Random Kindness

A little over a year ago, December 11th, 2007 to be exact, was the victim of some random kindess. I was reminded of this story today, and while it is not a huge and eventful story, it is one that I hold dear in my heart.

It was Tuesday. On Monday we were told that our finals were canceled due to having no power at the school and we could go home. So we spent the night in Joplin on Monday, as we found out too late to travel back that night. Tuesday we went back to the dorms and packed our things. Tyler and I were going to travel together since the roads were a little sketchy because of the ice storm. I was in a bit of a bind. My bank card had not been working, and I talked to my mom and hers hadn't either-we assumed because of the storm... And I had about 8 dollars in quarters. I knew I would have to have 3.50 for the toll road home, I usually liked to travel with a drink, and I still needed some gas. I probably had enough to make it home, but I couldn't risk it. Luckily, I received a gift card to Starbucks on Sunday night for helping with Children's Choir at church...so I headed to Starbucks so I could have a drink, but also to charge my phone which was dying. I heard they had power strips out because of the power outages. So I got to Starbucks..sure enough there were about a billion people there...with laptops and phones charging. I found a place to sit and charge until Tyler was ready.

I had my phone plugged in but wanted to check in with my mom. So I called her and explained where I was and how my bank card wasn't working still and I only had 8 dollars to get some (expensive) gas, plus pay for the toll. At this point I was just not comfortable driving home with my three dollars and fifty cents in quarters and very little gas..I knew I could ask Tyler for money if necessary but I didn't want to do that.

So I hung up the phone and just waited for Tyler's call to say we could leave. I was slightly crying and just not knowing what to do really when this couple got my attention. They struck up a conversation asking if I was without power and I explained that I am a student at Ozark and we hadn't had power since Sunday morning, so they canceled finals and we could go home. Then they said something like this "Well, we overheard your conversation. We hate to see you struggling like this, so we would just like to help you out in this time." After this, they handed me $20 and went on their way.

I always assumed that in times when people would just offer money that I would politely reject it. But in this moment I had no other option but to be grateful and take it. As soon as I took it I headed to the gas station, put some gas in, and then kept $10 for the road so I could travel comfortably with some cash as well.

I didn't get a name, number, or address. I don't even remember what the couple looks like, not even a general age. I wish so badly to be able to write them a letter and tell them that even a year later, I get tears in my eyes when I think of the kindness of two strangers. They really didn't have to do that. But words can't say how much that act of kindness means to me.

One Year

Yesterday was a big day for me! Tyler and I celebrated being together for a year. For the two of us this was a big deal. First of all, neither of us have been with another person for this long. Second, with the history that Tyler and I have, making it this far is huge for us.

I was thankful that we had a decent time to celebrate considering it's finals week and it seems we have been too busy to really go out lately. Let's see. Let's recap our very first date.

December 8th, 2007. Tyler and I had our first date the day before the big ice storm of 2007. He asked me out on Friday night after hanging out for a little bit. For dinner, Tyler took me to Olive Garden. No special reason why..but I do love Italian! After we had dinner we went to Carthage Missouri to look at this cool light set up. It is at a Korean type place...Korean Martyrs maybe? Anyway, they have this light set up that goes through the major stories of the bible. It is a very cool thing. I really wanted to go since I heard about it, so he took me. Then we got lost on our way back to Joplin, ended up in Carterville somehow...but found our way to Webb City. We went straight to Starbucks and had some hot chocolate/hot drinks. We made our way to Ewert Park off 7th and Murphy. Here we just enjoyed our drinks and talked for awhile. This is where Tyler asked me to be his girlfriend. Oh the memories. Of course I said yes. After that, a cop came to tell us the parks close at 11. This was the very first time a cop visited us at a park...and it wasn't the last. That was the end of our date. It was a good one.

December 8th, 2008. Tyler picked me up around 7:30 and we headed to Olive Garden, again. It is my favorite. We reminsced and argued over where our table was for our first date...oh well. Dinner was good as always. We then headed to McAlisters. It has become a tradition on our dates to eat and then get dessert somewhere else. So, we went, and I got "Chocolate Lovin Spoon Cake" because it is only there for a limited time! So we grabbed the McAlisters and then headed to Leonard Park (our new favorite) to exchange gifts and eat my cake. I gave him his first. I made him a small book that had a small poem for each of the past 12 months, and one for this December. I also included little slips of paper he can read each month that have little ideas for dates and things. Then, I got to open his. I was sooo excited to open his gift because I knew there was a lot of trouble around it. (The trouble involved UPS and blah blah blah...too much trouble!) His gift was amazing. It was a small poster that he had framed professionally and done so I am able to hang it on my wall. The poster contained a big number 1 in the center. In the one, he made a collage of pictures so the pictures form the 1. The background is green, and in the background there is a darker color for writing. He had "One year of greatness" at the top. To the left of the one it says "December 8th,2007" and "December 8th, 2008". To the right are lyrics of a Dave Barnes song "There's nothing fancy bout the way I love you". And the bottom says Tyler and Abigail. I love it! It is hanging on my wall now. We talked some more after the presents and then made our way to the movies. He gave me three choices...Twilight, Four Christmases, and Madagascar. We decided Four Christmases was the best choice for a date. It was funny, but just really weird. It was...weird. So yeah. It was a great date! Definitely one to remember.


I am so thankful for the past year and the joy that Tyler has brought to my life. We have both changed in such great ways..and I am excited to see what the next year brings.