This weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to Louisiana with 2 good friends for a wedding. It was a great trip! God is so good to me and I’m learning repeatedly that He delights to give us wonderful gifts. I was very happy to be asked along as I don’t often get to spend concentrated time with Susan and I was also looking forward to meeting people I’d heard so much about. I was already in the clouds when I received an email from another dear friend stating she was also going to be there!! I’d not seen her in 8 years and I felt like I was about to pop!! I don’t think my feet touched the ground for 2 days. 
It amazes me the things God just lays in my lap; presents I wouldn’t even think to ask for.
Due to work schedules, we didn’t leave until after 5pm on Friday. We (ahem…Jarod) drove through most of the night (what laughter rang in that car as the hours slipped by and we tried to stay awake!!). We reached Slidell, LA sometime after 2am and slept for a few hours. Saturday we had some time to blow and decided to detour through New Orleans on our way to Lafayette as none of us had ever been there. We saw much of the French Quarter and I was struck with the spiritual heaviness of that city. There needs to be an awakening there, Satan has such a foothold… Susan and I were both very glad J-rod was driving all those one way streets in his stick shift!! The destruction of Katrina is still very evident, but the city seems to be very much alive. The architecture and colorfulness is incredible. We arrived at our destination with plenty of time (the wedding wasn’t until 4pm), ate lunch and prepared for the wedding. It was a joyful event! One of the sweetest I’ve ever been to. The bridesmaids all but jumped for joy! And the blessing of God was very evident. Afterwards great fellowship took place at the outdoor reception. My friend was there and it was wonderful to see her after so much time! I had the privilege to meet her “special someone” and see for myself how well matched they are. It was grand to meet so many new people (some I’d heard about) who clearly love the Lord and desire for Him to be glorified at all costs. It’s so rare to be at a gathering where the Lord is first, especially a wedding, and yet that’s exactly what it seemed like to me. We headed out soon after the bride and groom, about 9:30pm EST and that’s when the true adventure began! We proceeded to drive through the night, Susan taking the first shift, then me and Jarod finishing up. Jarod had to preach the next morning so there was really no options, but I tell you, when he took over driving at 3:30am I didn’t think we were going to make it. God was very merciful however and though we did add an hour to the trip by getting off on the wrong exit, we never got lost and the driver and the “talker” never fell asleep. It was pretty awesome to see the sunset and the sunrise and not have the realization that it was a new day! 
It was a trip well worth the effort and I’m so glad we did it!
(my good friend, Angie and me…)
I didn’t get home until 9:30am and didn’t dare go to bed as I had to go to church to play the piano. The Lord gave me the ability to stay focussed through the song service, awake through church, and though I’m still not sure the exact point of the sermon, I do remember it was on Col. 3! Thankfully, church let out early and I took Bruce’s truck home and was in bed at exactly 12:30. 
Sleep never felt so good!! And boy am I glad Monday was a holiday!!
Speaking of Monday… Bruce and I went with a friend to another family’s house to shoot skeet that evening. The dad talked me into giving it a shot and I actually got the 3rd disc!! Pretty cool!! But that’s not the point of this story… I was relaying the events of the weekend to one of the girls and told her that I was “punch drunk” by the time I got home from church. She assumed someone had spiked the punch at the wedding and nearly flipped out!! What a hoot!
Tomorrow finds us heading out of town for a short family vacation before Daddy starts his new job next week. It’s been a while since we’ve all been off together and we’re rather excited. Wild Adventures HERE WE COME…..
5 responses to “Yes, There’s More…”
Anna! It was so great meeting you [actually in person] at the wedding!!! Thank you so much for making the trip! – And what a trip you all had! Wowsers!
My family were all encouraged at the wedding! Father answered so many prayers in such beautiful ways – from the weather to the reality of His presence! He blessed the time with such gladness. He is faithful beyond words! It’s TRUE – He only does marvelous things!
I also hope that our paths cross again! From only having met you once in person and a few times on xanga, it seems that you are a precious sister!
It’s so cool that you met up with Angie! Her and Kristi are so DEAR to Catherine and I!
Blessings to you, Anna!!!!!
Yep, no question. A great journey! I’m looking forward to the next adventure! Yosemitie? California? Chicago? Who’s up for Florida? I hear Boston is beautiful this time of year. Have a great time on your vacation.
A Clayton vacation sounds pretty wild to me. Have a great time and thanks for keeping Jarod awake.
Dear, wonderful Anna! It does seem almost too good to be true that we finally got together this past weekend! What a JOY it was to spend some time with you and introduce you and my sweetheart to eachother! Terry is glad that he can now call you friend along with me! 🙂 Lord willing, another eight years will not have to go by before we’re together again…hopefully not another single year! Thank you for your Christlike example to me and loyal, enduring friendship over all these years. I love you!
Anna, I feel so honored that you two took time to stop by and visit! Am still feeling very blessed. Jarod is wonderful. Our Lord is so able to provide and keep that which is committed to Him. God bless you both . . . forever.