truckers wife

Saying Good Bye isn’t easy

 My husband could’ve slept in another 2 hours. But instead, he choose to leave while it was still dark outside. He choose to tip toe around and be as quiet as he could be so our kids and I could dream a little longer and not wake up to tears of good byes. He kissed us all on the cheek and said his I love you’s as he silently cried to himself. I tried to keep his plan in motion but I had to get up and hug him and tell him I love him too. 

Watching him  with tears in my eyes as he walks away drying his own tears is never something I’ve gotten used to. In fact, it’s only become harder each time. Transition time from having my husband home, having my kids father home, not having to worrying if my phone is charged, sleeping good at night and watching my kids bond and talk to someone other than me had been taking me a little longer than it used too. 

This morning I forgot about myself and thought about my husbands transition time. Going from all the kids and I wanting his attention to being completely alone driving down a never ending road. So now I’ve snapped out of it cause this whole week of feeling sorry for myself didn’t work out for last month at all😝

When I hear other women complaining about how tired they are of their husbands or saying they need a break from their kids I really want to open my mouth and ask/say a few things to them. 

Break time is when they fall asleep and my role as a parent will change once they’re an adult but adults still need guidance from their parents. Do you realize how hard it is to be a mom and dad? Love the man you married even when you don’t feel like it. You married your best friend don’t forget that friends will fight. Anyone living in close proximity to each other will have issues. It’s how you handle your disagreements that matters. If love is your motivation, making  up will always make your relationship stronger!

Trying to discipline, love, set an example to my children, especially now that we have 2 teens and 2 adults, all while I’m a complete mess isn’t easy.  With out the Lord it’d be enemies harder. I wish I had my husband around to put all our groceries away in the wrong place and spend all his time with the kids and I. I wish my husband was home during my morning chaos to tell me to RELAX so I could get super mad at him for saying that. 

Point is. Don’t take your soulmate for granted. He could be there one day irritating you and gone the next. Then what, all those petty little things he used to do would be what you’d miss most. 

My husband and I are 2 perfectly imperfect people that have hurt each other, we’ve disappointed each other an we definitely have our disagreements. They older we get the more we realize that our time is truly precious. We are so guilty of taking life for granted on so many levels. 

 I thank the Lord that we’ve been blessed with a life together that has taught us how to get over it and make up before he leaves. To treasure every small moment more than the typical family might and celebrated the bigger moments even more. Realizing early on that our life is far from normal and it’s OK to live in the moment because tomorrow is never guaranteed.  I Pray for my truckers safe trip to and from and I pray for my sanity and patience as I drive back home with 2 teen boys that love to bother each other😊 

Love my Roadrunner❤️

Standard
truckers wife

Feeling all Brand New! 

Thursday was the big day that My husband and I were anxious to get over with. Needle biopsy and lumpectomy, these big words brought me to tears and deep reflection of my life and my future. I have had so many friends and family praying for me, I’ve never felt so BLESSED and CONTENT with our life, our decisions, our relationship and the people that have chosen to take this journey with me. I love you and thank you all for LOVING my family and I! 

For the word of the Lord holds true and we can trust ALL he does psalms 33.4💜

We walk into the office. I get my paperwork all signed. The nurse calls both my husband I and into the consultation room where a nurse begins to explain the procedure and the risks. She explains what they found and marks an X on the area they will perform the biopsy. She also explained the reasoning for the biopsy. After comparing images taken from the last 6 months, reviewing findings from 2 other technicians opinions and also what she found in their own ultra sounds the lump had grown, was consistent and it was a cause for concern. 

I change into their pretty pink gown and lay down on the table as the tech is telling me to point out the lump for her again. I go to the area that I’ve been checking EVERYDAY for the last 7 months and it’s hard for me to find it. I feel something but it wasn’t that end of a pencil eraser type of  lump that I had been praying over. I asked her if she could look with the ultra sound cause I can’t find it, my hands were shaking so I honestly thought I was just nervous. She’s pressing super hard with the ultra sound wand, going back and forth while thinking out loud and giving me some direction.  “Let me brighten the screen, move your arm up, turn to the side,  what’s going on, ok try and find it again.” She tells me I don’t understand! I did your last scan and I remember you going directly to the lump and pointing it out and finding it right away. There’s nothing there! She then goes to her charts and calls the surgeon. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil4.6 💜💜💜

The tech goes on to say “I don’t know what to say, it was there, it was prominent, it’s not there anymore and that’s not a mistake! We can’t do a biopsy if there’s nothing to biopsy.” By this point I’m in shock and in tears. What’s happening? Did they make a mistake? Is the machine  working? Lord did you do this this? 

