Weathering The Storm

Our drive yesterday was very long but a good one. We took an alternate route which was longer, but prettier. Instead of highway 80 we took 50. Jim says that Highway 50 is known as the loneliest highway in the world. So you trade driving along side 500 big rigs and a slew of cars for a bit of a country two laner. I am not a fan of the two lane highways but the fact that hardly anyone was out there helped considerably. And we didn't see any trucks until we were about to connect to 80 in Wendover. This is the road we used to take to see my grandparents in North Dakota when we were kids and this road is not that different today.

Since we have retired we have become more of the back roads type of travelers. It is truly fun to get off the beaten path and go through the tiny towns that dot the landscape along the way. Your perspective changes a lot when you are not always racing the clock.

One reason Jim wanted to go on 50 is that his best friend, Dave, grew up in the little mining town of Mc Gill, Nevada. Jim has wanted to see it for many years. We also stopped in a diner for lunch in Eureka. It was an authentic little place that really took us back. The people were so nice. Everyone in the town that we saw had a kind word. Where have all the friendly people gone? Out of the cities it appears.

So our 14 1/2 hour drive was just relaxing and pretty much uneventful...exactly what we all pray for. No hassles, no car problems nice weather, pleasant scenery for Nevada, etc. We spent a good deal of time discussing which classes we will be taking at Education Week at BYU.

As we began to approach the kids' town it started to look very stormy. Hot and rainy is becoming more prevalent here in the summers. As we headed into the storm it became apparent that it was not rain but dust. We were caught in the eye of a big crazy windstorm that was like nothing we had ever seen. It was really scary and the visibility was poor, the dirt flying everywhere, and as the wind increased the debris flying around did too. We saw lots of over turned big orange barrels on the freeway, big orange buckets flying around like badminton birdies, from the construction that is always a part of the scenery in this area. Caution signs were ripped off their poles and became metal missiles flying through the air. And a person lost their entire bumper in the storm and was trying to reattach it on the side of the road. At one point we were driving along the abutment separating the lanes from the construction and all of a sudden a big piece of plywood flew over the abutment and nearly caused my decapitation through the windshield. Jim's quick maneuver saved us. Our prayers were answered for safety as no one was directly beside us at that moment. Everyone was having trouble controlling their cars so we were keeping some distance and driving much slower than usual.

So James was looking for a little adventure, he found it. As quickly as it arose it began to subside just as we were approaching our exit. We have never been so happy to get off the freeway.

Funny how you just never know what a day will bring when you get up in the morning. It is so reassuring to have prayer to give us courage to get out of bed and face what comes, with God on our side. Before you left your room this morning, did you think to pray? And did you remember to give thanks when your prayers were answered?

Ahh, much better! All is well!

I sure hope you have had a wonderful Sabbath Day. We did! Here is a quote from our lesson in Relief Society.

"Blessed is (s)he that can give without remembering
and receive without forgetting."