What I woke up to this morning
And, of course.....monkey see, monkey do.
In the midst of Brad and I trying to accomplish many things around here we finally got word from the daycare about the van. The new superintendent did not nearly favor us as everyone else had through this entire process and he ended it all with his decision to keep the daycare van. I was disappointed but there was a peace of having laid it all completely in the Lord's hands and knowing that there was something else we do not see yet. She pointed us to a van for sale in Ballinger. We had seen it in passing and Grayson had even gotten the number off of it. We had called but never pursued it when the dude did not answer. I figured there was no way it was in our budget. So, I laid the van issue down once more and figured we would continue being thankful and content with the Suburban. After all, I do love it and I love it's 4x4 capabilities. But at some point the very same day as getting the daycare van news I was driving down the road and felt prodded to call and at least find out some info on the van. We had lost the number somewhere along the way in the weeks that had passed since Grayson had jotted it down so I set out in an attempt to find out some info. on it. It was a funny turn of events how we ever got to the owner but as all things go....I was taken on a long winding road that eventually landed us in the owner's lap. I asked what I needed to know and about fell over backwards at the asking price. It was so small that it made me ask again. Then I asked what was wrong with it. There is nothing wrong with it, other than being on the higher end of mileage but still not bad by any means. The owner just closed his shop and has no need for it anymore. We told him we had a Suburban we needed to sell first and we would get back with him. Of course, the entirely skitzed out side of me then became obsessed and fearful it would sell immediately...despite the fact it has now been there for weeks. So, having had some notoriously bad experiences selling large items...such as vehicles and houses.....I knew we were in for a long wait and this would be another point in life where God chooses to work on my trust and faith issues. I readied myself for the battle but prepared for the best case scenario....just in case. The children and I headed into town and I had it washed. With a car wash not really being in the 2 wk budget I had a little conversation with the Lord. I just kind of explained out loud as the children listened that we had this thing to sell and I was preparing it in the faith that He indeed would show Himself faithful and provide for our needs and sell it immediately. I can't say that my heart was really there though. But I figured if I took action then it was a step in the right direction. As we drove up I handed the dude my card to pay for it, still trying to muster some faith and reasoning for spending before his paycheck arrived, due to come in 2 days. The dude looked at the card and said, "Nope. It's your 1oth one. It's on us tonight." I was shocked and the children immediately started asking if the Lord had paid for it.
With my faith greatly encouraged we headed to Home Depot to pick up For Sale signs. Grayson and I finally found them and spent 4.20 for 4 signs. I figured as long as I was at it I might as well make it highly visible on every side that it was available. We arrived home and I put the children to bed and made up my mind to set to work on readying it the following day. I awoke in good spirits and happily carried my needed car cleaning supplies out to it.....with 15 kids trailing behind and trying to aid me in my efforts. I dug out french fries that I am quite sure have been there since I was born. Their petrified state was so alarming that I feared they were in danger of turning into true gray french fry shaped rocks. M&M's and gum were also among the many long ago buried and hidden treasures. It was an exhausting task. As I cleaned I mulled over and over the length of time it would take us to sell it. I didn't ever really pray at any point simply because I just figured I was in for the long haul since God seems pretty set on teaching me more faith and patience in most every situation. So, I scrubbed in my faith that it would sell soon but knowing it never would. As I did I thought crazy things like every person does with any amount of alone time and I silently pondered where it would go and who the next passengers would be. Then I began to debate in my own mind who I would like to see driving it and who would fill its seats. The thought of it being turned into a service vehicle all trashed out depressed me. Thoughts of an older couple were warm and cozy but still not what I envisioned for this Suburban that should not even be mattering to me at all at this point. Visions of a teenager driving it depressed me. No. It needed another big family. It needed a ton more kids in it so that it could bless somebody else like it has blessed us for these short years. We were so overwhelmingly blessed to have been given it and I wanted more than anything to bless somebody