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Rom5.3-4

With tears in his eyes my husband immediately said this is a MIRACLE! All this time we’ve spent praying, all the family and friends we’ve asked for prayer, The lord heard each and every one of us crying out to him🙏🏽

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matt18.19-20

The next day I woke up and checked, there isn’t any sign of a lump. It wasn’t a dream! Lord this isn’t a mistake and you have my full attention. You brought me through this and I have complete trust in your plan for my family and I! 

Every motion and emotion I’ve gone through over the last few months have opened my eyes too a lot of ME. Lord this was your plan and I’ve grown so much from it. I’m so unworthy yet so thankful. I gave you everything I was trying to change or fix and put my trust in you. This is my testimony this is my song! 

1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. Ps139.1-4

Things that used to bother don’t anymore. People who used to bring me to tears don’t anymore. Relationships that I tried so hard to fix were never mine to fix. Everything I had on my plate I let go of it. I mean, I really let go of it. Lord here you go! I can’t do this, show me, teach me, mold me, use me.. I want to be a better me. The lord has strategically filled every gap in my life because he knows what and who I need. Everything good and everything bad has brought me to this point of my life and I can’t be more thankful. I’m in complete awe just thinking about this last year and all the change my family has gone through. This is just the beginning! 

Got my new dancing shoes on and I’m ready for my NEW BEGINNINGS! Thank you Jesus! 

I love my Roadrunner💜

Standard
truckers wife

Calm, cool and collected?

A few days ago I was sitting in the airport waiting for my connecting flight to New York where my hubby would be waiting for me💜 As soon as my flight was called to start boarding my impatient hubby calls “Did you leave yet? Where are you? HELLO?” I’m laughing thinking how much I love that he’s impatiently waiting for me. I tell him I’ll be there in 32 minutes and you better not be late hehe. 

A few minutes later my other line rings “Hi this is Debbie from Women’s breast imaging, is this Vicki?” My heart dropped. I’ve been waiting for this call for a few weeks. 

She continues to say “Based off your previous mammo, ultra sounds and symptoms we are scheduling you for a needle biopsy October 1st, do you have any questions?”

My heart drops even further. I have questions, yes I have lots of questions. I’m not receiving news that I have cancer but this is all I can hear. Lord clear my thoughts

Is it the same area? How big is it? How long will it take for results? Had it grown? Why the needle biopsy? What’s the difference? 

My hubby is on the other line still, I hear the last call for my boarding group and I’m now crying. Oh lord why did I have to answer this call? 

I tell the nurse I’ll have to call her back. I click over tell my babe I’m boarding now, gotta go. But he knows I’m crying. So I tell him quickly that I’ll text him on the plane when I get wifi. I hang up and I seriously can not control my tears. People are staring at me. I start fanning my face like it’s making a difference and make my way to my seat. 

I sit in my window seat which I usually love but this time was different. I’ve never had a panic attack before but I am almost positive I had one the moment this guy sat next to me. He placed his food on my lap like it was the thing to do so he could buckle up. He’s sitting on my hair as he’s squirming around in his chair. I’m pulling my hair at the same time then I take a stong wiff of, wow he farted. Did he really just do that? All I could think was I need to get off this plane! 

The seat in front of me is so close the guys arm might as well be resting on my Chest and dang it! Get off of my hair! Waaah!😭 I stood up then I sat down. Stood up again then I said to myself. Stop being dramatic and pray. 

“Lord your word say by your stripes we are healed. I won’t ask why. Right now I just want peace in my heart. I don’t know the outcome but I’m trusting that you hear my prayer for myself and for my family.” 

Then for some reason a song pops into my head. ITS MY BIRTHDAY AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO, CRY IF I WANT TO🎶 ugh. What’s wrong with me lol😭

Now that you’ve had a glimpse of some of my crazy emotions I’d like to let you know that after praying I let my tears flow to myself and continued to pray. I got my hair back and ACCIDENTALLY whipped the farting guy in the face as I was throwing my hair up in a bun😜 I finished singing that stupid birthday song that was stuck in my head haha then I decided to open up a notebook my daughter gave me for my birthday. 

I was so happy to find that all my kids wrote me a little note. Well, my boys wrote a little note and my daughter wrote a short novel😍 One part really started up the waterworks again. Sienna said “Mommy, I know you think started off in a bad way raising us kids, made mistakes but you didn’t mess up like you think you did. We love you, everyone loves you and we know how hard it is and how hard you work and pray for us” 
Tears😭😭😭 All of their notes touched my heart, especially my youngest telling me that I was AWESOME lol. Isaiah telling me he loves me and thank you for everything, Elijah said love you mom happy 45th Bithday! 45? Ok son! Lol 

Okay I’m calm, cool and collected by this point! Thank you lord. Thank you kids and thank you husband for flying me out. This was perfect timing and not our plan. Thank you lord. 

