Road Trip 2016

I am so grateful past two and a half weeks are completed.  It was very hard on me trying to figure out this car situation.  We had been looking for over 2 months for a 2013 Honda Odyssey but things kept not working out.  After several days of "waiting until tomorrow" we were blessed by our Father in Heaven and guided to look for a new car.  With only 3 days to go until we left we contacted our dealer Monday night expressing our desire for a car we had looked into a few days before.  Just as we put down our deposit we were informed the car we wanted had already been sold.  After much prayer and deliberation we ended up with a 2016 Honda Odyssey Touring.  This is not the car or the price tag we were thinking we would get.  

As Derek and I drove to the dealer Thursday morning, the day after we had planned to leave, we discussed our feelings. The scripture in 3 Nephi kept coming into my head "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"  I truly feel that this is a gift from our Father in Heaven.  It is overwhelming to know how much money we spent and will spend on the car but once we decided on this car things worked out.  Before that we ran into one problem after another.  Through out the process I had an overwhelming sence that it would all work out.  But until everything was settled I could not relax or focus. 

After picking up our new car I drove home loaded the car and drove away to Utah.  We had a good trip.  Mom was there to help me out and keep me company.  She was a trooper and drove most of the way.  The kids loved the DVD player and they really were good.  We had a good time.  We even drove to Annelise's home in New Mexico and stayed Sunday with her.  

I sent a text to some of our family members, keeping them posted on our progress:

Good morning family!! First I want to thank you all for your love and prayers these past few weeks.  It has been a roller coaster getting this new car.  If you would have told me that I  would be cruising across the country in such luxury I would have laughed.  But we truly are enjoying it and feel it is a blessing from our Father in Heaven the giver of all good gifts.

Thanks also to all those who are helping out with Elizabeth.  We could not do this without you.

If any of you don't know Elizabeth made the JV Volleyball team as a freshman.  She is excited.  She is staying in NC with her dad until next Saturday when they will fly out for our family reunion.
  
My mom is with us and I am so grateful.  I don't think I could have crossed the country without her.

We are just outside Silverpoint, TN where my grandmother grew up.  Here is a picture of the house my grandpa built and the near by lake.

ĵ

 Michael just told me "Mom, I love this car, it has a TV and a remote.  I love this car?"

Here are a couple of highlights from today.  After trying to find a rest area in Texas with working facilites ended up at a Flying J ad decided to have lunch in our car as we drove.  Samantha was in the middle so she took on the job of taking orders.  She even decided to look the part by putting on headphones and a reading light.  "Welcome to the Thornton Cafe."

We also found ourselves on Route 66.  We can't believe we forgot to bring the movie Cars to watch so we decided to go visit "Radiator Springs."

We found this little town Tucumcari, NM that still had a lot of the old buildings.  It was delightful to drive down main street.

At one point we drove off the highway to find a rest room and ended up at the train tracks where Lighning McQueen "raced" the oncoming train.

We visited Aunt Annelise, who lives right off Route 66.  There are free range cows and horses everywhere so they have to have cattle guards so that they won't go into her complex.  The kids thought walking across the guard was fun.

 Here is the Salt Lake Valley!  We made it!! Thanks for your prayers!!!!