Momma's Got a New Ride

Yesterday I got a new car.  The last time we bought a car was when I went back to work after maternity leave with my youngest daughter. Who is now 9.  "Sally Sally", my old car (you can tell she was named by a 3 year old), was starting to have a hard time.  We have been saying we were going to buy a new one since March.  But nobody was ready to have a car payment again.  We are getting ready to go on a road trip to Georgia and it was either replace her, or rent something.  It was time.

While the process was somewhat aggravating, I had some insight about a few things that I'd like to share.

We always buy used cars.  I just personally feel like buying a new car is a huge waste of money.  That's just me.  It's funny when you are driving a car around and falling in love with it and realize that someone else didn't want it.  "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is really true, I guess.

The thing about used cars is, they aren't perfect.  There is going to be a stain or a scratch somewhere.  It's really about what you can live with.  What bothers you so much you can't get past it? We all have our faults.  Some are more obvious.  And some are in the back and you can't really even see them unless you are looking for it.  

I am such a girl when I buy cars.  Find the most ridiculous feature. like a heated cup holder (hey, they should look into that!) and I just geek out.  My new car has a heated steering wheel.  My husband says, "Who would want a heated steering wheel?"  To which I responded, "Shut up!  I would!"  So, as with much of life, it's the little things that mean a lot.  Those little features are what made each car unique from one another.  Kind of like people.

There were a couple of times we were looking at something and it just didn't feel right.  It's like we were trying to force it to happen. I had no peace about it.  Let God help you out.  Pray, ask, listen.  When the right thing comes along, ever notice how the process suddenly becomes super easy?  Everything just falls into place.

I considered buying the Mystery Machine.  I am just entirely too short for it.

We got such a great deal on our car, our initial reaction about the car was, "What's wrong with it?"  It's good to be cautious.  It's good to do your research.  But don't be so suspicious that you block God's blessings for you!  

One thing I read awhile back was that you need to take care of what you have in order for God to bless you with more.  In other words, is God going to bless you with a new vehicle if you don't take care of the one you have and all you do is complain about it?  Made my last few months with Sally Sally a little different.

Sally, Sally (the car, not the girl)

When I went to trade Sally in, as we checked the car for personal items, I got really choked up.  I started thinking about the 2 trips she made with us to Disney.  And the time we went to "Atlantica" (Atlanta for you grown folks) and basially the whole highlight reel from our road trips for the last 9 years.  And I did get a little teary eyed, I'm not gonna lie.  Even when you're ready to move on, sometimes it's hard.  My 9 year old was really upset about trading the car.  It was the only car she had ever known. Sometimes you can be afraid to let go of the only thing you've ever known.  You have to move on to get to the good stuff.

One of the best parts was bringing it home.  We came down the street honking the horn.  It was funny to watch the girl's faces like "Who's that crazy person honking the horn?".  As we got to the driveway, then they realized it was their parents!  (I'm sure they thought, "Oh, it's OUR crazy people)  We showed them all the bells and whistles.  They were so thrilled.  It is awesome to share your joy with others.

We took the girls around the block and they just did not want to get out.  "Please take us for a ride somewhere, Mom!" they begged.  So everybody got back in the car and I just drove.  I drove out to the country and half of Team Holmes fell asleep (I was not part of the half, you will be happy to know).  I basked in the joy of my new ride and all it's new fancy features.  I basked in the joy of my family's joy.  I basked in the joy that God blessed us like crazy with a great car at a great price just in time for our road trip.  I basked in the joy that half of Team Holmes was already sleeping in the car, like she had always been a part of our family.  

By the way, we named her Thunder Cat, because she purrs like a panther when you step on the gas.  Oh yeah....Momma's got a V8!

Look out Georgia, here we come!

K