Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 19

Today I am thankful for Psalm 95:2 which reads ... "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." I am truly blessed to have people in my life who were bold enough to show the errors of my ways, witness to me in my time of need, and be there for me when I needed that nudge to move forward in a positive light. I dont have to list names of who you are - you know who you are :) Know that deep down from my heart I just want to say how thankful I am to have you. Happy Thanksgiving!

J-Dawg

Thursday 13 - 11/26/09

Hello everyone! Welcome to another edition of the Thursday 13 - This week I am going to give you 13 of my favorite verses or scriptures from the bible (I have "The Living Bible" for reading and have for many years and use Bible Gateway for scripture lookups). Some of them have special meaning. Some of them might be from friends...each with their own merits. So on this Thanksgiving, I give thanks to Him and 13 of his passages:

1. Proverbs 18:17 A True friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
2. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.
3. Romans 8:28 And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.
4. John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 But, dear brothers, you are not in the dark about these things, and you won"t be surprised as by a thief when that day of the Lord comes. For you are all children of the light and of the day, and do not belong to the darkness and the night. So be n your guard, not asleep like the others. Watch for His return and stay sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light keep sober, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the happy hope of salvation.
6. Psalm 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
7. 1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
8. Romans 15:30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
9. 2 Timothy 2:25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
10. Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
11. 2 Chronicles 30:9 If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.
12. Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
13. Proverbs 1:33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.

On this Day of Thanksgiving - I give thanks not only to those who have chosen to read this, those who I consider my friends and family, and those who in a time of need might refer back to this someday. Happy Thanksgiving -- it is right to give Him thanks!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 18

is thankful today that I have arrived SAFELY in Conway SC at the 'rents house for Thanksgiving Festivities! There was only one hangup today - it was only 15 minutes - and for that, I am also grateful!. I hope each of you has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 17

is thankful that I just received my work assignment to my dad's house for Thanksgiving! Martinsville VA to Jonesville SC. Pickup a trailer, take it to Georgetown, drop it for a customer, and bobtail for TURKEY! YAY!

J-Dawg

A Reason for The Season

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington , D.C. 20307-5001.

Think of how many cards these wonderful folks who have sacrificed so much would get. Our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen who can't be home with their families will really love this!! PLEASE RE-POST!!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 16

Today I am thankful that I am sitting less than 220 miles from where I want to be on Wednesday for Thanksgiving :) Feels good to be this close knowing I will get a 3-day siesta with the 'rents!!!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 15

Today, I am thankful for the nice warm shower I just took - nothing like standing under a nice hot spray of water for 20 minutes and breathing in the warm air -- and just relaxing...done for the day and will enjoy the Saints game on XM!

J-Dawg

Sunday Morning

Ever get a totally unexpected phonecall and it catches you by surprise -- but in a good way? Welcome to my morning :)

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 14

is thankful for HALLS® cough drops - can't take medicine while I drive which sucks! There are so many things that DOT says we cannot take (dont get me wrong - I am glad they regulate it) but sometimes it is cumbersome to try and figure out if it is something you can or cannot take for something minor, like cold or flu. I guess I shouldnt complain...when I drove before you couldnt even have LIQUID Nyquil or Dayquil because of the alcohol content it was considered liquor and couldnt be in the truck at all!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge Part 13

Today I am am thankful for my parking spot. Luckily for me I found one - head cold kicked in and I am a little cloudy to say the least. Also thankful for my nice warm comforter (thanks Kathy!) Its STILL nice and warm! Going from chills to sweating to chills to sweating WITH chills....YAY!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 12

Today, I am thankful my supportive family, for without them, I would not be the person I am today. They are always willing to help when asked. They are loving and kind, but have the 2x4 handy when it needs to be wielded :) I love my family!

J-Dawg

Thursday 13 - 11/19/09

Hey guys and gals! Thought I would do a Thursday 13 in the middle of my Thanksgiving Challenge. It is getting harder and harder every day, but somehow I have been able to keep it up! Anyway, this week, my TT13 is about Life on the Road:

1. As a driver, I know I wont eat out when I come off the road for a VERY LONG TIME!! Eating out every day, as nice as it sounds, really isnt.
2. The hours are long and hard, but I am up for the challenge :) I dont mind working hard!
3. When you are around a semi, dont linger! And always make sure you leave space between you and the truck...it takes up 5x longer to stop than a car
4. WINDSHIELD WIPERS and HEADLIGHTS!!! If wipers are on, LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON TOO!!! We cant see you! (This is going to be my cause for 2010! LOL)
5. You get more bees with honey. If you are nice to a shipper they will work with you. Walk in there full of attitude, and watch how fast you get denied (and in the case of the driver on Thursday of last week) asked to leave and not return! In the famous words of Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse "Whatever you do - BE NICE!"
6. I have been lucky enough to visit people while on the road :) THAT is a nice change of pace for me...I get to leave the truck and be a human being, even if it is just for a couple of hours over dinner.
7. DOT (Department of Transportation) REALLY needs to stop doing PATCH work on roads, and just repave. Patching patches near other patches which have other patches makes for a VERY rough ride. Doing that 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week, you take a beating on some roads! AND, for crying out loud, if its not a bridge, GET AWAY FROM CONCRETE!!!
   
