Yet another act of Providence: the minivan!

Well, you may get tired of reading about all the amazing ways the Lord blesses us, but I never get tired of writing about them! We've had another little "miracle" around the Greenhouse, and it's making us grin each time we think about it.

As the story usually goes, a series of small "coincidences" led us to rethink our transportation issue last week, since we'd like to be able to sell our 1991 Chevy while it's running very well. So somewhat out of the blue, we began on a mission to see what kind of minivan we could find.

The beginning was bleak. We knew we didn't want any more debt--that's right--no car payments. So options were limited. After one discouraging shopping trip, I asked Garfield to stop at a gas station on the way home just so I could look at an Auto Trader magazine and see what was out there. I spent a few minutes that evening highlighting things, and a few more minutes the next morning making phone calls. A guy called back on the one I was most interested in. We hit it off over the phone as the topic of financing vs. cash came up. It turned out that he is a local Dave Ramsey ELP (endorsed local provider)!! I kid you not. You may know how we feel about Dave Ramsey.

We scheduled a time to test drive as soon as possible, but I knew before even seeing the van that this was the vehicle for us. Don't ask how...I just knew. I don't often get that peaceful feeling over big decisions, but this time was different.

We showed up and found out that they're Christians. The van drove like a champ. It had just gone up for sale, and we were the first ones to test drive it. They were asking $x,900, and we offered $x,500, which is what we had set aside for a van. We were waiting for the counter-offer, when he said, "Well, I already have a standing offer for that same amount. But I'll tell you what...I like you guys. And since you're going to also need to pay TT&L, I'll let you have it for $x,200 so you'll be able to afford that, too."

What?!? Did he just counter-offer lower than our offer?? Praise God, and hand me the checkbook....quick!!

And that, my friends, is how we now own a paid-for minivan formerly owned by the family of a Dave Ramsey ELP, and yet another story of how the Lord so providentially takes care of his children.