While our total miles from Point A to Point B was actually shorter than Wednesday’s, wowza…was it different. And LONGER time-wise. And more exciting Mother Nature wise.

Every morning when we start out driving, I hold the cross that hangs from my rear view mirror and ask God to wrap his arms around us. To build a wall around us to keep us safe. And, with all the heat, thunderstorms and tornadoes doing on in the midwest, I asked him to control the winds.

We drove along uneventfully for a couple of hours when I could see the sky darkening along the western horizon. I asked my trusty navigator to check the weather app radar to see what we were heading into and when, he let out a long whistle when he saw it. I knew that wasn’t good. We were hungry and needed a bathroom break and pulled into a large open parking area by a big metal building. 

We weren’t in there fifteen minutes when I looked out and said, “OMGosh!!! We need to go now!” I didn’t feel safe all exposed like that. We jumped in the truck and made it to the next exit where there was a Love’s Truck Stop. After a few tries, I weaved the truck and the camper through the mass of parked vehicles and went around back. I parked so that the brunt of the wind would hit us square into the back end. This made our wind resistance lower. The rain was coming down in torrents. I looked up at the cross and said, “Lord…I need that wall about now!” Just then, this great big motor home was coming in. There were plenty of places for him to park over on the other side and it looked like he was going to turn into one of them. Then, he stopped for a few seconds, and made a beeline over to us. He parked snugly between me and southwest winds. Thirty seconds later, a huge truck pulled in behind us and blocked ALL of the wind! We had our wall and I thanked Jesus for keeping us safe!

We road out the storm. The winds died down and the lightning lessened…as did the rain. We watched the huge wall of red pass over us on the radar as it headed eastward. The big truck behind us left and we followed shortly after.

Our next obstacles were several areas of road construction that had us stopped like a parking lot on the interstate. We waited for the first. On to the second. There were trees down and the grasses were plastered flat to the ground looking all the world like a giant had slicked his green hair down with a comb. Limbs and leaves were everywhere. By the third stop, we literally could have gotten out and walked around for a while. We weren’t going anywhere. When we finally did make it through, we saw the culprit. There was a large boom truck parked alongside the interstate and its huge arm was holding up the power lines that were slung low to the ground from the powerful storm. On ahead, we were stopped yet again. This time it was a semi that had been blown over on its side from the wind. 

Finally…we broke through the bottleneck and made it to Jubilee College State Park Campground. The college itself was founded in 1839. I wish we had more time to explore, but the campground was huge and quiet and affordable at only $20 per night. We made sure everything was put away last night so we can get an earlier start today. We have over 400 miles to drive today and we don’t want to get in late. We like to have a nice meal and relax a little, maybe play some cards or watch some videos together and get a good night’s sleep.

I’ll check in tomorrow. And keep those prayers coming…they’re working!!!

Two more sleeps!!!

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““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8 NLT