That washer and dryer moved to Colorado with us and then moved to PA with us too. They were a powerhouse pair (Kenmore, I believe) and they worked great...but they were electric. Our house in PA has a gas hook-up for the dryer, so we knew we would be needing a new dryer. We negotiated with the sellers to leave their washer and dryer with the house. Their appliances were newer, so we thought we were making a good deal. On moving day, it so happened that one of the movers needed a washer and so we simply gave him our older (but workhorse) set since we had newer ones waiting for us at the house. It felt good to bless someone else with something we no longer needed.
Well, we soon learned that the newer appliances were very basic, bottom end appliances, but they were working fine, so no worries. I did miss our other ones at times, but for the most part, it was no big deal...plus we were going to have to change to a gas dryer anyway, so no use moaning for something that I wouldn't have been able to use anyway.
That washing machine worked for 2 years...and then it died. Steve was able to figure out the problem, but the parts to repair it were expensive and it just wasn't worth it. Being in school means we have no extra money...definitely not the kind of money you need for a new (worthwhile) washing machine. We didn't panic and didn't really worry about it either. For about a month I lugged our laundry to my friend's house or did loads at the laundromat...not very convenient, but it was working. We checked into renting a machine and just about the time we were ready to have a machine delivered we got a call from my same friend who had graciously been sharing her machine with me. Her husband's co-worker's neighbor (did you follow that?) had a washing machine sitting outside with a FREE sign on it. For some reason the co-worker called our friends to see if he knew of anyone who needed a washing machine. Steve was working late that evening, so my friend's husband drove over, picked up the machine, and dropped it off at my house! WOW!
Steve installed it the next day and the laundry piles began getting smaller! Now, it did not take long to realize that this was another bottom-end machine, but beggars can't be choosers and I was choosing thankfulness:) We've had this machine for about a year and it's done pretty well. Sometimes it decides not to spin and Steve and I have wrung out sheets over the garden because the machine was being difficult and acting up...and then it's fine again. But because it does act up from time to time, there are some things that I don't even try to wash in it anymore.
Like comforters. So when Sophia had a puke fest a few weeks ago, I knew we were headed to the laundromat. Thankfully, the machine was willing to wash all her sheets and even a light quilt that night, but I knew better than to even try her comforter. So we headed to the laundromat.
The girls actually enjoy going to the laundromat...crazy, I know! They have fun with the baskets and I usually let them get an ice cream at the McDonald's across the street. It's not a bad deal.
I wanted to share this story, because to me, it's a strange and wonderful example of how God does care about the details. I want to be careful, because I don't believe that an indication of God's blessings is by how many material things you have. Obviously, we should be thankful for all the blessings in our life, material and otherwise. But we must also be careful not to measure out Lord's love by prosperity; the Prosperity Gospel is a dangerous thing. To be honest, I saw the broken washing machine as an irritation and an inconvenience, but not really as something to even pray about. I'm not sure if that's completely okay, but it just wasn't a big deal to us and in the bigger picture (orphaned children, homelessness, poverty, hunger) it just didn't seem like a very important thing to be concerned about. I was simply amazed at how God provided for us anyway...it grew my faith.
There are so many ways that God has cared for my family. He has especially been revealing Himself to us and changing us since He's had Steve in graduate school. I hope to share more stories of the kindness and care of our Lord...
...but in the meantime, enjoy these pictures of the girls from our latest visit to the laundromat.
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