The Gift (continued V)

Now it's about a 12 hour drive from Renton to Ogden, but we knew that winter weather was in our near future, so we prepared mentally for a much longer commute.

We drove, got gas, chatted, napped and listened to music. We hit snow, slush and ice in many places, but weren't bombarded until we got just out of Mountain Home Idaho.

It happened to be on my watch and the snow was coming at us full force. The time was approximately 1:30 AM and there seemed to be no shortage of early morning traffic on the road. I was trying to pass a huge semi just to get away from the spewing loads of street snow on our window, but the more I tried, the more we seemed to get buried. I was really struggling to see and keep the Suburban from fishtailing.

Ann could read the concern on my face and asked if we should just back off, find a room for the night and try it again when the sun came up. We were all in total agreement, so I took the next exit.

We came to a large gas station that just seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere. Ann and Robert went in to use the facilities and ask for directions to the nearest hotel.

It was my turn to pay for gas so I ran my card and plugged the nozzle into the tank. Now it was frigid, the snow was coming down fast and furious and my boots were standing in inches of snow. I looked up at the gas pump and it's just ever so slowly ticking by. One cent, two cents, three cents, up to about 34 cents. "Ugh! What's the deal?!" I said out loud. It felt like I had been standing there for fifteen minutes, so I walked into the counter where Ann and Robert were checking out. I asked the clerk "Is there something wrong with your pump, because it's moving slower than mud?" "No," said the clerk "It's just so cold that the pumps move super slow." Ann, Robert and I quickly glanced at each other and all said "What?" "That makes no sense! There is no way that's the real issue. People pump gas all over the country in freezing cold temperatures every day and I'm sure they don't wait around that long to get gas." I told her.

Ann just looked at me and said "Don't worry about it, we'll fill up in the morning. Let's just find a room." So I paid for my 34 cents worth of gas and we followed the directions to the hotel.

Little did we know that was just the beginning of our interesting journey through Mountain Home or as I like to call it Stephen King-ville...

You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.
Job 10:11-13

Love You Mer