My husband and I have never been closer and had so much fun with each other as we have this past week.  Even though he only had a few days off he made the most out of them. He should have been resting instead he had me onvhis mind. He gave me a few first time moments out in the BIG CITY that I’ll never forget,  he really planned our time and our OUTFITS well😘 I’m  so thankful for this man. I’m missing my kids  lots but I’m really enjoying this much needed time with my trucker.

So now what? it’s life not as usual. No wasting time on petty issues. No arguing over little stuff that won’t matter. No more of the no more. I feel different. Everything just feels different and that makes me happy. I don’t want to be stuck the same person year after year. I want to be a better woman, wife, mommy and friend. This change is a good thing and a prayer answered. All I can say is THANK YOU LORD🙏🏽 and maybe this the answer to my question. What’s in this for me?

No matter what happens. Every circumstance that has brought my family to this point has been worth it. God’s plan is and always will better than the best💯

Love you family and friends til no end. I can’t say it enough💜 Love your other half. Don’t put off for tomorrow what  you can do today! Stop focusing on others and look at your own heart. And oh yeah, just get over it. It won’t matter in the end. Whatever  you’re dwelling on,  It really won’t matter. 

I love my trucker!  

Standard
Family, truckers life, truckers wife

What’s in this for me? 

At the age of 38 I found a lump on my right breast. Doctors monitored it with mammograms and ultra sounds every 3-6 months for the next 13 months. As the lump grew doctors recommended a biopsy. I can’t even begin to explain the rush of feelings and thoughts that flooded my tears. 

I thought about my kids. How would my husband do this? Would my kids remember everything I taught them? My kids and husband need me. I’m not ready to leave my family. As I’m crying with all these thoughts The lord reminded me that they all needed him more than me. 

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.  Proverbs 3 5-7

Talking to my kids about this of course brought lots of questions and tears. Here was my chance to show them strength I’m finding only through The Lord.  To tell them how they can pray for me and show them who I was placing my deepest dependence on. I let them know it was ok to cry and even be scared but turning all those feelings into prayer is what we were going to do. This is the moment I understood what it really felt like to TRUST The Lord with all my heart. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3.5

The weeks before the biopsy I wanted to make sure I had a clear conscience toward everyone. I wanted no unforgivness on my heart. Wanted to say everything I needed to say to everyone. Tell everyone I loved them. Wow! I remember saying to myself I’ve done everything I can do! Boy was I WRONG! 

I remember how much I really THOUGHT I had forgiven someone that without a doubt hurt me, didn’t show me any type of love, didn’t welcome me into their life etc.. Then one day I’m in the same room with her and all I wanted to do was leave. Nope! Gods plan was WAY better than mine! 

Forgiving is loving and loving with a sincere heart can only happen through the Lord. If I can be in the same room without rehashing blah blah blah and honestly have compassion, love and overlook what’s being thrown my way then I’ve forgiven. Looking past hurtful words and actions isn’t being “FAKE”. Understanding that the most unloveable person needs the same love, compassion and forgiveness that you need Is what the Lord calls us to do.

 I was in a prison of unforgivness and didn’t even know it! I’ve never forgotten this day and neither will my kids because of course I also admitted my wrong to them and prayed that they’d learn from my mistakes. Through this circumstance I learned a valuable lesson! Gods plans are ALWAYS better than mine and when I think I’ve done all I can to I need to go back and look at MYSELF and my own actions again! Thank you lord💜

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke10.27

Test results are in and I’m sitting in this room all by myself waiting and waiting. Finally the surgeon comes in and says you can breath now, it’s not cancer! I remember breaking down in tears and thanking God. The surgeon told me I wouldn’t need another mammogram until next year and to continue self examinations. Being squeezed between 2 plastic plates and having 2 nurses telling you not to breath or move while I was standing in the most awkward and somewhat painful position and then looking at the images trying to figure out what was what were moments I wouldn’t miss at all. 

So almost 2 years later here I am again. A painful mass on the same side I had the 1st biopsy was confirmed to be an area of “interest” today. I have a mammogram and ultra sound scheduled for this Friday. This time Im not asking WHY LORD I’m asking What’s in this for me to learn? I turned A million worried thoughts into to prayer and I turned it all over to the Lord. No matter how far I think I’ve come with my relationship with the Lord I know I’ll never stop learning. I’ll never be as humble as I think I am. I’m a sinner saved by grace. 

