Jason and I are SO blessed! This week has been a whirlwind of a week and a lot has seemed to have happened. At the beginning of the year Jason and I were able to become debt free (except for the house/mortgage of course) because of a very selfless, loving family member. Thru that act I really began to pray about whether or not we could also use our resources to help others. I hadn't told Jason about the fact that I was praying about this, but after about a week he came home from work and told of a need that had come up in our very own church. Weird. So we talked about it some more and decided on a plan.
"Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to." Deut. 15:10
Low and behold just this week we have been blessed yet again! And I don't normally throw out words like 'being blessed' or things like that, but in these instances I can't think of any other way to say it!! Jason received an email thru the campus mail system of a van for sale. We know the family selling it, the price was very reasonable for the age and functionability of it. Unfortunately at first we found out we were 3rd in line to even look at it, let alone make an offer. By the end of the first day the email had been sent out, one person had backed out. The other family happened to be another couple from our church! So we thought for sure they would get it and we should just count our blessings on the fact that we still had two working vehicles. (We had also decided at the beginning of the year to put some $ into my car and run it until we could save up for a more functional vehicle for me; aka a minivan.) Well....we got a call from that couple the next morning saying that they really liked the van but had decided that it was more of a want than a need - we on the other hand had more of a need at this stage in your lives. (They're an older couple w/ a grandkid) So they backed out for us. Jason and I went to look at the van that afternoon, took it abt. for a spin, had several opinions/inspections done and made the purchase this morning! So instead of putting that initial $ into my car we decided to go with the minivan. If that makes sense. Take a look at my 'new' ride!
It's a '99 Silver Pontiac Montana
Each row of seating in the back is 'a seat & a half.' Both fold down and up for more room. Or can be taken out. The don't fold into the bottom of the car. That's a pretty new feature on vans. Two sliding doors - one on either side. Tinted windows.
I've now also upgraded from a tape/cassette player to a CD player w/ AM/FM radio. :) Overall it's a really smooth ride. A lot smoother than I initially anticipated. It is also an extended model so there's lots of room in the back for those evenings at the drive in, camping trips, cargo hauling, etc. We're really excited about this and wanted to share! Next time you see us we'll be arriving w/ room to cart the whole family! God is Good!
Keira also chooses to wear her Princess PJ's as OFTEN as she can :) 
Look at that craaaaazy hair! 
Please notice the princess stickers for Gramma & Annika and the Spider-man for Jon. 
Here is Keira's creation w/ her favorite princess sticker - Arial. 
Next we displayed our artwork - on the fridge. :) 
This was taken at a different time, but she just curled herself up on this boppy and was reading Nemo. Also, wearing a princess shirt. She loves to pretend that she's reading. Most of the time she'll get the characters right, just not what they're doing. And she 'reads' with such enthusiasm! I'll see if I can get a video of it sometime soon. 
