DAY 7

My goal on this day: do laundry.  After a leisurely breakfast of yoghurt and granola, coffee and fruit, I rounded up our week’s worth of laundry.  We had been given a key that first evening but for the life of me I couldn’t remember which building on the retreat center property had the laundry facilities!  So we trotted over to the main office and chatted with a couple different staff.  Half an hour later we had found out where that key was for!  I carried the bags over and followed instructions on the fancy high efficiency machines.  Then I took a book and found a sunny spot outside the building and planned to check on the machines in about half an hour. 

I soon realized that I needed some water, so I returned to our place.  When I got there, Walter thought he had blown a breaker.  So he went to the neighbor in the other half of the duplex units we were part of, and they had no power either.  Great!  So the old wiring affected both units!

As I wandered back to check on my laundry, the alarm was beeping.  I went inside and sure enough, the power was off there, as well.  This was not a blown breaker.  The entire place was blacked out in the middle of a perfectly sunny day!  I quickly made a plan B.  Both machines had spun the loads and seemed rinsed and finished.  So I unloaded them in baskets and pushed them outside in a cart.  Then Walter tied our 50 foot extension cord (not needed in Phoenix for plugging in our car!) around the posts of the car port to rig up a clothes line.  Soon, we had our “clean laundry” airing for all the residents and volunteers at the ministry center to see!

We decided to journey over to a magic shop a few minutes away.  Walter has been working on illusions to use at Bible Camps to illustrate his stories to the children in chapel times.  So he wanted to expand his repertoire and thought he’d check out a new store.  “Wacky Zack’s” was cool and quiet, so the storeowner had plenty of time and exuberance to present and sell his wares.  Apparently “Gospel Magic” is a whole genre and he and his wife were quite helpful in setting Walter up with some new and impressive items that worked with Gospel themes. 

An interesting side-note was that the storeowner’s aunt was visiting them from out of town, and would chirp in with comments once in a while.  Soon, she was asking Walter some spiritual questions.  We listened, then Walter responded carefully and gently to lead her away from seeking a psychic – which the nephew and his wife were in agreement with Walter- and he asked if he could pray with the lady.  She gladly bowed in prayer. 

Shortly after that, Walter bought some of the illusion materials and we left the store.  You never know what opportunities await to share about the Lord and pray with needy people!

I had wanted to check out the “Flea Markets” that my mom had raved about in Phoenix and area.  So we found one that was an indoor venue and wandered inside.  It was sort of like a mixture of Dollar Store, Liquidation World and Exhibition “hucksters”!  Not quite what I expected, but I left there with a $10 sundress and $3 earrings plus a John Deere tractor wind spinner.

Across the parking lot there was a bakery and coffee shop.  In the shade outdoors, we sat and enjoyed a late afternoon treat.  The laundry was drying and there was no rush.

To end our lazier day, we folded the clean clothing and then went out for a late supper at “Cracker Barrel”-an old fashioned country store and home-style cooking restaurant.  It was tasty food, quick service and fun to browse through the store afterwards.  I bought a couple items, one being an old metal sign “Dad’s Garage” to hang in Walter’s workshop back home. 

The evening was warm.  A fire was burning by the guest apartments, so we walked over to see if we could join the group seated on lawn chairs.  It was a pleasant evening of chit chat and staring at the flames.  A full moon rose in a clear black sky.  Coyotes howled occasionally.  In the middle of a very urban location, this area of Peoria had open lots, corrals with horses, chickens and the odd pig.  So coyotes had continued to make their homes nearby. 

We actually made it to almost 11 pm that night, and gleaned some suggestions for activities for the next day, Saturday, from those around the fire who were in the “know”.  We looked forward to more adventures.

DAY 6

By now we were ready to DO something touristy, so we headed to the “Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium”, armed with coupons for $4 off park entrance thanks to LeRoy and Sandy.  They also loaded us with brochures and maps for local attractions.  A nice little drive southwest of Peoria (the suburb we are officially staying in), and we arrive at the Zoo. 

Armed with sunscreen, hats and water bottles, we enter the zoo and are bombarded by groups of school children, all wearing red shirts, bustling from one area to another.  And here we thought going on a school day would be quieter than a weekend!  That’s okay.  We went from exhibits, to wildlife presentation, to sea lion show.  Sometime after noon, we (and by that I mean “I”) was hungry and so we found a restaurant for a sit-down lunch and bit of a break from the heat.  Our table overlooked a pond with flamingos.  Lovely.