The most loving display of love you could show someone is praying for them. Please keep my family and I in prayer. Enjoy your days, smile more, laugh until stomach can’t take it anymore and above all LOVE the Lord with ALL your heart❤️

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.   7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 whatever you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4 6-9

MAHAL KITA💜

I love my Roadrunner

Standard
Family, truckers life, truckers wife, Uncategorized

Who you keep company with can make or break your marriage 

Defending my husbands profession and my choice to quit my job and stay home with our kids is something I stopped doing years ago. I sit back and smile when I hear negative comments and advice while thinking to myself- this person really has no clue what my life is like or how my relationship is with my trucker. Then I ask myself, Wow is she seriously jealous or is she just trying to fill my head with ideas to make me hate my husband by thinking he choose the road over us? 

First misconception I was told over and over again. “The road is calling him”  or “He choose the road over his family” and the winner is “if he loved you he’d be home” Ladies these words are coming from someone who is obviously not a true friend or loving family member. 

Good marriage mentors warn you before you make a bad decision. They encourage you when you are ready to give up. And they cheer you on as you reach new levels of intimacy in your marriage. 

The Bible says, “Encourage one another day after day . . . so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

Supportive and loving friends and family that will shoot it straight with you because they love you is what a truckers wife needs. If I had listened to all the negativity and let it affect my attitude toward my husband or my kids I’d be miserably unhappy with my life and marriage. It took me years to realize that I didn’t have to keep the unsupportive people close to me. Loving from afar is OK especially if it’s taking a toll on your spirit and marriage. Whether it was my family, in laws or friends that were causing me grief I knew it was ok for me to think about myself and who I needed in my life. 

Surround yourself with people that support and love you! Being a mom and dad to your kids while the hubby is gone along with your never ending lists is hard enough without having someone else’s opinions, drama and misguided advice planted into your thoughts that will cause you to second guess the direction the Lord is leading your life.  I know my husband better than ANYONE and I know why he runs the road and this is ALL that truly matters. 

I love my Roadrunner!❤️

Standard
Uncategorized

Today we celebrate 15 years of marriage! 

 If I remember correctly this is the first anniversary in 6 years that we’ve spent together. I can’t send him anything while he’s on the road but he will usually send me a card and a fruit bouque which I love but I love waking up together even more! 

 Of course we wake up and our anniversary is FIRST thing on my mind. He hasn’t said anything and I should’ve known that he was pretending cause that’s his thing. My babe likes to surprise me and pretend lol☺️  I was dropping hints and showing the boys an old slideshow I made for our previous anniversary. He still had a straight face! So I start to get ready and I look at baby and he’s laughing. That’s when I knew, ok Hubby is playing with my emotions haha! He hugs me and says I wasn’t going to say anything until dinner Happy 15 years! Aww I love him!

We spent the entire day in New York looking for different shoe stores. My boys are such SNEAKER HEADS. We also visited the Statue of Liberty. I can now scratch that off my bucket list! I had a really fun day! 

    

    

 
Dinner was a nice change from Dunkin Donuts and pizza! Babe choose sushi which is both our favorites. 

    
Spending our 15th anniversary on the road was the best anniversary I could’ve ever asked for and I’m so happy he just happened to have that weekend off. I cherish every single moment whether it be good or not so good. I never know just how long he’ll be gone and we are definitely not promised tomorrow! 

    
Love my Truker! 

Standard
Uncategorized

How do I do it?

“How do you do it?”  I get this question A LOT! Depending on the day my answer could go a couple different ways lol. I have days when I feel like I’m just not getting anything right. Most of the time I’m feeling feel SUPER accomplished and of course there has to be some days where I’m just being a big cry baby! 

Hitting the road with my hubby is something I want and have to do at least 2 times a year. We get to spend all our time together and it reminds me just how hard and stressful his job is. He’s on a constant road trip, Eating out everyday, showering in the truck stops, driving for days, scheduling his help for upcoming jobs, the list literally goes on and on! When arrived at the customers house he works even harder than his help cause he wants his trailer loaded with perfection!! 

  
You can’t just stack up the boxes any ole way! It’s like playing Tetris! There can’t be any holes! This is a load we picked up in San Diego. Customer is moving to New Jersey and I’ll see them on the other end! 


