One Flat Tire & Three Blessings!

Ahhh...rural living. It really hits you when you have a flat tire! We don't have road service...can't afford it. I had an appointment in "town" after Dave got home. Afterward, I ran into the grocery store. I came back out to a flat. Ugh!

Naturally, the first thing I did was to call Dave. He was about 15 miles away with no way to get to me. Thankfully, it was still light out. He tried to call some people who might be able to help me...no small feat since we are still so new to the area.

In the meantime, I went back inside, at my honey's suggestion, to see if anyone inside could help. Sure enough, they sent a fine, strapping young lad out to help. He seemed more than willing. BUT, the back of the van was so filled with stuff all tangled together that we could not find the jack handle. In fact, we had difficulty getting to the jack itself.

Well, when we could not find the handle, there was nothing he could do, so he went to call the official guy who does this for people. Thing is...we were broke. I had just bought groceries and had nothing left. So, I had to tell him to call the guy back and tell him not to come.

Now, having PTSD, it does not take a whole lot to push me over the emotional edge. So, here I sit in the parking lot, with a flat tire and groceries, on the phone with Dave, toolboxes on the ground. Needless to say, I was in tears and not at my best. Dave had been calling people...but no one was available. They were either at work, sick or just plain unreachable.

I saw this guy pull up and get out. He has on a camo jacket and heads into the store. My first thought, because he pulled up right next to me, was that maybe it was the guy that was called. But he walks by me and into the store. I stood at the back of the van trying to dig through stuff and get it organized in the hopes of finding the jack handle.

Next thing I know I hear a voice behind me asking if I could use some assistance. I tried to get a grip and turned around to see the guy in the camo jacket with another guy standing there. It turned out that they work together. Through my tears I just told them that I had no money. They said it did not matter and would I like them to change my tire. Wow!

I was floored...and so grateful. One guy did not live far from there, so he went home and got a floor jack while the other one started to loosen the lug nuts. While they were working on the tire, a friend who used to manage the RV park where we stayed before we got onto the land showed up. Dave had gotten hold of her, but her hubby had the flu. She figured she would at least come and stay with me until help could be found. So, I had three people there with me, one of which I knew. What a blessing!

The Van's Across the Creek!

Well...Dave could not get enough ice broken up in the driveway before running out of steam. As sick as he has been, I hope he did not over do it. He actually had to back the van across the creek. It barely made it up the other bank, but he got it up there and then turned around. Tomorrow...if he is well enough to go in...he will have to walk down the icy driveway and across the creek. Hooboy! That country livin'!

Well, off to watch a movie together as a family...if we don't all fall asleep first from being so worn out. :)

Complaining Ramblings

I hate being sick and I don't like being isolated. I don't mind solitude. I love solitude. But I also like to be able to interact more with others. You know...be able to go the library once a week at least!

This was not part of the original plan...to be so rural with only one vehicle. We had it all planned out. Borrow on the van (which we owned outright) to pay for the septic; and then sell the van while we use the car (also owned outright). Some of the money from the van would help us to buy a second vehicle. But an accident changed all that in an instant.

When the car got totaled we were left with only the van...and a payment that we were not planning on having. With the payment things are too tight to do anything more than just get by...and if not for God's provision...we would not even be able to do that at times. There is nothing left to save to buy a vehicle and we cannot sell the van without already having another vehicle. Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard spot. One saving grace is that the land payment is very low! :)

But God is good! He has provided at times when we had NO idea how we were going to get by. He loves us...and for that we are very grateful. We have had many "plans" go awry, but He is there with us through it all. We have also learned that, while OUR plans may go awry...HIS never do! He is watching over us and teaching us so many things through all that we have been through. He is truly refining us and we are learning about what is really most important in life.

I know that He is coming again and I really want everyone to be ready...and isn't that really what we are supposed to be about instead of seeking all the creature comforts of this world? All in all...I am grateful for this little RV. Without it, we would have no place to live.

Oh, I still dream of being able to build some rooms...or even a small house of some kind. I still don't like it that we have stuff that is being destroyed by the weather because we have no way to adequately store it. I still hate not being able to find things, like clothing, that I KNOW I have and do not want to spend money to replace. But it IS all just "stuff". it will all perish, unlike our eternal spirits.

We are able to be happy and contented, knowing that God is going to bring us through this and out the other side. We don't know how. We don't know when. But then, we don't need to know...for He knows for us. Life is hard...for everyone. If it is not one thing, it is another. We have to choose to look for the blessings in life...like the beautiful snow...and the deer on our land...and our overall good health...and our love for one another!

God is good...and we are grateful to be His!