Like Clockwork

Why is it that some things come every year just like clockwork?  One in particular that I do not look forward to is every February without fail we have vehicle maintenance issues.  This year I thought we might escape it, but no luck.  My van has a few little issues that, I have to admit, we've been putting off a little bit, and last week Dan came home and informed me that his brakes were grinding, plus his driver's side window wouldn't go up.  So, into the shop it went as the pressing issue since he needs to commute to work. 

Too much money later and this morning my van chugged out and died on my way to drop kids at school.  It started again, but that means it's time to call the tow truck and take it in as well.  The price you pay when you don't drive new vehicles.

But, I have to make my list of positives in all this chaos:

-the van acted up in our parking lot and I had the presence of mind to park it at the abandoned school, backed in and waiting for my BCAA tow.  We were not in the middle of a busy Coquitlam street.
-Dan has been very fortunate with that little car we got for cheap from the Calgary mission.  It's been a great little commuter without any major issues, and with this last bit of work it should be good for a while, which we will need when we try to re-register in Alberta and he needs a car to get to and from his placement.
-We held onto a student loan cheque all year knowing that there might be a rainy day and tried our best to do without digging into it.  Mind you, I had hoped it would be our moving fund, but using it to repair used vehicles is a pretty close second
-We do not have a new vehicle, so no huge monthly payments.  So far, the dreaded maintenance has still not equalled what a car payment would be over the course of a year.

In the past I would have been panicking a little, gasping for breath and spending all day (and night) trying to crunch numbers and figure out how to make this work.  But this time I feel a little more calm.  Changing my outlook in the past few months and trying to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in everything has helped me see that there is always a plan and a way, and everything always works out. 

I am reminded of something my mom used to tell me:  If you pay your tithing you might never be rich, but somehow things will always turn out.  And they do.

I have to wonder, though, if Canadian Tire has a "frequent fixer" plan?  hee hee.