Trials help us see miracles

This week has been exciting in more ways than I can remember. It started Sunday night when we came home from grandma and grandpa Smiths after eating the most delicious meal we've had since last month when we ate with them. Spencer parked the car in the driveway and turned off the key and pulled it out but something wasn't right. The car didn't turn off! This was the start of our unfortunate adventures. Spencer drove to a repair shop and then pulled the fuse under the hood for the fuel pump which turned off the car. The next day he went back to get an estimate and was charged $80 for them to tell us they are pretty sure its either one of two pieces deep in the steering column that are broken. To fix it would be $430. We decided to shop around.

After watching some helpful youtube videos on how to fix the problem, Spencer was able to start the car without the key and drive it home. It's still in our driveway and we are thinking it might have been worth the ridiculous fee. But Alisa and Tanner saved us by letting us borrow their car which wasn't being used. Learning to drive stick-shift is an adventure by itself.

Thursday was Spencer's last day of finals for the Spring term, so we decided to celebrate by going to the temple. Our friends the Rawlins were wonderful enough to watch Finley. We arrived at 8:30pm and the guy at the front desk asked us "Are you here to pick up something?" We were too late, so we went went downstairs to watch the baptisms.

The next night we planned on going to a movie while Sam and Ariel took care of Finley. After eating dinner we were on our way to the theatre when the car we were borrowing shut off. I tried starting it but didn't get a hint of life. The battery was completely dead. The guy in the car behind us got out and helped us push it into a parking spot. A few minutes later another guy stopped and asked us if we need a jump. After that failed we ran across the parking lot to buy a new battery from Costco. They let us in after they had closed and helped us get what we needed. When we were walking back to the car someone stopped and offered to give us a ride. When we were struggling to replace the battery in the dark someone else drove over and parked in front of us with their headlights providing light so we could see what we were doing.

Among all the chaos it is hard not to remember the kindness of people. Six different people at different times asked if they could help. The goodness of our fellow man amazes me. I don't know if we were more in-tune with the positive, because we were so aware of the negative, but the miracles and tender mercies we have enjoyed this week warm my heart. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by close friends who offer to babysit, or let us borrow a car, and by complete strangers who make their top priority for a moment to help in anyway they can. I imagine what the world would be like if everyone was treated with this much love and kindness as we were this week. I have been inspired to offer more help to my neighbors.