A Change

The latest drama had nothing to do with the kids, for a change.

Last week our washing machine stopped working.  For a family of 6, with 5 of them being of the male species, it is never a good thing.  I already had let the laundry pile up more so than normal.  I was a little bummed and frantic.  Of course I made this discovery when I had already started dinner, when the boys were running late for a birthday party, and on a Saturday night.

I was able to contact the manufacturer and speak with someone in the service department.  I told her the problem and she told me the part that needed to be replaced on the washer.  She told me I could replace the part myself but it would be about 7-10 days to get the part.  I told her I didn't have that kind of time.  She suggested I try to find an appliance parts distributer.  I did.

Because it was Saturday night, I was going to have to wait until Monday morning to see if the place even had the part.  Meanwhile, there was a FOUL smell coming from the washing machine.  The detergent that I had put in had soured.  The entire second floor was starting to get a special funk.  Fantastic.

On Monday morning I called the appliance store.  They had the part.  I loaded three boys into the car, in the pouring rain, and drove over an hour to the store in the middle of downtown Birmingham.  The GPS was telling me I was at my destination, but I could not find my destination.  I was already having a hard time because I felt so unsafe.  With the help of Kenneth and googlemaps I finally realized that the store had a different name than the name on the outside of their building.  Cuz that makes sense.

After getting the part I came back home and went to work.  Meanwhile, kids are screaming, fighting and going crazy.  After an hour, I finally got the part replaced.  The washer still didn't work.  Turns out, that wasn't the problem.  At that point I was super thankful for the money I had just spent buying a part that can't be returned.  I looked in the whitepages and called an appliance repair person. 

After a few phone calls between the man and myself, he was supposed to show up at the house the next day.  I called Kenneth and told him that for some reason I just didn't feel comfortable being at the house alone while this man was supposed to be there.  (Note to self a week ago: Take that as your clue!)  Kenneth came home for lunch so that he could be here with me and the boys.

It turned out that two men showed up and told us that we needed a certain part changed out on the washer.  It had to be ordered.  We were going to be forking over another $240.  The part was supposed to be the next day.  We had to write a check for half the money.  The man said he would stamp the check with his buisness information.  I thought it was a litte strange, but I had had people do that before, so I went with it.

So we waited on the part.  Then it didn't come in.  Then it snowed.  Then it was Friday.  Day 6 of no washing machine, and a horrible horrible smell upstairs, invading the house.

Kenneth called the repair man.  He said he would be here at 9.  Then he didn't show up.  Then we called again.  He said he would be here at 2.  Then he didn't show up.  Then he didn't answer any of our calls.  Then when Kenneth called him from a different phone, he picked up, realized it was Kenneth and hung up on him!!  For the record: we still have not heard from this man.

At that point we called the police to file a report.  We had a date set up for that night and one of the girls texted to see if she could come early.  It actually worked out great because with all the chaos, I had no time to get ready.  She was able to come and take care of the kids while Kenneth and I got ready to go out.  God even works in the smallest of details.

Earlier in the week our sweet friend called and said she would babysit on Saturday morning.  I almost told her not to worry about it because we were already going out on Friday night.  But, I didn't.  And now I see that God just perfectly orchestrated this whole thing. 

Kenneth and I did a little detective work and found out that the repair man had written our check out to his mother!  What!?  I also found out that the part was never ordered.  In fact, there would have been no need to order it because they already had the part in stock.  Additionally, the appliance parts store had never heard of this man or his business.  They recommended another repair man.  We called that repair man, and left a message, hoping to the washer fixed.  We never heard back from him either.

We then prayed that God would give us wisdom on whether to get the washer fixed or buy a new one.  We felt he gave us the answer to get a new one.  And so on Saturday morning, Kenneth and I were able to go get a fraud report written at the bank and get a new washing machine.  GOOD GRIEF.

I learned so much in all of this.  God sovereignty was so absolutely evident.  His timing was perfect, as far as when this happened.  Over a weekend where there was a big appliance sale at Best Buy, when we had two sets of babysitters lined up (when does that EVER happen?!), and after I had just finished a book entitled, "Choosing Forgiveness."  What a great opportunity to put what I had learned to practice. 

I almost let the cost of everything ruin my delight over our new washing machine...almost.  The thing sings to me when the laundry is complete.  love it!