I attended a church Book Club meeting last night and one of the icebreaker questions was “If your life was a book, what would the title be?” The title of this blog post is the one I came up with. Many readers know hubby has been an over-the-road truck driver off and on since 1998. Employment has always been tough to find while we wait for fame and fortune as authors (ha ha!) so truck driving has always been his most successful source of income. I also had the opportunity to “ride shotgun” with him for the last eight years. God has provided “just enough” for us financially as we lived in the truck and traveled the lower 48 and Canada.
However, in January, truck #3’s engine blew. We paid for diagnostics and discovered needed repairs that exceeded the true value of the truck. Even people with cars can relate to that Catch-22. We tried to qualify for a loan but apparently paying off 3 trucks did not constitute enough credit history (nothing current), so we had to scrap the truck for $3500 and come to stay with daughter in Tulsa OK at her apartment. We pay half rent, but the future still seemed pretty uncertain. BTW our daughter Vicky has been such a help and encouragement to us through the years, and more so now, putting up with me fulltime and all the rest. God bless her as she goes through her own transitions.
I applied for local jobs and Michael investigated some options, including going for a PhD in History at OU. I am now a proud part-time employee at a Walmart I can walk to, and my muscles and joints are groaning in protest about all this activity.
The results of Michael’s GRE exams were a bit disappointing so he was not sure what to do next. He met online a small truck company owner based in the Dallas area. He was looking to expand and agreed to take Mike on as a driver. Unfortunately that job has not worked out for various reasons. He is going to take the GRE again but in the meantime, a trucker friend had recommended the company he works for, a very small (4 trucks) outfit based in Ohio. Michael finished his last load for the previous company this week and has made his way toward the orientation for the new job, leaving most of his equipment and other property here at the apartment.
We have been pretty discouraged these past few months. The truck was our home and our income, and we had the freedom to choose the best loads as well as to travel and most of the time get work done on our books. But we got a bit stalled with all these life happenings. It felt like we were back in Basics for Believers, at the 101 course level, saying, “God, what is Your will for our lives?”
But there has been some encouragement. I am making progress on Conflict of the Ages Five, the next module in our homeschool curriculum, with the editing, formatting, and questions and images that need to be added.
Now, back to the Book Club meeting. The books we will read were already chosen, and I was a little discouraged about not having an opportunity to maybe insert one of our books. But the lady leading the group did acknowledge me as a published author, and I got to tell them about a couple of our books. The lady who is in charge of women’s and children’s ministries at the church asked for a list of all our books. That was exciting.
Hubby arrived at the airport for his new job orientation this morning. Unfortunately his checked bag(s) did not. (Everybody knows checking bags is a bad idea, but he had to take some extra things in case he goes straight out onto the road for a week or two before coming back here.) When the driver arrived to pick him up, he agreed that waiting for the next flight, which the missing bags are supposed to be on, was the best idea, so he is doing that while the driver makes other runs. But the driver said he has read our books Antidisestablishmentarianism and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Readers’ and Writer’s Guide for Believers and is eager to talk to Michael about them. Wow! Plus I had a fan of the Alexander Legacy series ask on the blog when the fourth book in that series is coming out. Encouragement! These are both people we don’t know!
We hope people who follow this blog are sticking with us through these transitional times. we are certainly not giving up on writing, and we are making plans to get back into video production, too. Stick around, folks. We don’t know what’s ahead, but it’s pretty certain breakdowns and blessing will always come. We hope you’ll pray that through both we can extend our reach and be a blessing to others. — post by Mary C. Findley
FINDLEY FAMILY VIDEO 
Awesome post, Mary! My husband, Bruce and I live in our living quarters horse trailer with our two horses and have been living on the road, singing and ministering, for nine years—believe me, we can relate in regard to the “breakdowns and blessings,” the old seasons and the new ones! God is so good, and I’m sure He is smiling with thankfulness as you persevere, seeking His will. He knows where ya’ll are headed, and it’s awesome!
Wow! Praying for you, Shara, and thanks so much for the encouragement!
You are so blessed to have a daughter who can help you. My husband and I once had to move back in with my parents for 2 years when he was out of work (a long time ago with 2 small kids). Having a loving family is a wonderful gift! Your books, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: A Readers’ and Writer’s Guide for Believers, and Write for the King of Glory have been a wonderful source of inspiration and information for me, as I am starting to write. And I am reading the Alexander Legacy series. I thoroughly enjoy them! Keep giving your days to the Lord, know that we are out here praying for you and remember, it all comes out right in the end!
Thank you so much! We are blessed by all this encouragement!
I will remember your family in my prayers. I like what you said about getting back to Basics for Believers.
Thank you! Praying for you as well!
I am always humbled and blessed by how you continue to persevere, Mary. I know lately that things have been in transition and there has been no clear road to follow sometimes, but I am so grateful to have a friend like you, and I’m praying for you and Michael, and your kids as you step out again with faith and trust in God, that He will bless you.
Thank you so much! Praying for you as well, Krystine!