immediate answer:  yes.  They wanted Fernando to work a job for them the week of Christmas, just to confirm their confidence in his abilities, and then they'd offer more permanent employment in the new year.  Two employees--one who retired and one who moved into a different position--both recommended Fernando for the operator of Arctek Purple, the satellite truck Fernando had worked with back in March last year.

The next Monday, just like that, Fernando was off, headed out to Iowa.  He made it home for Christmas, and the Arctek satellite truck was once again parked in our driveway--a very good sign for the new year.

Arctek Purple parked in our driveway.

We rang in the New Year with family...

...and the following Monday evening, Fernando was off--Indiana, Ohio, Indiana again, and home, finally, late last night.  He worked with the heads of Arctek throughout the week, troubleshooting his way through last-minute issues, completing transmissions, driving from city to city.  They were duly impressed with Fernando--which is my opinion from what he told me, but seriously--he handled himself like the professional he is on the job.

My questions (from above) were answered, and things--even things I hadn't thought about--are now clear:

• Fernando's work with Arctek last March laid the foundation for his future employment with them.
• The delay in hiring him was the push he needed to start and grow his business. 
• Now he has the ability to earn income with Arctek and with his own now-established business.
• My past inability to secure extra outside-the-home employment has turned into the ability to manage the home front and both of our businesses while Fernando is gone.
• I also have the potential to travel with Fernando on some of his longer trips away.

The mist has lifted, and the Lord has lit the path of our immediate future.  Just a few hours ago, and less than 24 hours after Fernando arrived home, he kissed me goodbye and is right this very minute driving toward Michigan and the next transmission job.

Our table is set for a bountiful feast of blessings this year!

This won't be the end of Our Journey posts, I'm sure.  There will be more to share from time to time as we move ahead along the Lord's path for our lives.  And I'll share it here, where we can praise Him for all that He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives!


Back to life,
Christine

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