On Monday, my sweet sister drove Mike + Adam down to the insurance office and the car lot. Mike gave his statement, collected the $800 check, and went to the car lot to make sure nothing else good was left in it.
They said good-bye to that van that has been so good to us this past year.
Mike and I decided years ago to never get into debt for a vehicle again.
When we decided to try for a baby, we began praying for a vehicle that would be reliable and fit our family without getting into debt.
One evening our Bishop stopped by our house; he had bought a van for his daughter, but she didn't want it. It was older, but only had 85,000 miles. He offered it to us for $1000, and told us we could make payments to him on it.
It has been reliable and good and we were so blessed to not have to get into debt for it.
When Mike was offered that van from his co-worker a few months ago, I told him not to take it.
We didn't have any extra money for repairs and I didn't want to have to pay insurance on a dead vehicle.
I'm so glad that he didn't listen to me (ha!) and for Heavenly Father inspiring his friend to give it to us... because he did, we can keep our goal and use the insurance money to fix it up and not get into debt for a vehicle.
Heavenly Father (and the other people in our lives) are so good to us.
That evening we had FHE and had some final fun with Kayty until October.
***
On Tuesday morning, Kayty left bright and early.
Our van was towed away a little while after she left to get the fuel pump fixed.
That afternoon we received a letter in the mail.
Explaining that Sam's remaining birth balance was paid off by some incredibly generous angel.
I am in awe and amazement at the sheer goodness of people.
If I could only be half as kind as others have been to us, I would be a saint.
Thank you to whoever you are.
You have no idea how much that means to us.
***
On Wednesday, we learned that a whole chunka change later, that the fuel pump wasn't the only problem with the new van.
And the amount it would cost to continue to diagnose + fix it was above our budget.
So, I cried.
I called Mike, who was upset, too.
We decided to part it, buy bikes, and save up for a new vehicle.
Luckily (though I don't believe it was just luck) our friend/neighbor, Katrina, stopped by that night and told me to press on.
That she would tow it home from the garage.
That saving up for a used car is fine, BUT it's going to have problems, too.
And at least we knew what we were dealing with (sorta) with this one.
I hope I can one day brighten somebody as much as she did for me that evening.
***
On Thursday we walked to the store for some groceries.
Lucky us, a park with a splash pad happens to be on the way to the store.
After shopping we stopped there for awhile to cool off, before trecking home in the 100+ degree heat.
Our sweet friends towed our car home.
The same sweet friends who refuse to let Mike take the bus, and have driven him to/from work each day.
For reals.
And Mike changed the crankshaft and camshaft sensors.
And it started!
And stalled a few minutes later.
(But, hey, it started).
***
On Friday we celebrated Christmas in July.
We listened to music, watched a Christmas movie, and made some gingerbread boys.
***
We spent Saturday getting the house uber-clean, walking to the store, and having pizza + a movie night.
We worked at home, Mike worked at D.I. and Sam chilled.
It's our Saturday thang.
***
On Sunday we had a wonderful day at church.
Except for, you know, being asked to speak again.
I have limits, people!
Unfortunately, it was the same sweet neighbors who have been helping us with our van + rides who asked, and we couldn't say no to him.
So, Mike + Me + Adam will be speaking August 10th.
That evening, our good friends, the C* family came over for dinner.
They brought an amazing Costco chocolate cake.
And the only thing better than that cake, was having fun laughing and talking with them all evening + while our kids got out every single one of their toys and laughed and talked, too.
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