Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Answered Prayers

Well Saturday was the big day to head back to Utah. I don't know why but I really felt that I wanted to be back for testimony meeting on Sunday. M only concern was making it back in time.
It took us 26 hours to get to Tennessee and that was with us pushing between 80 and 85 most of the way.
We left Clarksville at 9 a.m. thus meaning that if I was going to make it to church we would have to make a lot better timing. Before we left though we said a prayer with the family for a safe trip, and before that, I said a small prayer that Heavenly Father would guide our journey so that we would make good timing. That same prayer was in my heart throughout the entire trip. i kept looking at the clock trying to calculate if we were going to make it or not.
Darrell started our long journey. We had a little bit of food in the car but we only stopped when we needed to get gas. If we had to go to the bathroom then we had to hold it. Everytime we got gas we switched off who was driving. I remember dad saying "now if you get tired and ya'll need to stop at a rest stop then do it". Those were words of wisdom, however I, of course, thought to myself "no way am I stopping to sleep. This trip is long enough already. I think I'll take my chances with death". I had however identified a few people who I could call during the later hours in case I needed help staying awake. For me the secret to staying awake is all in the music that I'm listening to. So only my top jammin song would work for the road.
The trip had gone well most of the way through, and we were only pushing about 80. However we hit one spot where traffic was slow due to a little snow. This was definitely going to slow us down. Then on top of that, when it was my turn, again, to drive, we were on I-80 west and some how I jumped on I-76 west with out even noticeing for a few hours. That took us right back to I-70. Darrell said that just added on a few hours to our trip. If this was true then for sure, I would not make it in time for church. Then to make things even worse, I-70 took us through Colorado and up the mountains where the roads were really snowed over and lots of curves. I never got about 50mph on that road, and once again I was worried about how much that would slow us down. "No way we're going to make it now" I thought to myself, while I continued to pray for a miracle. Once it was Darrell's turn to drive though, I tried to get a little sleep and not worry about it. I slept for about 5 or 6 hours, which in a car usually equal like 3 or 4 really.
When I woke up we were in the Utah desert, and still 2 hours to spare until church.
Somehow, even with all the delays, we made it back to my apartment right at 9. I knew that Heavenly Father had answered my prayers. I believe that He guided us to I-76 west because at this specific timing it may have been the faster route. Whatever it was, we had made it.
Now I rushed up to my apartment and quickly got ready for church. Then I went out to the street and couldn't find my car. I was in a hurry and not in the mood for more delays. I suddenly remember that my car was still in Pleasant Grove where I had left it when we carpooled home.
I had to get to church though! I quickly began to knock on doors and call people to see if someone hadn't left yet. I found a girl in my ward who was still sleeping, so I had her take me to church in her pjs. I made it with 20 minutes of fast and testimony meeting left, and it was a wonderful testimony meeting, even for only having been there for a small portion of it. I even got to bear my testimony. This just shows once again that God does answer prayers.