| Author | Across the Fence:  A stranger did the kindest thing...  |  | 
              
                | texdaneFarmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
 
      4658 Posts
 
  Nicole
 Sandy Hook 
                CT
 USA
 4658 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  06:59:51 AM   
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                      | Hi Farmgirls, This is my first time back on the forum after last week's hurricane.  What a time it was!  We are good.  Anyway, just had to share with all you what a stranger did last week for us.  Floored me.
 
 The hurricane had come and gone, and we were (as most of the state) without power for several days.  On this particular day, we were feeling pretty weary, as we had started the cleanup.  My husband pulled out the chainsaw, I picked up hundreds of sticks, we removed branches and bushes that had been left on the ground, I mowed, etc.  (We've still got some major trees down, if you'd like to see them, the pics are on the blog this week).
 
 Anyhow, we had a generator powering the fridge and water pump, so we could shower when it was on even though it was by candlelight.  But, after our heavy yardwork, wouldn't ya know we ran out of propane so there was no hot water!  The driver would come the next day.
 
 We decided to go out to dinner.  We cleaned up best we could, and went out to eat where we knew there was power.  After five days, anything you put on a barbeque pit all tastes the same!  We had a nice dinner, happy to be back in civilation, although exhausted!  When the server came with our check, she told us "Here's your check, but it is all paid for".  We thought it was a mistake.  Then she told us that someone, we don't know who, wanted to pay for our meal, like a "Pay it Forward" kind of thing.  She wouldn't tell us who or anything, and that they had already left. They only left the bill, marked "paid", with a note that said, "You are a beautiful family. Be blessed today". We were floored!  Their act of kindness was so amazing, and on a day we really needed it!  I don't know if they picked us at random, or heard us talking to the server, or we just looked a bit ragged, but I will never forget them.  I can't wait to do the same for someone else!
    
 Nicole
 
 Farmgirl Sister #1155
 KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
 Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
 
 Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
 http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
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                | grammytammyTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      585 Posts
 
 Tamara
 Binghamton 
                ny
 USA
 585 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  07:11:15 AM   
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                      | Accept it as God's gift to you. I'm sure the giver was equally blessed. 
 FarmGirl 2495
 God loved us so much He gave His only son to die in our stead.
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                | Farmer JudyTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
     433 Posts
 
 Judy
 North Aurora 
                IL
 USA
 433 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  08:44:36 AM   
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                      | It just goes to show you when you least expect it God shows you how loved you are!  :) 
 God bless,
 
 Judy
 
 Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
 
 http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/
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                | KathyCTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      583 Posts
 
 Kathy
 Gastonia 
                NC
 USA
 583 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  10:07:12 AM   
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                      | Same thing happen to my family once.  We were going to the movies with a stop for dinner on the way.  It was my mom and us 4 kids. There wasn't much money to extras when I was growing up so dinner and a movie was a pretty big deal.  When mom went to pay our dinner check the waitress told it had been paid.  They had a customer that came in for dinner every night and also picked up the check for someone else.  I was only about 10 years old, on our way to see a Gidget movie, I'm close to 60 now and still remember, it was such a big deal to me. 
 Kathy
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                | AleeTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      22944 Posts
 
  
 
 22944 Posts
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                | JessieLovesToCraftTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
    115 Posts
 
 Jessie
 Loxahatchee 
                FL
 USA
 115 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  11:53:42 AM   
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                      | what an amazing story! touched my heart and made my day. what inspiration and kindness :) 
 Farmgirl Sister #3404
 Jessie
 
 A wise girl knows her limits, but a real girl realizes she doesn't have any!
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                | laurentanyTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      3259 Posts
 
 Laurie
 Patchogue 
                NY
 USA
 3259 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  12:26:49 PM   
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                      | Nicole- They must have known what a wonderful person you are and how kind and caring you are. Your farmgirl spirit must have been shining through!
 Couldnt have happened to a nicer person...Congratulations!
 Smiles,
 
 
 ~Laurie
 "Little Hen House on the Island"
 Farmgirl Sister#1403
 
 
 Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..
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                | CurlysQuiltsTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      569 Posts
 
 Sarah
 Northeast Kingdom 
                VT
 USA
 569 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  12:30:34 PM   
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                      | How cool! That just made my day! 
 Curly's Quilts
 www.curlysquilts.etsy.com
 
 I am a recyclin, cloth-diapering, home grown, hand sewn kinda farmgirl!
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                | kristin sherrillTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      11303 Posts
 
 kristin
 chickamauga 
                ga
 USA
 11303 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  2:16:37 PM   
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                      | Wow, what a great blessing! That does my heart good just to read this. Thanks for sharing and I bet it will be paid forward. 
 I hope you are all back to as normal as you can be today. Our power just got back on from being off about 16 hours. Not fun when there's tons of meat in the freezers. I hope yours is back on now.
 
 Kris
 
 Happiness is simple.
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                | violetroseTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      960 Posts
 
  Ruth
 Epworth 
                GA
 USA
 960 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  3:28:15 PM   
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                      | Nicole,  That is awesome - God is so good using people to encourage others, we just have to listen! My hubby is a VietNam Vet and wears a Vet Hat, we went to dinner in another town, and like you it was after a very long day, only ours was doctor's appointments.  Anyway, we went to a little Italian Restaurant and this man came over to thank DH for his service to our Country and went back to join his family. After we finished eating, we asked our waiter for our check, he told us that that gentleman had paid it in full, by the time we got the check they were gone,  so we were unable to thank them, but we were both in tears.  They were such a blessing to us - I know the Lord has blessed them for their kindness as you can't out give the Lord :)!
 
