Driving Mrs. Sarah

I got my driver’s license a mere 2 weeks before Joshua and I got married. I DID get my driver’s permit right after I turned 15 but a month later I was stricken ill and left bedridden, which turned into years of being housebound (this started in 2000). I was in such terrible pain just the vibrations from the car and the bumps in the road caused me misery. I tried numerous medications and even had a few surgeries but was still sick anyways. Gradually I was getting better, with the most notable improvements beginning around summer of 2005. Then slowly I gained more health. By summer 2007 my doctor couldn’t believe how my illness had gotten so much better. To further the progress I did an aggressive physical therapy regimen. I had been in too much pain previously to undergo this strenuous treatment, but the time had finally arrived. Best of all, it was working! As my dear fiancé was in Texas, I continued the medical treatment in order to prepare for marriage. One day I needed a ride from Williamsburg and my sister drove me home to Gloucester. This was the first opportunity I had to talk with her about my engagement and plans to move to Texas. She suggested I get my driver’s license before I move because Houston would require challenging city driving whereas Gloucester is easy country driving. I didn’t feel physically ready to pursue driving, but my sister made a good point. She even added, “What’s the worse that could happen? You fail the test, you’re embarrassed, you try again.” So I gave it a shot. Learning to drive was a nerve wracking experience, especially since I was terrified I’d wreck the car and have to spend all my moving/wedding money fixing it which would postpone getting married, or worse that I’d get into an accident and that would ruin the marriage and moving plans. Basically, I was terrified of the adversary taking the opportunity to get in my way while I was pursuing the righteous path of a temple marriage. But my Mom helped me to learn to drive and I succeeded! Though I did use my TENS unit, painkillers, and pillow for my back, lol! I got my license just in time to get married and move to Texas.

Joshua is helping me to learn to drive around here in Houston, TX. What a proud moment it was when he added me to his car insurance. It’s exciting to be making such triumph over this illness and the timing has clearly been God’s will.