Castle Keepers Begins

On September 5, 2013, excitement reigned supreme as Grace, Melody, Mindy and me prepared to take a journey to the north... Flagstaff, to be exact. Sewing machines, fabric and notions were placed in the living room as we awaited the arrival of the vehicle that would take us to our destination; the Wallace's suburban. At just the right time, they arrived and all of our sewing goods were loaded up and we were on our merry way. Over an hour later we arrived at the Page residence where our adventures would begin.

Our hostesses, Sister Christina and Hannah Page, welcomed us in and we set up our machines on their dining room table. Amidst cheery voices and laughter, we were taught the proper way to make aprons for ourselves and learned new ideas for future aprons.

 At noon we had a delicious luncheon of sandwiches, fruit salad and chips with iced tea or water as our choices for drink.

At least half an hour was spent in eating, chatting and relaxing before we commenced to sew once again.

The finished aprons

All too soon it was time to leave and we packed our sewing things away and bid adieu to our fine hostesses. Our ride home was just as happy as our ride there and we arrived in high spirits. It was a truly wonderful day!

Jesus Took the Wheel

         On April 15, 2013, I was driving up to the highway from the Wallaces on their dirt road a little faster than usual. I started to feel like the back of the van was pulling and I tried to slow down but it was too late. I went  up over a bump to the side and up into the bushes. I removed my hands from the wheel, thinking of the song "Jesus Take the Wheel" even as I screamed once. Then the van rolled, landing upright, and I looked around me. There were parts everywhere and I could see that there would be no saving the van. I called Brother Russell, who at first thought I was joking, and then sat still waiting for him to come. I could not get out because I had landed in the bushes and the driver's side door was trapped. The passenger's side door was stuck too because of the damage.

       A vehicle pulled past me then stopped when they realized what had occurred and a woman came to ask if I was okay. When I confirmed I was, my mind was whirling and all I could think was, "My dad is going to be so mad." It was silly but I was thinking of the damage and that my mom would now have no vehicle to do errands with. The woman reassured me saying, "I don't think your parents will care so much for the vehicle. They will just be happy you're alive." Then she told me that, 15 years before, her own daughter rolled a vehicle and did not survive. 

      Brother Russell and his family arrived and helped me out of the van. Sister Elisabeth took me to the suburban while we waited for my dad to come, who Brother Russell had called. Only a few minutes later Brother Ted (my pastor) and my dad arrived. My dad was not upset with me and held me while I sobbed my fear out before passing me to my brother where I sobbed some more. The men worked together and, borrowing some of the neighbors' things (with permission, of course), they loaded the van on a trailer. At last I thanked my rescuers and my dad took me home. 

I lived for months with the constant reliving of the accident, often waking up in the middle of the night wanting to scream and scream, but I asked Brother Ted and others to pray for me and I no longer have that problem. Yes, I still have a bit of nervousness going down that road but I know the Lord will help me with that too. I know that He has something planned for my life and that's why I survived that wreck so I will keep believing.  

The following pictures were taken after we got home.

 Notice that there was no damage to the driver's side from the door onward

 The windshield

From inside, sitting in the driver's seat

...Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me once more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel...