"Mom, what's wrong with our car?"

I only told you I would limit my misfortune.  This is a prime example of why I think God has a sense of humor.  Our weather has been crazy.  I mean, absurd.  Growing up in Eastern NC only prepared me for two things : Wind and Rain.  We have already missed two days of school this week for 'Inclement Weather'.  This most often makes me late or absent from work as I worry with todays society that I shouldn't be leaving the kids at home alone.  Shorter workweek = shorter paycheck.  No problem.  Money isn't everything and we make due with what we have.  Thanks for my blessings, God.

So since we have no school on my day off ~ everyone is bored and the neighborhood kids end up at my house.  Again, no problem.  I love being around the kids and listening to them uncover new realizations.  I love my children.  Thanks for my blessings, God.

Time comes last night to start getting the kids home that don't live here.  I load everyone up in the Volvo, take them down the road and off to their beds for school in the morning.  Hannah and I head home...  once we reached the darkest, wetest, least likely to have cell phone signal stretch of our route.. the car sputters to a slow, painful stop.  We're out of gas. 
"Mom, what's wrong with our car?"
"Well, I don't know."
"What are we gonna do?"  (starting to panic just a weensy bit)
"We'll call Ben."
Ben doesn't answer.  Must still have his phone on silent from work.
"Want me to call Rose?"  Hannah is by now about to freak out.  We can't walk anywhere because it's twenty two degrees and I'm wearing flip flops and a bathrobe.  Yeah yeah, we'll get back to why I'm still in my housecoat with greasy hair later.
I'm still trying to call my husband.  It sure is dark.
"Rose is on the way."
Hannah called her friends mom to come pick me up.  Nice.  Answer the phone, Ben!
I admit at this point, I'm thinking I'm a COMPLETE idiot for not getting gas when I was running my errands.  Or even to consider that I might need gas.  DUH.  I can be the ultimate blonde at times.  But still... as I'm sitting here, in the cold, dark, wet night.... I still don't get upset or angry or frustrated.  Help will come.  We're okay, and we CAN walk if we have to. 
Headlights.

Rose was here.  I made Hannah ride with Rose back to our house while I continued to call Ben.  Still, of course I'm thinking that when it rains it pours.  It's been one mess after another here lately and I just need to catch a quick nap.  Still, sitting there alone in the dark I decided to pray.  Not the freaked -out -help -me -Jesus -I'll -be -good -forever -I -promise prayer, but the thank you prayer for all the blessings in my life.  I guess I'm a pretty optimistic person.  I try to look at what I have instead of what I don't.  My daughter was scared tonight, but hopefully I was able to teach her not to panic. 
My deeply spiritual moment was suddenly interrupted by Brad Paisley singing to me.  BEN!

The calvary came with a gas can!  I knew I loved this man! 

My husband did a very good job of not complaining last night.  He did an even awesomer job of not making me feel like an idiot for running out of gas.  At least the last time it happened, (last week)  the car was in our yard.  I know a couple of you know the story on this car.  It was truly a blessing from God (well, and Wayne's Auto)  but I've had this car since the summer I left Columbia.  I saw it sitting on the lot, and I just happened to need one.  I think I spent that summer buzzing around in my mom's little blue car.  I called my dad and Karen.  She agreed that it was just the car for me.  We got the money and within a couple of weeks I had a new to me Volvo.  I have loved this car every single mile I've driven it.  But, as with all things of good use, it wears out and sooner than later becomes unsafe.  If I would have had to leave that car on the side of the road last night I think my heart would have broken.  Its not because I'm so materialistic that I can't get over a car.  It's because there aren't many things in life that are worth every penny.  The car was some sort of testimony for me.  And instead of getting angry about the failures, I decided to reflect on its happy times.

Hannah texted me.  I'm on the way home.  I ran out of gas. 
She called me. 
"No honey, I'm okay.  Could you please put the kids to bed?  I'll be there in a few minutes.  Yes, I love you, too.  I'm not upset."
She was intensely worried about me.  One of the reasons I love her so.

God has blessed me continuously throughout my life.  He has certainly seen me through some rough times.  But thankfully, not without a lesson.  I am even blessed in the cold, dark pouring rain.  It's amazing stuff.  Yes, I do laugh at myself.  My boss tells me all the time "If you can't laugh at Jeanne, who can you laugh at?"

Maybe we should coin that phrase.  You guys have a good day.  I told you mine would pick up. 

JD