8. I have been able to enjoy the changing of the colors this year in a number of states, like NC, TN, OH, GA, MO, IL, WI, TX, VA, WV...so being able to watch the colors change in so many different areas has been fun!
9. There is a reason why drivers call Nashville, TN "CRASHville" -- over a 3 day period I was through Crashville 3 times - and each time, there was a crash at the SAME EXIT!!!! Not including the other 2 while there....oy vey those people CANNOT drive! Makes the people in Bahston (aka Boston) know how to drive their cahs and pahk their cahs too. Crashville residents need to learn to DRIVE! Period.
10. I LOVE driving and being in TX! I miss it there
11. Kansas is VERY boring! OH MY! I had forgotten how desolate and boring Kansas was! (Sorry if you live there, there are some NICE places, but you have to drive a LONG way between nice places in some desolate and boring land LOL)
12. Driving in Atlanta sucks - there is no better way to say that other than - it sucks!
13. AND Last but certainly not least - for the amount of road use taxes (or fuel taxes) they collect in this god-forsaken state (Oh, I mean Wisconsin here ) - we have the WORST ROADS IN AMERICA!! Granted, there are a couple of nice roads, but for the most part they are horrible! And there are some bad roads in OK but they are replacing them, where Wisconsin would rather spend that money PATCHING - dont patch - REPLACE!!! The roads here are terrible, atrocious, and flat-out AWFUL!

OK I am off my soapbox - always remember - if you buy something, it got there by a truck driver so always be thankful we do what we do! Without truck driver, America stops!

Take care and until next time.....

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 11

Today I am thankful for the people who supports others in a time of need. It doesnt matter if you are a nurse at a hospital, a social worker in a county office, or just a friend saying a prayer for someone they dont even know...just know that I am thankful for everyone for what they do to support and help others! Your work does not go unnoticed.

J-Dawg

Prayer Request

Hey guys/gals

I am askung for some prayer help for my friend's sister Jenn and her daughter Lauren as they are dealing with a very difficult period in their lives. Leave a quick message for them so they can see the power of prayer.

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 10

is thankful for Aleve - the weather changes have this old body in rough shape today!! I am achy froim head to toe :(
I have realized (again) and again (and again) that I have not taken care of myself the way I should have...and I pay for it every time. I dont know how to get myself BACK into shape with the job I have - I do good, then I slip and this good then slip cycle repeats itself over, and over, and over again to the point where I am at a loss.
I lost 31 pounds since July, and somehow since the first of October have been able to put it all back on -- just frustrates the hell out of me.
I know the stress of trying to get out of this truck once and for all is really tear at me in a lot of directions...
I think its time to put everything back into the hands of God and ask him what I need to do to rite this ship...

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 9

is thankful for a sign I saw today:
"Life is brighter with the Son!"
HOW TRUE!
During a conversation today with a friend of mine, we were talking after work about an hour, and I was telling him about how I have had to refocus my spiritual life, and how that is translating into my every day. He made a very valid point - its not a refocus, its a recommitment. I have to be committed to a life with Him in your life, not just on the surface, but in ALL aspects of your life. I never thought about Him being a part of my job quests, or job directions before to be perfectly honest. So we talked about how we cant pick and choose where we allow Him into out daily lives. Tom was SO right. He said put it into his hands and he will make sure you are pointed in the right direction for whatever it is He has in store for you - put it into His capable hands and pray he leads you in the right way.

Tom was sooooooo very right! He also always says "Seek first to understand"...his best Tom-ism and one I am trying every day to make it a part of my everyday.

J-Dawg

PS I am also thankful for the change on XM for the Holiday Season - XM-23 has gone from LOVE SONGS to HOLLY -- Holiday songs 24 hours! HOW awesome is that!

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 8

is thankful that I was able to spend last night with friends of mine in Fort Worth. Shauna, Chad, Kaylen and I all went out to Fresco's to eat - and it was FABULOUS! We ate out on the outdoor patio with a live band ... could not have asked for a nicer evening!

