Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Angel to remain nameless...for now.

Ask me how my day was, and I may just slap you. It really wasn't that bad, but give me a few more hours to cool down. So it went...

I tutored today, and my grandmother kept the kids. We ate lunch when I got home and then we went to Sam's Wholesale to do some shopping. It was good to spend time with my grandmother. She is always a hoot. We shop and shop, check out and get drinks before heading to the parking lot. With kids in tow, we walk out in the 100 degree weather to the car. I push ahead to start the car to get the car cooled off before the kids got in. I jumped in the car...only for the car NOT to start. Again...Again...Again. Nope. No car. I pull out the trusty cell phone and call Stacey, HELP! I am in Grapevine, and he is in Arlington.

Just when I look over and see an Angel. I see a man from church unloading his loot into his truck with his 3 grandkids. I tell Stacey that I see him and will call him back after I talk to him. He comes over to inspect the car. First of all, I really am no dummy, except I have never HAD to look for my hood release lever before, have you? My Angel found it though. He said it looked like the battery may need a jump. He walked over to the automotive department at Sam's, only guess what, the automotive department doesn't have jumper cables! SERIOUSLY! This nice man said he lived close and would run home and get his cables and would come back. GREAT! I called Stacey and told him to stay put. We would walk back into Sam's and wait for him to come back. I unload all our groceries into my car and head the kids and my grandmother into the air conditioning.

Then it hit me. What if someone parks next to me and he isn't able to park close enough to jump my car off. So, I went to stand guard. I opened the car doors and stood there ready to ask anyone who parked next to me to please move. A little bit later, here comes my grandmother with the baby, a very unhappy baby. Parker wanted to be with me, so he was already outside in heat, I know, but I just didn't want to leave both kids inside with my grandmother. That wasn't very fair to her. So now, all four of us are in the dead car. My Angel showed back up and started working. My grandmother and kids sat in his truck with his grandchildren while the men worked. I say men, because a complete stranger appeared and began to measure things and clean things and do things. After an hour or so, I called Stacey and asked him to start heading our way. Things didn't look so good for us. The kids were napless and beginning to get extremely cranky, and Emaline needed to eat... and of course I didn't have a bottle, because who would have thought we would have been at Sam's for 4.5 hours! Yes, 4.5 hours.

Those poor men. The man I didn't know...he came over and asked me if by chance I had another pair of cables in my car (I quickly thought to myself, if I did, I didn't know it,and if I did, they would be under a stroller and a mountain of groceries, some needing to be frozen, and I wasn't sure I was going to remove all that to look) I told him no, but I knew there was a first aid kit, and he laughed and told me that we may need it before it was over. That put a smile on my sunburned face. Yes, I said sunburned. My feet are sunburned...and face and arms are sunburned. While I was standing guard I was obviously roasting. The men worked some more.

The man I didn't know, he came and asked me (by this time I was in the airconditioned car too holding a screaming baby) if there was anything else I needed, that he was real sorry and thought that my battery just needed to charge since they cleaned it( his diagnosis was that my battery had some corrosion and wasn't able to charge by itself, so he cleaned it for me :) and rehooked everything). I thanked him over and over and he disappeared into the hot sun.

My other angel was still at work. Cranking the car, checking wires, adjusting things. Then Stacey drove up. He grabbed his cables and what do you know....POWER! My angel needs a new pair of cables. So, that is what I am getting him for helping me, new jumper cables!

We are home now. Tired and beat down. Kids are now asleep. I am getting in the shower because I am soaked in yuck! I think we will go out to eat tonight, better yet, we will order pizza and eat dinner in pajamas. I will not reveal my Angel's name until I award him with jumper cables. If you figure it out, just keep it to yourself. I will continue to call him my Angel, even though his cables didn't work, because I believe he is the reason I was able to remain calm. Knowing someone who was taking care of me and the kids and my grandmother took so much off of me. I am not sure I would have shoved my kids into a strangers car! God took care of us, he knew that I needed someone I knew.

You may all be thinking...you should have blank blank blank... But at the time I was just thankful. I was thankful that my grandmother was there to help with the kids, I was thankful that my Angel was there buying groceries too, and I am thankful for Stacey who is going to have my car checked tomorrow. Thanks babe!

To add to this story...when we finally got home, my grandmother jumped into her car to head to Denton after one of her friends had called to check on her because she hadn't been home all day, only to leave her purse in my car. So, Stacey had now jumped into his truck and is now headed to Denton. Rough day. I hope tomorrow is better, maybe a little less drama.

9 comments:

jenny biz said...

WOW!! I am so sorry but SO glad you had an "ANGEL" there! God always seems to know just what we need, when we need it! Do you need Aloe Vera? I have tons! :)

1literatimommy said...

Wow; what a day. it is wonderful that you ran into your angel from church. how exciting to see God at work in others. sorry you had to see it in 100 degree heat with two crying, tired babies, though. :)

Susan @ Blessed Assurances said...

Oh Sweet Paige! Sorry you had a rough day but am glad that God brought you everything you needed. I am sure w/out your "Angel" and grandmother things could of been a lot worse. Take it easy tonight! God Bless
Couz!

Phillips Family said...

Next time you are stranded at Sam's in Grapevine--Call Me! I could have at least brought a bottle for the baby!

Tobe bought me a pair of jumper cables the instant we were engaged. Not quite the romantic gift one hopes for and I haven't a clue as how to use them, but they are handy to keep under that baby stroller. Glad you survived the day. Stay in tomorrow and rest!

Unknown said...

I'm glad someone was there to help! Hope you have a better day tomorrow

Margaret K said...

Oh, Paige, that is awful!!! Put my home/cell phone numbers in your phone and let me rescue you anytime!

Beck Boys said...

It is the worst to be stranded. I am glad someone was there to save you. Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

Amy C said...

What a stinky day. Glad that is over. Hope today is 100% better!

amerriman said...

I am very sorry! Angels are wonderful people!