Sunday, April 4, 2010

I Guess Ask For What You Really Need!

Since I don't post to this blog a huge amount, I sometimes forget what I've posted about so sorry if any of this is redundant.

We've had a difficult past little while financially which is probably no news to anyone because why would we be different? Everyone's having a rough time unless for some reason you're in a recession proof job (incidentally I personally am in a recession proof industry but I'm not the primary bread-winner) and so we are at the whim of my husband's profession which unfortunately for us, is construction. He's done ok but for a while it was very rocky and this was right around the time that I had the baby and wanted desperately, for the first time ever, to just be home full-time with my girls. It didn't work out that way though.

At that time, my husband sold out of his company and left his truck with the other owners as partial payment of the % of debt that was his. And consequently we were down to one car. He bought a work-truck of sorts so that he'd have something to drive as he tried to start his own company. So we have our Jeep which is my primary car, and the work truck which is big, dirty and not very suitable for driving kids around when I've got the car and he's with them.

This whole situation is very new to us and we're having a hard time getting used to it. We live in a 2 car (at least) country right? Since I've been an adult, I've not ever had to share my car! And now, I have to always be conscious of the fact that if I take the car, I've left him home basically without a way to go do anything unless he drove the beast. I work a lot of Saturdays, evenings and often he'll come home early and I go to work. Plus, I'm at church every Sunday and he'd like to go to the hardware store or whatever. I'm often told to "hurry" or "just remember I'm stranded", or "you're really going to be gone all day?" And then I feel guilty...FOR WORKING! It's like the worst disparity of all time!

There's no way we could afford a new car. And I recently did our budget and we have a ton of debt. I diligently worked up a budget using Dave Ramsey's baby step program and worked out that in 9 years of perseverance, I can pay off all of our debt including our home. But that's not incurring any new debt! But how would we get another car and not incur new debt? The baby step program didn't include any extra savings plan or any way you can get big ticket items - there's virtually nothing left!

So I started praying. I was doing the right things. Doing my part, I mean. I didn't just throw it up to him and expect a miracle. I did ask for one though. I know people who have been given cars and I didn't think it unreasonable for me to ask for that! We deserve it!

Well, we were driving home from his parent's house yesterday after our Easter visit and he told me his dad has a little extended cab truck out in the back that has an engine block that needs replaced. His mom told him that we could have it if he wants to replace that engine. Todd looked it up online and said he could probably replace the engine for less than $1000. We can do that! What we can't do is serve up $10,000 for a used car and make payments!

I was shocked when he told me this. And I am usually extremely hesitant when I tell him spiritual things but I told him I'd prayed that we would be given a car. He was less than impressed, at least that's how he acted but really...that blows my mind! I mean, can you get a more direct answer to a prayer? And I'm sure that affected him - how could it not?

You guys, I'm stunned, humbled, so undeserving and grateful. Not for the car - I mean, ya I'm grateful and stunned and humbled for the car...but more to the Lord. He's paying attention to the things I'm doing. The efforts I'm making, the strides I'm taking to be responsible and to heed his words (get out of debt). And he wants to help ME! He put the answer right in my lap. What more proof does a person need that He is there and that He loves us and He wants us to be happy. Wow.

W.O.W.