What Goes Around Comes Around

Karma, luck (both bad and good), "Paying it Forward", Murphy's Law...whatever you want to call it, it seems like I've been having some coincidences concerning situations with my car the last 3 weeks. They have all happened at the same time and it didn't really hit me until after my last post about running out of gas. Here are the stories:

Story #1: My dear friend had a baby about 3 weeks ago, so I planned to visit her in the hospital. On my way, I stopped to pick up some necessities--chocolate, Diet Coke, a good magazine, etc. to make her hospital stay more enjoyable. While I was checking out, a sweet older woman was standing behind me holding a road map. She asked me if I knew where a small town (I can't remember the name now) was located on the border of Nevada and Idaho. I had never heard of it but she needed directions to get to I-15. She thought she was in a completely different area of Las Vegas and got lost and turned around. I explained how to get back to the freeway but she looked completely frazzled and tears were welling up in her eyes. The employee and I tried to explain and write down the directions but she was extremely frustrated. So I offered to have her follow me out to I-15. The hospital was close to the entrance so it was no trouble at all. She put a huge smile on her face and we left the store. I told her that I was going to take an exit before the freeway exit but that she would just continue about 1/2 mile and take the exit to I-15. As I was getting off my exit, I put my hand out the window to wave her on but she followed me off so I pulled over and explained that the freeway entrance was just ahead. She gave me a big hug and told me that I had helped an 80-year-old woman on her way home. I asked her if she had a cell phone or could call anyone if she got into trouble. She just smiled and said that her husband was waiting for her in that town and that she could just follow the map once she got on the interstate. She said she had driven there before but had gotten turned around once she was in the city. I told her that I was worried about her but she said that I had helped enough. Then she waved, gave me a grin, and drove off. I waited to watch her enter the freeway and said a little prayer that she would get to her destination without any trouble.

Story #2: We have been putting a pool in our backyard and doing some landscaping. We have a large driveway and many trucks have been parked there and coming in and out for the last few weeks. I needed to pick up the kindergarten carpool so as I was leaving, I noticed a truck in the driveway. I was trying to pull out around the truck and to avoid hitting him with the back end of my car, I got a little too close to the wall of my garage and scraped the side door panel thing on the garage stucco.

Obviously, I was very frustrated and it brought back some sad memories of when I was trying to do a good thing by very carefully scraping the snow off the hood of our red Yukon after a week-long snowstorm in Maryland. That was the worst snowstorm I had seen and there was probably 6 feet of snow on the ground. When the snow finally stopped falling, all the neighbors were out brushing the snow off their cars with brooms and shovels. Joe had always told me not to use a broom because the bristles would scratch the paint. So I was gently sliding the snow off with a shovel. Unfortunately, I got too close to the hood one time and scratched it with metal instead! Thank heavens I have a bro-in-law that owns a car dealership because he has hooked us up numerous times. When he said that fingernail polish (Hee Hee) wouldn't cut it, he mixed up a little bottle of paint and we kept it in the car for future stupidity on my part.

Now our car is a different color so I think I need to place a call and get another mix of color for those moments that I've previously explained. My husband just rolls his eyes at me when I tell him that a car won't be perfect forever and if I don't scratch it myself, the children will, or another car in the parking lot will, or some rock will dent or scratch it or a 10-year-old boy will throw a baseball, denting it and breaking the tail light. I think that's pretty good justification for yet another blonde moment.

Story #3: The "out of gas" story that I already posted. Luckily for me that sweet high school senior with a retainer pulled over to help me out on that one.

Story #4: We were riding our bikes to school on Thursday morning when I saw a young gal sitting on the road next to her car talking on the cell phone. It was at the back of our neighborhood and as I passed her, I noticed that there was a big hole in her tire. I had to get my kids to school and she was on the phone so I figured she was getting some help. When we were riding back, she was still there and a gal in our ward and neighborhood was talking to her. I parked my bike and asked if they needed some help. The girl said that her friend wrecked his car so he couldn't come help her and that she had just dropped her other friend off at work so he couldn't come. She worked for a family in our neighborhood that was out of town and the tire blew on her boss' car. So they were trying to change the tire.

