Seth didn't want me to tell anyone about this because he is still extremely embarrassed about it. However, I think it makes a great story, therefore deserves to be published on our Blog.
This time of year usually brings time for serious reflection, with the break from work and school, and the end and beginning of a new year. My time came on New Years Eve, about 2:30 am, while traveling home from Utah to California. About 2 hours from home, the children were sleeping. The roads had been clear and uncongested all the way from Salt Lake City. Seth and I were enjoying this opportunity to talk without interruption, when I suddenly noticed we were slowing down quite a bit. When I asked Seth about it he just said, "Oh, no." I immediately realized we must be out of gas. We slowed to a crawl and then stopped on the side of the freeway. Darkness enveloped us. It was black as far as I could see in front of us and behind us. Seth asked me to say a prayer. We heard a quiet chime of "amen" with us, coming from the back seat.
Our trip to Utah had been entertaining, with a few minor setbacks. As minor as you can have with a family of 6. One day of our vacation in particular was on my mind as I sat huddled in the cold van, in The Middle of Nowhere, Nevada. In preparing for our trip, I had felt a strong desire to go to the temple. We were taking the HOOBs (refer to previous post) home to Utah, which made 4 adults, 4 children, and all of our luggage. We would have more room on the way home when they weren't with us. Despite our limited space, I still took my temple bag. The day we arrived, my desire to go to the temple was very strong. Seth had a similar strong urge to see his grandma and sister. We came up with an elaborate plan and carpooling idea which failed when my van couldn't make it past my parent's snow covered street. My mom hiked back to get her big truck, which we then loaded the kids in, black smudges covering my creme skirt. But I persisted. By the time we reached Seth's grandma's home, plans were changing, and it was looking less likely I would be able to go. Still, I felt strongly I needed to. While at Seth's grandma's George fell off the couch, cutting his head. After the bleeding had stopped, we left to meet Seth's sister who had half of our kids with her. The plan was for Seth to drop me off at the temple, while he played with the kids at his sister's in-laws home. When we arrived there I found Len cold and ready to leave, and Eliza was traumatized from being bucked off a horse. I realized at that point, I was not going to make it. It was disappointing to me. I knew I was doing what I needed to do taking care of my children, but I still had wanted to go. I decided we should go get Seth a sleeping bag at a nearby discount sporting good's store, since we were in the area and had time. (He is over scouting at church, and needed a warm sleeping bag for winter camp outs.) We found one for a good price, and headed back to my mom's house.
I felt confused and sad about my desire to go to the temple, and how everything had fell through. We planned to leave Monday night, so I didn't think I would have another opportunity. However, plans changed, and Seth and I decided to extend our vacation so we would be able to go the morning we were leaving. When the time came to go, I was worn out from a sleepless night with Clara. I went, but my heart wasn't in it. I just said a silent prayer that the Lord would bless me for my efforts.
Stranded on the side of the road, I thought of this prayer I had said, and repeated it once again. Seth and I sat wondering what we should do. We had become complacent. Our trips had always gone relatively smoothly. Never any car troubles, never any emergencies. The result was I didn't think it would happen to us. I did not feel prepared. The nearest town was 30 miles away, and after scouring the car we could only find $7 cash. I had the strong urge to do what I always want to do when I'm distressed. I told Seth, "I'm calling my mom." Our greatest blessing was we had cell phone service where we were at. My mom said to call 9-1-1, which we did. There was no highway patrol coverage where we were at, but they were able to arrange for roadside service through our car insurance. A man was sent with some gas, leaving 2 hours behind us, from Winnemuca. He assured us he could make it in 45 minutes, and Seth gave him insider information--that there were no cops around.
In the meantime, we had only been stranded 10 minutes, and it was already beginning to get very cold. Because of our limited space going out to Utah, we had only 2 baby blankets and our coats. We instructed the kids to get their coats on, and leave their seat belts on (just in case we got hit from behind.) Seth unzipped his new sleeping bag, and covered the three of them in the back seat. Seth also discovered his flashlight from home was still in his coat pocket. While Seth cuddled Clara in the front, I began reading out loud to the kids with the flashlight. I had thought to bring the book we had been reading in the evenings: Mr. Popper's Penguins. Soon the kids were asleep, warm under the sleeping bag. Seth handed me Clara, who was also asleep, and who felt like a little ball of heat. She kept me warm while we sat in the dark silence. I nodded off a few times, but I found it hard to sleep. I began to think. I was apprehensive about when help would arrive. I thought about our trip to Utah and things that had happened. I remembered a talk I'd heard at church a couple days before, about needing the good and the bad. How the bad helps us see the good better. And because of that, we should be grateful for both. I found myself asking, What do I need to learn from this? I began thinking of the good and the bad. Eliza falling off a horse, and being safe. Failed plans allowed time for a wonderful visit with Seth's grandma. Not being able to go to the temple, but instead getting a sleeping bag, which had saved us. If I hadn't felt prompted to go to the temple, we probably would have never went shopping for a sleeping bag. It was a bit far reaching perhaps, but I suddenly felt peace. I felt the Lord's hand in our life. It was like a beautiful web. I felt the Lord was leading, guiding, protecting, teaching.
With each upcoming glow of headlights, Seth would turn the emergency lights on, only to click them off when the light had passed us. Finally, one light did not pass us, but stopped behind our car. Seth jumped out, and through the iced over windows I could make out a man filling our tank with gas, talking with Seth about how cold it was. He had left immediately, still in his pajamas, and the two hour drive had only taken him a little over an hour. He had been worried about us out here in the cold with children. The gas was $9, but the man took our $7 and told us not to worry about it.
Seth and I had sat quietly waiting in the cold, silent car, both full of our own reflections. Now, with the warmth of the heater, and hum of the motor, our limbs began defrosting and we became more relaxed. We shared what we'd each been meditating about. While my reflections had revolved around being more grateful, he had been making resolves to take better care of our family, and not make unnecessary risks that compromise our safety. I think we both felt wiser from the experience, and grateful nothing worse happened.
The End
