It's a Praise the Lord Moment!

I have had two "Praise the Lord Moments" this week. First (let's hear a drum roll....), after waiting 11 months, our auto insurance company has finally agreed to pay our hospital bill ($2,000+) from our car accident last year!!! To read about the incident click here for part one and here for part two. The other guy's insurance company has also agreed to pay all of our out-of-pocket expenses that were incurred because of the accident. We are getting close to putting this all behind us. Woot-woot!!!Secondly... Well, I have been on work overload this month. I've been working 2-3 days a week covering for my friend who had gone job searching in California and pulling a day or two at the restaurant in addition to my regular daycare hours. So all together working 5-6 days a week, still keeping my evening obligations and nearly going out of my mind. I hate this schedule and earlier this week I was ready to pull my hair out. I want more time to be at home with my family and taking care of my house and my guys. Anyway, just when I thought I was at the brink of exhaustion, my friend calls me and says she is coming home, which is earlier than I expected her to come home and will be able to work her hours at the daycare next week. (Can I hear another woot-woot?!?) PRAISE THE LORD! I think knowing that me schedule is about to relax has given me an extra dose of energy today because I am nowhere near as tired as I was Monday and Tuesday of this week. Another praise the Lord!

I have no picture for this moment.

Dad's Right Hand Man

Josh loves helping his Daddy. What ever Daddy is doing, Josh has to be right up front and center, his Dad's right hand man. I'm pretty sure that Joshua's world revolves around Adam. That's not to say that I am not important to him, because I am. He still comes to me when he needs "Mom" time. But I'm pretty sure that there are not tears rolling down Josh's face when I leave him at home. This morning, as Josh watched his Daddy pull out of the driveway and up the hill, his cries got more desperate the farther his Daddy went. And yes, there were tears. All this said, to lead into how Josh wants to help with anything and everything, even if it is washing the car. Especially if it is washing the car. Who can ask for anything better than water, soap, the hose and Daddy? That is the ultimate in summer fun for a small boy. I'm not sure if it's the ultimate for Daddy, but it sure made a small boy's day.

*Notice that men of all ages work very well with a freezie-pop in hand.

A Few Words

Just a few words to say... It is late, and I have been avoiding my blog because it is neglected... Again. But cheers to all!

We have bought a new car. (HOORAY!) This time we did not get a SUV, though I will miss mine terribly (and still look with longing at any Ford Escape that goes by...), but a Honda Accord. I already love it and have a hard time believing that it it the car that I drive. Yes, it is just. that. pretty. It's a 2006 and a really nice color. They call the color graphite, which makes complete sense. It's strange though, when I drive it, I have this very increased paranoia of getting in an accident. Just being honest here. I never used to feel that way when I drove my first couple of cars. But now I feel extra vulnerable. Wouldn't have anything to do with being in an accident already, would it? Hmmm..... During our search for a vehicle, we did briefly mention minivans, but neither Adam or I were ready to feel just so "old". And, although, we would looove more kids, we are just not sure when God will see fit to so bless us with another addition. So we felt it was okay to get a car. Save gas, save time, save money. (Okay, I just threw the save time in there for fun.) I'll put up a picture when I get around to it. (That is one way of saying "no grarantees.)

Onto another pleasant subject... Gardens. :) I can't help but smile. I love flowers. I love greens. I love the dirt.

I'm sorry, but I had to take a slight detour from the garden topic. As I sit and type, I hear a "choo-choo" coming from Joshua's room. He keeps several books in his bed that make noise. I am not sure if he rolled in his sleep or if he is still up (hopefully not the latter), but his Thomas the Train Engine Book was chooing. Josh loves trains. On our way to daycare a week or two ago, we had the very good fortune of being stopped at a train crossing. This very rarely happens on this particular road, and to make it even better, we were first in line. So this train engine comes by with one car, tooting and chooing and making train-like noises... Josh was fascinated. I think that train made his day. It was great. For the next 15 minutes of drive time, Josh sat in the back "choo-chooing" all the way. And a few days later, my Aunt gives us her kids' old Brio train set. Wooden tracks, little trains, bridges, and farm animals. Perfect timing. What a great toy. Growing up, we had a set almost identical, and all through our childhood years my brothers and I would set up elaborate towns, tracks, roads, homes... The works. So I am glad to have the opportunity to plays trains with Joshua now. He already loves the train engines and will walk around the house going "choo-choo". Good old classic toys...

Well, the garden stories will have to wait. It is late and sleep is calling. Keep praying for Stephanie. She hasn't had her baby yet. Her water broke last night at 8:00pm and at 7:30 this evening she was still only 2 cm dialated, according to her brothers' facebook. I am so anxious... I wish I knew how she was doing. I cannot imagine being in labor for so long. Josh came so quick. I hope she is doing okay and getting some rest between contractions...

The Second Half of our Dramatic Weekend

Sorry that last post sounded so miserable, but I was trying to help you see the whole picture. The very real feeling of being helpless. So thankful I am for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And for my family and the prayers of those who love us. While Adam was haggling with the car-rental man, he also was on the phone with his father, Bob. Bob was ready to buy a ticket at that moment and fly down to help us. I know my Dad would've done the same, if we had asked. After we had secured a rental car for 24 hours, we drove out to the junk yard to get our stuff out of our car. This is what greeted us, and once again my emotions rose up inside of me.We pulled out our luggage, papers, Adam's golf clubs and my borrowed set of clubs, my flip-flops, which had been left behind the night before, and anything else which was of any importance. My Bible, which I had been reading earlier during our drive through Ohio, was saturated with coffee. So I left that behind with a note saying Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for his goodness and protection. Perhaps someone will read it and be touched by my Savior's love. And then we left.

We decided that, since we had already paid for a hotel close to Nashville, we would continue on our way, even though Adam had had zero sleep. We would make the best of it. Sleep sounded really good and we knew we could really rest once we got to our hotel. (Thanks for the advice Dad.) The last couple hours of travel went smoothly and a bed awaited us upon arrival. A shower never felt nicer. Sleep was never so good. Bob had booked a flight and was coming in at 7:30. Things were going to work out. We were alive and determined to make the best of our vacation.

The Moral of That Story

Phew! We're home from our crazy trip to Nashville. Things didn't go quite as we had planned, as we made a detour half way through Kentucky to go to the hospital. The moral of that story is simply "Do not drink and drive". It's that simple. Just don't do it folks, you could ruin someone's vacation. Or worse.

It was about 9:00 pm and we pulled off the interstate for some coffee and to top off our gas tank. We had been driving pretty much all day, but we had 2 1/2 hours to go before we would get to our hotel. The guy at McDonald's literally took 20+ minutes to get the coffee. First it wasn't made, then we had to wait, after which he forgot us. I had to go in and ask if it was ready... Anyway, our quick stop for coffee turned into an extended stay. When we were finally going to get back on I-65, we began driving over the bridge under our green light. When we were pulling through the intersection, we caught sight of a car coming from the opposite direction, turning directly into our path. Before I knew it, I heard a smash and the car began to tip over. I remember everything in slow motion, as it happened:

Smash. Tip. Brace myself. Elbow drags along in the glass as it smashes on the asphalt. I watch Adam as his head hits the ceiling, his arms fly "up" while the car continues to roll onto it's roof. Oh my goodness... Our car just rolled over. Hyperventilate. Adam unbuckles, which cues me to do the same. I crawl out the smashed window. There is Adam holding his head. He tells me his head hurts and I urge him to sit down. All I can think is that he is going to pass out. Sirens. There is already an ambulance on the scene. We were two minutes from a hospital and the ambulance crew saw the whole thing. We sit at the bottom of a light pole, while the police ask questions and the medical personnel wrap our wounds in gauze. My arm has a pretty big gash in it and Adam's head is dripping blood. The cop mentions something about the other driver being 10-40 - Police talk for DWI. We are alive, walking, talking and praising Jesus that we are alive. And our car is totaled. And we are more than 600 miles from home. Neither I nor Adam know anyone who lives in Kentucky.

Six hours, 33 stitches, and four staples later, Adam and I hitch a ride (via taxi) to the nearest car rental, which happens to be at the Louisville Airport. It is around 4:30 am and we sleep/rest our eyes while waiting for the car rental to open. Mind you, we have had no sleep, look and smell terrible, have blood on our clothing and I have no shoes. I have hospital slipper socks on, which are 3x's too big, and am using a hospital scrub shirt as a blanket. (I am forever thankful for kind hospital nurses.) Upon opening, Adam haggles with the car rental man for two hours, because we are "unable" to rent a car. He is absolutely exhausted and the man is not being very understanding at all. Apparently, we couldn't use our bank card to rent a car, for whatever reason, even though we had enough money in there to be able to. And our emergency credit card we had left home, and even though we had all our numbers for it, we couldn't use it because it was against their "policy". Imagine yourself in Adam's shoes for a minute. You and your wife were just hit by a drunk driver. You're 12 hours from home, know no one, have no car. Haven't slept a wink. Your head hurts, your wife has no shoes and has 33 stitches in her arm. Your credit card won't work and the one that would work, is against "policy" to use. The smart looking, well dressed, clean, rental-car man, has this smug look on his face and is COMPLETELY unwilling to help you. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do." Adam tells me about it. We have no idea what to do. We are stuck. No way to get our stuff, no way to get to our hotel or any hotel at that. All alone. There is to cab in the taxi booth, so trying my best to gather myself together, and hoping for a smidgen of pity or goodwill from the car-rental man if I talked to him. After all, wouldn't you think he would've had some sort of desire to help the couple in distress, especially if the wife asked? This is where I saw the smug look. Maybe I imagined it, but I don't think he had one ounce of pity and even a desire to help. I asked him to call a cab. That is all. And then I started to cry. I told him I didn't even have any shoes. I was exhausted and Adam said, "Come on Beth. He doesn't care." I went out to the pick up lane outside the airport to wait for out cab to come. Adam was still inside. But I slid down to the ground next to a concrete pillar. 6:30 in the morning. The air was cool and you could hear birds, cars and distant airport noise. And the tears began to roll down my cheeks. I prayed. I felt so alone. God, please help us! Send someone who cares! Shortly thereafter, I heard Adam call me. He had asked the car-rental man if he could give us a car for one day. Just one day, instead of a week. And then it worked. So God didn't send someone, but He did give us a car. For one day. Thank you Jesus. A bight spot at the end of the tunnel. And starting there our vacation got better. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for his goodness and protection. Watching over us when our lives were in danger and when there was no one who seemed to care. I am so glad my life is in his hands.

