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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Valley (08/10/06)
THE MOST UNFORGETTABLE VALLEY
It was so early. The children were sleeping. The 1949 two-ton truck was packed to bulging with everything we owned including the six children and our German Shepherd. The mattress atop the truck announced we were ready for our journey. With a very prayerful plea for safety we drove out of the long driveway of Graham Creek Ranch. The last San Jauquine Valley sunrise. t slowly peaked over the horizon as we were leaving. The Oakies were returning home
The days were hot. To give everyone a break we would pull over at the state parks to rest, play and eat. The children were having the fun of their lives. After loading everyone back up
Doug would pat the hood of the old truck and pray for the road ahead of us that led to Oklahoma
The long trip gave me a lot of time to reflect. Everything had happened so quickly.
It was so hard to leave the ranch, a Garden of Eden. Dr. Barton was a unique person. He had an organic ranch that we had ran for three years. He built the beautiful SICON School of Nature where sixth graders could visit and enjoy the vast information and beauty of creation. He had passed away at 94 years old and the ranch was sold. It was so hard to believe he was gone to his final resting place. This was very despairing to us, but death had not completed its sweep.
Laura, our 3 year old had come down with pneumonia , and ultimately death scooped her
out of my arms. I was going through a range of emotions that shocked me. At the funeral I looked at her for the last time and thought I could see her breathing. I knew she was gone but everything in me didn't want to admit it. I wanted her back. I had to accept that God had a reason or purpose and like it or not I had to accept that Laura was now in God's hands and life here must go on.
Following the funeral Doug decided we needed to just take a drive. We ended up about 100 miles from home. We had taken our newborn daughter with us. Out in the middle of nowhere
we came upon a little country holiness church. The church windows were open and we could hear their angelic singing. We weren't of their faith but we decided to slip in and set way in the back and enjoy the peace that their music was bringing to our hurting hearts. We didn't know anyone, we didn't even exactly know where we were. but it didn't matter. The singing stopped and the Pastor stood up. He appeared to be bothered by something. He paced back and forth on
the platform then he began to walk down the aisle towards where we were sitting. He stopped in front of me, my heart was racing. He placed his hand on my head and began speaking in a language that was totally foreign to me. Then he gave the " interpretation" in English. It was undeniable that God was involved in the words that were spoken. I had never had such an experience. The message assured me I was special and He (God) saw my suffering. He would place in my hands the gift of healing and that I would lead others to the transforming experience of becoming a Christian. Through pain and suffering they would become whole. I had heard about it, and read about this experience but never had I experienced such a powerful experience that led me into a secret communication with my heavenly Father. There was a moment of reverenced silence and then the congregation began to worship and praise God. I slipped out with the baby, tears running down my cheeks. I knew this experience would change the course of my life forever. It had the power to lift me out of my valley of despair and place me in a valley of hope.
Before we knew it we were pulling into Grandpa's and Grandma's Oklahoma farm. The old truck had chugged its last miles on fumes of faith. Being a ninth-grade drop-out, mother of seven, I had no idea God would launch me on an eight year journey that would take me through medical school. Only God and all His wisdom could have ever known the journey He had charted for my future..
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This article has been read 975 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
08/18/06
What an awesome experience--thank you for sharing it with us.

Feel free to PM or e-mail me if you'd like a few formatting and paragraphing tips.

I can just visualize the packed truck and this family's journey.
Julia May
08/19/06
This is very inspiring. Thanks for sharing. In Christ's Love,

Julia
Valerie Routhieaux
08/23/06
Isn't God awesome. He always comes through, especially when we're not looking. Great piece of writing. Though it would be a good idea to leave some white space between paragraphs. Would be much easier to read.