Still Raining...

I am, by choice, a glass-half-full person. I work very hard to see the positive in most things, and not to let stresses get me down.

This last month has provided me plenty of opportunities to practice that habit.

Marty's Grandma was doing much better. They had found a medicine to help her digest her food, and she was starting to eat. She felt so much better that she decided she wanted to brush her hair, and tried to get out of bed, by herself, to reach a brush. She fell and broke her hip and her shoulder in three places. Now, she has pneumonia, and is too sick to have the breaks operated on, so she is in a great deal of pain and very sick. She needs a miracle. Would you join me in praying that God grants her one?

We took my van into the shop yesterday to find out why it was making some strange noises. The diagnosis is that it is fixable, but will cost more than the van is worth, and they suspect that there are other issues that will surface once the known problems are fixed. (Side note: a huge thank you to Chuck's Midtown Motors in Bellingham. These guys are some of the most honest mechanics I know, they told me everything they knew was wrong, and alerted me to problems that had not yet surfaced, but were forthcoming. They knew they were talking me out of the repair, but had my best interest in mind. They are great!)

Last night I went van-shopping. Personally, I am a little bit excited at the prospect of a new van, since I could really use an upgrade. But my van has been great, and there is a part of me that doesn't want to let it go. We brought three of our children home from the hospital in this van. Yes, I am one of those people that gets emotionally attached to inanimate objects. Even ones that don't have a working speedometer. Or a gas gauge.

On the bright side, I am very thankful that the kids are still healthy. Drew's ear infections have cleared up and he is doing better. I am thankful for my dear friend Kristen who is letting me borrow her Durango for a week while I find a new van. I am thankful for her husband, Tom, who didn't say, "You want to let Tiffani borrow a car? No way, she's crazy!" I am thankful for everyone who is helping us out in this car-buying process (you know who you are!) and I am thankful that God has his hand in my life and isn't surprised by any of this. He knows where my next van is, and I just need to listen to Him to find it.

Meanwhile, the sun is shining, and the glass is still half-full.