finishing strong

We were up at 10:00, restrapped the surfboard to the roof of my car, and on our way we went. 7 hours until home. 7 hours turned into 9 when Vera started shaking wildly about 70 miles from home. We pulled over, inspected the tires, unloaded the trunk to get the wrench out, tightened the lug nuts, but it didn't help. She was going to shake. So, we drove 50 mph the last 70 miles. We got just inside the Worthington city limit, started screaming and cheering and literally within a mile of my house, Vera lost it. The shaking got really bad, so we pulled over and found her rear passenger tire was completely in shreds. The hub cap was long gone. We couldn't do anything but laugh at that point. Jason and Eric got our emergency phone call and came to our rescue within minutes. Presley and Holly showed up too. Presley gave me the biggest hug ever! Holly was bawling with relief that we had made it home safely, so we spent our time hugging in the street until the tire was almost done. I got in Holly's car. Air conditioning! How we made it 2000 miles without air is beyond me. A true relationship test. The Worthington Police Department even showed up to make sure we had it all under control.

We warned Presley that we were going to jump in Lake Okabena (right across the street from our house) the minute we got home, so she showed up in the car wearing her swimsuit! :) True to our word, I put my swimsuit on in the car and when we got home, mom and Paul greeted Kevin and I by throwing rice at us (in preparation for the wedding), mom was bawling too (apparently they were a little nervous about the car), and we all trucked over to the lake where we jumped in! What refreshment! Madison even came in for a swim in her diaper! Sara Lee (Mom's plant from the Stewarts) arrived safely, and she was excited to see where she might put it! She'll be the talk of the town in no time!

Pizza was waiting in the oven, so we went back inside, shared supper, our engagement story once again, more tears, and lots of laughter. It was so nice to be safe at home after such a long trip. We really trust God was watching over us this whole way. Angels truly carried us across the country safely. And even with a flat tire a mile from home (God does have a sense of humor), God is really really good, and we feel so incredibly blessed to have finished strong the path set in front of us. Thanks for all the continued prayers!