Andy and I moved to Florida’s east coast in September 1999. The following month, I traveled back home with Taylor (age 2.5) for a few days while Andy worked. We needed to get a few more things from my mom’s house that had not fit in the U-Haul.
About 4.5 hours of the 5-hour drive were on I-10. The weather was terrible on our way back to Jacksonville. It was raining buckets and you couldn’t see more than about 20 feet in front of you. The worst part was the pockets of water in each lane, which were quite a bit worse in the slow right lane. Due to low visibility, I was driving much slower than the posted speed limit (about 45 in a 65 MPH zone). I was in the fast left lane because the water pockets weren’t as bad. I can understand other drivers being annoyed by that, but when it’s raining that hard, one would think everyone would slow down.
Well, apparently I made one particular driver very upset. I mean, how dare I go 45 in the fast lane during a torrential downpour?! He was so close to my back bumper that I couldn’t even see his headlights in my rear view mirror, so I put on my turn signal and moved to the right lane. He then floored it, which sprayed water all over my windshield. It was at that moment my tires hit the water pockets on the road and I lost control of the wheel.
My Acura Integra slid off the road and onto the shoulder. I then hit and uprooted a speed limit sign, which caused my car to start spinning. It happened so fast and all I could think of was Taylor’s sweet little face. My car finally stopped when the trunk slammed into a tree. I quickly prayed my daughter was okay and turned around to face her. I unbuckled her and asked her if she was okay. She nodded yes and got out of her seat and into my lap. I hugged her so tight!
This was before I had a cell phone and, needless to say, I was in shock. I sat there for a few minutes, unsure what to do next. Several minutes passed. Looking back, I don’t understand why it took so long for someone to stop. Did no one see my car? Did they not want to get rained on? What the heck?
Finally, a vehicle pulled over and the man driving came to my car and asked if I was okay. We walked over to his SUV. The woman sitting in the passenger seat was just getting off her cell phone with 911. There were a couple children in the backseat. She offered to let Taylor sit on her lap since it was raining so hard. Looking back, maybe that wasn’t a great idea. I mean, they could’ve kidnapped her! But for some reason (shock, probably), I trusted her.
A state trooper came up a few minutes later. I walked over to my car with him. He observed while I tried to start it. It did start, but when I pressed the gas pedal, the tires just spun and it didn’t move an inch. The trooper said we needed a rope, which none of us had.
A couple seconds later, a van pulled up. A man wearing a raincoat and a large hat got out, walked over to my car with a rope in his hand and tied it to my car. He got back in his van and started moving ever so slightly. My car moved forward enough for me to drive.
The man untied the robe, got in his van, and drove off. No one ever spoke to him. No thank you. Nothing. What are the odds that he just happened to be in the right place at the right time and he read our minds? To this day, I’m convinced he was an angel.
I buckled Taylor into her car seat, and thanked the couple who had been the first to stop. It was still pouring down rain. The trooper followed me to the next exit to make sure my car was functioning properly.
I called Andy from a pay phone and explained what had happened. Then I got in my car and prayed that God would keep us safe for the remainder of our trip home. When I opened my eyes, the sun was shining. Not figuratively. Literally. It had stopped raining and the sun was out.
As I pulled onto the interstate, I realized the road was no longer wet! All the water pockets were gone and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I can’t explain how that’s possible, other than that God performed a miracle that day. A series of miracles, actually. And for that, I’m very thankful.
Back in November 2008, The Culps (as played by our friends Angela and Graeme) visited our church. Yesterday they returned and, let me tell you, it was Bobbie-licious! lol
I also have a very exciting announcement, which has nothing to do with reproduction! On Saturday, I got to be in my first Pop Star Mom video! (Try your best to not be jealous!) The video will be released mid-March, so stay tuned!
Read this. Then tell me: did he deserve to be shot? Hmm…
These are the vegetables I like to use. You may omit or add as you like; the directions stay the same.
1/2 medium onion (yellow, sweet, or red)
8 Roma tomatoes
2 zucchini
2 yellow squash
8 oz mushrooms
4 garlic cloves, minced
olive oil
salt
pepper
fresh Parmesan, shredded
pasta (I prefer angel hair or ziti)
Put the oven on broil. Cut all vegetables into bite-size chunks. Toss with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper (all to taste). Place vegetables on a greased cookie sheet. Broil for 15 minutes or until vegetables are browned to your liking. Serve over pasta with fresh Parmesan. If dry, add a bit more olive oil.
Imagine, if you will, that you’re watching the Academy Awards. Beautiful celebrities are arriving each minute and you’re glued to your TV. The live E! announcers are chatting it up with each celebrity, as their co-workers sit in the studio discussing this year’s fashion hits and misses.
Enter Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the red carpet. Angelina is wearing an absolutely stunning one-of-a-kind gown, the work of the most sought-after fashion designer in the world. It was made for her body and it’s immediately obvious she’ll be on the front of People magazine as the main “hit” this year. The gown is accented by over one million dollars worth of jewels, and her make-up is flawless. And then as she turns around, you notice… her hair is pulled into a ponytail with a scrunchie! WTH?!?!
