“Don’t be afraid. I am with you.
Don’t tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories.” Isaiah 41:10 CEV

This past weekend, I hosted a senior center’s bus trip to Wildwood, New Jersey, for an oldies show getaway. I had the pleasure and responsibility of assisting fifty seniors as we ventured into an expectation of fun and relaxation.

We were staying off-season, but there were still many things to do: go down the boardwalk, visit Cape May, walk along the beach, and enjoy the annual Wildwoods Oldies Spectacular sponsored by the Bobby Rydell Foundation.

This was a new bus company I had not yet used for our overnight trips, but having heard a few positive comments from other resources, I thought I would give them a try. My main contact was extremely polite and friendly. Just before departure, I asked my husband Kevin, who was there to see me before we left, to say a prayer for safe travels. A few minor incidents with the bus, including challenges with the wi-fi and the microphone, but we’ve dealt with these kinds of issues in the past. The driver was using his GPS; however, somehow we managed to get off the main road we were traveling on. By this time, we were going to look for some place to eat lunch on our own. The only nearby places we saw were a Wendy’s and a convenience store. “Sorry, I don’t think either of these places could help us.” I smiled at the driver. Somehow the wi-fi must have kicked on, because I was now able to Google “restaurants near me.” A diner close by was a top result of my search. A lady across the bus from me must have done the same and pulled up the same place. I knew it must be a sign from the Lord. I called the diner and explained our situation. “Are you able to accommodate fifty guests?” I asked. “Yes, you can come now.” I was so excited to hear the man’s reply. I asked for the address, and it turned out that we only had to turn the bus around; it was just up the street. I knew that was a divine blessing from God.

Everyone got seated and served in a timely manner. What a blessing!

Upon arriving in Wildwood, we went to our hotel. Everyone I spoke with loved their rooms, which were like suites! Most everyone had two bedrooms, a kitchenette, a balcony, two bathrooms, and a living area. Truly one of the highlights of the trip. There was a time in the evening of listening to songs and dancing at one of the local lounges. Some even dressed for the part.

Breakfast was conveniently served in our hotel on the first floor. Another highlight of the trip.

Saturday, we were to visit street vendors and attractions along the boardwalk, but in the end, it was canceled due to high winds and heavy rain. This was not the fault of the bus company. In fact, my contact offered the guests who wanted to get out of the hotel for a bit, a trip to another area of Cape May. Sadly, there were only a few small gift shops and no place for lunch.

Dinner at a local seafood house and an incredible musical show on Saturday night were enjoyed by everyone. On Sunday, we stopped at Cape May on the way home and visited many shops and places to eat. The weather was slightly chilly, but sunny. It was delightful walking and browsing the shops. On the ride home, we passed out word searches and played an oldies trivia game. Many challenges, some not mentioned here, but many more blessings. I was a bit bummed out because as the hostess, I felt responsible for everything (aside from the weather) that went wrong. I shared a prayer with my husband the night before:

“Dear Heavenly Father. As I come to You on this Saturday evening, I thank You for a safe trip. I thank You in advance for a safe return trip home. I thank You again for leading us to that diner on Friday for lunch. That was nothing but You, because we were out in the middle of nowhere, it seemed, but then You provided a place for us to dine. Yes, there were challenges along the way, misunderstandings, miscommunications, and wrong directions, but everything worked out good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV