Counting My Blessings

Yesterday was a crazy, crazy day.  Crazy.  But this morning I am counting my blessings--big time ;)

Last night, as I was leaving Jessica's house after tutoring--I had picked up my kids and we were heading home--I noticed a funny smell coming from my car (a 2001 Mazda Tribute) and a weird sound as I put on the brake at a stop sign.  I (being the genius that I am) decided to keep going.  I'll be honest, I was in denial just a little bit because I just wanted to get home and get the kids bathed and in bed, I was so tired.  I did try to call Scott, but he didn't answer, so I drove on to the red light at the entrance of the subdivision (it's a big subdivision), and at that point, I noticed the smell was getting worse and smoke was coming from the engine.  Now, in one of my finer moments of life, I just froze.  Ada was asking if we should get out of the car, and I was just sitting there frozen and not knowing what to do.  Luckily--Praise the Lord--two men drove up beside me, and having more sense than me--started yelling, "mam, get out of your car and get your kids out of your car."  Still a bit stunned, in disbelief that what was happening was really happening, I did get out of my car, but probably slower than they thought was good, so they continued to yell, "mam, get your kids out of your car!!"  So, I did, and I managed to grab my purse and diaper bag and head to a grassy area away from the car.  Even then, I was looking back at the car, thinking I needed to get other things out.  As smoke continued to come out of the engine.  Again, in a bit of shock, maybe?  I just started walking back towards Jessica's house, which isn't a far distance, but I was nervous with John not being in a stroller because he doesn't yet have a sense to stay out of the road and stay near to mom, plus my reaction time was a little numb.  Again, praise the Lord, a kind, kind man, pulled over to ask if that was my car smoking at the entrance.  When I said yes, he said he would drive us to Jessica's house, and he advised me to call 911.  Again, in one of my finer moments of life, I had not yet done that.

Here's the thing.  I am a melancholy, pessimistic person, yes, but I always assume in these types of situations that the worst thing isn't what is happening.  Surely my car is not catching on fire!!!!  Doesn't that only happen after a really bad wreck?!!!  So, in my mind, I wondered if I need a mechanic, not 911.  Again, I am just being honest with you.  Stupid?  Maybe.  But, thankfully, this man had more sense than me, and I decided to go with what he was saying ;)  So, I did call 911.  When I got to Jessica's house, her husband John (we'll call him John H. to distinguish him from my John) also had sense enough to know this was a BAD SITUATION, and he grabbed the fire extinguisher and headed back to "the scene."  I stayed at the house with Jessica and our kids, and I was still a little bit shocked, frozen, "surely this isn't really happening."

Long story short, it was happening.  My car--our "good car" at that--caught on fire.  CAUGHT ON FIRE.  Isn't that so random?!!!  I am praising the Lord that it all happened the way that it did, and that so many people came along with much more presence of mind than me to think for me.  For the record, in case you hadn't figured it out from this post, I am horrible in emergency situations.  Like, the absolute last person you want with you.  Seriously.  God was also good because once John H. got back to the car and as he was hosing it with the extinguisher, he was also grabbing things out--car seats, Ada's bike that was in the back from a trip to the park, and what is most important to me--"Clementine," Ada's American Girl bitty baby.  I dreaded having to explain to my little girl that Clementine was no longer with us.  She had apparently already been asking Jessica about Clementine back at the house.  In fact, before I knew that John H. had been able to grab the doll, I was watching the firemen hose our car, and all I could picture was little Clementine sitting in between Ada and John in the back seat.  At that point, I said to John, and I think the policeman standing there, "not that it matters at this point, but there was a baby doll in the back seat..." and John told me then that no, in fact that doll was in the back of his truck.  It's such a small thing, but I am so thankful for Ada's sake (she was also very shaken up last night, and woke up several times through out the night) that Clementine was spared.

We are a bit in shock, as all of a sudden we are down to one car, just like that.  But there are blessings here--in abundance--our protection, for one.  Thank you, Lord!!!  And we live within walking distance to a lot of places, so the kids and I will not be as isolated as we could be--we can walk to CVS if we need something, several fast food places, and our town's square, so we aren't stuck.  We can't, however, walk to Sonic ;)  And we are just praying that the Lord provide a car.  We are looking into what our options are, and we are trusting him with this (and worrying too, and then praying, and then trusting again).   God knows the details of this situation.  He can provide a car.  In our mind, we were going to the beach and we were going to throw all our money at savings and debt, and in about two years (we have prayed that our cars would last another two years), we would start saving for a van, but God has thrown us into this situation, and we are canceling our plans and turning to Him to ask him what to do.  We are praying for wisdom and clarity.  And, I am also praying that he does something crazy and shows us how to purchase a new-to-us car and also still go to the beach ;)  I know that is probably not his plan, but I can pray for it, can't I?

 Bottom line, we are thankful for his protection.  It could have been so much worse.  He is good and he is sovereign, and I am asking him to help me rest in that truth.