New Things

1. New Rugs

Discovering and refurbishing the wide plank floors throughout our downstairs set me up for a task which I've never really previously encountered (thanks to homes up until now that have wall-to-wall carpeting): picking out area rugs.

Seems like a simple enough thing to do, right?

It is.

Until you factor in price limitations, picky tastes (me-- I realized in this process that while I like a lot of rugs, I don't love very many), a desire to make sure the wood is still the prominent focal point in the house (husband), and extremely limited local shopping.

Please tell me it's stressful for everyone to try to figure out just exactly what colors are in a rug based on a computerized image and not just me. Blah.

However, after weeks and weeks of agonizing, putting masking tape on the floors to ascertain what sizes would be right, garnering the input and feedback of my altogether gracious sisters and friends and mom, and hunting for the best prices, I found two rugs on ebay.

I am so happy with them.

And honestly? The work of it all makes the satisfaction that much more complete.

Score.

2. New Vehicle

Our van has been dying a slow and painful death for about a year.

Then, in December, our mechanic couldn't even wink when he passed it for inspection. He told us straight-up that we needed to replace it ASAP-- and not to bother even giving it to anyone when we were done with it, because it wouldn't be a blessing to a single soul. The body of the van was literally rusting and disintegrating around the engine and, well, what good is an engine with another 100,000 miles left if there isn't anything left for it to motor?

Fortunately, thanks to the slow aspect of its death, we saw it coming and have been saving up for its replacement. The goal has been a vehicle with more seating, as well as something in sound condition.

At the beginning of the month, a vehicle was practically dropped in our lap. Within about a week, we had our mechanic check it out and give it a thumbs-up, transferred the title, bought new tires and did a couple repairs that were needed, and pulled it into our driveway.

Good thing, too, since Daniel sold our van to a junk yard for parts and scrap metal days beforehand.

Introducing the 9-passenger suburban:

(This isn't actually ours. Every time I think to take a picture, it's not here in the driveway because Daniel has it. We're in the process of downsizing to a one-car family, but that's another story. And, from what I can tell, this truck gives a pretty good idea of what we're now sporting, right down to the khaki trim.)

3. New Lamp

This isn't nearly as exciting as a new vehicle to some of you, but if you're like me, you don't really care a whit about the car you're driving as long as you can count on it to get you from Point A to Point B. At which point, lamps really are more exciting.

Especially when they come as pretty as this one and with a price tag of only $20.

I've needed a lamp for my nightstand for a while now. I didn't really have a plan for getting one and wasn't even looking.

Sometimes I think God puts these deals around just to remind me that He sees every little detail of our lives and cares that much.

Thanks, God.