Mountain air surrounds me as I venture out of my cocoon.  We visited our property today.  It enveloped me in the trees with the wind shifting through the branches.  No words can describe the beauty of the Creator.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”*  [Philippians 4:13]

I wasn’t sure I would make it here today but, someone greater than I showed me the way.  After the rushed appointments for the doctor and workload spike at work; the youngest prince got sick.  We had planned this trip to the mountains to open the vacation rental months ago.  I had a choice to make.  Stay or go?

I prayed and talked to my husband. I wanted to go and the youngest prince is in his twenties!  We decided to go forward. Thursday evening we packed the van and when we woke on Friday at 5:30 a.m.  My dear husband promptly threw up.  Uh! Oh!  I sent him back to bed and told him I would wake him in an hour.  I prayed for guidance.  We needed to de-winterize the house, meet with the builder, and I needed the mountain air.

When I woke him an hour later, he insisted we go.  I agreed as long as he slept while I drove to Jacksonville approximately five hours away.  He agreed as he muttered, “as long as you stop when you need to” when he climbed into the passenger seat.  I locked up, and we were on our way at eight o’clock.  Two hours later than we intended.

Here’s the thing with my guys, if you let them sleep they will get over almost anything in 24 to 48 hours.  I knew if I could let him sleep, he could handle the last leg of the drive.  This stomach bug was quick with my son.  So I knew if he could sleep, he’d be okay.

With my man asleep, I put on my rosary podcast and prayed for help, guidance, protection, and healing.  Then during the Divine Mercy Chaplet, I prayed for the ability to drive as far as I could.  This is a challenge I have asked the Lord since we bought the property last year. My concern is, will I be able to make the drive by myself back to Florida.  What if I couldn’t?  What if I failed?

My partner and I share the drive.  I’ll admit it; I have pestered God with this question.  “But what if he couldn’t drive?”

I made it to Jacksonville with stops for gas and rest.  At the rest stop before entering the city, he looked gray as he hobbled to the restroom.  “I’m going to go as far as I can, Lord,” I whispered.  Don’t stop now, whispered in my soul.

He climbed back into the passenger seat.  “Do you want me to drive?” He asked.

“No, I’m doing good.”  He closed his eyes as I set my podcast.  I stopped for gas and a Subway lunch.  He couldn’t stomach eating.  We continued over 100 miles through Georgia to the South Carolina Welcome Center.

We stopped to stretch my legs.  He asked if he needed to drive, but I still wanted to see how far I could go.  On the next hundred plus miles my stomach felt queasy.  Uh Oh!  At our stop for gas near the North Carolina border, I mentioned it to my husband but felt I could continue.  We got soup in the Chick-Fil-a drive-through and I continued to drive.

We got to the rest stop just past Charlotte.  He took charge saying, “I’ll take it from here.”  He was feeling much better.  Grateful, I ran to the bathroom.  This was the longest stop.  We made one more stop at the last rest area and then he drove the last leg to the house.

When he opened the door, I rushed in out of the light snowfall.  It felt even colder in the house.  My dear husband turned on the electric and water.  Heat blessed heat!  As the house warmed up, I went to sleep.

On Saturday morning I realized God and I had driven approximately 700 miles.  I thanked God for showing me I can do all things through His strength. Still feeling ill, I looked at my neglected devotional for March 5.  Here is part of “Fear is Evil:”

“… No work that employs this enemy of Mine is work for Me.  Banish it.  There must be another and better way.  Ask Me, and I will show it you.”*

Boy, did He show me! I asked, and rather than answer He showed Me.  I have nothing to fear in my abilities with His guidance.

God Bless.

Milly

P.S.  I am feeling better.  Yesterday I took my husband’s medicine and slept 14 of those 24 hours.  Ahh!  It is good to eat again!  Blessings!

*Reference is from the New King James Version

**The Devotional is: God Calling Edited by A.J. Russell