THAT is how I felt when I watched Avatar 3D yesterday and noticed they used PAPYRUS in the subtitles. (I suppose it could have been worse. They could have used COMIC SANS.) In a movie with a reported $310 million budget and impeccable attention to detail, how on earth did they commit such a font faux pas? I wouldn’t say it ruined the movie for me. The film was indeed epic and I loved it. I would definitely recommend you all see it in 3D while it’s still in theaters. But that dang papyrus sure was distracting. Someone please tell me it was used as a joke. A very bad, not-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-funny joke.
Oh, by the way, if you feel the same way, this open letter to James Cameron will likely make you laugh (especially my friends Sam and Leah). Incidentally, Sam has some valuable thoughts to share regarding font use, etc.
Okay, mothers. I’m asking for 100% participation here, so don’t let me down. (That includes all you *silent stalkers* who refuse to comment under normal circumstances.)
My bestie and I were discussing the validity of the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart. We both reproduce as a hobby, so we consider ourselves to be experts. The chart has been wrong for me four times. Although wrong, at least it was consistent, meaning I could use it if and when I continue my hobby in the future (don’t even start with me, haters). Amy, however, said it was right twice and wrong three times (or vice versa, but whatever), so she says it’s not dependable at all. Well, then.
Here’s where I’d like your help, mothers (and I mean that literally, not as pseudo-profanity)… Check the chart below for each of the children you’ve birthed. Then leave a comment and let me know how many times it was correct or incorrect for you.
(click to enlarge)
Disclaimer: Technically, you’re supposed to use your lunar age at the time of conception. To be honest, I’m too lazy to calculate that four times, so I went with my actual age. I realize this could screw up my results, but LISTEN, this chart isn’t, like, scientific anyway, so I got over it and so should you.
Yesterday my son turned eight. We took him to Cracker Barrel for breakfast (his choice). Yes, we let him have ice cream and be tardy to school. In addition to the breakfast outing, he has three other birthday activities to enjoy: lunch with Andy’s parents and siblings (last Saturday), dinner with my mom and step-dad (this Sunday), and going to see Avatar in 3D with his best buddy Jared (also this Sunday). Pretty good birthday celebration, if you ask me.
I realize that good mothers always make their kids’ birthday cakes. However, this year Nathan specifically requested an ice cream cake. Could I have done it? Yes, but I was a slacker. Leave me alone, haters.
While yesterday was fantastic, today started off not so great. Mr. Eight Years Old used half the roll of toilet paper, tried to flush, overflowed the toilet (which was a lot more than just water, okay?!), and attempted to unclog the toilet with the toilet bowl scrubber rather than a plunger, which made the situation worse. Good times.
My good friend Leah is involved with a group on Florida’s east coast that is sending workers and supplies to Haiti, specifically to help with an orphanage. They are still in need of structural engineers and any financial assistance they can get. Please read her blog post for more details. I would greatly appreciate you forwarding this need to your friends and family.
Today our church had a message on marriage. I just had to share two things with you.
# 1 – “If the grass is starting to look greener elsewhere, it’s time to start watering your own lawn.” – Pastor Eric Partin, regarding marriage
# 2 – listen to what my son Nathan had to say in this video (he appears 5 times)
I purchased my Chicco Trevi Twin double stroller on May 28, 2009. The purchase was made online via the Toys R Us web site. My decision to purchase this particular stroller was based solely on customer reviews praising its ease of opening/closing and that it was light-weight.
My stroller arrived in the mail the first week of June 2009, within a couple days of Jonah’s birth. Because he was a newborn, I didn’t use the stroller until mid-September. I found it to be incredibly difficult to open into the locked position, but I assumed it was because it was still stiff from being new. It closed easily, but the problems opening it got continually worse. On January 3, I was completely unable to open the stroller into locked position, even with the assistance of another adult. My husband was finally able to open it into locked position, but it was even difficult for him and he’s not a small man!
Because our experience was so contrary to the customer reviews we read online, we assumed our stroller was defective.
So, I called Chicco and basically said all this verbatim. The customer service representative asked me to email them (1) a description of the problem, (2) proof of purchase, (3) a photo of the stroller, and (4) my contact information. I did so and four days later I received a reply email that said (and I quote):
Dear Chicco Customer,
Thank you for the information you have provided. Delivery time will be approximately 14 business days for a replacement Trevi Twin stroller. Once you receive the replacement stroller, please properly dispose of the current stroller.
Regards,
Customer Service
Chicco USA
1826 William Penn Way
Lancaster, PA 17601
Seriously?! That was SO EASY! I assumed they would tell me “tough crap, you’ve already had it for six months” or make me mail the first stroller back before replacing it or at least make me pay shipping on the new stroller. But no! They did the RIGHT thing and mailed me a new stroller in the most convenient and quick way possible (incidentally, it wasn’t 14 days – it took less than one week to arrive). They now have a customer for life! Thank you, Chicco, for raising the bar, putting the customer first, being an example to other companies on the right way to do business, and for making my life easier. I love you long time.
Now, friends, YOU do the right thing and share this story with your friends who have young children so they can be aware of at least one company they can trust.