We made our way over to the area with an African safari tram, and waited for the next one to arrive.  It was a nice little drive through wildebeests, antelope, and other animals in the African theme.  By this time it was mid-afternoon and the crowd was thinning.  We wandered through the remaining exhibits of birds and primates  and found we had made the last loop.  The heat, although so wonderful, had overcome us and we both voted on a stop at Wal-Mart to find some items for a cold supper.

We again vegged in our cool and comfortable room before calling it an early night.

DAY 5

This felt like Day 1.  We woke at our usual time but there was no rush to get up and drive.  In our own little kitchenette, we made coffee and had a simple breakfast.  There was a chapel and coffee time at 10 am and we wandered over to meet some of the staff and volunteers.  Our only plan today was to settle in, find a cell phone company and take a walk.  No major driving. 

We found ourselves a couple blocks down the street at the Starbucks, enjoying WiFi and a cup of coffee.  We checked in with family and Walter gave his new cell number for contacting in case of emergency. (It was expedient for us to get a U.S. sim card so we could access our Facebook and e-mails - not for work!)

How delightful to soak in the sun’s rays and bask in the freedom of no schedule!  On our way back to the retreat centre, we stopped in at Wahlgreen’s  for a few items we needed.  We "vegged" in our cool suite after being in the hot sun and I gave in to the urge to nap.  That is what vacation is all about!

Supper plans were made with the director couple of the Southwest Indian Ministry Centre.  We picked them up at 6 pm and they suggested Dillon’s, a BBQ joint.  We were NOT disappointed!  Seated by a window that looked out on an enclosed bunny run, we enjoyed a wonderful evening of sharing about ministry and journeys.  The meal was delicious-pulled pork, riblets, smoked turkey, choice of sides!  It was uplifting to visit with LeRoy and Sandy and hopefully they felt mutually encouraged, as well.  We made it an early evening as Sandy had to leave at 5 am for a funeral on an Apache Reservation.  (Hopefully we will hear about that funeral.  We are always fascinated by the cultural facets of other peoples and tribes.)

And so ended our REAL Day 1.  It was with a good tiredness that we crawled into bed – you guessed it – by 10 pm!

DAY 4

As usual, we woke at 6:30 am and slowly went through our morning routines.  I always make coffee and Walter checks weather and news either on t.v. or if we have wifi, on the internet.  But perhaps Walter had over-revved with driving and was feeling “off” this morning.  We packed up and went to the restaurant for our complimentary breakfast.  He ordered a bowl of oatmeal, hoping the bland food would sit well.  I had cream of wheat porridge and toast and fruit but it was a hearty order!  After fueling up our Jetta Diesel TDI (having only spent about $60 since leaving Regina), I merged onto the Interstate at about 8:30 am. 

I got the easy shift of driving, as the traffic was light and the scenery was amazing.  The road stretched ahead and I felt myself relax and enjoy the morning.  We listened to Neil Diamond for about an hour, singing along and feeling pretty mellow.  Then we switched to Louis L’Amour. 

The freeway began to rise, then curve a bit more.  I was managing okay for a prairie driver.  Soon, I found myself in the middle of mountains, and cliffs, and a few semi-trucks.  I didn’t panic but I gripped the steering wheel tighter and took the cruise control off completely.  Then, the four-lane highway turned into two through some construction and a very twisty, hilly stretch.  The sign had said 11 miles of this type of conditions and I breathed a prayer! 

Walter coaxed and complimented me along and I kept going.  The red, jagged mountains and awesome formations were all around me but I couldn’t appreciate it all like I could if I were riding shotgun!  Finally, we emerged onto desert terrain and with a big exhale, I dared smile and relax. 

The next major stop would be Mesquite (Arizona or Nevada?) and I announced I would need a bathroom stop.  Fortunately, Walter was feeling much better and would be taking over the driving as we were about to arrive in Las Vegas very soon.  Whew!