else with it....preferably another large family that could benefit from not having to pay outrageously for something. It has so much life and so many more miles left to serve more kids....more families. It was barely driven in the years it sat in Nanny and Pawpaw's garage so we had definitely given it new life in the time that we had it. And it needed many more years of new life. So as I pondered these deep meaningless irrational thoughts the Lord brought something to mind. In the way that I have finally learned to follow the impressions on my heart....what I have finally come to recognize as Him speaking to me.....I felt that same urge and prodding to pursue a different path of selling it. I knew Brad would not care how we sold it so I went forward with it. I am part of a large family, TX homeschoolers email group and every once in awhile people will post items for sale. Usually not large items but ones that others might want. I finished taping the For Sale signs on every window and then went to post. Note to self. When God speaks don't duck tape the For Sale signs to absolutely every window. Getting off the adhesive is horrific and I could've spared myself had I tuned in. The more I thought about the possibility of it the more excited I got. Due to the van being almost given to us in price we could afford to ask for much less and bless someone else that was in our shoes when we were given the Suburban. The thought became so exciting that I found myself not being able to post fast enough. Sure enough not even 2 hrs later it was sold to a large, though smaller than our's...so they fit in it!!!, homeschooling family that is still growing and needs more room than what they are in. I was elated. Not only were we now not out any out of pocket money for the new van but the much loved Suburban is going to another family with young children. It's bittersweet for me. It happened so fast that I was kind of swept off of my feet. I don't think you ever really get attached to the vehicle but it's the memories that were made in it. And well....I happen to love the leather seats and the 4x4 thing it has going for it. The family was exceedingly blessed and the joy that lives within me is contagious. How blessed it is to be part of something so wonderful when the Lord works. The very same day that we found out that we did not get the daycare van afterall the Lord turned us around and headed us in yet another direction. By the end of that day we had been given yet another van and by the end of the next day we had sold the Suburban. It was amazing. It still is amazing. When I posted that it was for sale I also said that we were able to deliver it to the DFW area since I knew it well and had family there. It also made it more of a gift. The family that bought it is in Lubbock...no farther than DFW. So, after a short talk with Brad we agreed to deliver it to them. It also allowed us to finally get to see Abby's house and have a lunch date with her. That is.....if Brad's even told her yet. I am soooooooo excited about our new van. But for whatever reason the bittersweet of the Suburban going kind of stumps me. Maybe because of the fact it was such a tie to Nanny and Pawpaw. Who knows. But we move forward as all of life does. And because we are willing to go forward we now have a van that we have been exceedingly and wonderfully blessed with. In an effort to price vans and come up with comps for our's I began to search the internet over. Of all of the ones I found they all sell for at least 8,000 more than what we have been given. The ones on the lot got for even higher. It's just amazing. Brad and I loaded up the children in the bus the other night and took off to go look at the van again. We checked it over thoroughly, went through it all, tested it out and it is perfect. And as I have so come to learn through our ever evolving faith walk journey God has a pretty funny sense of humor.......a bit apparent as we drive up anywhere in Bertha, our yellow lead rocket. We are being taught in this journey that it does not always have to be the biggest and the best in life to meet the need......it's what serves the purpose and meets the need that He has provided. I personally had wanted the big black tinted windows that ran sleekly down the side of the new 15 passenger Chevy's but this new van is a Ford with the separate windows. But they were deep and dark and tinted. A huge blessing. It is not about appearances but the fact that He is providing and meeting every one of our needs. So, the best part is that it is charcoal gray and......in all of life's humor that we have so come to love.....all the way down both sides reads in red "Martial Arts Academy" with a huge, and I mean huge, emblem of a red dude in a karate outfit in kick stance mode. Yep. That is us. I can't help but laugh every time I see it. You can't get much more offbeat and original than that. I love it. I love that it has been given to us in every way and that the Lord was able to use the Suburban to bless someone else. I am overwhelmed by the blessings.
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