Made it to Pennsylvania

Good morning! Well, I made it to Pennsylvania! Each of the first 3 travel days included some "bump in the road" that created frustration, worries, and extended drive time each day! Not good.

So yesterday, when I was on my 5 1/2-hour drive from Cleveland to Harrisburg, I kept waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop, wondering what would happen. I'd already had (minor) car problems, an air conditioner that didn't work, a dead GPS and an hours-long traffic jam involving a detour. What else could happen?

Nothing!

It was a smooth, uneventful drive yesterday. I arrived at Hope Flinchbaugh's house right on schedule with all mechanical and electrical devices working. Thank you, Lord! Hope could see how tired I was, so she prayed that I'd get a good night's sleep, which I did. Oh my, how good you can feel after sufficient rest!

I have a 2-hour drive today, followed by setup at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers' Conference. I'm taking and setting up displays for Hope and for Becky Spencer, since they'll be arriving later. And I get to make an airport run, so I'll be tired again tonight. But it's a good tired, and I'm looking forward to it.

Please pray for the conference, that everyone will make it there safely and that we'll create new relationships, cement older ones, and meet the right people for our books. I'm SOOOO looking forward to it. Last year I was a newbie. This year, I belong.

Where am I going?

In preparing for my cross-country drive to the Greater Philadelphia Writer's Conference, I invested in a Garmin GPS, lovingly named Charmin Garmin by my granddaughter Kayleigh. As a result, when I visited the AAA office for a tour book, I told the lady I didn't need any maps. HA!

At the beginning of my 11-hour drive from Buhler, Kansas, to Chicago on Friday, Charmin decided she had taken me far enough and she quit. Totally! Just quit! I was on an interstate just outside Kansas City and had no idea how to get from there to my friend Ken's in Chicago!

Bottom line - I called Ken who bridged on the AAA office in Kansas City for directions to their office so I could get maps. The directions were wrong! She told me the wrong exit and to go left, not right. Another hour wasted.

As the frustration built, I was determined not to cry but to just keep driving. God and I had a long talk, and I asked if this was a sign that I shouldn't be going. The announcer on radio station 88.7 FM, the FLR (Family Life Radio) that I had on IMMEDIATELY said, "Cheer up! You're right where God wants you. Just give it up and let Him lead the way."

Wow! I had asked for an answer to prayer, but I never expected to hear a literal voice with that answer! Needless to say, I cried. But this time they were tears of relief, not tears of fear or frustration.

I made it to Chicago in 13 hours instead of the 11 I was expecting, but I made it nonetheless. And I know that I'm right where God wants me to be. That's the best place for anyone--to be right where God wants you.

Thank you, Lord!
Love to all-
Debbie

A new roof and a new beginning

Hello, friends, family, and loved ones (you know which you are!)—
Well, I made it through Bryan’s birthday today, July 11. I kept busy and thanked God for the time we had together, although it was much shorter than I wanted. Since we lived our “happily ever after,” I’m not in a hurry to remarry. I’ll leave the single older men for other women who haven’t found their Prince Charming yet.

But it’s possible: The Fourth of July weekend was spent with family in Ohio, witnessing evidence that even we “old folks” can find happiness! My 75-year-old widowed (or is it widowered?) brother-in-law married a beautiful 75-year-old widow in a “Victorian” ceremony. There wasn’t a dry eye in the church. And I’ve never seen old people kiss as much as those two! It was really cute, not gross like watching your grandparents kiss.

Yesterday my roof was replaced. Yay! I left for a few hours while the roofers were working and came home to find a flyer from A-1 Roofing taped to my front door, wanting to give me an estimate! Too bad he didn’t see the ladder to the roof (that he had to walk around), the four guys doing the work, and the shingles in the roll-off on my driveway! Talk about dumb!

Interesting display of opposites: The roofers worked for over 14 hours to get the roof completed in one day. That’s commitment and hard work. Then, this morning I saw a lady walking her dog IN A BABY STROLLER (the dog was in the stroller, not the lady). Why bother?

If you have nothing better to do, you can go to ArvadaCovenantWomen.blogspot.com and read an interview with me for the Women Ministries at my church. I didn’t think Kinsey would put it all there, but she did. Ironic that it was posted on Bryan’s birthday.

Today’s word of hope is from the Touched By An Angel day-at-a-time calendar script by Martha Williamson: “When two people choose to become one, you become something even greater than that if you ask God into the circle, ‘for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer.’ Because when times are better, God blesses you, and when times are worse, God will bless you even more.” I can attest to that, and the blessings keep coming.

Thank you for all your love, help, and prayer, and for blessing me.
Love to all-
Debbie