From the beauty of the mountains to the austerity of the desert terrain, we took in the amazing handiwork of our God.  We noticed some haze ahead smudging the outline of a large city.  A yellow-gray smog hung over Vegas.  We didn’t plan to stop there but managed to find our turn –off from Interstate 15,  highway 93 and Hoover Dam.  It took a lot longer than I thought to drive through Las Vegas and I gawked at the casino signs, billboards and interesting architecture of the homes that whizzed by along the freeway.  And then we saw the sign for “Hoover Dam”.

I was both nervous and excited to see this amazing modern day engineering feat!  Our son, Daniel, had seen this sight on one of the Mission Mexico trips he took when in youth group.  He described his knees feeling like jelly, his heart racing and eyes blurring!  I think he gets his fear of heights from me.  So I wondered how I would respond to the view.

As we wound our way up and around to the dam’s tourist entrance and parking, the sheer rugged cliffs and huge power lines and supports were awe-inspiring.  We paid the $10 for parking.  Then we walked to the paved crossing that runs along the top of the dam.  All that separated me from the hundreds of feet of concrete angling steeply down towards the Colorado River was 2 or 3 feet of cement ledge, about 4 feet high.  I walked on the inside while Walter looked over and took pictures.  I  finally ventured closer and looked over the edge:  Wow!  I backed away, feeling my heart pick up pace and my need to swallow and breathe deeply!  Yup!  Still afraid of heights!

We didn’t bother purchasing any tickets for the exhibits nor buy into the tourist traps. The sight itself was enough.  We strolled along, looking also at the reservoir behind the dam, and noting the time zone clocks for both Nevada and Arizona as we crossed over the line and back again.  

Returning to the parking lot, I looked once more out over the expanse and then realized that spanning it was a bridge with traffic crossing regularly.  Walter figures it had to be 4 or 5 hundred feet above the river.  And sure enough, we would be crossing over it too, once we wound our way back out to the highway- more jelly legs and racing heart!  

I lived to tell about that experience – in fact, when driving across that bridge, there is no way to see over the concrete side rails.  You can only look ahead or above. 

We carried on towards Phoenix, which was about 3 hours away.  It felt like the miles took forever to pass, as we drove by endless scrub brush, the odd mobile home or RV out on the flat.  We stopped for fuel and something to drink with still an hour or so to go.  Then the signs of a bigger metropolis loomed ahead and we pressed on into Phoenix, or the suburbs thereof at about rush hour!  We only had a couple turns to make to arrive at the retreat centre so the growing flow of traffic wasn’t too overwhelming for Walter, the seasoned driver!

Just as the sun was dropping below the mountain range behind us, we pulled in to the Southwest Indian Ministry Centre.  We called Gay, who drove over immediately to the main office to meet us with a key and directions.  She led the way to our suite with her golf cart.  Gladly, we brought our luggage and odds and ends into the suite and plopped them on the floor.  We’d unpack later.  First, we wanted to take a walk and find some food at a nearby Wal-Mart.  The air smelled earthy, the birds were sending out their nighttime calls and the warmth enveloped us.  It was glorious.

DAY 2

Our second day involved heading south.  And so we left Red Deer, drove to Calgary and had three stops while there – not backtracking north at all – and finally made a bee-line for the border!  One of those stops was at the Calgary Bus Depot to pick up our passports.  Yes, we forgot them and realized it in time to have Gina Marie, our coworker in Regina, package and send them on the bus.  Even though we have traveled a lot in our married life, we still overlook items, sometimes crucial items.  Thankfully, this was an oversight that could be managed without much hassle.  Thank you, Gina Marie!

We made it to Great Falls, Montana that evening.  There was some snow on the ground, but we could already feel the warmer air and moderate temperatures.  Our goal was to travel until we were tired and put in a bigger drive on Monday.  We stayed at a hotel with breakfast included, and crashed!

DAY 3

Like the middle-aged people we are, we awoke at 6:30 am (7:30 back home in Saskatchewan) and got an early start to our day.  We had breakfast and were packed and back on Interstate 15 by 8 am.

Heading towards Helena, the state capitol, there was little traffic on the clear and smooth interstate highway.  A gorgeous pink and gold light reflected off a butte to the west, giving a beautiful blessing to the start of this day.

The state of Montana had record low amounts of snow cover this winter and we can attest to that.  The mountains in the distance were snow-capped, but virtually none covered the ground in any direction.  We rolled along, hour after hour, listening to a Louis L’Amour audiobook and only stopping for fuel and bathroom breaks.  We drove through Idaho for a short distance, then entered Utah.

