Mommy Brain

$800. Yep, that’s right, eight hundred smackeroos. Smackeroos that we do not have, I might add. Kevin called yesterday and the first words out of his mouth were, “Are you sitting down?” In ten years of marriage I cannot remember him ever saying that to me, so I knew it was going to be bad. See, something called a fuel injector went bad. As if that wasn’t enough, the nasty thing caused the van’s computer to crash. I didn’t even know my van had a computer — think of all those long stoplights I could’ve been surfing blogs!! Not only did it crash the computer, but it sent gas into a place only oil’s supposed to be.

Since we have no savings to speak of, we were in full-blown panic mode. Thank God — literally — Kevin’s boss offered a draw on his salary that we can pay back $100 a month between now and January. Now, an extra $100 a month isn’t going to be easy. So we were faced with taking that debt on, or having one vehicle until we could save it ourselves. The idea of being stranded at home with four children all summer long sent me into a panic attack. After he talked me down, Kevin said he thought we should take his boss’s offer. So I should be getting my van back this evening. And boy, it better run like a dream!

I guess I should be grateful. We’ve had this van, a 1995 Ford Windstar, for four years now and never had to do a lick of work on it. Other than oil changes and the like. I also see God’s hand in the timing. If the van had broken down two days later, Kevin’s boss would’ve been gone on a four week trip to Africa, and there would’ve been no one in the office to approve the draw. I have to admit, I wonder why He didn’t just keep that unruly fuel injector in line. But I can see His provision.

On top of all this, I think I’ve developed strep throat. I’ve had much pain when swallowing for three days now, and it’s not getting any better, so off to the doctor I go to be gagged with that swab thingy. If it is strep, I’m praying for quick-acting antibiotics since I’m supposed to sing on Sunday! I cancelled practice tonight, so we’ll be starting at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m. Sunday morning to practice and get sound set up. Can’t be avoided, though, I definitely can’t sing right now!

Today was also a day of sadness and joy. Sadness because my grandmother’s husband of the last 7 years died and went home at around 9 this morning. Joy because my dear friends Brandon and Brandi welcomed a new blessing from God named Jordan Elaine at 11:30 this morning. As my husband said, “One leaves the world, another enters it.” Bittersweet.