(Editor’s Note: This post was started months ago.  My trip was in August 2016.  It’s currently February 2017.)

Well I made it back from the Grand Canyon!  Like there was any doubt! 😛

(If you need a recap of how well I handle stress please click here.)

Of all the words I could choose to describe this trip “DULL” is NOT it.  In fact, any antonym of dull would be accurate.  Since I was traveling alone (to a desert!) my prayer for the trip was to keep me safe and if any undesired circumstance arose that God would work it out and give me peace to deal with it .  Wow, does He give you what you ask for…word for word!

On the way to the airport I was slightly nervous.  Ok…a lot nervous.  I convinced myself that I was going to die in the desert.  (I like keeping it real.)  I knew my Dad was also a little nervous.  Maybe?  Maybe he wasn’t.  Maybe he finally gave up.  “Look, I’m going to come back just like last time.  God’s going to take care of me.  No matter what happens He will take care of me.  Even if He doesn’t take care of me here I know where I’m going and will just see you later.”  I don’t know if that was for my dad or me.

Also not sure if comfort is one of my gifts.  “I’m gonna die.  Meet you in the clouds with Jesus, Dad…”

On the flight to Dallas I sat next to a man working on his laptop and reading a book about teeth.  I assumed he was either a dentist or in medical school to be one. Or maybe he just really likes teeth.  Is that a hobby?

He’s actually a professor who teaches cosmetic dentistry and has been around the world traveling and giving lectures about it.  (I also learned he has a beautiful family at home and  traveling isn’t all its cracked up to be.  He is trying to plan a lecture/family trip to Thailand.  He is also writing a book, but only writes while traveling so he can spend all his time with his family when home.  Beautiful.)  Anyway, when he pulled out this set of teeth molds my travel anxiety went away for I knew it was going to be an interesting time for sure.  “There is something I did not expect to see today.”

New Orleans to Dallas. Dallas to Phoenix.  I usually can’t fall asleep anywhere except in my bed, but since being up early for work, I kept dozing in and out on the flight to Phoenix.  At one point I woke up and realized my mouth had been wide open.  Did I snore???  Did I cuddle the lady next to me?  I wish I had answers and mostly wished I was more embarrassed about it.  But, when I looked to my right the lady seemed unfazed while playing candy crush…

To my left, arrival and adventure awaits…

I landed, picked up the rental car, got the rental insurance (ALWAYS GET THE INSURANCE!), and headed to the hotel (Candlewood Suites.  Totally recommend and want to live there).  Took a bath, ate (threw away expired) yogurt, and went to sleep.  I had to be at the Bright Angel Lodge to check in for the mule ride at 11 AM.  5 AM rolled around fast and I was headed out the door and on the road.

Remember my prayer for my trip?  If any undesired situation arose I trusted God to work it out and give me peace to deal with it?

The rainbow: Sign of promises.  (I should have known…)

This might have been two hours in.  Everything was going so well and I realized I had been nervous for no reason.  This trip needed to happen for me.  I figured if I was having a spiritual desert experience I may as well visit a real one.  My car at home is falling apart so I was so excited about a working rental with working A/C, windows, brakes and… just running.  Driving through the desert.  Blasting my worship music.  It was me and God.  Nobody around.  No city.  No businesses. No gas stations. Every now and then I’d see a car on the road.  Desert forever.

Right around the time this picture was taken all of the lights in the rental car came on.  ALL OF THEM.  No phone signal.  I don’t have any spare oil.  It could be a faulty sensor and it’s nothing.  Or I’m gonna die in the desert.  It could go either way.

“It’s ok. God, please just get me to a gas station.”

It was 7:30 in the morning and roadside assistance didn’t open until 8:00.

I found a gas station and explained the situation to a trucker (angel) and he kindly checked the oil in my car for me.  Clean.  I called roadside assistance anyway and LOW AND BEHOLD in the middle of nowhere there was an enterprise 25 minutes away from me.

Internal conflict:  If it’s just the sensor I’d be wasting time on the road. I had to get to the Grand Canyon for 11.  Enterprise won’t open until 8.  I’ll be wasting time.  On the other hand if I don’t switch this car where there is an Enterprise in a desert 25 minutes away I deserve whatever happens.

