The '61 Red Comet III

Autumn day, sunny and warm compared to our cold windy days we had left behind in Alaska. Quiet Sunday morning, and Jim is getting ready to hitch hike 50 miles into Whitehorse. Grizzlies are already hibernating aren't they? Jim/Daddy takes one more look back at his waving family. We're blowing him kisses to make us feel better. I kept remembering all the answered prayer we had in the last three years we had been saved and committed to living for Jesus. We sang a song in the Nazarene church with this line, "Count your blessings name them one by one..." I think that line ran through my mind for the next few hours. I'm praying that God will have grace and bring him back quickly before the sun goes down and we are left in the cold and dark.

Jim walked nine miles and he was picked up by an elderly couple (probably the age we are now) in a pick-up. They drove him to Whitehorse without expecting anything. Jim found a Nazarene church and the pastor called his friend who had a tow truck, then made reservations for us at the lone Whitehorse motel.

It was dark by the time Jim and the driver got to the car. What a welcome sight! Kids and mom are squeeling happily. Our kids know God takes care of us. Our five year old son Jimmie was in heaven, he got to ride in the front of a tow truck with the driver and his dad! Joy all over the place. The creeky old motel in Whitehorse was a palace. Canada was taking good care of Americans. In all this time our image of the Canadian mounties was shattered. We didn't see one this entire time. Like Sgt. Preston and his faithful dog Yukon, we thought for sure some red uniformed mountie would show up for the rescue. We were grateful for the rescuers God provided.

Next morning we show up at the mechanics shop. He has the news, all the news for us and it's not very good. They have nothing we need in the way of repairs, he has already ordered it from Edmonton, Alberta and the entire process would take would take five days. I think we asked him, "How many days??" Five long days.

We set a plan and the kids loved it. There is just nothing that can stop the excitement of children. Especially the excitement of our three kids. Bobby was two years old, he didn't know anything except his big brother and sister were happy so he was too. Thanks Bob. Thanks Jimmie. Thanks Jeri. Up early every morning. Buy what we could at the grocery store and eat. Then walk the boardwalks in Whitehorse. The favorite question the kids had was, "Where are the mounties and their horses?" Then every afternoon we went back to the mechanics shop and asked, "How is it going?" We were glad our car was the only job he had that week. He got to know us pretty well. He knew we would be in his shop every day at the same time.

When the work was completed, the mechanic tried to start the '61 Red Comet. First time, engine is running and what a beautiful sound! The kids knew this meant we were on our way again. We all made the rounds to the friends we had made in Canada to thank them and say good-bye. The Alcan looks really good! The car repair cost $600, that meant we had $300 left to get us to Kansas City. We bought breakfast and lunch food from the grocery before we left.

By the time we got to KC, we were raiding the ashtray in the car where Jim kept his parking change. The cheapest meals we could find were McDonalds. The kids loved it, mom and dad not so much. That's why we have only McD's french fries every five years or so. The regular hamburger cost 15 cents.

God had gotten us to our destination; happy, mostly healthy. There was not one dime left in our pockets or parking money ashtray. He had provided everything we needed. My parents loaned Jim some money to get gas to go to work that Monday. What more could we ask of a generous God who has given us all things?

The next blessing we had that next April 18 was a healthy baby girl named Patricia Kathleen. With God's touch and good medical help I got safely through gestational diabetes. My last diabetes test showed my blood sugar was normal. The internist had told me to expect to have this disease the rest of my life. This is from a God who has good plans for His people and will deliver us through everything.

This memory was triggered by seeing that red '61 Comet on the street the other day.