kindness

When I moved away from home I honestly didn't think it would be that hard. I've always had my mom and dad right there to help me with any little problem, so I never realized how often they happen. Well, it's safe to say that since living in Salt Lake I've gained a greater appreciation for my family, and not just the family I moved away from (Mom, Dad, Linc) but the family that I moved closer to, and even family that I don't know very well at all.  I've received so many deeds of kindness from everyone since I've been up here, large and small and I want to write a few of these down so I don't forget.

 Before Christmas break there was a snowstorm and I had awful tires. I was driving home from the dorms and I slid off the road 4 different times. The fourth time I hit a parked car and I was so rattled that I called Berk in tears. I told him what had happened and he told me to pull over and he would come help me. I was at the top of the big hill by East High so getting to me wasn't an easy task. His car wouldn't make it so he ran up the icy hill. When he got to me he drove my car a really long way home so we didn't die trying to go down the hill (he said my car was the most dangerous vehicle he had ever driven, so it wasn't just my poor snow driving skills). It meant so much to me that he did that for me, and I was so grateful I had someone to rely on. 

I told my aunts and uncles what had happened at Sunday dinner and the next morning I got a call from my aunt telling me that they were all buying me new tires for Christmas. Thirty minutes later we were at the tire store and the dreadful feeling of driving to work with Rylan (boy I tutor) in the car everyday went away. That act of kindness made me feel so loved and cared for.

Right after I received my job offer to tutor the Neve boys again my car stopped working. I was really in a pickle because I had to commute to work everyday. Later that evening my cousin Brandon who used to own an auto shop was outside fixing it. The other day I rolled my drivers side window down all the way and it wouldn't come up. Berk and I tried to get it back up but it was in so far we couldn't even grip it. I was getting ready to drop 300 dollars on a new motor for my window (with the help of my parents of course), but my dad decided to call Brandon to see if he had any recommendations. That night I bundled up in my snow clothes, grabbed a few blankets and drove to West Jordan with my window rolled down, ha! Brandon fixed it like it wasn't a big deal, even though I know he was freeeeeezing!  He even told me he would replace the motor when I have time. Yeah, not when he isn't busy, but when I'm not busy. This is a cousin that is quite a bit older then me and I  never see him, yet he so willingly helps me out when I need it. 

When my window wouldn't roll up I posted on facebook asking for tips on getting it back up. A couple days later I received an email from my Aunt Melinda who lives in San Fransisco. She said "Maddi take your car to the auto shop and have them fix it. Then call me and I will give you my credit card number. I don't want any frozen nieces!" I could hardly believe her offer. Luckily I had already fixed it, but that fact that she was willing to help me out like that had me overwhelmed with gratitude and love for my family. I thought I was ready to do everything on my own and be completely independent. But lets face it, if it weren't for my family I would be stuck on the side of the road with my window down freezing to death. And I wouldn't even have the sleeping bag and hand warmers my aunt and uncle put in my car last week :)