We did it!

Last night we drove to Yuma to look at a van to replace the '99 Town and Country that is quickly breaking down on us. It has been spewing antifreeze and leaking every other type of fluid it holds including gasoline if you fill the tank too full. Josh has never been a mechanic, but he has been learning how to fix things on this car since the day that we bought it one year ago. I have constantly been impressed that he was able to fix the problems. We paid very little for it which is why we refuse to put any money into to fix it up. The service engine light has been on for months and every time we brake, the oil light blinks and makes the same dinging sound some cars make when you don't have your seat belt on. With all the stop lights in Arizona I would say that I have to listen to this sound most of the time that I drive. I was VERY spoiled with Honda Odyssey and LOVED that van. The fact of the matter is we paid way too much for it and when times got tough we could no longer afford it. We have changed our ways so much in the last two years with the fall of the economy. We have learned a lot about ourselves and what we "need" VS what we "want". We have been shopping for a new van to replace the town and country since we bought it and still hope to be able to sell it for something while disclosing all of its problems. We hate to have a family pick it up and be in the same situation that we have been - always wondering when... I believe I have broken down at least three times with all three kids in the car with me, but fortunately we were close enough to home that it turned out to be a simple issue. Driving long distances was out of the question without Josh on call and ready to "save us". Our expectations for our next replacement were very low. I really wanted power doors and a reliable engine. Josh has literally been searching the entire U.S. for weeks on a good deal on a something within our price range. Yesterday, he found one and it was a mere three hours away. It had been sitting on the lot for 90 days so per their policy they reduced the price dramatically to get rid of it. Little did I know... it was EXACTLY like the Odyssey I used to have and love so much. In 2006 we bought a brand new 2006. This one is a year older than the one I used to have - a 2005, but the details in the differences are minor. The interior is not in the "brand new" condition that mine was in, but I cannot complain - this is a used car. It felt like yesterday we bought our Odyssey - it was hard to believe this van we were looking at is almost 6 years old - what a price difference! So we did it!!! We bought the 2005 Odyssey that is exactly like the one I used to have, but our payment will be about $500 less each month - WOW! and we would still be paying on it.

It was a comfortable 3 hour drive home from Yuma last night... we are so lucky to have found such a good deal, not too far away! Thank you Josh!!! I love you.