I was reading over my post from September 8, 2008, and thinking how very similar this week's experience is to that in relation to our car situation.
We've been entertaining the idea of getting a larger vehicle, especially with a new little one on the way, for some time now.
I've been daydreaming of how nice it would be to have space for a stroller and groceries.
Space for groceries alone would be nice..........where the children aren't all
barricaded in and surrounded by grocery bags that they must remove from their laps or climb over in order to get out at the next stop.
While there would be enough seats in the Sienna, the leg room seemed to be shrinking. I kept going over seating arrangements in my brain at night while trying to get to sleep.
Let's see.........one of the olders has to sit in the middle row with the new baby.
That leaves one older and Myles and Elsa in the back seat next to each other.......My two that can be the best of friends and not so much best of friends. Myles was having issues with the idea of being squeezed next to Elsa. What to do, what to do?
On the one hand I thought.............."Well, I need to be content because this is a great car and what a blessing it has been." On the other hand I thought....."Oh how I would love to have more space for my growing kids and family. I seem to be doing just fine with making room in the house for five kids, but oh space in a car would be nice."
I kept thinking I was not being grateful and I was being selfish to want that, but I finally just let go. We had a family prayer about it, and then I prayed that if this was a good thing to ask for then to please help us find the right car and a buyer for ours.
And what do you know, the very next day we had a buyer for the van and bought a suburban.
Heavenly Father never ceases to amaze me on answering prayers. It just amazes me how it all transpired.
Chris and I happened to be looking at Craigslist at the same moment and at the same suburban.
He called to take a look at it, while I hesitated. I said no at first, but then felt inspired to tell him to go ahead and look, but I wasn't necessarily saying yes to buying it.
He arrived home from work saying that the person selling it said someone else was coming to see it. I think the guy was confused because it was really supposed to be Chris showing up at 3. Anyway, he called back and mysteriously the other person never showed up........chuckle, chuckle. Chris went and looked at it. Meanwhile I had to go pick up Elsa and Aeva from a play-date. Upon returning home there was a family waiting on my sidewalk. Miscommunication between Chris and I on someone coming to look at the car at a specific time. Oh well, they were good sports to wait. They looked at the minivan for 15 minutes and made an offer. They couldn't believe how clean it was...............thanks to my fabulous man! We had set the price high to begin with. They offered 500 less then what we were asking. We asked for 300 more than they offered......... and got it. Amazing!! They were back within the hour to pick it up, and Chris went over to pick up the Suburban with a friend/mechanic from church. He says we got a steal.
I kind of feel like this quote from Anne of Green Gables.........
"I feel....as though somebody.....has handed me.....the moon.....and I don't know....exactly what to do with it."
Okay, well I really do know what to do with it..........................I just feel so blessed.
Parting was bittersweet......................especially for Myles.
I had forgotten how little he was when we got the minivan.
His little heart was breaking that this car he's made memories in was not going to be ours anymore.
I found him sobbing in our bedroom while I was looking for the car title.
Chris came in and put his arms around him and told him that he understood completely how he was feeling. He said that Myles had made a lot of memories in that car, and that when he got rid of his Red Rocket Volvo he cried too (even though mommy hadn't seen that) and how hard it was for him to sell it. He told Myles that he would be making new memories in this car....................the places we would go, the treasure box he'll have in the new car for his legos, and that he'll have his very own space with no one next to him.
Reminds me of Dr. Seuss................." “Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!"
So, now we are just cleaning it up and getting it ready to drive.
And on another note......................
I'm halfway there (to my due date) already! I can hardly believe it.
The kids are loving feeling their little sister move and kick. They think that is the neatest thing.
It's time to start thinking of things like hospital registration, a car seat, and making blankets. I did make one double sided flannel blanket this past week. Now I just have a quilt type baby blanket to make next before I can't bend over on the floor anymore to cut and pin it.
Myles and Chris made a bird feeder. Myles is learning about birds right now for science. Flying Creatures is a pretty big hit with him. I always love it when I discover that I've made a good curriculum purchase. We've had fun watching the various birds eat from it and then try to identify each bird.
Next Saturday we get to go to the zoo in Portland for Chris's work picnic. The kids are thrilled.
The kids are looking forward to September when they get a week off from school. We are planning something fun for them for part of that week so it feels like a real break from schoolwork.
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu....................until the next post :)
