Whirlwind (part 2)

Until....

We had to take the car back. Yes, that's right, we had to take the car back. We had the car for 2 days shy of one month. As a matter of fact, we didn't even have a chance to make a first payment when the dealership called and said that the bank financing us decided they couldn't finance us after all due to our poor credit. I couldn't believe it. We had to take the car back to the dealership. We got our down payment back at least, but now we have no car - well one for my husband to take to work and one for me. (How spoiled we are!)

We still have the truck I drive around town, but taking that to work everyday (100 miles a day) is going to be a killer on gas!! And this will leave me car-less! UGH!!!

At first, I was pretty bummed. As a matter of fact, I was depressed. I was so frustrated with how our life was turning out. From the horrible tradgedy our family had suffered the last couple of years, to my job loss, possibly losing our home, and now this... I was asking, "How much more do we have to go through God?" I was beginning to feel God had forgotten about us.

After thinking it through, it really isn't that big of a deal. We are a homeschooling family which means I do not have to take my children to and from school. I have the truck on the night my children go to our church for Awanas. We have a friend that can take us to church on Sundays. We live within walking distance to a grocery store. It is a quick 10 minute walk to pick up any items we might need during the day. Anything else we need can wait. I have found that I am saving money by not running to the store everytime we have a whim that we need something. This has definitely been a lesson in living more simply and making sure I am organized with my errand list on my hubby's days off.

I think the feeling that I "can't" go somewhere is the depressing part. In reality, I often stay home and don't go anywhere for several days. It was just knowing that I "can't" that makes me feel confined. Isn't that silly?

I'm not sure of the reason, but I know that God has one for not letting us keep the car. Maybe the car we bought was a lemon. We already had a couple of problems with it. Nothing with the motor, more to do with the body, hinges, windows, etc. I truly believe that God was rescuing us from something bigger. We can't always see or understand his plan, but if we wait patiently it will be revealed to us.

Many, many, many times over the last couple of years I have looked back on the things we suffered through and could see each moment with 20/20 clarity! I have had so many "ah-ha" moments when I have realized God's plan and purpose for the way things turned out. While I was in the middle of all the muck it was difficult, but my family and I are so much stronger for it! And now I can see why things happened the way they did.

I know that someday I will reflect back on this time with clarity and be able to say, "So that is why it happened that way." Until then, I just continue to pray and thank God for the wonderful things He is doing in our lives. I thank Him for the incredible love and understanding of His Word that the Holy Spirit has provided in my children. I know that each experience we face as a family, makes my children stronger and ready to face the obstacles they will face in their lives. I hope they will be able to look back on their child hood and say, "Wow, we were able to make it through all of that, I can face anything with God on my side."

"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

I know that God has a plan for us. At first I was mad that God allowed all of this to happen, starting with the accident itself. I have since remembered, God knows what he is doing. We have no idea the trouble from which we have been saved or what our future has in store.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

Whirlwind (part 1)

We have had a crazy six weeks. And we have spent it......

Sick, Car Shopping, Depressed and Celebrating a Birthday!

Right in the middle of these crazy six weeks, our family was super sick. I was first to be sick, vomiting and.... well, let's just say I spent a lot of time in the bathroom. It was awful. I stayed in bed for two days drinking Gatorade and ginger ale. After I was better, my six year old son started... I was up all night with him, shoving a bucket under him every 15 minutes or so. No sleep for me. The following night it was my two year old son's turn... and another night of no sleep for me. For the next five days, my two year old would be fine one night and sick the next. When he was finally well, my eight year old daughter was the last to be sick. For two weeks, this awful sickness swept through the family but thankfully never made it to my hubby. He was able to avoid us and go to work!!

Before we were sick, we spent the first two weeks of February car shopping. Not what we wanted to do... however, my dear sweet hubby was in a car accident. He was fine, maybe just a little whiplash the next day, but overall perfectly fine. It was a simple fender bender. One driver cut off a line of cars resulting in the chain of cars slamming on their brakes and my husband just couldn't stop in time. The car he hit had one tiny scratch on the bumper, so we didn't think it was a big deal. We have excellent, full coverage insurance so we figured our car would go to the shop, we would get a rental while it was being fixed and then all would be well. In the end, our car was totaled.  Basically, since the car was 13 years old, it would have cost more to repair it than it was worth. Yikes!

Oh man, this was not the news we wanted to hear. What were we going to do? We are not in a good credit position since we have been struggling with my income loss and possible home foreclosure. Financing a car was going to be difficult. The small amount of money we were getting from the insurance company wasn't enough to find something reliable with low mileage from a private party. Neither my husband nor myself are mechanically inclined, so buying an old, used car that could break down was a scary thought.

Of course, I was praying that God would send the right car our way. I searched online, in the paper, had family and friends looking, but what we found just didn't make us comfortable. We went to a few dealerships and left more depressed than before. Searching for a car consumed every spare moment we had each day for two weeks. Until finally, we found someone willing to work with us.

We were able to find a 2011 Toyota Corolla. Super cute, clean, a little high on the mileage, but the main thing was that we found a dealership that was willing to help us buy this car. When everyone else said no, they told us that they would make it work. It was a great commuter car getting great gas mileage which was on the top of our priority list since my hubby drives 100 miles a day for work. Since the car that was totaled was a 13 year old car, we worried it would break down at any time. Although it was not an ideal time to shop for a car, a newer more reliable car sounded fantastic!!

I was incredibly happy our car search was over..... until......

(stay tuned for part 2!)