The girl didn't really have a clue what to do so she sat on the ground and was texting. Cassandra was trying to figure out how to lower the tire that was underneath the car. We pulled out the manual and read that the jack fit into a hole above the bumper and when you twisted the jack, the tire would lower to the ground and you could unscrew it and pull it out. (Most of you probably already know this) The jack was not working at all. It fit and turned but the tire did not come down. There was a pool guy parked a couple of houses up so I asked him if he knew the trick. He tried to turn it as well but it was not lowering. He went back and rummaged through his truck and brought back a longer, different jack that had a little lip on the end of it. We stuck it in the hole and that made all the difference because the tire came down. He left to take care of the neighbor's pool, so Cassandra and I jacked up the car, pulled off the blown tire, put the new one on, brought down the car, tightened the bolts, and threw the ruined tire in the back of the car. The girl just looked at us, thanked us, and took off down the street. My hands were as black as the road and Carlee told me that I was dirty and needed to take a shower but I had done a good deed and I think my dad would have been pretty proud that I remembered how to change a tire. Thanks, Dad!

Later that day, I also got to give Amber a ride so that she could get her car fixed. This was obviously not a big deal and nothing too crazy to even tell about but she did buy me lunch and I was happy just to spend some extra time with a dear friend.

All of these coincidences and stories have just reaffirmed what I already know--when you give, you get. I was able to help a couple of people, a couple of people were able to help me, and lessons were learned along the way. I'm not hoping for any more situations to keep teaching that principle, but I'm definitely grateful that there are still kind people willing to sacrifice their time and selves to help out, because unfortunately, too many people just drive by.

Out of Gas

Today, I ran out of gas on the way to Carlee's dance class. The light came on last night while we were driving to pack meeting but I figured that I would be able to get gas this morning. We had a birthday brunch planned for our friend, Missy, so I was going to drop off some quiche at Geneva's, get gas, and head to dance class. As I left my neighborhood and was driving to the stop sign, the car started acting a bit sluggish. As I was stopped there and giving it some gas to go, the car completely stopped about 2 feet in front of the stop sign and in the intersection. Luckily it wasn't a major intersection but I was still in the middle of it. It was too heavy to push over to the side so I turned on my hazard lights and called my rescuer, Amber. Unfortunately she didn't answer her phone so as I was thinking about what to do, this little red sedan whipped around behind me and pulled up. Out stepped a high school senior that asked if I needed some help. Completely embarrassed, I told him that I had run out of gas and was trying to call my friend. He told me that he just lived a couple of neighborhoods over and would run home to get his gas can and fill it up. I gave him some money and he headed out.

I sat in the car with Carlee and we counted the cars that were passing us and staring. About 15 minutes later, the young man came back saying that his dad had the gas can in his truck. I told him that I had one in my garage and that I lived just a few blocks away. He then asked me if I was a Mormon. I told him yes and he asked what ward I was in. He was in a neighboring ward and we talked about people that we knew in the wards. He drove me home and I got our gas can which actually had some in it. Then we drove back to my car.

The gas can had some fancy lever and button thing on it and it wouldn't extend long enough to go into the tank so we were trying to figure out how to get the gas into the car. I was searching through my car for a cup or water bottle left over from a soccer or baseball game. Luckily there was a Sunny Delight bottle on the floor full of water. (I did notice a beer bottle on the ground next to the road that we could have used as a last resort)

We dumped out the water and took several turns filling up the Sunny Delight bottle with gas and then poured it into the tank. We were laughing and talking about how silly we probably looked to all the passers-by. He returned my money and told me that he wouldn't accept it because the blessings he would get for helping me was worth a lot more. I was proud that his parents had raised him right and extremely grateful that he stopped by to help me. I could have walked home or waited for Joe to come from work but this sweet young man provided a service that I will never forget. He even followed me to the gas station to make sure that we had poured enough into the tank.

Needless to say that we missed Carlee's dance class because the whole ordeal took about 45 minutes. She was a little sad because she was performing a dance to "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid, but she was satisfied with going straight to the "party breakfast at the Chuggs".

