31

What did I do with myself from Friday at 10:00 to Saturday at 5:00 p.m.?  Thirty-one hours.  The short version is - I traveled 610 miles in my Corolla.  The long version is.......

Left Rockford at 10:00 a.m. on Friday and drove to Adrian, Michigan

Landed at the coffeeshop where I ordered a decaf white chocolate mocha made with coconut milk

Went to the Goodwill

Met my dear friend and her fabulous 4-year old for supper

Supported the local Christian bookstore

Did a little Nancy Drew-ish investigating

Spent the night in the country...I forgot how lovely NO traffic sounds.  The sky was pitch black and the stars were amazing.

Went to best breakfast-making establishment in Hudson

Cried when the waitress said, "Hi Bryan!"

Sisterly interrogated my sweet brother...and I may have said, "I have a mug full of coffee and I'm pretty sure refills are free.  I have all day so why don't you tell me exactly what happened..."  I did not really have all day and good heavens - should I have a day's-worth of coffee refills?  Show of hands who thinks this is a good idea?

God graciously gave me an answer to  a question that has been weighing heavy on my heart.  With that answer comes a responsibility for me to act upon it.  God is faithful.  The info has been electronically transmitted to the authorities and to other answer-worthy individuals.

Told my brother I love him and hugged him goodbye.

Headed to a very cute store locally-owned store that I absolutely adore.  I restocked my 2018 project box.  

Got on the road headed back to Rockford.

Traffic was smooth sailing and somewhere around South Bend Nancy called...and an hour later, I said to her, "Oh my word, where am I?"  LOL!  That's what happens when we talk and I let Marge (my GPS) connect through my headset.  Marge just says, "Take the next right" and then Nancy picks-up her crazy story and all of the sudden I'm on 294 headed towards IKEA.  Not literally IKEA but IKEA is near the merging point of 294 and I-90 so I call it the way of IKEA.  

I exited at Randall Road and went straight to JoAnn's.  That particular store is HUGE!!!!  I meandered through in search of a) a restroom (let's just be honest); and b) some clearance yarn for Nancy.  Thankfully  a) was located; b) was not.  I did manage to get some on-sale coral scrubby yarn!  A little self-control goes a long way...

After the craft store, I went to Trader Joe's to continue stretching my legs.  I love this grocery store.  

My next stop was going to be the Randall Road Goodwill but with the snow-ish looking clouds, I decided to skip the Goodwill and head home.  Clearly skipping the Randall Road Goodwill is HUGE!  Those of you who know me and love me know that I heart this Goodwill.  Next to Janesville's Goodwill, I'm pretty sure this Goodwill is my 2nd fave.

After not stopping at the Goodwill, traffic sailed right along.  Rosie got me home but the poor thing had 18 miles to out of gas so we took care of that right away and then I went home and unloaded my stuff.  

I'm so very grateful that in the last 31 hours the Lord watched over me as I traveled a total of 610 miles.  He interspersed little snippets of grace along my way...supper with a friend...a free coffee...an unexpected extension of hospitality...numerous text messages while I waited with a heavy heart...a cup of coffee with my brother...a trip through the craft store...a voicemail from a friend...several Facebook messages...

God is in the details of our lives if we would just stop and look around.  He's there.  He's there at every turn.  I saw His glory in the beauty of the country night sky and the stars He made.  I saw Him in the kindness bestowed upon me by the waitress at the little restaurant.  He's there when He prompts a friend to call you and ask how you are doing.