It was the hardest rain I’ve ever experienced. And we were sleeping in a tent!
June weather in Grand Teton National Park can be unpredictable, but this was scary. Even with an extra tarp pulled over the top and guy lines secured by thick stakes in the ground, I wondered if the tent would hold if the mountain behind us sent a rushing river our way. Hours later I lay awake, listening to the pounding rain, watching the roof for leaks … none yet … none yet … ZZZZZ.
We awoke in the morning to the soft clicking noises of popcorn-sized ice pellets falling on our tarp. We had survived the night, and the inside of our tent was dry.
Thank you, Lord.
But just up the road, Yellowstone National Park had been decimated by floods, closing the park to arriving visitors and stranding tourists and employees.
Since we had no cell reception, we didn’t find out until later about the flood or that Yellowstone, where we had reservations to camp in two days, would be closed until further notice. And now every accommodation in the surrounding area was booked, including the campsite we were on. The next day, we would have nowhere to go.
We can make our plans. But the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9 NLT
We had started planning this road trip with our family in November of the year before. We did everything right. We researched, mapped, reserved, packed—we were ready for everything!
But we hadn’t planned on a 1,000-year flood.
I’m thankful no one died, and that there wasn’t more destruction. And miraculously, they were able to open sections of the park much sooner than originally projected, which was wonderful news for those with jobs inside the park.
But those who had reservations from June 13th to June 22nd were out of luck.
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Have you ever had your grand plans thwarted? Did something good come from the detour, disappointment, or disaster?
The night we were stranded in Grand Teton National Park, a family graciously let us stay on their campsite for the night. We were able to get reservations to camp at the same site the night after that, so we explored more of Grand Teton. On a spectacular hike to the Phelps Lake Overlook, we saw—up close and personal—a young bull moose, chomping on shrubs. That was exciting! And then a HUGE Grizzly crossed the road right behind our car. WOW!
When your plans fall through, resist the urge to be discouraged. God always has a new adventure waiting. He knows just what you need, and he will take care of you!
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In Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari, Riley’s plans to finally return to her home in Fresno have been thwarted big time! She’s taking a little detour to … Kenya, Africa! What seems like the worst possible scenario turns out to be a trip of a lifetime full of challenges, growth, and a glimpse into an exciting future.