Hitting Salt Lake City just a little before the rush hour, Walter maneuvered his way from lane to lane, always keeping an eye on the signs pointing to Las Vegas, still on Interstate 15.  The number of Mormon church steeples we saw was beyond count and I found myself praying for the city as the spiritual need and darkness was very apparent.  After about 45 minutes to an hour along this busy and billboard-laden freeway, we finally breathed a sigh of relief.  We were out in the country once again. 

The sun was getting lower in the sky and it struck me how the Lord had blessed us from the rising of the sun to its setting.  The sweet light on the mountains was breathtaking!   

We began to wonder where we ought to stop for the night.  Since we didn’t have any GPS available on our I Phones for the U.S., we were relying on the Spirit to lead us!  We read the town of “Fillmore 67 miles” on a sign and thought we would aim for that as our resting place. 

I’ve taken to praying on our trips for the accommodations we will be staying in each night.  So I prayed for a safe and clean hotel and wisdom in choosing a good restaurant for our evening meal.  We saw the exit sign with Best Western Motel and Restaurant and took our chances.  It turned out to be a lovely room and we brought in our luggage.  Then we headed over to the restaurant, glad to stretch our legs a bit.  The place was quaint and had a “coffee row” feel.  We both ordered the special, pork chops, and were entertained by the chatter along the counter where locals were visiting, and by the joke books set on the table.  Supper never tasted so good.  We didn’t linger long as it was almost 8:30 pm by the time we finished our meal.

After showering and watching some mindless t.v., we couldn’t keep our eyes open past 10 pm.  Walter had put in 10 hours of driving and me, just keeping him company.  We fell asleep almost immediately.

DAY 1

Determining “Day 1” for this trip is tricky.  Is it the day we left home or the day we left Canada?

We did leave Regina on Friday, January 30 with warnings from Alberta and Saskatchewan that snow was in the forecast.  But we drove on clear highway all the way to Calgary and north to Red Deer.   Just as we pulled into “Gasoline Alley”, flakes of snow were falling.  By the time we checked into the hotel and walked to a nearby “Ricky’s” restaurant, we were trudging through three or four inches of white stuff!

Our niece’s wedding was to be at the Sunnyside Christian Retreat Centre, a few miles outside of Red Deer.  Following the directions in the wedding invitation, we arrived with plenty of time to park, walk down the freshly plowed path to the Chapel and locate family to sit with for the 11 am ceremony.

The groom’s parents walked in and sat in the front row.  Our nephews, Stephen and David, escorted the mother of the groom, Brenda to her seat in the other front pew. Then the groom, Mike, and his brother, Tom, stood at the front of the chapel, in front of a white archway lit by Christmas lights.  The groomsmen lined up beside Mike, all watching the bridesmaids stroll up the aisle.  Then Canon in D began playing, and Walter’s brother Ed, in black suit and blue boutonniere, escorted his petite daughter, Rachel, in her strapless, ivory dress with silver sequin detail on bodice and down the skirt and train.  Ed kept looking to Rachel, but she was staring straight ahead, grinning joyfully at her groom, who was in tears as he beheld his bride. 

Tom, actually twin brother to Mike, was performing his very first wedding, and he did a fine job.  He was funny but maintained reverence, and kept the bridal party relaxed but engaged.  He opened with a Gospel presentation, and then Mike played guitar and sang a worship song.  Then the formal part of the ceremony proceeded.  The couple repeated the traditional vows, as well as very meaningful vows they wrote themselves.  Rather than the typical candle or sand ritual, the couple connected a lock on a plaque of a heart, to symbolize their unity and love.  After the pronouncement of “Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Rachel Samaroden”, they danced their way down the aisle to the bouncy song “Celebration”!

While the couple, bridal party and family had formal photographs taken, we had a couple hours to fill, so we drove back to Red Deer to grab some food.  It was nice to visit with Walter’s sister, Marilee and Robert and son Jay, with our son, Daniel.  We all went back to our motel room for coffee and then raced out to the reception at the retreat centre just as they introduced the wedding party!  Whew!

It was such a blessing to hear the speeches and see this young couple begin their life together with the support of Christian family and friends.  God bless you both, Mike and Rachel!