Some of you might remember the post I wrote about our rental home a few years ago. It was quite the miracle how it came about. Instead of one year like we had planned, we’ve stayed 3.5 years now. Our landlords are the BEST and they haven’t even raised the rent once, despite the fact that the price we pay is actually below market value for the size and quality of the house. They are on it immediately when issues arise. They work with us financially when things come up. They would like us to stay forever. They, my friends, are the ideal landlords.
Two months ago, our beloved Toyota Corolla finally died, once and for all. We’ve been struggling with just Bill’s big truck that I find pretty hard to park and especially to parallel park. That is, if I can even heave myself up into the seats (we had to remove the running boards due to extreme rust). LOL. But we managed because we had to and Bill has been biking back and forth to work. Now, he loves to bike. But with the season change, he now has to bike in the dark and we had our first freeze two nights ago. So getting up to bike to work at 5am in the dark and very cold has been a little tough (although he hasn’t complained because I married an amazing guy) and since we also both kind of work second/third jobs and weekends are included, it’s been a challenge to arrange a one-car-schedule.
Then came a new challenge: having been married only 8 years, we’ve never purchased a vehicle together. He would have loved another Corolla (but neither of us liked the new front grills they’ve put on them – they just look MEAN!). But I wanted a small SUV. I had a Kia Sorento that I loved before we moved to Chicago and although cars are fine and get better gas mileage, here in the NW with a ton of rain, permanent (apparently) grooves in Highway 26 and slippery conditions, I grew tired of our car sliding around and hydroplaning. I wanted to go back to a smaller SUV. I feel safer in them and they fit kids/grandkids/groceries and dog, if needed!
We spent weeks/months discussing this and compromising on Makes/Models. He really seemed to prefer good ole Chevrolets and Fords that he can work on easily. And yes, I LOVE that he can work on cars because for many years, I had to call a shop for every single little thing. (Note here to all females who work on cars – I admire you. But I’ve never had a desire to BE you. Yes, I know I CAN. But, no thanks. LOL) We tossed several options back and forth. Everything he mentioned was LARGE. Finally we resorted to pointing out ones in parking lots and on the road that we liked. My adorable, loving husband took what I said to heart and one day, he said, “What about a Ford Escape? They aren’t the large ones. They’re a small SUV.”
“OK.” I smiled patiently. “I’ll look.” (thinking they’re a little more squarish than I prefer, but perhaps one would work). I did look and you know what, they’re a little longer than what I was thinking. But the advantage to that is more space in the backseat and cargo end. We do have kids and sons-in-law that have longer legs. And the dog. “Hmmmm. OK. I might agree to a small Escape.”
I kid you NOT – less than two days after that conversation, our neighbor brought home a blue Escape. My FAVE color forever and always. (I’ve never ever had a car in my fave color). And when Bill went over to be neighborly, our neighbor mentioned it was his mother’s car and she had recently passed. 🙁 He and his brother were still deciding what to do with it. Between “so sorry for your loss and ‘hmmm'”, Bill asked our neighbor to keep us in the loop as we were looking for another vehicle.
“It’s OK.” I said when he came home. “That’s our car, I’m pretty sure. Let’s wait and see where this goes.”
“But we haven’t even driven it.”
TRUE! But it didn’t matter. I KNEW! God had brought a blue Escape to our neighborhood. Now its a 2010 so a little older than I prefer. And it is basic, none of the bells and whistles I would eventually like (like bluetooth so we can listen easily to sermons and audio books as we travel) but it runs well, has new tires, has never been in a wreck (did I mention it’s blue?!) and hopefully can last five years or so.
We are very grateful. Now, our Ford F150 is still having issues and hubby is working on it one thing at at a time. Like the Toyota, it is very high in miles (almost 300k) so probably does not have a lot of time left.
But….one thing at a time, right?
Thanks to those who have been praying for us. I was gently reminded at a writer’s conference that I had not sent a prayer newsletter out to my prayer warriors in quite a while. I very hesitantly said that it is because there is TOO much going on. The list would be endless. The list has been quite discouraging, to be honest. But she reminded me with a hug that that is what the prayer team is there for. So, I will get you one out soon.
UPDATE FOR THE FANS– “Innocent Lives” is free on Kindle Unlimited now. Book 2, “Innocent Voices” releases on the 26th and the ebook can be preordered now. I have already started Book 3, “Innocent Hearts” and have decided this will need to be a longer series than originally planned. Book 3 will NOT take another year as I am coming up on a time period where I should be able to get more writing done in 4-5 weeks times. 🙂
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