Friday, August 28, 2009

Saint Of Circumstance


Happy Friday Company Girls and Beloved Readers!!

So come on in, grab yourself a cup. How are you? I have missed you all so much! I am looking forward to having coffee with you all this weekend as I peruse your blogs. It has been so long since I have had time to comment - I am making it a point this week to comment on as many as I can.

I have been very busy lately - I know I have said it before but it's true! After months of absolute nothing aside from the regular day to day, my photography business suddenly took off! I hope the momentum carries on through the holidays! God has blessed me so much lately - I just have to tell you all how faithful He has been.

So yesterday I drove to Houston so that I could do a photo shoot this morning. One of my sweet friends had a baby girl a few weeks ago, and she asked me to come out to do some newborn photos for her.

The baby is absolutely precious! She is such a beauty and I enjoyed hanging out with her and her momma (and one of her brothers) this morning. She totally made me work for the photos though - she would not sleep! lol! It was so cute - Momma would get her nice and asleep and then set her down and I could get maybe 2 or 3 shots before she woke up. She made us WORK for sure. That's ok though, because I know I still got some great shots of her.

So after the shoot I loaded up the boys (my inlaws were watching them for me while I had the session) and we headed back to Austin. I just couldn't afford to stay for very long because I am so behind on my work. We got about 45 minutes from home (and we were out in the middle of NOWHERE) when one of my tires blew. I managed to get the car off the road at the next opportunity (there weren't any immediate roads to choose from nor was there a shoulder so I had to drive for about a mile) and had to unload everything, all of our luggage and all of my photo session gear, onto the dirt road to get to the jack and wrench.

The boys were sweltering in the car even with all the windows rolled down, but they did really well. Port only screamed a few times, but I was able to sooth him with a container of Goldfish crackers and turning the DVD player back on.

And I am proud to say I changed the tire on that dusty road all by myself!
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.
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except I didn't. ;-)

Thankfully, after yanking and tugging on the lug nuts for a few minutes, a very nice gentleman in a very large pickup truck pulled over to help me.

And then I stood there completely useless on the side of the road while he changed my tire in 100 degree heat.

Did you know there are still saints roaming the earth? Oh yes!

He was so nice - he didn't really say much, but he struggled with those dang lug nuts too so I felt better about being such a wimpy girl! lol!

So if you've read my blog for a while you might know that I am a socially awkward person. Completely. And in situations like this I never really know what to do. Do I try to pay him? I didn't have any cash on me. Would that be insulting to a good Samaritan anyway? Do I offer him water - oops I didn't have any with me. I had no idea what to do so I just thanked him profusely. I didn't even offer him a wipey for his hands - gracious knows I had plenty of those! Ugh. And of course I thought of the perfect thing after we were already back on the road and he was long gone.

Mr. Good Samaritan Dwight or Dwayne (I am so sorry I am terrible with names, but I remember it started with a D) - thank you so much for stopping on a very lonely stretch of FM 112 to help a crazy woman and 2 cranky kids with a completely blown tire. People like you are so rare and wonderful and I am so thankful that you stopped to help. You mentioned you have kids so if by some strange chance you or someone you know comes across my blog and identifies you as my guardian angel today, please know that if you ever want it, I would love to offer you a free photo session for your family and a credit for prints. Please contact me through my site and we will set something up.

I should have offered him my business card. I could have thanked him with a session and prints. It's really all I can afford - at least it would be something. People like him don't come along every day and I am just so thankful he stopped.

If any of you reading have ever stopped to help someone change a tire - THANK YOU!!! You have no idea how nice and wonderful a gift that really is. Hubby and I have had our fair share of flats in odd/difficult situations and each and every time someone has stopped to lend aid. It is such a blessing!

I hope that you have the opportunity to bless someone this week. I certainly intend to pay this blessing forward.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until,
D :)

6 comments:

One More Equals Four said...

girl, I would be in a MESS if that happened to me. I wouldn't have the first clue where to even find the jack! I guess I need to have my hubby give me a tutorial!

What a blessing that gentleman was! I am sure he didn't expect anything in return!

Rachel Anne said...

Oh, how nice of that man to change your tire! I would have been crying by the roadside, and like you would have wondered what to do for him. My guess is that your thanks was all he needed.

I'm so glad you are safe and sound!!

mholgate said...

I am so glad to hear that you came out of that situation ok! I held my breath when you talked about driving on it for a mile! Thank goodness for guardian angels!

Two friends and I had a similar situation last year. We were driving up to my friend's lake cabin when her tire blew. It was dark, we were on a dirt road, and we had no idea what we were doing when a family pulled up behind us. Two cars had already gone by and not stopped. But this gentle hearted man stopped to change the tire for us, and you know what? Even though he was crippled in one leg and we could tell he was struggling, he still did all the work (wouldn't let us help when we offered.) All we did was hold the flashlights so he could see what he was doing! Just goes to show that heroes come in all types.

Have a great day!
Melissa

dawn said...

I would have been helpless on the side of the road! I would have been calling someone to rescue me...wouldn't even have known if we have a jack. I am pathetic!

Good idea with the photo shoot, but I'm sure his intention was just to help. (plus, I don't know if angels show up in pictures :) ) You'll be ready with that idea next time...

Glad you are all OK, and thanks for having "coffee" with me!

Teresa McNamara said...

I would have no chance at all if I had to change my own tyre. It is wonderful that there are still good samaritans out there. It is also wonderful that your photography business is taking off. It is great to have a job that you love doing.

Camille said...

I can't imagine being in your shoes with my kids in the car. I can never get those lug nuts off!!!!

So glad your good samaritan found you and was able to help you out. Congratulations on the business taking off.