Friday, October 20, 2023

October 20, 2023 Back-to-back Birthdays, Back-to-back Blessings

 

It's been a crazy week including back-to-back birthdays with the lovely ladies above. On Wednesday #M turned SEVENTEEN! or siebzehn as they say it locally. (Can you hear her father sigh?) and on Thursday #L turned TWELVE! or zwolf.  (Another paternal sign and eye roll!) So there's been special meals, confetti and streamers and gift wrap all over the place...and even a crown.  That's just as it should be when you celebrate the blessing of these two lives and the amazing gift from God they are to us and all who know them. Happy birthday(s) girls!  

Thursday, October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023 It all started with a trip to the orthodontist...

 


First, praise God for no injuries, one bar of cell service and the local equivalent to AAA.  It was supposed to a be quick trip to the orthodontist but Ford decided differently.  The drive takes us through the mountains, in a pretty remote part of the forest, as the doctor's office is 20-30 minutes away.  As we were heading up the hill above, sputter, flashing light on the dash, sputter and then nothing, the car died, deader than a hammer.  Put on the flashers, rolled back letting gravity pulls us as far to the side of the road as possible without ending up in a substantial ditch, put our handy high-vis vests on (required for every passenger here), put a warning triangle (also required here) out down the road a bit to give other drivers a headsup and called a tow truck....and waited.  You wouldnt believe how many passersby stopped to check on us, so that was a blessing.  Tow truck arrived, driver proceeded to winch the car onto the flatbed and POOOOW the little screw-in tow hook supplied by the manufacturer (see above) snapped.  Thankfully neither the car, the tow truck, the tow truck driver or the American in the highlighter yellow vest (also pictured above) were injured.  Try two, loaded and off to the garage.  
So that situation was a pretty big win considering all the variables that could have gone awry, plenty of reasons for gratitude.  To be fair, my demeanor and attitude didnt start off exactly positive, as the kids will attest to, however, as with all things, HE caused it to work to the good.  Now, let's see how long it takes to get the vehicle fixed.