Buh-bye mini van

It breaks my heart.  Well, kinda.
My mini van is gone.
Gone are the sliding doors.  Gone are the flip down seats, the milk stains, the memories of driving to California and back...

Say hello to my new-to-me SUV.  A rugged, 8 passenger, 2003 Toyota Sequoia.  It's a truck disguised as a family hauler.  The gas mileage is well, not as great as our van, but fine just the same.

We haul around 5-8 people on most trips and with all the extra stuff and the fact that our kids are just getting bigger, we needed to make the change.  Mike was unpleasant on our last camping holiday.  The drive home stressed him out as we attempted to drag our entire camping life and two extra adults down a rough logging road.  But, as we pondered it, we realized that things just were not working for us anymore.  

I don't believe in coincidence. 

I believe in God.

This is where I realize that God cares about me a lot.  He even cares about the car I drive.  He orchestrated this sequence of events in a way that honors him.  

Last year, a co-worker of mine lost her husband. They were selling a truck like the one I was looking for, but had no idea that it was her family.  I "happened" to answer her craigslist ad.  I "happened" to ask her the next day if she was selling a truck.  When the answer was "yes", I just knew it was the one for us. The price was right, we knew the vehicle history, and it was even the colour we wanted.  

Then, my friend P called me.  They "happened" to be looking for a van to replace theirs.  And, they gave their well-loved, "comes with no promises" minivan to my dear friend who was needing a new vehicle.  

You see, my friends needed a new car.  They had been asking God for something, and had just tithed in faith the week before all this vehicle switching went down.  She just "happened" to be here that weekend.  We just "happened" to find the right truck for our family, P "happened" to be looking for a van like ours...  too many coincidences "happened" at the right time to just confirm the fact that God loves his kids.  He gives us more than we can EVER ask for or imagine.  

What would have happened if P hadn't acted in obedience and on the prompting of the Holy Spirit?  

What if K hadn't tithed that week?  

What if I hadn't responded to that ad?  

Would God have done all this any way?? 

I like to think that God really loves his kids and wants the best for them in all circumstances.  

I like to think that God blesses those who earnestly seek his face.  

I like to think that a generous God shows us how to be generous people. 

I am blessed to know that my friend P knows her Father in heaven.  

I am glad to be a part of a story where my God could be honored.  

I'm also glad that the new-to-me truck fits in my garage.

Life with a Van

Shh. I have a secret.

I really like my mini-van.



It's no big deal to me, but I met a few people tonight with strong opinions against the van.

So.

Here's my little rant about why my van is better than your station wagon.

My kids can look out the windows.
I can see them clearly in my kid-view mirror.
I have V6 engine.
I can fit 8 people. Comfortably.
I can pull my tent trailer.
All my Costco groceries fit.
My husband fits. Ok, he's 6'4". This is an issue.
24 cup holders. Yes. You read that right.
It's a Toyota-- and we all know that means "quality!"
8 speaker surround sound. "Adventures in Odyssey" sounds great in surround sound.
CD. Radio. Tape deck. Yes, a tape deck.
6 windows that open.
All the seats in the back pop out and you can fit a whole sheet of plywood in there. (Now, that would be helpful if I was handy, but I did fit an elliptical trainer in there once.
2 glove boxes.
24 cup holders!!

Take that, turbo-charged-Volvo-station-wagon-with-beautiful-buttery-leather-seats.