And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Gasp…must…have…internet.
I’ve been cut off from the world. Did you miss me as much as I missed y’all? It’s been a doozy of a week month quarter. Everything is breaking around here, and it had to happen right in the middle of our 30 Days of Nothing experiment.
First, the car broke. That was a long time ago, right after we paid way too much for a new transmission because really, once you replace something that big and costly, what are the chances that the motor will go out the following week? Better than we thought, I guess. So we’ve been operating out of one vehicle for 2 or 3 months now. No big deal. Praise God for carpooling. Maybe this has even saved us money on gas, since I stop and think long and hard before taking the 15 passenger van out of the driveway.
Then the iron broke. The iron was a good one with a 2 year warranty, but who keeps receipts for that long? Hubby bought me another at Costco so I wouldn’t have to worry about the receipt. Good thing, too. I don’t think the steam feature works on the new one.
I think the coffeemaker was next. That’s ok. We had an old one in the cabinet. The old one doesn’t have an automatic shutoff, but we’ll probably never accidentally burn down the house by forgetting to turn it off. Probably.
The bottom element in my oven died a rather spectacular death. We don’t use the oven much during the summer, so we haven’t repaired it yet. The broiler still works, as does the stovetop. We use the electric roaster for our baking, so we can still do most of what we did in the oven.
Oops. The electric roaster got dropped. The lid was already dented and slightly lopsided, but now the entire body of the roaster is looking pretty bad. The bottom is coming loose, and there are bits of insulation peeking out. We use it a lot, so we’ll need to shell out the dough to replace it.
What else? The dryer. I’m fine with that. Really. We still enjoy drying our clothes on the paint scaffold out on the deck, and we’re actually keeping up with the laundry better than ever. This might become more of a challenge when the weather cools, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
The a/c in my bedroom window was making a Very Bad Noise the other day, but that’s ok. It’s almost time to put the a/c’s into storage, and that unit is a couple of years old. I’m honestly surprised that it has lasted through this season.
BUT.
The internet went down 11 days ago. That hurt. We did have an emergency plan to access the internet from my laptop, but all of the kids’ stations were offline. They were suffering, and I was suffering from sharing my laptop. This was very uncomfortable. This severely cramped our lifestyle.
AND THEN.
The hard drive in my laptop died. Remember the laptop? The only computer that could get online?
Ouch.
I was totally offline since Wednesday.
It’s under warranty, and they sent us a new one promptly, on the condition that we return the bad one within 10 days. Saving our files before we sent it in was our own problem. Hubby’s pretty good with computers but he wasn’t able to access the files yet. That hard drive is really, really dead. I think rigor mortis has set in. Will his geekier friends do better or will we have to pay professional super-geeks to do it for us? I don’t know. Will it be worth what they charge? I don’t know.
In other news, the new hard drive that Dell sent was DOA. So now I get to call customer service in India again and spend yet another hour of cell-minutes on “free” tech support trying to communicate this to the extremely polite man whose name is either Rahmahuddengonglish or Joe. On the bright side, maybe our 10 days to save all my memories from the last 9 months hasn’t started yet.
And my midwife suggested that I might need to get my heart checked out, and I might need to start taking beta-blockers for my arrhythmia. It’s gotten a bit out of hand lately and the symptoms are beginning to bother me. Ugh. We have insurance (sort of), so money isn’t a huge issue, but our deductible is $300. Besides, I don’t like doctor visits. And we live $35 from town. I don’t like gas station visits. And I especially don’t like both in the same trip.
Do I sound whiny? Really, I’m not. I’m just a little weary and want you to know that my life isn’t perfect, and neither am I.
I also have much to be thankful for, and every one of these little trials is a new reminder:
- We have 2 vehicles. One might not be running, but how many people would consider it a huge blessing to have even one?
- We not only enjoy life’s little conveniences like irons and coffemakers, but we have the resources to replace them at will.
- Electric clothes dryer? How many people have never heard of one, let alone owned one? Many people in modern developed nations don’t even own an electric clothes dryer.
