Miracles...tender mercies....are not quite the same as "chance". I don't believe in things that "just happen". I truly believe that every experience we have is for a reason. Our family witnessed and was a part of a series of little miracles this past weekend as we traveled home from our Labor Day Vacation at Mt. Graham.
After the hikers got home - (with Brad and Grandma making the hour long trip - each way -to pick them up) everyone was very tired.....except me. I had stayed behind at Grandma's house to help with Mark & Yvette's kids and to sneak a little nap.
We are traveling home and as we get about 5-10 miles out of Globe, I notice that the battery light in Brad's truck is on. I casually mention it to Brad and he looks and says..."we better keep an eye on it". As I'm driving, I notice that the steering has become a little "stiff", I mention it to Brad, but since I'm going 60-ish down the freeway and it's a straight road, there isn't much difference. A few miles down the road, we notice that the air conditioner is not blowing cool air and as we are pulling into Globe, the dashboard lights become dim. We decide to pull over and switch drivers. We start to pull over into the right side of the road in front of the DQ, but then we needed a bathroom break and Brad asks me to quickly pull over to the left hand side, make a quick turn into the McDonalds. By now, I realize the truck is NOT going to make a quick turn, and I miss the turn into McDonalds and turn onto the next street which promptly heads up a steep hill. There is no place to stop or turn around! As we near the top, Brad says we need to pull over and he takes the steering wheel. This is where he realizes that the power steering is completely gone and barely turns the truck around at the top of the hill....in the middle of nowhere with very little traffic and a few houses.
HMMMMM
So, we get out and Brad flags down the first person to come up the hill. Our "good Samaritan". His name is Gary and he becomes one of the blessings to our family. He is from British Columbia and took the same street hoping to find a short cut back to his trailer where he is staying on business. He has some mechanic background and is very willing to help. Brad and Gary go into Globe, call a tow truck and end up at the only store open on this holiday until 8:00 p.m.
Turns out the 'universal' belt has been torn to shreds....literally.
Now think about this:
* We have just come off Mt. Graham...that speaks for itself. With switchbacks and steep roads, if this had happened then, we could have had a serious accident
* We happen to miss the turn into McDonalds and turn onto the same street that Gary is on, hoping to return to his home away from home
* Gary stops, helps us and happens to have mechanic experience
* We find a store that is open and a tow truck that is working late on the holiday
* The truck had mechanic difficulties on the straight part of the road, in town (we had just come off the reservation) and were headed into the mountains between Globe and Superior.
* Within 2 hours, the truck was fixed and we returned safely.
These were NOT just circumstances that just happened. Our family feels we were watched over and blessed in numerous ways. We have been reminded that there are VERY good people out in the world.
Gary.....was and is a blessing in our lives. He was kind, took his time to help a stranded family and asked for nothing in return...except that we do a kind deed for someone, someday. He ended up dirty and a little burned on his arms from working on the truck, but never complained. What a great example of service he is to us and both of our daughters. We will not forget his kindness and consider him our friend.
We were blessed this weekend in many ways!!
Yes....that is Aly getting some serious air!!
