Cars...shmars

If you've talked to me lately, you know that I've not had great luck in the car department for the last ohh, 5-6 months. It started when Chadd was in Louisiana training for his new job over there. We joke that everything that happens, happens when he is gone...except its not as funny at the time!

I was heading up I-65 to Andalusia for the weekend...when my car stopped. No noise, no warning or lights--just stopped. This is the car that took me to on 100's of 9 hours road trips to Arkansas and back. It had been a GREAT car. About 5 hours and a tow truck later, I was back in Daphne. The engine had 'jumped time', 'slung a rod?'...all these things that = new engine. Sooo 7 weeks, a new engine, and a little stress later, I had my car back with the understanding that I would be driving it several more years b/c of the mulah that had to be spent on the engine.

Incident #2: I had the car back for about 6 weeks and was once again in Andalusia. I was on the road towards Evergreen and I hit a turkey buzzard! Scared me, but not a big deal. It just busted out some plastic on the front and put some long scratches on it. Just another thing.

Incident #3: 2 days after the buzzard I was at Chadd's parents. Mr. John and I were talking about how my car had obviously been hexed :). The door bell rang and Mrs. Debbie said it was for me. It was their neighbor and he pointed to my car....He then explained that his 2 boys were throwing the baseball and had shattered my windshield. I just laughed and told him not to worry, don't feel bad...it wasn't them. I've decided by now, its the car...but I still love that car.

Incident #4: Yes, there's more. Two weeks ago (one week after the windshield was fixed), Jessica and I were driving down Hwy 98 in Daphne. Ironically, we were on the way to Wal-Mart to have my oil changed. We stopped at a red light and I checked all my mirrors (habit); and I saw it...a girl coming up behind us, full speed, and looking over her shoulder. I couldn't speak, so I just grabbed Jessica and Wham! She rear-ended us. I'm very thankful I didn't in turn hit the car in front of me and VERY thankful that everyone was ok, as she had her 1 yr. old daughter with her who we are fairly sure wasn't in a car seat. Jessica took a good lick to her head...but you never know; that probably did her some good :).

So, the last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of insurance adjusters, mechanics, rental cars, and car salesmen because, yes, it was totalled and I don't get to drive it several more years after all.
I've tried not to be stressed. I know its just a thing; things happen; and in the big scheme of life, its not a big deal. It could have been far worse and it wasn't. I guess its just mentally exhausting. I mean, 5 months of this stuff!

I think maybe it wasn't the car, but God telling us that Chadd just needs to come home ;) Yeah, I'll go with that.

The Adventures of Philip and Mary-Claire

Philip and Mary-Claire are a set of twins that I get to keep everyday. I first started keeping them at 6 weeks old...they will be 11 months next week! They are growing so fast! They've both begun crawling now, usually in opposite directions, so I just about need nap time when they do. They are so much fun and getting to be so "curious". Here are a few pictures to enjoy:

Oh No He Didn't!

Mmm...We love sweet potatoes!

Sometimes...

Philip after a stroll. He's thinking, "Really? That's it? 3 miles is all you've got?"

The instigator

But she jumped right in





The Great Escape

Held

I posted the lyrics below because they are from a favorite song of mine that has recently come to mean so much more. A couple of weeks ago I attended the funeral of Eli Paher, the newborn son of David and Philena Paher in Andalusia. I can try to imagine but can't begin to understand what they are going through. I will never forget the image of that sweet little baby wearing a onesie that said "Worth the Wait". How fitting. I have thought about it a million times a day the last few weeks. We were never promised to live a trial free life, but that when those things do come, God is faithful and we will be "Held"...and how amazing it is when trials come..and we actually do SURVIVE them. So here is a song that was just a pretty song to sing along to, that now I can't listen to without tears screaming down my face. What an impact little Eli had on me in such a short time :)

I have this song on my playlist (bottom right)...If you want to listen to it while reading the lyrics...
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Held by Natalie Grant

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it's unfair

[Chorus]This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held

This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held

[Bridge]If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held

This is what it means to be held.....