The following is correspondence that I hope
will be as inspiring to others as it is to me.

Karen,

Three weeks prior to you mailing your payment for your painting, I was on my way to pick up my 14 year old granddaughter who lives in Bronte, TX. About 40 minutes outside of Lubbock in 26 degree weather early morning, in the middle of NO WHERE, my engine light came on and bells started ringing. I immediately pulled off the highway, turned off the engine. Still the bells rang, light stayed on. My car owners manual instructed if this happened to get out of the car as it might burst into flames! I thought, probably not in this weather. After sitting on the side of the highway in the wide open West Texas plains for about 20 minutes, it was beginning to get cold. I was dressed warmly, still....also getting a bit desperate as I had no cell phone. I prayed "Lord, I need help...RIGHT NOW!" I looked in the rear view mirror and at that very second a BLUE Tahoe was pulling off the highway right behind me...he pulled  around on the grass beside my car. A neat 35 (approximately) year old man in a BLUE plaid shirt got out and said "Can I help you?"  "Yes, I really need a phone". He flipped one out of his shirt pocket, put in my hand! I called my sister in Lubbock. He then said "I have a blanket I would be glad to leave with you!" I told him I would be fine until my sister arrived. He left and less than 5 minutes after that, a highway patrolman parked behind me! He asked me to wait in his warm vehicle until my sister arrived.

All of the above I thought pretty miraculous, though is certainly not the first time God has answered prayers so obviously.

My car was ruined. The engine was beyond repair. Since I had just moved to Lubbock last April, bought my home at that time and borrowed quite a bit for improvements, I felt car payments were not something I could do. Someone near and dear to my heart called and said if I would never tell who they were, I could get the car I wanted and they would pay $200 per month on it anytime I could not! My brother, who buys and sells homes here said he would pay off the note on my house, refinance it on a longer term note at a lower rate of interest, include my improvement loans and that this would give me the $200 a month more!

So, I started looking for a car. I found the nicest salesman on line. His dealership is about 10 miles South of Lubbock. I told him I wanted a mid-size vehicle with as low mileage as possible, that I could spend no more than $200 per month. He called about a week later, said he had a 2001 Chevy Malibu that he would sell for $10,000 but that tax title and license would bring it to about $10,700! Here came your check in the mail, taking care of the extra $700 and added collision for my insurance! You are the 2nd person in 4 years to elect to pay all in advance! My Malibu has just under 26,000 miles...10,000 miles left of manufacturers warranty! It's all electric except for the seats! I love it! It was the most painless car purchase I have ever made.

Working with you, I know you are probably an Angel Unawares more often than you ever know. This is one time I thought it would be fun to share with you!

Will e-mail you in the morning with info on when your painting will arrive!

Sue

KAREN'S AMAZING RESPONSE

Hi, Sue,

Wow.  Thanks for your wonderful story.  Now I have to tell you mine!!  I sent you the full payment in advance because I just felt it was the right thing to do, to place my trust in you, and because I was so confident you would do a portrait I would love.  I  try hard every day to do things a bit unexpected and nice for people, and the reason I do this is because thirteen years ago I literally died in my sleep from a cardiac arrest.  I was 31 at the time, and my husband woke up at the precise moment that I "died."  He did CPR, and summoned an ambulance.  I was clinically dead 27 minutes.  I was revived in the hospital, but lay comatose for 5 days.  After I awoke, I couldn't read, write, recognize anyone I knew before, dress myself, feed myself -- nothing.  I was like a baby.   My husband had a very strong faith, and he had a dear man, our church priest, Father Marius, come to see me daily.  Father Marius prayed to St. Theresa that I be healed, and if you know her story, you know that she said she would send down a rose when someone is going to be healed.  Well, suddenly roses did appear in three different ways.  Before long, I began to recover, but the road was a long and hard one.  I did eventually recover completely, only to find myself pregnant with twins (the very ones you painted) just 6 months after my cardiac arrest.  They were born normally, no complications, and I went on to become a registered nurse.  I might add that I am aspiring artist, and was getting a bit accomplished at the art of painting porcelain when my illness struck.  I did lose the feel for the brush, but have continued to draw and paint whenever possible.  I am currently enrolled in a colored pencil class.  I was planning to do a portrait of my twins by myself.  I searched the net, and when I saw your site I just knew that you would do a good job.  I could tell your spirit by the way your web site is done.   So, you see, things really do work out as they are supposed to, don't they?  

I am so thrilled for you that everything worked out as it did, and that you consider my brief appearance in your life in some way meaningful.  I can guarantee that your appearance in our lives will always be special -- we have a beautiful portrait that I know we all will cherish.   One thing I learned from my health ordeal is that every day is such a precious gift, meant to be used to add some beauty to this sometimes scary world.   As an artist, your talent allows a lot of beauty into the world.  For me, I shall remain an aspiring artist, but strive every day to make the world a little kinder and gentler!  Thanks so much for sharing your story, and your talent, with me.  

If you do decide to post Matt and Michelle's portrait on your web site, you may be hearing from some of my family and friends who are in search of portraits, too.  I do not plan to 'unveil' mine until we move into our new home in April.

Your friend,

Karen

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