Lest anyone think I am the only one around this house that has those frustrating moments...

Justin tried to come home a tad early a couple of days last week to mow our yard. The weather and traffic both conspired against him. He worked Saturday. Finally he gets to it this week. The lawn mower starts, but will not stay on. He cleans the carburetor and lets it dry. The next day, it still won't start. I bought a replacement spark plug. It still won't stay on for more than a couple of seconds. Though the gas had stabilizer in it, he replaced that too. Still no go.

I guess its time for a new lawn mower or we're going to have to get out the scissors!

Why? This Time with an Answer!

What a morning! I got us all bundled up and ready for a trip to the grocery. Ubber exciting stuff, I know. It was 28 degrees, which is ubber exciting stuff around here! I got everyone strapped in and turned the key. Nothing. Nada. Not even the little clicking sound. I try it a couple more times--absolutely nothing.

I get everyone back in the house...crying. Nate's mad he's in his seat and is not afraid to let the world know it. Gabby is crying, "I wanna go to da stoe!" Kate is crying, "What about lunch and gymnastics?" I'm so upset I can hardly stand it--between their crying and knowing this disaster has ruined our day and probably my checkbook. I go back out one more time in some desperate hope I can get it to start. Still nothing. I hit the lock button. The battery is so dead the doors won't even lock.

I go back in, dejected. I get everyone unbundled and call Justin. It's the first day of the term, so he says he'll be home after classes today to see what he can do (probably replace the alternator), but Kate's gymnastics class is before that. Even if I could get the car from him, I can't put all three car seats in it.

I call my friend, who has been having her share of technical difficulties. She is sympathetic and even offered to take Kate to gymnastics for me. I was feeling much better after we chatted. At least Kate would get to her lesson and I could get the groceries later, after Justin was done for the day. I always keep a few extra days of food on hand in case we can't get to the store for some reason anyway.

Then I call my mother to tell her. She lives in Kentucky, so there's nothing that she can do, but sometimes it's nice to whine to someone. The only thing is I feel guilty because I know it makes her feel bad and want to do something.

In this time, I've started lunch for the girls. Then Justin calls back. He thinks it's odd that the brand new battery (see story here) discharged over night. I leave the girls with their lunch and Nate in the play pen to go check on the leads of the battery. One of them was a little loose. He told me to tighten it and try again.

It worked!!!! I was over the moon. I got to call Ann back and tell her how very much I appreciated her generous offer, but that I could take Kate myself. I got to tell my mom that we didn't have to buy an alternator. I even posted it on Facebook.

It reminded me of the story of the Lost Coin (Luke 15: 8-10). I felt like calling everyone and rejoicing.

I believe that these annoying things happen for a reason, be it to teach a lesson or keep us from harm. Usually we don't get to see the "why." This time I did. As I packed up the diaper bag for gymnastics, I found my wallet. It wasn't in the little bag I take shopping, but instead it was in the outside pocket of the diaper bag. I would have gathered my groceries, just to find out at the check out I couldn't pay for them.

Sometimes God is saving us from a bigger hassle in those little annoyances.

Update on Our Cold Weather Fun

After yesterday's frozen doors, I checked the doors before getting the kiddos all ready. They were fine, so I set about bundling everyone up. I got us all to the van. all the belts buckled and straps fastened. I turned the key, and heard, "Click, click, click."

I called my Daddy. He told me that it was the battery. I brought the troops back inside. Then I gave my husband a call at work, so he could decide when he wanted to work on this. He opted to come home mid-day, since while it's cold there is some sun to help. Thankfully we had no pressing issues today and he doesn't teach classes on Thursdays. I'm afraid we caused him to have to bring grading home for the evening rather than putting up our Christmas tree, but I am thankful that the van now starts and that I have a husband that can fix such things quickly (and a Daddy I can call to tell me what to do).

Now lets just hope the alternator isn't the cause of all of this and that it's just that the battery was old!