Day 2
Got up on time in order to be at the parts place when they open. I took a moment to pray, set my outcome and take some time to be grateful for what I have. Heading out the door I watched my family sleep, and I realized once again that they are beautiful, confident people that believe in me. That we all I needed...
One great thing about camping in a truck stop is that it usually includes a gas station. Gas stations have coffee.
I went into the gas station to grab a coffee, and just as I turned around to pay, the seasoned man that runs the store said, “just the coffee?” I said yes. He said “it’s on me” and smiled. I held back a tear, thanked him and walked out.
We’re “stuck” at a truck stop on day 2, and \240I’m not even 22 minutes into my day and I have already felt two moments of gratitude. Today is going to be a great day!
I walked my routine path over to the parts store. Gerard was already on the phone calling on the part when I walked in. For a moment by the look on his face I wondered if he was thinking “shit it’s this guy again” so I simply smiled and said good morning. His demeanor changed instantly. Now I am sitting on my usual stool reading an owners manual on the worlds next best flashlight and listening to am radio overhead.
I am told they are working on getting the warehouse on the phone. So I decided to take a walk back to the moho location to thank the owner of the mechanical shop for letting me park there. While I was walking I realized that across from our truck stop oasis was a cemetery. I chose to walk through it, not around it.
As I walked through the cemetery, I felt humble. Here I am dealing with a bunch of problems that are hampering our holiday schedule, yet I am among many here that no longer have to worry about anything at all. Maybe that’s it. Maybe this is why I am here. Because i have heard and often say that life is short, don’t sweat the small stuff, live like you are dying, and so on. I then came upon this gravestone.
It reads “A LIFE OF DEEDS, NOT OF YEARS” LOVE FOREVER. My immediate thought is that this person lived a short life. Nope. Born 1925, Died 2017.
There’s 86,400 seconds in each day. This person lived over 2.9 million seconds of them. So a life of deeds applied to a mindset that every second counts means that we can choose to change how we react to what happens to us instantly.
It will be 2 years on Monday that my sister’s husband Chris passed away. I am sad that I cannot physically be there for her this time, yet I know she knows I am thinking of her. Always. Today’s walk through the cemetery was something I needed to do. Now I will get back to living this life of deeds, not of years.
UPDATE
Audrey DeKlerk took the old alternator in to the warehouse of horrors. She had them match the new one to the old one and found the right one. Bless her heart!
She then drove it to Chestermere where she met up with Rob DeKlerk and family, who are now on their way here.
Landon and I went back to the parts store to have a small safety meeting, where then they loaded Landon up with suckers AND the worlds best flashlight! We then headed back to await the coveted part for the moho.
Heluva good day! Thanks to Rob deklerk and his Father in-law, \240we got our new alternator.
Landon helped install it!
On the road again!
Next stop Moose Jaw!
Tayah says it’s a dolphin
Krista says this is her new spot while we drive
It’s salt!
Made it to Moose Jaw! Fuelling up on coffee before the next stretch
And it is Krista’s (first ever) time to drive the moho!
And then, Krista races a train!
And she wins! But the kids didn’t even notice.
Playing Mario Kart
We made a stop in Estavan
They’re affixed on the Wii
on our way to the border.
And grabbed some more coffee and kept on truckin’. We took a detour and saw some cool old buildings. This is a Yoga studio in an old church!
Crossing the border in Portal was a breeze.
The guard was super enthused with our set-up and even came in to inspect. As he looked for things like highjackers and drugs, he chatted it up with the kids for awhile. Landon asked about his gun and taser. The guard loved it. Tayah sat nervously quiet.. He asked her what we call our motorhome and Jordie replied “The rolling turd”. Never saw a guard laugh so hard. He loved the list Alicia made for the cargo trailer contents. She said she “saw it on Border Security”. The guy was beaming! We passed his inspection lol
Open pit coal mine with a machine that uses that huge bucket
Flying J - Fargo, North Dakota
Summary for July 19th, 2019
Bassano AB to Fargo ND - 1402 kms (12.7 hours)
Good job Houwelings!
Now for some sleep 😴
With our gas tank filled up, the final stretch for today was to end up in Fargo by 4:30 am. Crushed it! Krista finished of the last 65 miles of this stretch!
Got the right numbers. Thanks to Jeff, Peter, Audrey and Rob for helping us get back on the road. We are so blessed by \240and Grateful for our village. Thanks mom and Dad Houweling for the offer to use of their motorhome if ours deemed non-driveable.
