Was I asking for it?

If there is one thing I learned this weekend, it is that I do not have what it takes to be a contestant on Survivor.

This weekend was amazing, even though it turned out to be way more stressful than I had bargained for. It started last night. We went camping at the beautiful New Life Ranch. We had an amazing time last night around the campfire and then playing under the stars. We even had a really great night's sleep. Then we woke up. After cleaning up and heading out, we went to Arkansas for breakfast. Then it was time to head home to Stillwater. I had plans to be back by noon so that I could head out to go shopping with some friends in OKC. Boy did those plans change! As we were driving into Tulsa, I noticed that a light had come on on my dash that isn't normally lit. Then I noticed my temperature gauge spiking to 'h'. I pulled over and sure enough, I was leaking! The girls helped me lift the hood and we noticed that my coolant tank was gushing. Great. If you know me, you know that I have had many issues with my car in the past 6 years of driving it. It's a great little car, but man is it moody!

Thankfully, two of the girls with me were members of AAA. They called for a tow-truck, which proved to be a difficult task. Lesson one: Always know where you are. Pretty soon a guy pulled over on the other side of the highway. He ran across and asked if we needed any help. Well, yeah, we could use some, if you're offering. :D He opened up the tank and out came some more bubbling brown liquid. Gross. He let that all come out and then poured some water into the tank. I guess that helps (I really don't know.) Then he whipped out his tin of tobacco and put some in. Gross. In the meantime, the hero of our story drove up in his white car, lights flashing. Yes, that's right, our hero, Trooper Leonard McMillan came to the rescue. After assessing the situation, he did his best to calm me down. He proceeded to help us get a tow-truck, and then called me to his car. Yes, that's right folks, I sat in the front seat of a police car.

When I was settled in and calmed down, he started asking for my information. Well, that got me a little worried, but he assured me that he was not writing me a ticket. He was very interested to know why a girl from Bartlesville was driving from Arkansas towards Tulsa, but I filled him in on the road trip details and he understood. As we were having our chat, up came the tow-truck, our second hero of the day! By this time, we've told our tobacco chewing buddy that he can go on his way, but that we really appreciated the help.

So now came the dilemma. What to do with the car. I really didn't know, so Trooper McMillan (Leonard as we like to call him) asked me to call my dad and he would talk to him. So, I let the guys figure it out. Then I had to watch my poor car get lifted on to the tow-truck and chained in for the ride. It was a weird feeling, that's for sure.

Now the fun part, since the scary part is over (for the most part :D). I got to ride in a tow-truck! HOW FUN?! It was a first for me, and hopefully a last. Once we got to the place where we dropped off the car (btw, the towing was free, thanks to AAA and CHRISTINE!!!) we all piled into the police car. Our hero and new BFF Leonard took us over to the Hard Rock casino. Oh boy. Oh, and by the way, we've invited him to Dames and Donuts in Stillwater, even though he doesn't really like donuts (it's a police thing I guess). After we all said our goodbyes, we continued our adventure at the Casino.

This was my first time in a casino. I guess today was just a day of firsts for me. I would like to mention that by this time we REEKED! We smelled like campfire, bug spray and sweat, now about to be mixed with cigarette smoke. Ga-ross. We spent a good 30-45 minutes at the casino before we realized that you have to 21 to even be in there. I'm the only one who was of age. Yikes. So, we left and made our way to McDonald's to treat ourselves to a nice McFlurry.

Now enters the third hero of the day: my daddy! He had driven from Bartlesville to come save me! After determining that my car was not fixable without professional help, we decided to leave it there. It was so sad to go off and leave my poor car. She's been through a lot today, and now she's just sitting there all alone in a strange parking lot. Maybe she'll make a friend or two. Anyway, we wound up taking the other girls to a friend's house. She was getting ready to go back to Stillwater, so she said she'd drive them, too. I wound up going with my dad back to Bartlesville and I'm spending tonight at home. I wish I could say this story is complete, but it's not! I still have to go get my car fixed tomorrow and drive back to Stillwater. I just pray that it can be fixed in a timely manner.

Through all of this, it is hard for me to remember why I said I would go along with this year of no fear business. I don't feel like doing it any more if this is what it's going to look like. I mean, I guess I asked for it when I made my bold statement, but I didn't mean to sign up for so many "opportunities"! But then I am reminded that I am not walking through this alone. Not at all. God was with me every step of the way today. He sent me 7 guardian angels in the form of a strange dipping guy, a wonderful State Trooper, a helpful tow-truck driver who didn't "have anything else to do today", a loving daddy who came to get me and 3 great friends who stood with me on the side of the highway, at the casino and at McDonald's. Not to mention riding with me in the tow-truck and police car.

I know this isn't over yet, but I am beginning to see the bright spots in it. Today was one of those days that shows you how much you have to depend on God. I could not have done any of this on my own. Sure, I broke down and cried on the side of the highway and in the middle of the casino, but I know that I have a solid rock that I can lean on and cling to every minute of my life. If nothing else, today showed me that I can't do this by myself, as much as I would like to think that I can. I have to have help. Whether that help comes in the form of a State Trooper, a friendly voice on the phone praying for me, or that still small voice in the darkness as I cry out for help, I know that there will always be Someone to run to. And that's what the year of no fear is all about. Learning to trust in God and depend on Him fully.