Last Thursday Taylor came home from her summer visit with her mom, just in time to celebrate her birthday with us. It was also the littlest B’s birthday (if you are new to my blog, my best friend has 3 boys & they are all B’s – the littlest B is Tucker’s best friend). We decided to take the kids to the waterpark – a little less than 2 hours away. We had a great day, the kids were wonderful, no injuries, & Momma D. & I even let the kids talk us into going down the big waterslides. When it was time to leave, we stopped & got Taylor a giant cookie for her birthday & then I decided to run to the next town over & have my iPhone fixed (Tyler broke it earlier in the week. GRRR!!!).
When I arrived at the Apple store (with 7 kids!!!) & explained the problem with my phone, the man took it to the back & tried to restore it. About 30 minutes later he returned & explained to me he was unable to fix it & I would need an appointment to further diagnose the problem. He was very kind & offered me an appointment in 30 minutes. My brother was with us (meet David) so we journeyed down the shopping strip to do a little school clothes shopping for him. I returned to the Apple store when I was told only to wait another 20 minutes (did I mention how BAD Truman was being?!). Finally I was called to the front by a different gentleman to be helped. I gave him the run down on my phone & our conversation went something like this:
“Well, have you been told your 2 options?”
-“umm, no?”
“Well, your warranty expired last month so you can buy a phone from me for $200 or you can stand in that line (oh about 20 people) & purchase one for $100.”
“Really? Well, you haven’t even looked at my phone. I was told you would be able to diagnose the problem?”
“No, there is nothing I can do.” (NOTE: He has not even TOUCHED my phone!)
“Well, I have a big problem with giving Apple any more of my money when their product crashes for no apparent reason & I receive this kind of customer service. Would you please at least try to restore the phone one more time while I consider my ‘options’?”
“I’m just going to do the same thing the other guy did . . . (pause) But I will try.”
I waited another 20 minutes, but while I was waiting the first gentleman to help me saw my desperation & asked if I had been helped. I wanted to cry with frustration!! I explained to him my encounter with the rude guy & my hesitation on continuing my business with Apple. He was super nice & assured me he would see to it that I was taken care of. About another 30 minutes passed & the rude guy returned.
“I was unable to restore your phone. But your other option is for me to just replace your phone.”
Funny, how that option wasn’t an option in our first encounter :)
A BIG THANK YOU TO ROSS ROPER AT THE APPLE STORE AT SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE!!!
I know he didn’t have to replace my phone & I really wouldn’t have minded buying a replacement – had the second guy not made me feel like I was being taken advantage of & at least attempted to fix my phone. I just praised God as I gleamed with this blessing as I exited 1990 & entered back into modern technology. Little did I know how important having a cell phone would be . . .
When we were about half way home my truck began to vibrate terribly. I pulled off onto the side of the highway & checked my tires. I was surprised to find all 4 tires perfectly aired up. I had no clue what was causing the vibration, but sensed something was wrong. I put my hazards on & coasted the next 5-10 miles into the next town. I made it safely to an exit & while looking for a good place to stop, my truck made a huge, “BOOM BOOM BOOM BANG!!!!!!” I seriously thought it was about to blow up! I was screaming at the kids to get out. We all get out safely & a nice man stops to help me. Here is what the beginning of our conversation went like:
“Lady – its your drive shaft. Let me help you get your truck out of the street.”
“How do you know it’s the drive shaft?”
“Because it is lying on the ground.”
“OH!”
Luckily, I had a phone!! Praise God, I had a phone!
The situation was terrible, but it was all good. I truly felt the Lord watching over us. And as I told Big Daddy when explaining why I kept driving (causing the repairs of my truck to jump from a couple hundred dollars to possibly a couple thousand dollars – OUCH!) things could have been A LOT worse!
The kids & I waited at Taco Casa (if you don’t have a Taco Casa – you are really missing out on the best Mexican fast food EVER & their sweet tea makes any situation better!!). At this point it was about 9:30pm & it was clear that we wouldn’t be celebrating Taylor’s birthday at home. So, we busted out the cookie & began singing “Happy Birthday.”
The kids were so good during all this & Taylor was very understanding. The Taco Casa workers were so tickled by our little party that they gave us all our own Taco Casa party hats :) Yes, we partied like Rock Stars in Taco Casa!
God not only got me out of the big city & into a town I knew people to call (Momma D.’s parents just moved to this town!!), but provided me with a phone to call for help!! He gave us a safe place to go with great people to help keep our spirits up. The blessings just kept rolling in. The next day Big Daddy sold his truck he has had listed for sale for a few months now (& has had very little bites on).
God Is So Good!!
Happy Birthday Taylor!
