It's a "Gary Smalley" Moment

I'm sure the title of this post might have thrown you...

I'm sooo old school...

it's what turning 40 does to you...

just sayin'

So, "back in the day"...there was this author (he still authors books present day too, but the ones I'm referring too may be consider a bit archaic) Anyway...back in the day, when I was just a young whipper snapper (you're all rolling your eyes, I know...hang in here with me) I coerced my husband-to-be to read about a gazillion books before we tied the knot...

ask him...he'll tell you...piles and piles of books...

books on love, marriage, relationships, family, parenting.. and on and on and on...

***it really is a miracle that he still wanted to marry me***

One of the books that highlighted parenting talked about examples from his (gary smalley) life...these great "ideas" that he had for his family that turned into disasters...like going camping miles and miles away from civilization only to realize you forgot the tent OR you're on vacation and everyone gets a vomiting flu at the hotel...

do you get the picture?  or perhaps you'd rather not "imagine" that last scene...but regardless, the idea was that even though "bad" stuff happened...they conquered it as a family and years later, they could look back on it and it marked an event that grew their character and their bond as a family.  

Now, I'm not going to go as far to say that I created a beautiful, picturesque moment/opportunity for this family...but I think, one day, they will look back and remember and laugh and have yet another marker in their family journey that keeps them bonded together!

At least that is what I hope...because oh my...

Here's what happened...

We were supposed to meet at a specific time...but, the clouds were rolling in, and so we bumped it up a bit and we sped down our respective roads to get to our meeting place.  The sky continued to get dark, but we knew we just might have a few minutes to snap a few pictures before the downpour.  

it was not meant to be, for as soon as they pulled in, the rain let loose...

The rain was coming in sheets, so much so that we couldn't see..so we just parked next to each other and got on our cell phones to chat. (maybe it will blow over, we reasoned) Their little girl had written me a sweet note and just REALLY, REALLY wanted me to have it...even though she got all gussied up and no pictures were going to take place.  

So as mom and I are chatting, Dad is getting the note from his little princess, trying to find the umbrella, moving aside the diaper bag, making sure he doesn't step into a massive puddle to walk over to my van ...and all the while, I'm noticing (parked right next to them) that their van is moving....

we were supposed to be parked mind you, and dad is now getting out of the vehicle, but it's still moving...it's rolling infact...and I start yelling, "stop, stop...tell him to stop..you are rolling"...it felt like slow motion as dad tried to jump back into the car to slam the break or pull the emergency break...mom tossing the cell phone and grabbing for the keys in the ignition, just as the car rams into the pine tree straight ahead...

see the "gary smalley moment" now?  

We all just sort of sat there in shock for a moment...

did that just happen?

We decided that we'd better just head on back to our respective homes and try again in a few weeks...

but oh the "laugh" we had in our posts back and forth on facebook...the story that is now associated with this little guy's special photo shoot...

and the memories that were created...memories that are shared......memories that intertwine hearts so that you eventually don't remember a time "without" your soulmate because life is just all the more worth living because of the relationships that you've worked hard to grow!

I love this family...I'm sad they rammed into a tree, but I'm impressed with how they came out on the other side of it :)