More hard travel, monuments, a fun day

Travel to Florida on Saturday was even more painful that the trip to Brittany and Andrew the day before. We were expecting a six hour trip but it did not work out that way. We did okay traveling from Columbus, MS to just north of Mobile, AL. It was then that we hit such heavy rain that it was almost impossible to see the road or the car sharing it with us. We were also in unfamiliar territory trying to get to I-10 to head east to Florida.

Those of you who know Mama know she does not like traveling in the dark or in the rain – and this was a very hard rain. We finally drove out of it and got on the right road only to be stopped by traffic getting through the tunnel in Mobile. Through the tunnel and across the bridge to the far side of the bay took us over an hour - to cover twelve miles. Adding to the misery of dogs expecting to find and open door at any moment – and constantly checking all four of the car doors – was the urgency for Mama to get to a bathroom.

We did finally get off on the east side of the bay in Mobile and Mama, Victoria and Jake all rushed out to the Starbucks to relieve themselves – in the bathroom. (I specify because we had some issues with that while with the grandsons.) I stayed with the dogs and made my trip to the potty after they made it back to take care of the dogs.

We were still in traffic for another forty minutes or so before we got out of the area. It was still very heavy traffic all the way to Pensacola, FL. I felt like we were driving in afternoon traffic in Houston for seventy miles or so; it was a little nerve wracking. As we got into Pensacola we hit another traffic jam that held us up for almost an hour. This one was from a wreck. By that time I was getting tired. We finally got to Cori and Nate’s somewhere around 7 p.m.

Sunday morning was a special celebration at their church. It was a celebration of 40 years since the church had been organized. The pastor preached on the children of Israel crossing the Jordon River and taking stones out of the riverbed to be set up as a monument for future generations of the power of God to meet the needs of His people.

During a part of the service about twenty people got up to testify what the Lord had done for them – moments of great deliverance; monumental moments. Each person had a large stone that they carried up onto the stage to be placed in a heap as a monument. It was a very graphic representation of what the children of Israel had done so long ago.

I was reminded of Mary Poppins as the father laments his daily grind while admitting that every man desires to “carve his nitch in the edifice of time”. I have always longed to do something monumental but realized long ago that it is far better that God do something monumental through me. He has done some pretty great things for me and Mama – and continues to do so.

Dinner on the ground followed the morning service and a short service followed that in the early afternoon. It was a fun time and I am very glad we got to share it with family there. We were out of church so early that we went to the beach that evening.  It was a very enjoyable excursion to the beach.

It was a day well spent.