I don't know if we can chalk this up to one of my blonde moments, car trouble, being unlucky, or just a funny experience but it's something I'll always remember and be grateful for.

Evenings in the Park

One thing that is so awesome about Las Vegas are the parks. They are everywhere and they are the best--sand piles, twisty slides, tire swings, dinosaurs to climb on, butterflies to fly with, rock walls, baseball fields, sand volleyball courts, soccer fields, etc. Right now, the weather is beautiful, especially in the evenings. So on one late Friday afternoon we headed to the park to play with friends. My friends and I have started a photography group to discuss tips and learn tricks to take perfect pictures of our kids so the park was the perfect place to practice. The younger kids swung on the swings, played in the sand, climbed on the ladders and slides, and ran on the grassy hills. The bigger girls played make-believe at one end of the park and we didn't see them the entire time.

Jen and I trying to figure out some trick on our camera
(I think I'm avoiding a sneeze...)

Me with my two pregnant friends, Andrea and Melissa


The PERFECT nose-pickin' picture
(To be used for blackmail at a later date)


The PERFECT happy sand-playing picture

Three hours later, we realized that everyone was getting hungry and not one of us had thought about dinner so we talked Geneva's husband, Jared, into picking up pizza for everyone. We had a pizza picnic right as the sun was setting and then the kids were tired, dirty, and ready for bed. Warm, quick baths and cozy covers put them right to sleep. I love evenings in the park!

These were the store owners at the end of the park:
Katelyn, a neighborhood friend, Mia, Hanna, and Aspen

Easter

When we arrived home from Kingman, the kids waited in the car and Joe and I scurried around the house hiding the eggs that we colored in our hotel room. The kids requested this since we didn't get to do it in the hotel and they knew that the Easter bunny had probably already already visited our house and hidden eggs and baskets. When we were done, the kids came in and started the search for their baskets.

The Kool-Aid colored, microwave-boiled Easter eggs


Carlee's basket was in the dryer


Jake's basket was in the bottom oven


Kate's basket was in the hallway closet


Clark's basket was in the guest room closet

After checking out their Easter surprises and eating a handful of candy, they started on the egg hunt. Eggs were hidden all over the family room, living room, and entryway. Each got to find a dozen treat-filled plastic eggs and 5 "dinosaur" eggs. This is their favorite part of Easter and I love watching them scurry around, searching in every nook and cranny of our house to find their treasures.

The hunt is on . . .

After gathering the eggs, we played with our surprises, unpacked, and waited for Grandma and Grandpa to come. Although our Easter was a little out of the ordinary, we did enjoy being together and taking a Sunday drive home while discussing the resurrection and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the blessings that He gives us every day. We are so grateful for His example and atonement so that we can be a family forever and return to live with Him one day.

Clark and Kate got snorkeling gear, pool toys, and fresh, new
beach towels along with a basketful of chocolate and candy.

Jake and Carlee got pool toys, fresh new beach towels, DVD's, a soccer ball, and a Barbie along with their basketful of chocolate and candy.

Spring Break in Arizona

For Spring Break this year, Joe decided to work in Arizona so we all headed to Kingman for Historic Route 66. We packed and loaded up the car on Monday, March 29 to spend a week at the Hampton Inn. On the way down, I took pictures of the Hoover Dam. I hadn't seen it since we moved to Las Vegas almost 2 years ago so I was excited to see the progress of the bridge they are building over the dam. It is pretty spectacular and has been featured on Modern Marvels on the Discovery Channel. The bridge will be a highway for travelers so that they don't have to spend extra time driving around the dam and through the tourist traffic. It is impressive and scheduled to be completed sometime in the next year or two.

We had a great time during the week. Joe worked almost every morning so after a hot continental breakfast, the kids and I hung out in the swimming pool all morning long waiting for him to come back. Usually by the time we got ready for the day after swimming for a couple of hours, Joe would be done so we would either eat lunch from our stash in the kitchenette or go out on our way to some fun activity. It was a nice break from cooking and dishes. Paper products and sandwiches are definitely the way to go!