  

This is how the trailer looked after we unwrapped all the furniture! Who’s gonna fold ALL those blankets and seperate these rubber bands? ME! But I like doing it, good arm excercise and it gives him a break. What happens when I’m not there? I don’t know how he does this? After unloading, taking everything into the house, putting EVERYTHING back together chairs, tables, beds, do paperwork with customer then come back to trailer and clean it up for the next load, drive to the truck stop, find parking, eat then wake up and do it all over again! Shheesh! I’m out of breath typing all that! Needless to say, when I’m home n I call him and he sounds like he’s grouchy I know he’s tired and not to take it personally! 

So this load was EASY because he was just dropping off what he already packed and his truck n trailer fit in front of the house nicely. IMAGINE if his truck didn’t fit down the road to your house/apt! What does he do? Well this is called a SHUTTLE. He rents a u haul, transfers everything into smaller truck then drives over to your house and unloads. Same would apply if he were packing up your house! Hard labor huh? 

Let’s talk about the Apt. In New York that didn’t have an elevator! Wow! Carrying 9000lbs of boxes and furniture up what would feel like a million flights. This is a definite TRUCKERS BOOTCAMP! My poor guy tho, he’s so motivated to just finish. I’m sweating like a pig and he’s carrying 2 huge boxes on his back running up the stairs! Omg! I’m praying for the Lord to give me strength. Then I say to myself I’d better loose some weight if I’m gonna go as fast as him! I turn on the burners and stop worrying about the sweat and when I’m done I’m done. Can’t move and my babe is now laughing at me! Lol! Ok that’s fine, I’ll let you have the last laugh only cause I can’t think right now lol! 
When we get to a job and it’s supposed to be a shuttle but corporate surveyed it wrong! Ugh! No time to rent a uhaul. We have to park load up a huge box on wheels and a few Dolly’s a go back and forth! 

   
   
Ok this uphill incline, dangit! The scale had better show me some good numbers! I can’t believe how hard my babe works! I love him so much more seeing him work and trying to keep up with him! 

Back to the question “How do I do it?” Well I’ve hit the road and helped him work for the last few weeks! When I get home and he leaves I know exactly how his day is going and how tired his mind and body is! All of this make me want to try and accomplish even more while he’s away! 
If you are a new truckers wife you have to experience and learn exactly what he goes through everyday so you can appreciate him even more and know how to help him when you’re on the road with him! He’ll love you even more for the effort! Trust me💜
Love my Road Runner❤️

Standard
Uncategorized

Life still happens when you’re OTR

My kids have had so many questions about ALL that is going on in the world. How do they respond to police of they come in contact, will war (bombs) come to our country, will we have to hide our faith, why are gay right so important, why did the whole white house turn into a rainbow, did Martin Luther kings work not change the world? Here’s my answer about gay marriage… 
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

It’s NOT our job to JUDGE anyone or argue our point. Not all our friends will view our life here on earth and eternity the same as we do. Our life and every DECISION we make is a CHOICE. There’s no room for self righteousness or perfection in our home. Lets keep our eyes focused on the CROSS.
“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.” Gal5.14

We are ALL sinners. I am on my knees daily asking for forgiveness. The world will tell you to accept this, be like this.. But as I’ve always told you. This is not our permanent home, don’t be a follower, be yourself and know who you serve and what your willing to stand up for! Respecting others choices doesn’t mean you agree, realize we have our own backyard to take care of and our faith calls us to pray and be examples of Christ’s love. The most LOVING thing I can do for anyone is to pray for them. 

Do I have to agree and support all my friends decisions? NO I don’t.. I DO NOT support same sex marriage. Do they have to support my choice and belief, NO they don’t and I’d never expect anyone to be just like me in order to be my friend. Not supporting a certain lifestyle doesn’t mean I can’t TRULY LOVE someone. There is no sin greater than the other, sin is sin and trust me I sin and fail the lord daily. 
Being a Christian does not make me perfect or better than anyone else. Not all my views are correct and I do not have an answer for everything. I do know that We all have a DEFINITE   appointment with the Lord and I CHOOSE to raise my children and live my life according to the living word that the Lord has given us, The BIBLE.  In a perfect world I wouldn’t loose any friends due to this issue but as we all can see the world is far from perfect. 

There’s a few phrases I have say to my kids DAILY. “Put your seatbelts on” lol, “Leave each other alone”, “How would you like it if he did that to you?”, “Say you’re sorry and tell your brother you love him”, “TREAT each other the way YOU want to be treated, with love and respect”
Kids, the bottom line is you gotta LOVE without judgement because Without love we have nothing❤️ I pray you will remember

Love, 

Mommy💖

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. http://esv.to/1Cor13.1-13

Standard