Moving On

Well as most of you know I have been dreaming about the Sandy Ranch in southern Utah.  I have tried everything I can think of to obtain this ranch.  This ranch has consumed my every thought.   It was all I could think about.

I gave up quite a few times knowing there was no way I could ever get this ranch.  But then I would tell myself that I had to keep trying there is just something about this ranch I cannot explain.  Every time I think about it I get a filling, it’s a good filling I have only had this exact filling a few times.  The first time was when I was younger in my teens when I dreamed about this silly ranch.  Although I had never seen it only in my dream, I dreamed about it a couple more times over the years the last time was not too long ago. This time it was me and the boys up on a ridge looking down on the ranch.  Pretty crazy I know I just thought they were dreams until I really seen it on internet for sale.  I just about fell out of my chair when I saw it (the ranch in my dreams) so I called it the Dream Ranch. 

I guess the Dream Ranch was an appropriate name because that’s all it was.  I got an e-mail the other day telling me it finally sold.  I was in shock, oh I knew deep down it was only a dream but man what a wonderful dream.

 It is just now sinking in that the dream is over. Oh I know there are lots of other ranches but I am not sure I want to look anymore.  I don’t believe I could take another blow like this one. 

I guess it’s my fault I prayed to Heavenly Father, here a while back and asked him if I was not meant to have this ranch to please let it sell so I won’t waste any more time on it.  Well I guess I got my answer.  Not the answer I was wanting but an answer.

I have prayed often to try and find out why this ranch was so significant to me.  I did find out something that might just be the connection.  You see my great grandparents on my mom side were raised in Johns Valley witch is just south west of the Sandy Ranch over the mountain.  I have not got started on this project but it is on my to do list, I moved it right to the front of the line. 

Maybe I was never supposed to own this ranch maybe it’s got something to do with my family history.  I don’t know what the connection between the Sandy Ranch (Dream Ranch) and me is but I guess I had better try and find out. 

If anyone has information on this area I would love to read up on the history of it.  My mom’s got quite a bit I just need to get to Vernal and take some time to study it. 

I feel much better.  

PRETTY GIRL

Let me tell you about my Pretty Girl she is my wife and my best friend and she takes care of our boys and I know she loves them.  My Pretty Girl, how did I ever get so lucky to find her.  I had always heard about soul mates and never put much thought to it until I met her.  After just a few minutes of talking to her on the internet I felt like I knew her my whole life, although we had never met.  I knew something was different I had that feeling you know the one I am talking about.  If you don’t know what I am talking about I pray you can experience it.

I was like a teenager in love I could not get enough of her; talking on the phone, texting, chatting and face booking.  The boys will probably never let me live down the morning I burnt breakfast because I was talking on the phone instead of cooking.

I never get tired of hearing her call me Sweet Man whenever I hear that my heart beats much faster and I get that feeling in the bottom of my stomach.

I got to quit writing I am wallowing in self-pity thinking about being away from my Pretty Girl.  Sometimes being a truck driver really sucks.

Martins Cove and the Holy Ghost

I recently drove the road from Casper, WY to Rawlins, WY this brought back memory from years ago.  You see I used to haul tanks from Casper, WY to Vernal, UT.  During these runs there was one spot that was special to me.  It was not until about two years ago I learned why this spot was significant to me. 

I would like to start by describing this area as it looks today as you are coming from Casper there is a rest sitting under a big round rock on the east side of the road.  The rest area is really unique but this is not what caught my interest.  The thing that caught my interest is on the other side of the highway to the South West.  There is a ranch along the Sweetwater River and a cut through a rock ridge.  I never saw what was through the cut.  I could only imagine what it looked like.

The first time driving past this area I seen the cut through the rock ridge and thought to myself, I bet the pioneers used that as a main trail through this area.  I wondered, what they must have thought about this area.  My mind would really ponder these things.  I got a feeling that’s hard to explain; it was like that feeling you get at a funeral and the birth of a child all mixed together.  I got tears in my eyes; I remember thinking that was weird.  I pondered what had happened often but kind of blew it off.

The next time was the same response.  I did not understand the feelings but the feelings were not unpleasant other than the tears back then I never cried, never.  I made many runs and the feeling was always there.  I found I started looking forward to going past that area.

I had a change in my occupation that made it so I did not travel that way.  I kind of forgot about the area and feelings it created in me.  It was probably around fifteen years before I found out why I would get them feelings.

At this time I was living in Parachute, CO active in church and had some life changing events happen.  The boys were getting ready to go on a church activity to Martins Cove.  I had no idea where this was I only knew it was in Colorado.  It was not until brother Bernie Johnson had us watch a video about how the church obtained Martins Cove and told about the Martin Hand Cart Company.  I found out I had relatives in the Martin Hand Cart Company.  I also learned where Martins Cove is you guessed it, it was just through the cut.

I just about fell out of my chair when I learned where Martins Cove was; it all started to make sense to me now.  I can’t explain why I got them feelings but I do know with certainty that the Spirit (Holy Ghost) was testifying to me this was a sacred spot even before I knew the story behind it. 

I have not yet been able to stop and visit this sacred site, but I am going to visit someday soon.   