 Farmgirl Sister # 1738
 
 God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
 
 St. Augustine
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                | Tea LadyTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      645 Posts
 
  Lorraine
 Morris 
                IL
 USA
 645 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  6:12:43 PM   
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                      | Wow - can't think of anything else to say except thanks for sharing - all of you. 
 This is a great reminder to help without expecting thanks - because that's not why you help... We're all connected - so when you help one, you help everyone. What's the saying? Practice random acts of kindness... Yes indeed...
 
 Lorraine
 (aka Tea Lady)
 Farmgirl #1819
 www.birdsandteas.com
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                | LuckyMommyof5True Blue Farmgirl
 
      500 Posts
 
  Suzanne
 OH
 USA
 500 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  6:56:50 PM   
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                      | Nicole - I am so glad you and your family are ok and that you were given such kindness by a stranger when you had been through so much. A friend of mine once told me that if you keep an open heart that God will send you "angels" when you need them the most (I try every day to trust in that - and sometimes it's a challenge). Sounds like your angel was in the restaurant that night and gave you the hope and boost you needed. Someday you will be the angel for someone else. 
 I will continue praying for you and your family and your community that everything gets back to even better than before Irene hit.
 
 Farmgirl Sister #3243
 
 "The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
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                | Okie Farm GirlTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      1674 Posts
 
 Mary Beth
 McLoud 
                Oklahoma
 USA
 1674 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 06 2011 :  8:59:54 PM   
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                      | That is such a neat story. What a blessing for your family but also what a blessing for the giver. Wow. Gives me faith in human kind after all! 
 Mary Beth
 
 www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
 www.Oklahomapastrycloth.com/blog
 The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19
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                | Heartbroken farmgirlTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      604 Posts
 
 Annette
 rio vista 
                Ca
 USA
 604 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 07 2011 :  04:01:52 AM     
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                      | Wow! This teared me up! Wonderful!! God can put our reminders and encouragements in our lives where we least expect it. I'm so glad you're okay. I hope you can get back to some kind of normal soon. Thank you for sharing this story! 
 The tears I shed then, watered the flowers I harvest now.
 
 www.broken908.blogspot.com
 http://forums.familyfriendpoems.com/broken908
 
 
 "The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values."-Dean William Ralph Inge
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                | naturemaidenTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      2569 Posts
 
 Connie - Farmgirl #673
 Hoosick Falls 
                NY
 USA
 2569 Posts
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                | texdaneFarmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
 
      4658 Posts
 
  Nicole
 Sandy Hook 
                CT
 USA
 4658 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 08 2011 :  05:21:39 AM   
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                      | So true, everyone!  I will never forget it or how it made us feel, for sure.  I can't wait to do something random like that myself. 
 Nicole
 
 Farmgirl Sister #1155
 KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
 Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
 
 Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
 http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/
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                | farmmilkmamaTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      2027 Posts
 
 Amy
 Central MN
 USA
 2027 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 08 2011 :  06:41:12 AM   
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                      | Oh. My. Gosh. What a touching story! I saw someone do that for a military family once in a restaurant and it was so amazing for everyone who was there. What a great experience, Nicole! And I know that you will pay it forward. :) What a blessing to have the opportunity! 
 --* FarmMilkMama *--
 
 Farmgirl Sister #1086
 
 Be yourself.
 Everyone else is already taken.
 -Oscar Wilde
 
 www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
 
 www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com
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                | LieberkimTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      839 Posts
 
 Kimberly
 Sunnyside 
                WASHINGTON
 USA
 839 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 08 2011 :  08:22:09 AM   
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                      | That's just awesome!  It makes me want to do that for someone too. 
 Excuse the mess & the noise, my children are making happy memories
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                | rough start farmgirlTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      3331 Posts
 
 marianne
 The Beautiful Pacific NW 
                Washington State
 USA
 3331 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 08 2011 :  10:20:10 PM   
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                      | So cool! Thanks for sharing your story, it made me smile. Marianne
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                | AnnikaTrue Blue Farmgirl
 
      5602 Posts
 
  Annika
 
 USA
 5602 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 08 2011 :  10:46:15 PM   
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                      | What a beautiful story! Nicole, isn't it awesome when we're are all one big beautiful human family? It couldn't have happened to a more wonderful person and her family
  
 Blessings!
 
 Annika
 Farmgirl & sister #13
 
 Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.  ~Leonardo DaVinci
 
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                | Bear5True Blue Farmgirl
 
      13055 Posts
 
 
 Louisiana/Texas
 USA
 13055 Posts
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                      |  Posted - Sep 09 2011 :  07:53:23 AM   
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                      | The goodness of people straight from their heart.  Thanks for sharing such a beautiful story.  Happy to hear and read that good acts of kindness is still happening.  I am happy it happened to you and your family. Marly
 
 "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross
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                |  | Across the Fence:  A stranger did the kindest thing...  |  |