Thursday, April 23, 2015

Selling the Grey Wolf

This spring season we are in the job search as Jonathan concludes his time as a PhD student at Virginia Tech. (3 chapters down, proposal-2 chapters-defense to go!) We have LOVED our time in Blacksburg and the community that has become our extended family. We had hope that staying would be an option, but as search processes have played out, that is looking less likely. So as we continue to travel and apply nationally, the truth that we need to prep for a move is becoming our reality. Thankfully, the minimizing journey of this past year has helped immensely in thinking about the simplicity of what remains and what we would want to journey with us. Sadly, the grey wolf doesn't make the cut!

Two years ago, our family was blessed to inherit the Manz family car that had circulated through J's parents and both brothers before preparing to donate. Since we had been living with just the one car that we shared and Jonathan had an upcoming internship that would have him driving 45 minutes away twice a week for the semester, this car joined our family at the right season! But that season is over. We don't 'need' a second car, and while the grey wolf has been mostly good to us, she isn't worth trailing nationally with us. 

After having some work done at the mechanic the past couple weeks and passing inspection, I was ready to move this girl on before she overstayed her welcome. With Heath not well and home with a fever this week, I had some extra time yesterday to put a Craigslist ad together and do my Kelley Blue Book research to post. I listed it at the fair market value, or best offer. Then a reminder of God's provision showed up.... 30 times! I didn't check my email account until after dinner, 10 hours later, to see the overwhelming response of people interested in the grey wolf- not even one of those was a spammer. Overwhelmed, I started with the first one in and replied with more information and offering they could look at the car tonight or tomorrow. Within 5 minutes they responded, I called back, and 15 minutes later they were here in the car test driving. 

A dad and his senior in high school daughter came together to explore the car. She is going to be at Hokie in the fall and has been saving for a car to purchase so she can commute to classes from the town next door. We could not have picked better buyers! The dad modeled great empowerment by letting his daughter make the call, "it's your money sweetheart, I can just tell you this is a great car in excellent condition for its age and this is a fair price." She said, "I want it!" 

And because I have seen God's faithfulness show itself in the details and unexpected bonus ways, I have to share about my breakfast table conversation with Heath this morning. I explained to Heath that we had exciting news that the grey wolf was going to have a new owner and it was a student who is coming to Virginia Tech who has been saving her money, just like he has been saving his money in a jar. "She saved her money just like me?!" Yep. And when she pays us for the car, do you know what mom and dad are going to do with that money? "Save it?" Yep, because our family wants to save so we can buy a van like we rode together in Florida. So you are saving your money, and this girl saved her money, and our family is going to save our money. Heath says, "And Opa saved his money too so he could buy 2 boats- a fishing boat and a fast boat!" Yep, that's right, you come from a family of savers, do you think you will save your money so one day you can buy a car when you go to college? "Yes!"

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