The Power Of The Spirit

I wanted to share an experience that someone special shared with me.  I will try to tell it like I heard it.

This took place in a prison setting.  As it was being described to me I was picturing the Alcatraz prison that I had seen on TV, rows of cells stacked three or four high on both sides of a commons area with four or more inmates to each cell.  He said it was total mayhem inmates beating on things, wanting to kill each other and foul language, and racial slurs being yelled from cell to cell.  He told me it was worse than anything he had ever seen on TV.

He said he was trying to read the Book of Mormon as he would read a verse he could not remember what he had read the noise and chaos was too much he could not concentrate.  He kneeled down and prayed to Heavenly Father for help; just a moment of silence. Just a minute or two later the prayer was answered.  In all the commotion a black man in the middle of the cell block started singing gospel music.  He said it was like a breeze of silence blew through.  It was as if the prison went quite from one end to the other as they listen to the hymns.  He said this lasted for several hours.

He was able to read and ponder the Book of Mormon.  He told me he knew it was the Spirit that came through the prison. 

This experience really touched my heart.  I am so thankful for the people in my life that help strengthen my testimony.  The Spirit can touch all of us regardless of our circumstances.          

Gold Feever Back Gold That Is

Have you ever wondered what it was like during the gold rush years?  I have often thought about it from watching old westerns to the new programs about gold.  But today I think I might have realized how it might have been back in them days of GOLD FEEVER.

I am up here in Williston North Dakota I can’t load until tomorrow so I am doing the people watching thing.  I have seen I am pretty sure every nationality and race comes in and out of the loves truck stop.  Some are friendly others grumpy and others that just don’t care.  I have seen men and women the one thing they all have in common is they are wearing warm close. 

I think I have seen every make of vehicle Dodge, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Toyota, Nissan, and so on.  Then there is the trucks it is amazing there is so much of a variety old, new, water, trash, flatbeds, gas, box vans, reefers, step decks, lowboys, hot oil, cement, them are just the ones I am looking at right now.  I have seen trucks that I don’t even know what they are used for.  I have seen 10 wheelers, 18 wheelers, 22 wheelers, 26 wheelers, 30 wheelers, just in the last few minutes.

Everyone is busy in and out of the truck stop all day right now is the slowest I have seen since last night when I got here. I can just imagine it was like this at the trading post around the gold fields.  I would imagine there were people of every walk of life trying to make their fortune.  Unlike today everyone is trying to make a living on the black gold.  I think it is probably better today at least if you are willing to work you can make a pretty good wage.  Of course finding a place to stay might be something else. 

Well there is my take on North Dakota.  I cannot wait to get loaded and get out of here.    

On The Road Again

Getting ready to get back out on the road again. I will be loading tomorrow for Wiliston North Dakota just a few miles from the house and reloading for Vernal Utah and from there who knows.  I am going to try to be home on the 21st it is a speacial day I hope I can make that happen.  I just hate leaving my family but I like that I can provide for them. 

I had to do some work on the truck while I was home nothing serious just a couple lights and secure my fridge from coming out.  I did pick up a microwave this will make it much better hot meals instead of cold.  I did splurge a while ago and buy me one of them small coffee makers; not for coffee but to heat my water for my coco and honey.  Its funny how such small things can improve life.  I started drinking this when I quite coffee and now I am addicted but I do like it and I am the only person that knows how I like it. 

I am starting to pick up some good customers closer to home.  I sure hope I can continue to take care of them.  Trucking is a hard business the profit margin is quite low.  The fuel and maintenance is very expensive. 

My Grandpa once told me, once you starte it will get in your blood.  You know he was right I do enjoy seeing new places and being on the road.  I never thought I would but I really enjoy seeing Gods creation and meeting new people. 

I would still rather have my Dream Ranch but until then I guess this will have to do.  Just a few more years and Pretty Girl will be able to come along.  That might be exciting she is not much for traveling around.  Maybe by then I will be able to take more time and stop more places instead of just driving by.

Keeping My Spirits High

Keeping my spirits high?  Sometimes I find myself feeling down.  This really frustrates me I want to be of good cheer and lift the people around me.  I do not want to bring the people around me down.

I have put a lot of thought into this.  What do I do when I get feeling down?  How do I overcome this glum?  How do I keep it from affecting others?

I am not sure the answer would be the same for everyone but I have come up with a few ideas that seem to work for me.

Pray talk to our Heavenly Father.  He wants to hear from us even though he already knows.  I found this to be the most important thing I can do.

Count your blessings.  I know by counting my blessings I realize I really am blessed beyond measure.  When I do this I can always feel the love of my Heavenly Father much more. 

Service is always a good way to overcome the self-pity.  I am not sure how it works or why it works but it really works for me.  I guess it might be because I am not just thinking of myself.

Stop take a moment and think about all the people in your life.  I think about how much I love them and they love me.  If I get a negative feeling about someone or something it’s a good time to evaluate.  I find most of the time it is me that needs an attitude adjustment.

These are just a few things that help me.  I needed to practice this today so I thought I would share it.  I hope it will help others as much as it helps me.

I am so blessed to have such a great family and especially my wife.  I do not know what I would do without them.