- Oven. We did without an oven for over 5 months when we moved into this house. Again, it’s an inconvenience but not a great hardship – and we have the resources to fix it or even replace it if necessary. What a blessing!
- Air conditioning. Do I really have to explain that one?
- Computer? Internet? How did we get by without these just a decade ago? I’m pretty sure I saw the Hand of God here as well. My time online was way out of control. I needed to turn my face away from the screen and toward my family, and I needed God’s help to do it. He took care of that, didn’t He?
- Yes, my heart has minor problems. But I’m thankful that I have the option of going to the doctor. Many people die for want of medical care, and I’m ambivalent about having medical care.
- And our freezer is dead. No, I didn’t mistakenly add that to my list of blessings. It belongs here. That freezer was a thorn in my side for several reasons, and whether or not we replace it I am delighted to see it go. I can’t wait to push it out the back door and call the local scrap hauler!
So…how was your week? For reasons that I hope are obvious, there will be no Giveaway of the Week this week, though we will announce a winner for last week’s giveaway. I’ll be digging through webmail to piece together orders from the girls’ Persecution Project fundraiser. If you placed an order, you just might want to simplify my life by dropping me another email w/your order and shipping address. If you didn’t place an order, you might want to hit the For Sale tab at the top of the page.
I’m off to call Dell support, which is slightly less fun than a visit to the doctor.
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I did miss you! Man, that’s a lot. The living $35 from town made me laugh–and then cringe.
I hope things look up for you soon.
don’t wait on the doctor life is fragile
i have been wondering what has happened to ya’ll although I have been enjoying the sweet baby photos….
when it rains, somtimes it pours. but yes, you have so much to be thankful for… uhmm no coffee and no internet though, i may be found becoming a large BEAR!!! yes, mean MAMMA BEAR…
we do a french press for coffee because our hard water would only have a coffee maker last about 6 months…
if worse comes to worse with coffee, you can boil water and strain coffee through a tea cloth. it works in a pinch especially if you are close to becoming mamma bear your family will thank you!
btw my husband is a major super geek!
http://www.kgroupcompanies.com/home.htm
I HAVE missed you!!
“The old one doesn’t have an automatic shutoff…” You know, I had to search and search to find a coffeepot without that feature — I HATE automatic shutoff!! By the time I’m ready for my 3rd cup, it’s cold! LOL!!
I really appreciate how you are able to find the blessings in your trials.
)
I agree with homemakerang: a French press will solve that problem for-evah…
We’ve only had one vehicle (amen-ing thanks for carpooling) for a couple of years, but we also don’t live $35.00 from town. How much does 7 minutes equal in $$$?
Hubby is supremely good with computers, but when my last laptop’s harddrive crashed I lost everything. He spent hundreds on products and nearly that much in hours trying to get something – anything – off for me. I lost calendars, phone numbers/addresses, but most tragically, an entire year of lesson planning for my five oldest kids. That HURT. It still hurts. I have no trust for computers anymore. I have resorted to emailing myself important docs, so it’s in an attachment in my webmail…or printing out my calendars, etc. and having them on a clipboard (my new bestest friend).
But I’m not a cynic…really…I just am a computer-grump right now. I’m sure it will go away.
Hi! I’m the one who asked you recently when you went to Sea World because I thought I may have been there on the same day… not sure if you remember, but hello again!
Anyway, I wanted to tell you that my boyfriend is actually one of the “super geeks” you refer to. He is a full time agent on the Geek Squad at Best Buy. He told me to tell you that he would be happy to help you, free of charge.
Good to hear you’re still alive. And thanks for posting all the “real” stuff that happens to you or in your house because it makes all the rest of us smile and nod and think, ‘yeah, that’s what it’s like .’ I can only speak for myself when I say my life is SO not perfect, but what a comfort it is when our fellow human beings share their not-so-perfect life as well. I think THAT is sometimes where people make connections – in the silly, off the wall, everyday happenings.
I’m sure you’ve experienced suffering and hardship as most people admit to, but you’re right you are also tremendously blessed! And that, my friend, is not hard to see.
