My favorite picture of the kids at the car lot. It seemed very desperate at the time - we were stuck!!
Dinner at Disneyland - YUM!
Charles singing "it's a world of laughter a world of cheer, it's a world of sorrow, a world of fear..."
Charles crying over the situation with the lemon car
The pictures got a little out of order so let me explain. . .
When we were first beginning our journey down to school here we had to find a car. Since we knew no one where we were going we had to make a choice, and so we bought a car on e-bay (never do that)! Anyhow, we got to California to pick up the car which we were going to drive back to Washington. When we got in the car we had bought, we noticed right away a few things were wrong. The radio did not work, the air did not work, nothing was working right. We had driven almost all the way to Disneyland when we noticed the tires were spliting! Yikes! We were driving through Los Angeles on spilt tires - no good! We were so tired from flying all night from Alaska. We were trying to make decisions. We stopped in a parking lot and said a prayer begging for help. We were in Califonira, we had a long way to go, and from where we were at the moment we seemed very trapped. We decided to take the car back to the dealer and Charles would try his hand at negotiating. Luckily, he knew what to do. To make a long story shorter, the car people were very quick to find us a different car of a greater value and tried to make us happy and satisifed. They knew that they could have been in big trouble. We were promised that all was great with the original car we purchased - it was a lemon and they were responsible! Anyhow, from the deal we received a better car for a better price. It all worked out! We were not trapped!
The next day after that experience we were all set for Disneyland. What a relief it was after such a horrid experience the day before. The kids loved it, we loved it and we had a very good time there. It was that much greater having overcome a huge obstacle the day before. Disneyland times come - they really do! How much sweeter are those joyus times when huge obstacles have been overcome.
After the car situation, we experienced a similiar experience with our apartment we had rented out, also on-line. We arrived at 1am to our "home" to find cat food and hair all over, and an apartment that was in a scary and nasty part of town. We had no way of knowing. It was recommended by the school and everything. So again in desperation we prayed for help, we knew we could not stay there. We had to stay there that night though, we slept on the nasty floor in a pile of clothes we had with us, since we had nothing with us but our luggage. The kids were along for the ride. Luckily, they were young enough to not be damaged by the experience. The next day we went to church. We walked into the closest church building but we did not feel right being there. So we left and drove to look for another one. Daniel had poop in his diaper, which was his last. It being Sunday we did not want to go to the store if we did not have to. So, we wanted to find a church building and we did, up on the hill. We walked inside and it felt better, different. We found tons of people in the hallway most of them were students like us. They offered tons of diapers - just the right size. Then a kind family invited us over for dinner that night to help us find our way through the city. We also drove around the area looking for "for rent" signs. We found one, called the next morning and we were in our little house the next day. After experiencing they nasty apartment the little house was such a relief. Once again, we were provided for in a sticky situation, things worked out better than what we could have imagined or planned for. Thank goodness!!
I have been shocked often at how things in life work out. Not the way you plan. Usually, never the way you plan them to work out - but they do. We do our part to make everything happen and Heavenly Father, in his wisdom, can change our seemingly bad choices into better situations. I am so grateful for that.
Another more recent example. Charles was hit by an old lady in his truck. Very little damage was done to his truck. At the time, on his birthday, it was so lame and an inconvience. After "dealing" with the insurance and the lady that hit him, they had an appraiser come to evaluate the damage on his truck. He was sent a check for $1000.00! Yet, he does not need to repair his truck because nothing is really wrong, just srcatched a bit. From a moment that seemed so sad, and lame, and purposeless - to a moment of joy and excitement and an answer to prayer! Heavenly Father has a way of providing a way. We have to do our part, everything we can, and I believe He will provide a way. Though it may not seem clear at the time or even a complete disaster. Joy can come even from a car accident. The way Charles found his current job was by getting a speeding ticket. If had not received that ticket and gone down to talk to our friend Joe at traffic court, he would not have the job he has today!! You just never know how lemons can be turned into lemonade!
I believe you must have hope for the future. Hope that things that happen, good or bad, serve a greater purpose than what we can see today. For example, I spent months on crutches as a young person to repair a broken leg. In the meantime, while dealing with much pain and frustration, I was developing something I was not aware of - muscles in my arms! Through my pain and trial I was building great strength - that I believe has stayed with me to this day, and has served me very well over the years. Often, it is through our pain and trials that we find our true strength. I believe there is a place deep within each of us that has the ability to pull ourselves up when we are down. That we can find strength even when we are weary and weak.
I went running the other day and it did not feel very good. I was going too fast, my gut was too full - it was just no good. I even told Charles that night I thought I was through running for now. When I said that, I felt awful. I did not like it. So the next day I went out again, planning to walk and then something from within said - just do it!! So, slowly I lifted my feet and knees and began a very slow jog (I call it turkey-trotting). It felt ok, so I kept going, and going, and before I knew it I had finished my normal route jogging the whole way. I did it! I just had to focus, really focus. One foot in front of the other. I kept telling myself, I have run a half marathon, I have given birth, I am strong, I am a runner, I can do it! I went again yesterday, and I was just fine. I will not give up running until I fall on my face. If I fall, I will get back up and drag myself. Why? Because I CAN!!!!
Remember - Do not let the strength of the wood distract you from the strength of your spirit!!! Also, don't forget to yell really loud when you are breaking the wood - it really helps!!
Keeeee -Yaaaaahhhhh!!!
Love, Me
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