Journey

day 16

last night i read a verse (psalm 84:5) that talked about a person/pilgrim seeking after God turns his troubles into blessing, because of he remembers how God has taken care of him in the past.
i want to remember this hike to chicago as a walk with God and how He took care of me.
i started the day with breakfast at a pancake house, then i walked 5 blocks to the trail. i will be there today!
i have walked to see the kids of safeplace, and help them as much as i can.
as i get off the trail onto devon street, i realize how hot it is. i stopped to use the restroom, and dropped my cell phone in the toilet. now i have no way to call to get directions. i ask a lady walking her dog for directions, and she took me to her house to cool off. she gave me food and water, and wrote down where i need to go to get to target on peterson.
i am excited to meet everyone there and walk the rest of the way with them. we will walk the last mile, and celebrate being together, and that we have learned.
see everyone there!
journey

day 15

got on the des plaines trail by 6:30 am. right away i met a woman on a bike who stopped to see what i was training for. she knows where winona, mn is so she knew how far i had come, and when she learned it was for kids…she wanted a card with an address so she could give to safeplace. i was very impressed with her immediate response to give. that is true giving…when we respond from the heart.
every day i meet people that really care…they want to help. i pray that God will bless all the efforts for safeplace.
rachel came to see me today. what a blessing she is to me. just seeing her, knowing i am almost there was the highlight of my day.
kids at day camp, i am so excited to finally see you very shortly. i hope that some of you will walk into safeplace with me. remember if you do walk with me…wear good tennies :} only a few days to go…
see you then!

day 14

said good-bye to peggy and brian…6:30 am. we will keep in touch.
breakfast was at mcdonalds,and lunch at dairy queen…yiks.
it is soooo good to be on a trail again. the traffic on the roads has been very busy…and somewhat dangerous. some friendly bird watchers directed me to the des plaines trail, and asked for a safeplace card.
some of the trail is under water, but it didn’t stop anyone riding bikes, running, riding horses, and even other hikers. there are many friendly smiling faces on the trail. it has been such a nice day, many families riding bikes together. the breeze has been blowing all the bug away…i could even take a brake on a bench.
i think the cutest thing i saw was this tandom bike with a dad in the front and his little girl in the back. they were talking and laughing…fun stuff.
late in the afternoon i am enjoying the beauty around me…i see a starbucks and a days inn…and realize it is time to stop.
i am dreaming about seeing the faces of the kids at safeplace in chicago…just a few more days.
my lesson for the day:
when God blows the bugs away, it is a gift of time to enjoy the blessings from Him.
enjoy the blessings!

day 13

this day was full of blessings. next morning i met a clerk named peggy at the front desk. she told me brian from last night is her son.
my tent was wet and muddy from camping in the storm. i decided to take the morning to clean and dry all my gear. peggy offered to help in any way i needed.
i checked my email and saw a note from joanna the girl at the coffee shop. she had research me and my family from the article i gave her. she they expressed her love for the lord and her need to get on track with her life. i think we will continue to be friends, and see each other again. very encouraging note.
as i was talking with peggy, and trying to decide what i was going to do since it was late in the day, she offered me to stay at her house for the night and go out to eat with her. God impressed me to accept her offer knowing there was much to be gained by this.
we went to her house…peggy worked on her house project, while i mowed her lawn. i bought her dinner, and we had a mutually encouraging time. peggy is a christian, and we are also going to keep in touch.
two new friends in one day!!!!wow, i have been blessed.
wonder what else is around the corner……….

day 12

lightning and rained all night. 6 am still going. i have to decide what i am going to do. i can’t walk inthe lightning. God has something for me that i don’t know yet.
waiting……

