Chalk another up to God and not John

So last night we pulled into Albequerque without a reservation at a hotel (our priceline bids failed and we had the travel coupons you can get at truck stops). We were hoping for a good deal at a good place for little money. I realize the adage that "you get what you pay for," but frankly I have so often seen that disproved that I am more surprised when it pans out.

Consider me surprised by our hotel stay last night. It was cheap. In just about every way. The redeeming characteristic might have been that the hotel is located on the Historic Route 66, and was favorably reviewed on the travel sites we visited.

The neighborhood was fairly sketchy and there were many "quirks" associated with the hotel. The first indicator was the complete glass enclosure that the desk clerk was behind while we completed the transaction. The room had several funny parts, and the pool provided a comical incident.

Will was moving around the wall when he suddenly cried out in pain. Being the ever-merciful father I told him to quit exaggerating. He told me that there were jets that shot water out into the pool, but he had come up against a nozzle that sucked water into it and the skin on his back was pulled into it. Sure enough I put my hand over the nozzle and it was pretty strong. I cautioned the other boys to stay away from it, and everything was fine until I got too close. Will was not exaggerating the pain.

So we left Albequerque, but not before pricelining (and failing) to get hotel rooms in Flagstaff or Williams, AZ (near the Grand Canyon). We figured we'd drive on and walk in like we've done so many times. However, when we arrived in Flagstaff there was snow all over and I was getting a little concerned about ice on the side roads. We decided to hop back on the Interstate and get a hotel in Williams where we could stay in a hotel just off the highway (little side-street driving on ice).

25 minutes later we arrive in Williams and go to the hotel that we have the cheap coupon for. There is NO VACANCY (I've never actually seen a hotel completely full). They suggested another hotel in town (NO VACANCY). We went to at least one or two others that both were also completely full. At this point I'm getting really irritated and thinking I've dragged my family all the way out here and we're going to pay through the nose to get a room (if there is even one to be had in this town).

This is when we stopped to pray and ask God to help us find a place to stay for the night. The next place we went into -- rooms available and at a very discount rate! Turns out the room is very nice, the location is really good, and our family realizes we were very blessed by God to give us this place to stay tonight. Chalk up another one that God provided when I was completely unable to come up with anything. He is really kind.