A few years ago, D and I pulled out of the Sarasota Lexus dealership in his new little sportscar. Before we even got to the interstate, a car full of cute college-aged girls pulled up next to us, rolled down their window and flirtatiously told my husband they liked his car. With me sitting right there next to him in the passenger seat! To this day, I wonder if the dealership hired them to do that. I can’t think of a better way to boost the ego of a guy who just spent way too much money on a car.
Fast forward to July 2011, when we determined it was time for D to get a new vehicle. This time around, impressing clients, looking flashy and having lots of horsepower weren’t on the list of criteria. Our family has grown and our priorities have changed. We’re trying to be smarter with our money, saving for another adoption, wanting to be more generous in our giving to charity, and aiming to be completely debt-free in 5 years. We decided to look for something gently used, with low mileage, that didn’t drink too much gas, that was within our budget (which everyone kept telling us was crazily low), and that would give us two vehicles to use for transporting our girls (D often does the drop-offs and pick-ups and enjoys taking the girls on outings).
We did our research, prayed about the decision and then . . . the “Golden Lightning” (as Miss M has nicknamed it) popped up in the Auto Trader listings. While it satisfied our criteria to a tee, the purchase was not without a bit of reluctance on D’s part. He's always had more style than me and been more of a "car person". But from a practical standpoint, it made sense to have two vans. His and Hers. Our good friend who is an expert Dodge mechanic (ironically, he specializes in Vipers and other Dodge racing cars) put the icing on the cake when he told us he can keep this model of van running for 300,000 miles or until our family outgrows it (at which time, I guess we’ll both upgrade to 12-passenger airport shuttle vans)—whichever comes first. Wow!
And so the purchase was made.
You know those stories about people feeling trapped in the wrong body? Well, I’m afraid my husband might feel a bit trapped in the wrong car! I will concede that minivans are not the most stylish vehicles on the road. Why does it seem their designers are going for a rocket or monorail look? I imagine many men might be a bit embarrassed, resentful or put-out about driving afrumpy gold soccer mom van sensible vehicle like the Golden Lightning. But D is taking it all in stride and having fun with it. He’s being such a good sport, and I think that says a lot about his character. He’s embracing his Dad Life. And I love it! (scroll down and pause (II) the background music before playing the video).
Fast forward to July 2011, when we determined it was time for D to get a new vehicle. This time around, impressing clients, looking flashy and having lots of horsepower weren’t on the list of criteria. Our family has grown and our priorities have changed. We’re trying to be smarter with our money, saving for another adoption, wanting to be more generous in our giving to charity, and aiming to be completely debt-free in 5 years. We decided to look for something gently used, with low mileage, that didn’t drink too much gas, that was within our budget (which everyone kept telling us was crazily low), and that would give us two vehicles to use for transporting our girls (D often does the drop-offs and pick-ups and enjoys taking the girls on outings).
We did our research, prayed about the decision and then . . . the “Golden Lightning” (as Miss M has nicknamed it) popped up in the Auto Trader listings. While it satisfied our criteria to a tee, the purchase was not without a bit of reluctance on D’s part. He's always had more style than me and been more of a "car person". But from a practical standpoint, it made sense to have two vans. His and Hers. Our good friend who is an expert Dodge mechanic (ironically, he specializes in Vipers and other Dodge racing cars) put the icing on the cake when he told us he can keep this model of van running for 300,000 miles or until our family outgrows it (at which time, I guess we’ll both upgrade to 12-passenger airport shuttle vans)—whichever comes first. Wow!
And so the purchase was made.
You know those stories about people feeling trapped in the wrong body? Well, I’m afraid my husband might feel a bit trapped in the wrong car! I will concede that minivans are not the most stylish vehicles on the road. Why does it seem their designers are going for a rocket or monorail look? I imagine many men might be a bit embarrassed, resentful or put-out about driving a
Are there really women out there who want any other kind of man?
Last night, I happened to spot D's van as we were all making our way home. I caught up (hey, Miss M didn’t nickname my van the “Silver Bullet Train” for nothin’!) and pulled up alongside them at a red light. D and I rolled down our windows and I told him how much I like his van and how HOT I think he looks driving it. Now, I’m not sure a middle-aged woman in a minivan--weary from a full day of work and an evening sweating away at the Junior League warehouse--has the same effect on the male ego as a convertible full of cute co-eds, but I can say that what I told him was sincere. I am madly in love with my husband’s heart. His dashing good looks are a bonus! Not every man can pull off a minivan, but my husband rocks it!
Every day, I see men looking for affirmation from their careers, their hobbies, their fancy cars and toys, their friends instead of their families and sadly, women other than their wives. I am blessed to be married to a man who stands on God’s Word, puts others before himself, is a good steward of our money, leads our family in faith, is intentional in his parenting, doesn’t take himself too seriously, loves me dearly and, in defining happiness, looks no further than the three precious faces in the back seats of his minivan.
Last night, I happened to spot D's van as we were all making our way home. I caught up (hey, Miss M didn’t nickname my van the “Silver Bullet Train” for nothin’!) and pulled up alongside them at a red light. D and I rolled down our windows and I told him how much I like his van and how HOT I think he looks driving it. Now, I’m not sure a middle-aged woman in a minivan--weary from a full day of work and an evening sweating away at the Junior League warehouse--has the same effect on the male ego as a convertible full of cute co-eds, but I can say that what I told him was sincere. I am madly in love with my husband’s heart. His dashing good looks are a bonus! Not every man can pull off a minivan, but my husband rocks it!
Every day, I see men looking for affirmation from their careers, their hobbies, their fancy cars and toys, their friends instead of their families and sadly, women other than their wives. I am blessed to be married to a man who stands on God’s Word, puts others before himself, is a good steward of our money, leads our family in faith, is intentional in his parenting, doesn’t take himself too seriously, loves me dearly and, in defining happiness, looks no further than the three precious faces in the back seats of his minivan.
He he he- LOVE this!!!
ReplyDeleteNow ask him when you are going to need a 15 passenger :) he he
SOOO LOVED getting together again!!!
What a precious family you have! Fabo husband, beautiful girls!
ReplyDeletehehe, I loved this post!!
ReplyDeletethis is such a precious post! i love the progression from sportscar to minivan.
ReplyDelete