I was reading about your arrythmia on the internet just now and you might just need to lay off that coffee and the symptoms could go away on their own!!! Of course you will still have your heart checked out to be sure, but if everything looks good from a medical standpoint, I’m willing to bet getting off that caffine and taking some time out during the day to rest/meditate etc will cure you. You might as well go ahead and try that now, Missy.
Norah,
You’re half right: caffeine does aggravate my heart, but I laid off that stuff a long time ago. Now I occasionally drink decaf. The coffeemaker is mainly for hubby, though I do enjoy decaf when I can talk him into it. I hate to make a pot just for myself.
Besides caffeine, my midwife suggested stress or dehydration as two other possible causes. I think dehydration is a good possibility, since this seems to be worst post-partum and right around typical growth-spurt times for the baby: 6 weeks, and 3 months. On my midwife’s advice, I’m going to work on getting plenty to drink and see if the symptoms ease up. Then I’ll decide whether it warrants a visit to the doctor.
My friends and I joke that at your 10th anniversary you need to through yourself a shower since everything has broken from the wedding one.
I did miss you. I need my daily Shoe fix – lol.
I am blessed to read the things you are thankful for in the midst of everything falling apart on you. It is good to be reminded to be thankful in all circumstances.
Blessings.
What a time! I’m very glad that everything is ok with you and yours.
Glad you are back! I’m all the way in Michigan, and don’t really know where you are, so I thought maybe the hurricane had stolen your power!
This is from a woman whose besetting sin is complaining or whining, so you know I say this way beneath where you are spiritually, I am sure.
think of those in Haiti or recent victims of Ike.. ultimate cure for whining about anything.
I’m glad that you’re alright despite everything… and believe me, I understand what you’re saying completely… we’ve had similar situations when you feel like “nothing else can possibly go wrong, right?” and then it does… but, God is so good, He always sees us through it!
Oh Kim! I’m so sorry that things have been so crazy! You have the right perspective, though – I’d probably be whining more than you. I do take my niceties for granted. You’ve shown me that what I would call necessities, really aren’t so much.
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Nancy
It’s times like these that we know that God is at work– showing Himself strong in the midst of trial. They say diamonds shine better against the black, and that’s hard to say when you’re in it, but looking back you’ll see Him everywhere!
Thanks for the encouragement and challenge from your time of trouble.
Hi Kim,
Just keep taking the deep breaths…..praying that God will sort it all out …and thank him that you are keeping it all in perspective ….$35.00 to town is alot…..praying it will get easier for you all
Shelley p
from over the pond
I just have to comment! I know your heart is in the right place, so I’m not chiding you, but I wanted to tell you we’ve been without power since Ike came through on Saturday. We’re in East Texas, snug up against the Louisiana border. So we’re on day 4 without power and the guys only got the generator hooked up to the well yesterday evening! I’m at the library, getting my internet fix.
Things could always be worse!
A friend of mine just had the hard drive on her laptop die. She didn’t know what was wrong with it and brought it over for my wonderful husband to take a look. He found out it was the hard drive, she got a replacement and he transfered the data onto her new one. I am not sure how he did this and I think she still lost 2 or 3 things but she was very happy. I can ask him how he did it if you would like.
Carrie
I say call in the super geeks. My computer died – dead – no return – a year and a half ago. I freaked out….it was all there. My brain, my life, my brain. I was told that all was lost and then we called in my husband’s colleague – the Super Geek. He saved it ALL! I am forever thatnkful. Money is no object on this one – just fork it over and be happy! You can live without a/c and a freezer, and even a roaster, but no BRAIN??? Karen
Rachel,
What an amazing offer! You must have quite a guy there. I just emailed you.
Karen,
I feel your pain. Or at least I *almost* felt it. We got it all back. Now we’re wondering whether we should stick with the old hard drive since our friend Jason thinks it will still be more reliable than the refurbished one that Dell wants to give us.
I’m hesitant; once bitten, twice shy. I’m glad I don’t have to make the call on this decision. I’ll gladly step back, button my lips, and let Perry decide. But I did learn my lesson about frequent backups!
Backup?
What’s a backup?