I made the detour to Cottonwood to switch the car out.  On the way to the Enterprise I got all mixed up in the middle of nowhere and pulled over and happened to ask a random lady for directions…”Oh yeah just keep going down this road and take a right. I use Enterprise all the time.”  When I arrived I sat outside with one of the ladies who worked there, but she was a cleaning lady so even if she had a key she couldn’t rent me anything.  Long story short when the manager finally got there she must have explained the situation to him and he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off to get me a new car and back on the road to the mule.  “Do you have your receipt?  If you have your receipt I can do all the paperwork without you here.”  BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER.  Blessing!

On the road. Again. Lots of time. It’ll be ok.  I got pulled over.  I got a ticket.  The details of that one will remain an in-person story, but God looked out for me then, too.  I thought for sure I was either going to jail or going to miss the mule ride…

“Can I ask you what’s so important?”
“I just need to ride a mule in the Grand Canyon!!!”
“You have an hour to get there…”

I pulled into the park, parked at 11:35, ran inside with hope but sure I missed the bus only to hear, “Are you Aimee?”  “Yes…where’s the bathroom?!?!?”, checked in and was on the bus for 11:45.

I can’t even begin to explain how magnificent and indescribable the Grand Canyon is.  You HAVE TO SEE IT.  Seriously.  I didn’t take many pictures because there’s no way you can possibly capture it, so I must return and YOU MUST GO!!!

Helicopter tour with Papillon Helicopters was UNBELIEVABLE and one of the best pieces of advice I’ll ever take!  It’s definitely a must do when visiting the Grand Canyon.  After we landed I went back to the Grand Canyon and walked around for a few hours.

Last day before heading back to Phoenix.  With all of the adventures I was paranoid about driving and almost took the path of least resistance.  I could go back to Grand Canyon or explore new territory: Hoover Dam.

See new things!  I made my way to the Hoover Dam.  Google Maps said to get off at Exit 2…and literally took me into the Hoover Dam.  I took the exit and knew something was amiss when I started driving over gravel and didn’t see other cars or welcome signs.  I mean, I’d never been to the Hoover Dam, but knew enough that it was probably a big deal and PROBABLY had a welcome center.  There are two Exit 2s.  Thanks, Google.

The Grand Canyon weather had been overcast and pretty pleasant.  The Hoover Dam was HOT and surrounded with concrete.  SO MUCH SWEATING.

My plan was to do a Griswald stop and go and continue to Phoenix so I wouldn’t be driving in the desert at night.  My dad suggested the tour: THE STRUGGLE.  I finally got through the long line and realized I had a granola bar in my bag.  No food allowed.  (This is for all of you future visitors.  NO FOOD ALLOWED.)  I didn’t want to waste my money, but also didn’t want to waste my time.  And I was SO HOT.

I sent my dad this picture…
My Dad: “You’ve ran longer distances in the New Orleans heat than it would take you to get to the car and back…”
Me: “It’s hot.”

Fine. Dads are always right.  Glad I did the tour.

I headed back to Phoenix with no problems.  After driving through the desert I never realized how exciting it would be to see tall business buildings!  Checked into hotel and walked across the street to Ihop.  It was enough adventure for one day.

The next morning it was time to head home.   Turned in the rental, hopped on the shuttle, and found my way to the gate.  My flight was delayed going to Dallas because they were having engine trouble. I was freaking out (of course) because I didn’t want to miss my connecting flight to New Orleans because I REALLY, REALLY didn’t want to call my boss and tell her I couldn’t come in the next day.  I knew God would work it out somehow because, as you can see, He took care of me the whole trip.

We had to switch planes and while I did miss that connecting flight there was one a few hours later.  On the flight to Dallas the girl I sat next to was friendly. Our seatbelts got tangled. We made a joke. She put on her headphones. I read my bible.

Eventually, she said, “King James?”
“Yes.”
“That’s legit.”

I would have never guessed what she said next. She was a heavy drug addict who got saved and has been clean a year. We shared testimonies and laughed and joked and talked and shared the whole time. That was the fastest two hours ever. She was going to visit family she hasn’t seen in 4 years because of addiction, but Jesus called her and is rehabilitating her. When we landed she gave me a hug and told me thanks for being me.
I told her to never let anyone define her by her past. She’s a new creature in Christ. I’ve been praying for and thinking of her ever since.  Meeting her was worth the whole trip.  She was the perfect ending to my desert experience.