| jackie's tale: the senerio = I was bringing Kelli home from camp. We had just gone to Bennigan's up in Ocala (an hour and a half north of orlando) along with about 25 other people from camp. Kelli = my youth leader's daughter...13 years old...was in the car with me through all of this I-75 = interstate 75...speed limit is 70mph...most people average about 80mph when on it. Turnpike = pretty much the same as I-75...except that it's not an interstate. Barb = Kellie's mom...leader of the middle schoolers at my church...she had also gone up to camp to pick up kids. Marja = Kelli's mom... and leader of the high schoolers Kelsie = middle schooler who lives in Ocala and who Barb was taking home before she returned to Orlando. Bonnie = Josh's mom (i think helen is the only one who knows who josh is, but oh well. he's one of my friends from camp last year.) Bonnie had also gone up to Ocala, and she was on her way back to Lakeland (an hour south of Orlando). Warren = a total God send. youth member that just graduated high school...is joining the air force in September. Okahumpka rest stop thingie = 8 miles into the turnpike when heading south...it's in between the north and south bound lanes...has a few small places to eat...and they over charge for everything. well...I had a tire blow up on my car yesterday on the way home. My steering wheel has been acting funny all week, but i just shrugged it off and my dad was supposed to look at it tomorrow. Well, this morning, it was really, really bad. Kelli and I were on our way back to Orlando after lunch, and the whole car was shaking, so i thought maybe one of my tires was going flat or something (cuz my car has also been pulling to the left for the last week) well, instead of getting up on I-75, i went past it, turned into a parking lot, and looked at the tires, they looked fine to me (how was i supposed to know about warped belts, and that you need to run your hand over the tire to feel for bumps? they don't teach you that stuff in driver's ed.) Well, the tires looked fine to me, so I got up on 75 to come home. prolly 5-6 miles short of the turnpike, my car started making a thudding sound (like when you drive over the little reflectors in the road...but not quite that loud) and then all of a sudden, it slowed down on me. So i got into the right lane, and then the next thing i know, there's a big bump and a loud noise, and i see part of my tire fly 10 feet into the air. well, i managed to keep control of my car, and i got it off to the side of the road. I opened up the trunk so i could get my cell phone (and let me tell you...praise the Lord for cell phones!) well, i wanted to get ahold of Barb cuz i knew that she had to take Kelsie home, and would therefore be behind us somewhere and she was the closest person that i knew to call. So i called marja's cell phone to see if she had barb's #, but she didn't answer her phone. So then I called the church office, but they didn't have her # either. Then I called Marja's house, but no one answered there either. Just about the time i decided to call marja's cell again (about 15-20 minutes of sitting there waiting for Barb to hopefully drive by...hey, i didn't mind sitting there...at least i got a bit if sun ::grin::), I hear Kelli yell "Bonnie!" and turn around and there's bonnie standing there. You have NO IDEA how happy and relieved i was to see her. she didn't know how to change a tire either tho...so i called my dad at this point (and totally broke down on the phone...i mean i totally lost it, i was in tears. but they were tears of relief...i knew that we weren't gonna be stuck out on I-75 for who knew how long) and he told us to use the manual in my glove compartement to show us how to change the tire. We got the lugg nuts loosened and we got the car jacked up when I hear kelli say "i think i see barb" so i stood up and waved, and sure enough, it was barb. so she saw me wave, and she stopped too. warren got out and changed the rest of the tire. well, i only had one of those little doughnut tires, so we put that on. well...get this, as if all this turmoil wasn't already bad enough...the spare was FLAT! it was at this point that a police woman showed up. well, she just happened to have a can of something or other that is used for filling up a flat tire...it'll get you a couple of miles down the road at least...and that was all i really needed. so warren filled up the spare, and we were off...well, we were doing about 55 in a 70 mph zone...but that's all the tire could do. Bonnie led the way, i was in the middle, and Barb was at the end and we all had our emergency flashers on. well, i had called my dad when we realized that i didn't think the car would make it home, and he agreed to meet us at the Okahumpkah(sp???) rest stop thingie on the turnpike. he got there about the same time we did. He and I went back for my car, and the rest of them went on home. He filled my spare tire up at a gas station with more air, and then i followed him home...he drove my car, and I drove the mini van. So...yesterday was definitely a LONG day...and it was totally scary. But i know that God was watching out for me because 1) He got me off the road safely...if a front tire blows, it's extremely hard to keep contol of the car...but He was there for me, and i made it safely off the road. 2) He sent Bonnie to me. 3) Kellie had been asleep in barb's van, and just happend to open her eyes and saw us on the side of the road. 4) Barb had been watching the road, and if kellie hadn't seen barb's van, i wouldn't have been able to wave, and she wouldn't have seen me. so she wouldn't have stopped. 5) Warren was in the car with Barb, and he knew what to do to change a flat (well, at least I think he did...he seemed to anyway) and 6) my dad got to the okahumpka rest stop thingie at the EXACT same time as us. So God was definitely there for me and watching out for me today. but anywhoo...that's my saga from my totally nerve-wracking day. just thought i would share all of that with you to give you something to read...and to show you how God was totally there for me (not that he's not usually there...because he is, but i was REALLY greatful for him yesterday.) Well...i'm sure you're eyes are tired from reading so much, so this is it. "this is the end of, the end of my story story. Yes this is the end of, the end of my story story. Everything was (clap) hunky-dory dory! Children of the Lord." sorry, it was there...had to type it ::smile:: |
| well, wow. lots of stuff is happening in this final week of being home. yep, that's right - next week i head back to school. crazy, huh? ah, well, good thing God is everywhere - He's too big to pack ;) seriously, though, He's been doing some great stuff in my life and in the lives of others. basically... wow. i dunno where to begin. well, oh! PRAISE THE LORD! no more work for me!!!!!! :D (i'm happy - can ya tell?) anyway, i used to take a train to work... on wed, a train derailed and so the schedule was thrown off and i got stuck having to take the long, subway (it IS a subway, trisha) and bus route home. of course that was the day that my mom didn't leave at the same time, which, while it was an inconveinience (sp?) for me, it was a blessing, 'cause she didn't miss her flight. also, He got me home even after i was fed misinformation. so cool. then, possibly the next day... actually the day after, it was raining during the afternoon, but when i left the office, it wasn't... then i took the train all the way home and then it was drizzling a little when i got off and got in my car.... as soon as i pulled out, it started POURING. so praise God for holding up the heavens for me. me. that's silly to me when i think about it. why would the God who made everything be so interested in keeping me dry?! but He's like that, which is cool. praise Him for that. also, lol, i was going to visit hannah and her clan, and i had no clue where i was going, but praise God for mr c, who gives good directions, and praise the Lord for streets that end, so you know you've missed the turn... and praise Him b/c the place i pulled into to turn around and call for help was the place i was trying to get to. nifty, eh? yeah, He's like that, too. :) anyway, okay, i have to go and get it, but jackie sent me a great story of God's provision! oh, and one more thing - we have several services at my church, and the college class was late getting out, well, praise God for using that to His glory! b/c of that, my dad ended up in a great conversation with a cool lady and they can help each other out b/c this lady is fairly new to the church and her daughter is looking to get plugged in, and my dad needed a consultant for something - so YAY! other praises include, but are not limited to: my grandmother and maria are okay after an accident. gina is still alive after her third car accident this summer. jed actually has a ride to fla. i praise God for family. all of my family, whether by blood, friendship, or faith. i love you all, may God bless and protect you on this day and every other. |
| AUGUST 13th |