New (to us) Van!

For the last four years we have been a single car family. It was not the easiest but really it wasn't the worst either. While living in Nashville Jakob bought a scooter and that was our second vehicle. The system worked, Jakob would ride his scooter to work, and I would drive the car. Some days it would be raining or too cold to ride the scooter and Jakob would need the car, and that is when it got tricky. Last year, both kids were in two different schools and they took the bus. the system was a juggle but it worked. Then one day Jakob's brother Chad and sister-in-law Janet called and asked us if we would like their van. For free.

Not only did they gift us a van, they washed the carpets, fixed a broken windshield, fixed locks and doors and so so much more. Then Janet in in the van and drove it 18 +/- hours from Houston to our house the day before we left on our trip to Vegas. I honestly can't even tell you how grateful we are!!

Janet showed up to our house  with a beautiful car, complete with balloons. This woman goes all out.

We are so happy and so thankful. We can all fit in the van, the doors are automatic, we have a video player, we can put our whole family, plus luggage and extra family members!!! I am officially a minivan Mom!

Thank you Janet! thank you for driving, thank you for the van and thank you for all of the hard work you did. You are amazing!!!!!!

Fair the Well Goldilocks

 As before mentioned our poor Goldilocks was stolen and lit on fire. When they called and said that I could come and take a look at it I assumed that it would be pretty beat up, a few burnt things but I was not expecting THIS! There was just shy of NOTHING left! 

 That is the front end sitting on what used to be the front seats. 

 The trunk. Needless to say the people who took her had a good time. I'm sorry your end was so violent old girl! You served our little family well. 

So we got a 2016 CRV and we LOVE it! Clean, classy, reliable and doesn't even shake when you accelerate or brake. It has been one expensive month in this Tobler home!

Lost Car

On Friday night I woke up to a strange pounding sound. To me in my sleepy mind it sounded like someone hammering in yard sale signs. It went on for a solid minute or two and I asked Jakob what he thought it was, only he didn't wake up. After hearing it again I finally woke Jakob up and we both listed. At this point I wish I would have looked at my clock to see what time it was (it was 3:00a.m.) we heard the pounding again and then some car started and car light flicked on and they drove away. We both went back to sleep. Jakob thought, that sounds like our car... it was. 

Jakob woke up to go toe the gym 2 hours later and the car was gone. Yeah, it was a bit baffling. We called the police who said that usually kids steal them, go joy riding and then dump them somewhere. So we had some hope that it may if fact be returned to us, a little worse for wear but still driveable. They also ended up taking the car seats, which aren't cheap to replace and that car had the stereo that my Daddy installed. He said "No girl should be without a radio." and he worked really hard to get that stereo to work and while I know the car would eventually die, it was a bit mad that yet again another piece of my Dad was taken away. 

Well today thy found our car. Someone had lit it on fire. And while I am really just angry about the entire situation, the fact that they burnt the car just puts me over the edge. While I am grateful that at least there was nothing truly expensive or valuable in the car, and even more grateful that no one was hurt, I am still frustrated. They took our ONLY car and at a rather inconvenient time. And while we are blessed to even have a vehicle, and we are blessed that Jakob has a good job where we will be able to buy a new car without it being a great struggle, it just wasn't in the plan. Just goes to show be grateful for what you have an to follow promptings and instincts when you have them. RIP Goldilocks! You were a good car and I'm sorry your end was so violent!

Golilocks

One Sunday morning we were getting in the car to go to church. Everyone was buckled I had started the car to get the air running and then Jakob climbed in. He went to put the car into reverse and it died. Just plain died. 

So we all unloaded and Daddy set to work. (With his little assistant.)

 8 hours later, she was still dead. So we decided to toe it to the mechanics. So thankful for Preston who towed the car with his truck. 

So our only car was dead... and who knew for how long. In my mind we would only have to wait until Monday morning for them to look at it and hopefully we would have it back in a day or two. I was wrong... for some reason, it took MUCH longer than that. We also were in the process of purchasing a house, so we couldn't get a loan for a new car and used cars are just ridiculously expensive right now. So I posted the news on Facebook and shortly after my friend Hattie called me up. They were out of town and did not need their car so they lent it to us for two weeks.

Once they had returned Barb called me up and informed us that they too would be out of town for a week and we were more than welcome to borrow their car. We had a BBQ and invited some friends over and Heather asked what had happened with our car. At this point it was just sitting at the mechanic's while they were waiting for a part that was no longer being made (let me tell you it was frustrating.) I told her that Barb would soon be home and then we would be carless again unless we rented. She happily said, well I don't need my van since half of my family it out of town, you're welcome to it! SERIOUSLY!!!! WE HAVE THE MOST INCREDIBLE FRIENDS EVER! We didn't go ONE SINGLE day without a vehicle! After just shy of a month, the mechanic decided that they had no idea what was wrong and they transferred it over to another mechanic, who fixed the problem within a day. We are so happy to have our car back, and working and we are so happy that we won't have to be purchasing a new car for a little bit anyways. Once again a huge HUGE thank you to our friends who saw a need and just volunteered to help without hesitation! Words cannot do our gratitude justice! We are so very very blessed!