So the moral of my story is:

#1 Don't drink and drive
#2 Don't leave your major credit card home when you go on vacation
#3 Rent a car or fly
and most importantly...
#4 Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to be your protector and deliverer of your soul

I'll post car pictures when my camera battery has charged.

New Wheels are Turning

Well, folks... I have a new vehicle. My Nissan was rear-ended last week and bumped and bruised. Seeing as the car has 245,000 some-odd miles on it, we decided it wasn't worth getting it fixed. And since we were thinking about getting a newer car anyway, it just got pushed closer. So my Adam went car shopping (at Van Bortel Ford) and he found a nice Ford Escape. It's kinda like a small SUV and very good for things. Like putting things in it, hauling things, going places with things, and things like that. I like it a lot and it is fun to drive. The Escape is a 2003 and is dark forest green. Quite stylish. Adam has good taste, although he did have to ask me if I liked it. We still have my Nissan, though when Adam starts his new job next week, we'll be getting rid of it shortly thereafter. You see, he can't drive his own company van to work (because Betlem also has a residential department), so he has to drive something else until he get's a Betlem company van. So things are kinda changing 'round here. New vehicles, new jobs, new seasons, but no new kids. But Louis is like a kid, and he's getting big... Well, maybe eventually I'll put a pic of my new car on here... but then maybe that's kinda stupid. Although Jim did it when he got a new car... We'll see.
Tomorrow is the Apple Blossom Festival. Maybe we'll go. Sounds like fun...

Smash 'Em Up

Hello there blogging world! I haven't blogged in a few days, but I've either been a little busy or a little tired. Well, I've had my very first car accident. I slid into the back of a pick up the other day when the roads were slippery. The officer who stopped to make sure everything was ok said that he had almost slid through it earlier that morning. He was really nice and didn't give me a ticket. And the guy I slid into was also nice, prolly cause I didn't hurt his truck. His truck hurt my car though. Smushed my hood, so it had a wrinkle, cracked my bumper, and smashed the grate in the front of the car. Adam said I might need a new headlight cause that was whacked too. But, thank the Lord, my car is still running and nothing is leaking or rattling about. Adam is a good fix-it too, because he banged my hood so it isn't as wrinkled anymore :) And he said people drive worse things around, so I can still drive it. It might not pass inspection because the bumper is cracked, but I don't need an inspection till August, so I don't have to worry. It was a good thing I had had given myself so much time to slow down because if I hadn't I'm not sure I could still drive my little car... See I knew the roads were bad so I gave myself lots of space to stop, but not enough to stop if my brakes weren't going to stop the car. Now it just looks like my car is missing a few "teeth". Praise the Lord, cause He is good. P.S. My picture thing works! Yeah!

Car Trouble and More

My car is once again in the garage. And I don't mean my own garage. The battery light is on which means the alternater is bad. Dan, the fix-it-man, said he would look at it and maybe have somebody rebuild the bad parts, instead of buying a new one because of the age of my car and how many miles are on it. Adam and I were hoping it was just the battery, but after we replaced the battery yesterday, the light was still on. So the battery just wasn't recharging. Dan was afraid I wouldn't make it up to the shop, but said to come during the day when it was still light out so I wouldn't have to use headlights. I couldn't even use the heater because that might drain the battery. It was a cold drive to Courtesy Auto. Good thing it wasn't too far. Now I have to find something to drive to work tomorrow. Do you think my brother would loan me his old car? My in-laws need their truck 'cause their van's also in the shop. We just have too much car trouble.

Speaking of trouble, Louis has tapeworms. Yuck. Poor little guy, no wonder he is always so hungry. We need to have him dewormized. The vet in Williamson said it was $32 for a vet visit and then medicine $ on top of that. I called my parents vet in Sodus and they said it would be $7.20 for medicine, no vet examination needed. Sounds like a better deal to me. Just means I would need to drive to Sodus... Life just doesn't slow down, does it?

Good news... I got the book I ordered in the mail today! I ordered it off Amazon (good place to get books... cheaper than Borders and Barnes and Noble). It is a storybook by Robert McClosky. Has three whole stories in it! Blueberries for Sal, Lentil, and One Morning in Maine. I am so excited! Maybe Adam will let me read it to him... ok, maybe not. Anyway I bought it for a grand total of $10.43 ( including shipping) when one would've had to pay $19.99 for it at Borders-and that's not including tax. I am such a bargain hunter!!!