Category Archives: Trips

When God Blesses

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Joe at Horseshoe Curve

We do a lot for the people we take care of, and as I said before I had this “bucket list” of places Joe wanted to see. One of them was Horseshoe Curve near Altoona, PA. Although this would normally be a day trip from our home (about a two hour drive) Joe’s condition by this time was such that a trip to the doctor was very tiring for him. He was such a train loving guy; he even had DVDs of trains that he would play during the day. So a three day trip was planned, two to travel to and from and one day to see “the Curve”.

I picked a weekend and after packing the car with oxygen and medical supplies, off we went. I did some research about the Curve and I really wanted Joe to see some trains when we were there. However, I found that there wasn’t any guarantee that a train would pass while we waited. I did find out that they have a “funicular” or a car that would take visitors up the side of the mountain to view the trains (yes, handicapped accessible!). We arrived and used the funicular (it’s really fun!) to reach the park that they’ve created. This whole time I’m praying for the Lord to send one train, just one train, please?

There wasn’t any trains for a while. We walked around (or Joe rode and I pushed) and looked at the scenery (fantastic) and the sign boards that gave a history of the Curve and the area. I’m still praying… I asked Joe if he wanted to leave, but no, he just wanted to wait.

And then a rumble came from the right and here came a train (thank you, Lord!) and it passed by and went to our left. Then there was another rumble and here comes a train from the left going to our right. I was overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord. Joe was sitting there looking like a loon, he was so happy.

We were getting ready to leave when the ground rumbled again. This time there were two trains going opposite directions on two different tracks. They passed each other right in front of Joe. I was crying with joy by this time, but Joe didn’t notice, he was mesmerized by the trains passing in front of him. The noise was incredible!!

When the Lord answers my prayer and blesses us with such a small thing as trains passing by (and He really showed off!!) I know he hears all my prayers. Sometimes he can’t give us the answers right away, but in this case, He did. My trust in the Lord was so increased that day.

Taking Trips

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Joe wasn’t much of a traveling guy. When his health was good he tended to stay home and not go anywhere. If I suggested a trip, he would say it was too much trouble. That changed when he had to be at home because of his health. All of a sudden he wanted to take rides and go out to eat. He had a “bucket list” of sorts. I would hear him say “I would like to go there one day” and I would make a mental list.

We took day trips to Strasburg Rail Road and Fallingwater in Pennsylvania while he was still ambulatory and not on oxygen. Now Joe had no idea what it took for me to arrange a trip. Just a day trip wasn’t bad, but one day I got the idea to take him to Ocean City, MD for a weekend. Joe was always a beach guy while I was mostly a mountain type girl. Ocean City is not in my top 10 places to visit. Since this was a bucket list type of thing, I couldn’t just get a room anywhere in Ocean City, we had to have one ocean side and near the boardwalk. It had to be off season cause we couldn’t afford several nights in the middle of the season. Joe was on oxygen and in a wheelchair for any distance so there were some special things I had to do. I got a room (handicapped accessible with shower chair) in a hotel on the boardwalk, ocean-side. I had to order oxygen to be sent to the hotel (ordered two weeks in advance!) which was delivered to the wrong hotel at first (heart attack time!!) but the concierge found it. Then the packing and the driving (over 2 hours) to Ocean City.

I have to say that it was so worth it. Although he couldn’t go on the beach, he loved to stand on the balcony and look out over the ocean. We walked up and down the boardwalk several times. While we were there we called his cousin in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (just a “jog” up from Ocean City) and on Saturday we visited them. It was a wonderful evening.

All the work I did for these trips was definitely worth it. I’m praying the whole time we’re traveling cause I know anything can happen to make the trip a nightmare, but God always blessed us on these trips. It was one of the ways I learned to trust God and put my worries in His Hands.