We hit the bowling center, the sticky-foot theater twice to see "Alice in Wonderland" and "How to Train a Dragon", and the neighborhood Wal-mart. We ate at a local pizza joint, Stromboli's, got homemade caramel root beers at Mr. D'z Drive-In, ate at Chili's, got burgers at In 'n' Out, and enjoyed orange chicken at Panda Express during the week.

We even decorated eggs for Easter in our hotel room. We hard-boiled them in the microwave and it actually worked, although we did lose 3 in an explosion. We colored them with Kool-Aid and the kids loved the way they turned out. They would put the eggs in several different colors and most of them ended up looking like dinosaur eggs. It was pretty fun.

Our eggs are cookin'!

Carlee is a little bit wary about our technique to hard-boil the eggs.


Eight different flavors and colors of Kool-Aid and only $ .15 each!


Loving the way the colors turned out

We called Carlee to come color her eggs and this is how we found her.
She stayed like this all night!

Good morning, sunshine! Come color your eggs for Easter!


The finished product

We visited the historic Route 66 visitor's center and museum. We watched a short film on how Route 66 was the main road for motorists and the small hotels and towns along the road were extremely popular. People would stay in these towns for a few days to enjoy the peace and quiet. Once the Eisenhower highway was built, the towns that once thrived along the route became pretty rundown.

After visiting the museum, we walked across the street to the park and climbed on a big train. The kids were acting like passengers on the train and also victims on the tracks. I just enjoy playing with my camera and my kids, although it was really windy.

We also visited Oatman, which is an old mining town named after a woman that was captured by the Apache Indians and later traded to the Mohave Indians who eventually released her. It is now known as a ghost town and tourist attraction. Wild burros wander the streets and nuzzle you for any type of food. We took some carrots and the kids loved feeding them.

We walked along the dusty streets visiting gift shops and looking at all the old town places. At the back of one store was a fence with these large turtles. They were so active and the kids would have spent hours in that corral with them. They loved feeling their rough necks and hard shells.

We got some sandwiches, frybread and sarsparillas at the town's saloon for lunch. Cowboys performed a shoot-out in the streets every hour or so but we kept missing them by minutes.

Clark and Katelyn enjoyed posing for pictures the entire time. They were always yelling, "Take a picture of me doing this, Mom!"

We visited the Oatman Hotel where Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon after being married in Kingman. Apparently, they visited Oatman quite a bit because of the peace and tranquility of the town and Clark Gable enjoyed playing poker with the miners. The hotel rooms were closed for renovation but we did get some ice cream in the Sweet Shop downstairs.

This is Billy Bob Bob, a one-man band, bidding us farewell as we headed back to the car.


These are pictures of the landscape on our drive back to Kingman.

We also enjoyed a hike up in the Hualapai Mountains during our stay. It was about a 3 mile hike and the kids were so busy looking for the perfect walking stick that they didn't complain at all. Plus, the weather was perfect so the time flew and the hike wasn't too bad.

On the way back down the mountain, Joe suddenly stopped and Clark tiptoed back to Jake and me and told us to be really quiet. About 20 feet in front of us was a baby deer and its mother. They were busy eating and didn't really notice us for a while. The baby was really close to us and as we stepped quietly down the trail, the mother quickly jumped in front of us to get to her baby. It's the closest I've been to a deer in a really long time and they looked so pretty.

Sunday was Easter Sunday and General Conference. Clark had left a note for the Easter Bunny to hide their baskets at home so we just enjoyed coloring and doing conference packets in the hotel room. Then my parents called and wanted to come to our house that evening with my brother and his girlfriend. They had spent Easter with my sister in St. George but Geoff really wanted Alanna to see Vegas at night with all the lights. We didn't leave any keys behind and had locked everything up so we decided to head home that afternoon instead of the next morning so that we could meet them. Plus, the kids were anxious to have their Easter Egg Hunt and see their baskets so we loaded up quickly and drove home.

Kingman is a small town with that same feel but it was a nice break. We got to do some things out of the ordinary and spend time together as a family and that is what these breaks are all about. Leaving the routine and everyday schedules for a short time to just enjoy something different is definitely an opportunity that we just can't pass up and I'm glad we got to visit a little piece of our nation's history on historic Route 66.