I absolutely adore Sarah’s blog about taking her little family on the road for her husband’s job, but I like Sarah as a person even more. She’s been an incredible encouragement to me over the last few months with her uncanny ability to “read between the lines” of some of my posts. It’s not uncommon to open my inbox to an email from her that strikes at the core of whatever I’m going through and encourages me to keep on going. We may be a few years apart in age, but I like to imagine we’re just long-lost sisters. — amy beth

Can I just start by saying I’m a little star-struck that I’m posting at Amy Beth’s Ministry So Fabulous pink, polka-dotted blog? Like, the Amy Beth. She says she’d like to meet Beth Moore, but I’d love to meet her!

How ’bout I introduce myself? I’m Sarah, wife to Josh, mama to two lil girls: Sugar (4) and Spice (1). Josh and I have been married 11 years as of July 11th and can I just tell you how amazing God is that Josh and I are still married? We were on the brink of ending it several years ago, but Jesus is so faithful and here we are. Thank You, Lord.

In these 11 years, Josh has had four jobs. He worked for a welding supply company, we owned our own lawn-mowing business, he drove a school bus on the side and then he’s also been an OTR truck driver. OTR = Over the Road, meaning never home. He drove trucks for two years and then Sugar came along, so he decided to quit shifting gears and went back to the welding supply store half a mile from our house, working 7 – 5, Monday – Friday.

But you let a man drive a Peterbilt, shifting 18 gears, pulling two trailers and hauling 105,500 lbs and there’s just nothin’ else that boy is going to wanna do! So, for the last four years we’ve dreamed about going OTR again.

But with two little ones?

Yep! In April, we loaded up the Peterbilt with all our goods (kids included) and we headed out. A typical week for us is leaving after church on Sunday, heading to whoknowswhere with a load of whoknowswhat. We’re gone most of the week, usually returning home on Friday. We drive the Pacific NW, hauling a lot of hay, pipe, lumber or roofing.

We live in here. We eat here, sleep here, cook here, cry here and laugh here. We’re together 24/7. And it’s amazing. It’s crazy and it’s cramped but it’s also quite cozy. I love sitting beside Josh all day and I love that our girls get to be with their daddy all day. And when we’re at a place to get loaded or unloaded, Sugar can climb up in her daddy’s lap and “help him drive.”

I’m going to tell you about a couple of our… adventures, if you will.

Our first week out, it’d been about four days since we’d showered (it’s one of the luxuries of being OTR) and when we did get to a truck stop, I had to take the girls, all by myself, into this tiny shower stall about the size of a phone booth. Neither child cares for showers, crying the entire time. It was at that moment that I wondered if I was going to be able to handle this life we’re now living. But I made it through that shower experience and haven’t had another one that bad. PTL! Seriously, we’re lucky to average two showers per week. I can see it now, you’re jealous.

There have been times, yes, more than one, where we’ve not been able to get to a truck stop or outhouse. Plastic bags are plentiful in our truck. Never leave home without ‘em! If you scroll through my posts and stumble upon the TMI one, you’ll know what I’m talkin’ about. (I just don’t know if you can talk about these sorts of things on a cute, pink, polka-dotted bloggy!)

We’ve only had a couple of people question our new lifestyle — having our girls “cooped up” or not allowing them to just be at home. But our girls aren’t cooped up. Every time we stop, they’re out. They meet new people, see new places and they’re learning that we work as a family. They see the ins and outs of dairies, hay field, lumberyards, pipe plants, etc. Everyday is a new experience for all of us. This picture is just a glimpse of what we’re blessed to see at the end of each and every long day. We’re always awed by it.

And we’re always together when we see it.

Read about more of Sarah’s life on the road by visiting her blog here.