More Car Trouble

I’ve been walking around town the last few days realizing that it’s a terrible idea to be independent. Terrible! With how far the girls school is, it is impossible for me to consistently be without transportation. So far we’ve only done one pick up and one drop off (a one way, three mile trip for the girls, a two way, six mile trip for me).

If it were just me that would be one thing. Don’t get me wrong… I’d buy an exorbitantly priced bus pass or stay home every day. Making my little ones walk six miles every day getting to school and back doesn’t seem very kind. At the end of a one way trip the girls are worn out. I can’t imagine having them walk home as well. They’d all probably end up lying on the dirty pavement refusing to walk another step if we tried. I’d rather not have to carry them all home on my back.

What’s more… I can’t consistently, every day, walk twelve miles. The kids would only have to do six but I’d be pushing a stroller with Adrie and Winnie home (after drop off) and bringing them with me for pick up. By the end of six miles I feel like I’ve been at Disneyland all day and am ready to collapse. I’m not a marathon runner. I’m not a runner at all. Six miles pushing 50ish pounds is about all I can imagine doing at this point. I have yet to attempt twelve in a day. As it is it took me two hours for drop off and I’ve been soaking in Epsom salts every night. I can’t keep up that pace.

I thought that biking would be an option. It’s not. Not on these streets. The drivers are crazy and the law is that I have to drive with my bike trailer on the streets. The super narrow streets (or so it feels like). With my two young bikers and my precious cargo in a trailer. I’m not willing to gamble with my children’s lives. No way. Bikes are out.

So… I’ve decided I need help picking them up from school or dropping them off. Because of that… I also need daily access to a car, whether that’s a ride or a drop off or something.

Ben has been able to borrow my brother’s car to get to LA so I can have our car to get the girls where they need to be. My brother gets to work with one of his best friends and has been able to get rides with him to work and back. Another sacrifice made on our behalf. My heart can’t contain the gratitude and humility (mixed with, I’m sad to say, a bit of shame and guilt at all people give for us).

Today our car suddenly decided to stop accepting our key. Yep. These anti theft systems are a pain when they are faulty. So here I am… at the elementary school. Waiting for a tow truck to come rescue me. My mom came and got the kids so they wouldn’t have to wait with me. I’m just glad I was parked in an actual parking spot instead of the pick up line. That would have been humiliating.

Tomorrow the dealership will call me to tell us what the cost damage is. Until then… we make do with the remaining cars I guess.

Virtual school never looked so good. But… the girls are doing so well at this school. They have good friends. They have amazing teachers. They’re having opportunities that I would struggle to give them on my own. We’ll just have to figure it out.

I’m apparently going to be forced to swallow my pride. Not that I have much left. I already live with my parents. Guys… here’s my low.

Shouldn’t I rethink life at this point? How is this working? Who knows. By the grace of God probably. By the charity and love of others as well. By the faith we all have in God, in hope, in hard work, in Ben.

Oh wow, I adore that man. He’s doing an amazing job. He’s working hour after hour, day after day because he believes too. He believes that we are where God intended us to be. So… we move on. We try hard and accept help more often than we’d ever like. We allow others to help carry us. Maybe that’s how God shows His hand. Without all our angels… how could we do this?

So… as I trek around town to take care of our girls. As I ride in a tow truck and beg rides, I hope Ben is tearing it up on that stage. I hope he’s succeeding. I hope he’s impressing people. I hope he’s focused. He knows what we need. And no one can say he isn’t motivated. He’s the real deal. He’s the absolute love of my life. He’s my Prince Charming in every way. And he’s going to succeed. He’s got the “it factor.” Just watch.