day 11

this morning the mosquitos are back in full number. i have a better attitude about them today…i think that means i am getting more and more comfortable being out here. i truly enjoy the outdoors like this. there are so many lessons to be learned if i pay attention to God, and where He is. the kindness of strangers is the most obvious. the places to camp, the cool breeze when its hot, a couple holding hands. He calls to me to pay attention every day.
well, the next thing that happened after i said that…i went in a cafe to get breakfast. met a very nice owner named kathy. i told her about safeplace kids, and she immediately wanted to help me get to the po to get the package sp sent. she began asking her friends as they came in to eat. one lady going right there gave me a ride. turns out she is the aunt of the 16 yr.old boy struck by lightning in watertown during that bad storm two days ago. she said she is a christian, as well as the boy and his family. she also said they are well loved in there community, and the boys death has affected everyone there. her hope is that God will get glory from this, and some will be saved.
i made good time today. at my campsite by 3 pm. all was calm until 6 pm…i could smell it first,then i heard the thunder at a distance. before the storm got here, the forest ranger drove through the camp telling everyone that it was a sever storm. i gathered all my stuff,tighted down my tent,dug a trench around it, and got in and waited…not long. the wind and rain blew my tent sideways,and in about 20 mins it was over.
it is calm again, and a lot cooler…good sleeping.
my husband told me that i have been this way before…in a storm in my tent. he is right…when i have seen God work out my problems once, especially things i can’t control,i need to remember it and trust.
thank you safeplace for the t-shirt, pictures & cards. i will put them to good use :}

day 10

last night was tough sleeping. my feet throbbed all night-nothing seemed to help. i figured out i was over heated a couple time & probably needed electrolites.i was tired all day.
this morning i started with a shower in the trail headquarters, then laundry next door. i had a lot of mosquito repellent on everything from yesterday.
the trail was hot and buggy again. i walked roads to get away from the bugs, but its hotter. hard hiking day.
three things stick out in my mind:
the man in the laundry mat want to give me water if i couldn’t fnd some. he was very kind hearted…it goes along way.
rachel called to see how i was. i know safeplace prays specifically for my needs.
david {my son-in-law} called to give me fun news from his experience today.
all these things encouraged my heart. thanks!
the sun is setting, and i am sleepy.
this day made me stronger…..

day 9

it has been cloudy most of the day up until now. still very humid, the mosquitoes were very active. i wore my mosquito jacket most of the day.
God provided a unique ride from the hotel to the trail. a lady from salvation army was checking out of the hotel when i was, and i ask about conditions of roads and trail after the flash flooding last night. she is working with disaster relief, and knew more then anyone else. she is a christian, and wouldn’t take $ for gas. we were both glad we met.
i ate a good health breakfast, and finally on the glacier drumlin trail! so good to get off the roads.
today was a wildlife day. bear scat, cardinals, red squirrels, turkeys, magpies, and mosquitoes.
tonight i am camped right by lake mills…beautiful! the fireflies are all around my tent, and a mulberry tree near by {good for breakfast}. the sun is setting…and my eyes are heavy. im sure i will be to sleep by 9 pm.
sweet dreams…….

day 8

woke up to rain and thunder. the humidity is extremely high today. the temps were in the 80s. the breeze was a friend today, cooling me as i walked on busy hwys under construction.the rain stopped and i walked 12 miles to sun prairie and stopped for lunch. as i was getting ready to leave, a man came up to me asking how far i was walking. i told him about safeplace, and he told me he was compelled to come meet me not knowing why. he said he needed to encourage me on my
journey, and gave me money for safeplace.
got to cottage grove, when a huge black cloud appeared in the north moving quickly my way. so i called a cab, and headed to the nearest hotel. turns out, someone was struck by lightening, and the rain caused more flooding.the rain was coming down so hard the cab driver took the wrong exit. i was very grateful for safety and rest.
God shows me every day that He is taking care of me. thank you for all that are praying.

day 7

it is sunday, and i am using this day to reflect on God, and who He is. as the sun comes up…shining in my tent…God is peace…and light. He is like the breeze…unseen, but completely present.
the deer that came walking up the trail this morning didn’t know i was here, and snored in disbelief. but God is completely aware of me.

after church i lost cell service again. then at 12 noon got it back, so i called rach, my daughter with safeplace. she and sam were heading home from mpls, and we decided to meet. after 5 hours of traffic from the weekend holiday,they picked me up 2 miles from waunekee. in the mean time, my husband dave, suprised me by flying to waunekee to see me. here’s the interesting part: rach and sam find me at 5 pm. dave called at 5:07 pm when he landed. we end up picking dave up and eating dinner together. we topped the eveining off with icecream, then rach and sam left for chicago.