To continue with the story from yesterday found here: http://homesteademporium.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/know-your-limit-play-within-it/
As we came back up from the river on the new trail we had discovered, I happened to glance back at Julia, and noticed how pretty all the trees were surrounding her, almost framing her. I spotted a stump and asked if she’d let me snap some photos. She is forever my eager model. Pretty much my only child who is willing to stop for the camera whenever I ask.
Then we carried on back up the hill to where “The Beast” was parked.
“The Beast” was originally our family vehicle until it simply became too tired to pull my husband’s work trailer & broke down one too many times. It was the only vehicle we owned, and it was becoming unreliable.
When we decided to ‘upgrade’, Josh wanted to keep the suburban for himself. He didn’t have his license but wanted a ‘project’ to work on. Although it is a literal beast on gas, he reasoned that since we gave it to him, it didn’t really owe him anything and would still be better then car payments. We couldn’t argue with that! So the family suburban shown above, began it’s transformation into Joshua’s “Beast”.
Joshua lifted it, painted the lower sides, built a new front and rear bumper, doing all the welding work himself. He added all sorts of stuff I couldn’t even begin to tell you along with the lift kit, the bigger tires, etc. etc. etc…
He has learned a LOT by working on his “Beast”! It’s always been very important to my husband and I that we give the kids ‘permission’ to truly learn what they love, which in turn becomes a love for what they learn. If a child can learn, education is much much MUCH more then simply desks and books. Education becomes life, and life becomes an education.
Most importantly through everything Joshua has done to his truck, he’s learned that he loves mechanics, and he loves customizing. More on that another time.
I told Joshua today would be about photo “ops” with his truck! Since this was the first time I was out on the trails with him and the truck, we’d get as many good shots of it as we could.
Even Elsa got excited about snapping photos of “The Beast”.
Somewhat blurry pic, but I just have to chuckle at it. She really doesn’t like the camera pointed at her. One day I think I’d like to get her a ‘real’ camera. I believe she’d do well with it, and if she spent more time behind a ‘real’ camera, perhaps she’d understand my insistence on snapping photos of ALL my children, and the importance behind capturing those memories!
And now it was time to hit some trails again. Joshua wanted to show me some real off road-ing.
We discussed along the way, the reasons why Graydon (dh) and I prefer the quad over taking a vehicle off road, and agreed to disagree.
I have to wonder if perhaps Josh understands our reasoning a little better now… some how I doubt it…
Joshua wanted some shots of him going over a ‘hill’ of rocks. We got out so I could snap the photos. At first he was simply going to drive up the hill as he did for the previous photos, but at the last minute he figured he’d go OVER the hill.
This is how the truck came to a stop on the other side of the hill.
Just like that. You may think the truck was SET neatly on the tire that way.
Nope. It gracefully came to a stop just like that. Resting, balancing perfectly, on it’s tire.
Ouch.
It was not good.
However, there were many amazing things about it all. First off, where we had been just a few minutes before, was out of the service range for either of our cell phones.
Where we were now, was reasonably close to the hwy, and right along the main logging road. Where we had been just minutes before, was off the beaten path, and there would have been no way for a tow truck, let alone a flat bed tow truck, to get Joshua’s “Beast” out!
The way that truck stopped, on it’s front tire like that, saved SOOO much more damage then what it could have been if the tire had snapped right off and the truck had landed on the axle. The entire body could have been completely messed up, and so much more. All work Joshua could not repair himself.
Instead, Joshua had cell phone service and was able to call a tow truck in, a flat bed at that, who ended up giving him a great deal on the tow because he recognized “The Beast” from a 4×4 website Joshua is on, and from the garage where Joshua has helped out in the past.
At the time it happened, I just “happened” to have cash on me, so we were able to pay for the tow immediately. I NEVER have cash on me. If I do, it’s enough change for the kids treat day, or some egg money for hen feed. That in itself, was really quite a miracle.
And, everything that did break, are things Joshua can buy used through all his ‘connections’, and pretty much fix himself.
So yes, it was a REALLY crappy thing to happen, one of the most upsetting things to ever happen for Joshua. He loves that truck and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the anguish I could see in his face when he hopped out of his truck and saw what was done.
But, honestly, I couldn’t get too upset about it because first of all, Joshua was upset enough without me making a big deal over it! And, even though it’s a pain because THREE of us are sharing MY vehicle to get around, everything could have been SO much worse then it was.
And for that, I can’t help but feel very grateful.
I told Joshua, there are always lessons to be learned in every adventure in life and one of the biggest lessons he can learn from this whole experience is that yes, sometimes we make stupid decisions in life, but, even though God might not always stop us from making those stupid decisions, He does still always have our back. One decision went wrong, but so many other things went right.
As the tow truck was picking up Joshua and “The Beast”, Elsa, Julia and I walked towards the highway where we asked Alesia & Shaylah to come bring my suv and pick us up since the tow truck couldn’t fit us all.
As we walked and waited, we visited with some horses at a farm along the way.
They came over to get a closer look at these strangers walking by.
And so we ended our adventure.
“The Beast” is once again at home, and with some work, will be good as ‘new’ some day soon.
And from now on, I’m going to remind Joshua that when it come to off roading…
Know your limit… Play within it!