The one benefit to having the job I have is the ability to do things like I did last night. I can get out of this truck, and feel like a normal human being doing normal everyday activities!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 7

is thankful for this beautiful weather I am getting to enjoy here in South Texas - 77 degrees and barely a cloud in the sky!! My friends Doug and Tim are in Cheyenne WY - 17 degrees! Let me reiterate how NICE it is to be down here in South Texas!!!! No complaints here :)

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 6

is thankful that none of the accidents he saw today included him! The worst was the 5-car in Austin - the 3rd car -- nothing left of the front end! Pushed all the way into the windshield! This was a bad one - it took me over an hour to get through Austin today -- and that was BEFORE rush hour!! I tell ya, if I lived in Austin, I would HAVE to either do mass-transit or 2nd shift LOL They build a loop around Austin and what do they do?? MAKE IT A TOLL ROAD!! Nobody uses it due to the cost! For a semi - its $35 for a 35 mile road. Compare that to the Illinois Tollway around Chicago - 80 miles from the Illinois border with Indiana to the Illinois border with Wisconsin -- $18.40 between 7pm and 7am and $24.50 during the day -- so you can see how the state of Texas just screwed themselves! NOBODY in their right mind would pay $1 per mile! That is outrageous!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 5

is thankful for Elisa, Dad, Rick, Bill, Dawn, Traci, Melissa, Joe, Shauna, Rez, Audie, Betsy, Linda, Jeff, Christine, Leslie, Drake, Brett, Jen, Brien, Jennie, Mark, Chevonne, Christa, Deb, Clem, & everyone else I call family and friends :) I have a great close-nit circle of friends, and my family is 2nd to none - always there at a moments notice. Without them, I dont know where I would be today. I cannot be thankful enough for my friends and family! Speaking of family - only 12 days until I am "thanksgivining" in South Carolina! YAY! Cant wait!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 4

is thankful for our Armed Forces and Military past and present for without them, this great country of ours would not be what it is today! My father is former military, as is his father. There are days when I wish I would have followed in my father's footsteps and gone military. to think, right now I would have 21 years in!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 3

Is thankful God gave me the ability to do what I do to support my family. Although it is a profession that has taken a toll on me physically and emotionally, it has also allowed me to see the US, and have some financial stability in a time when that seems to be something that is few and far between.

And the hits just KEEP ON Comin'!!!

In this day and age when we should be thinking about saving money, not spending more money, comes this article. AMAZING!!! As if the first $2 trillion in the first 9 months wasnt enough!

First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants
By Dr. Paul L. Williams

Quote from Michelle Obama: "In my own life, in my own small way, I have
tried to give back to this country that has given me so much," she said.
"See, that's why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service."

No, Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she
doesn't perform any official duties. But this hasn't deterred her from hiring
an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to
satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession.

Just think a second, Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china
for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to
shell out the salary for her personal secretary.

Hillary Clinton had three assistants, Jackie Kennedy one; Laura Bush one;
and prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own
pocket.

How things have changed! If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans
facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the
shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Miz Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public:

1. $172,000- Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2.. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects for First Lady)
3. $113,000 - Roger s, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for First Lady)
5. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. Deputy Director, Scheduling & Events Coordinator For The First Lady
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A.. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)

There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even Hillary, only had three; Jackie Kennedy one; Laura Bush one; and prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own pocket...

Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and
"First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air
Force One to Europe .

Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com
canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12652

I am just astounded...but I should have seen it coming. I am thoroughly disgusted with what this government is doing. I say we fire them all - YES ALL OF THEM - and start over - and they ALL have to go thru the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University before they are hired!!! I'm sorry but if I overdraw my account by $1 the bank is on my phone like I committed 1st degree felony! This administration is $12 trillion in the hole and STILL WRITING CHECKS!!!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 2

Today I am thankful I have a great team of people to work with. They take care of me, and make sure I get the miles I need to survive and then some...and we can have fun doing it! I took in a dozen donuts to them just to say THANKS!

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge - Part 1

Today, I am thankful for a wonderful day with my kids, and a wonderful weekend for my daughter's birthday. Last year at this time, it was in the 20's, windy, and SNOWING! This year, all weekend it was sunny, and 70! She had a wonderful birthday party with her friends.

J-Dawg

Thanksgiving Challenge

Let's see how many people can do this. Every day this month until Thanksgiving, think of one thing you are thankful for and post it on your blog. "Today I am thankful for..." The longer you do it, the harder it gets! Up for the challenge? Re-post this message on your site inviting others to take the challenge and let me know so I can see what you are thankful for :)

J-Dawg

Running on "E"

My tank is on "E" - emotionally, monetarily, physically - you name it. Why is this hole I find myself in to be more than I can handle? 1 Corinthians 10:13 says "...No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." So why does it feel I am being pressed beyond what I can bear? Sometimes what I am given seems insurmountable and I dont want to fight anymore....

J-Dawg