St. Anthony, Finder of lost...roads?

I know, you are thinking, "Did she say lost roads?" Yup, that is what I said. Lost roads.

Yesterday I went to visit The Oldest, because I altered a dress she is wearing to a wedding this weekend. In case you don't remember, she lives in another state, three hours away. I had a lovely afternoon with her. We were even were able to catch a soccer game her special guy played in, and I was able to enjoy a brief visit with a friend I haven't seen in a while. It was nice to have my daughter to myself for a little while, which is a rarity in a large family:).

After the game, and a brief visit with my favorite futbolista, I was headed home. Every time I leave my daughter's town, I leave from a different location. One soccer field or another, a restaurant, or from her apartment, but with the road work going on I have often managed to lose myself right in her town. Not this time, her special guy gave me perfect directions and I found my way to familiar turf. This is where I lost myself this time.

Somehow, I took a wrong road when I came off the highway. Unbelievably I ended up in the middle of nowhere, in fact, I was 4 miles beyond the ends of the earth, as someone said to me just last night. (Now, if I could only say it in Spanish...lol). I started to panic.

Then I remembered St. Anthony, the finder of lost things. I thought, "Why not roads" and I prayed to St. Anthony to help me find my lost route. I was only half way home at this point. Immediately after praying this, literally in the middle of nowhere with no street lights, houses or buildings, I round a corner and find this lone gas station, all lit up and OPEN at 11:00 p.m.

I go inside to find a very pleasant man, with a soothing voice and calming presence behind the counter. I told him I managed to get myself entirely lost. He started to give me directions, then pulled out a pen and drew me a map. He explained what landmarks I would see on the way, how long it would take me to get from point A to point B to point C, so I would not be needlessly worried. Then he said, here is the number to the store, if you get lost, call me and I will help you get back on the path.

His directions were perfect. I did not get any further shaken up because it was all exactly as he had said. Once I knew where I was I called my husband and asked him to please call the man at the gas station, I was sure he must still be working, and thank him for getting me there safely. Later, Mr. Thorns told me the man's name was Paul.

Thank you, St. Anthony, for sending Paul my way, to lead me home when I was lost, and thank you St. Anthony for finding my lost road. One of these days I'm going to leave The Oldest and make it straight home, without incident!