Inspired Change

There are many things that can spur change in our lives.  Some motivators are more mysterious while others are more obvious.  I have recently felt the need to do a financial cleanse on our family's budget.  I was frustrated with finances, particularly the amount going out vs. the amount coming in.  Since I couldn't affect change on the amount coming in, at least not immediately, I decided to affect change on the amount going out.  My first draft on this change was refinancing our truck.  Doing so saved us over $200/month.  Awesome!  Several months passed and I decided more change needed to be made, so I cancelled a superfluous insurance, dropped cable, transferred a credit card balance to a secure line of credit and finally, we traded-in the truck.  Before the trade-in, but after the other changes, I think I counted over $550 saved/monthly.  WOW!  We had that much in unnecessary funds going out?!  

Now, the new vehicle raised our payment by $100/month, but not all change has to do with money.  It's V6 engine will sip instead of guzzle the gas like our 5.7 liter V8 Hemi engine did, but it's more than that.  It is a SUV that fits our family.  I researched vehicles for two months, had countless dealers appraise our truck, and finally ended up going with a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse.  We were considering a Dodge Durango and a Ford Explorer, but the Explorer was all flash and no function and the Durango was nearly the same.  The Traverse is roomy, comfortable and a great value.  SUVs are expensive by nature, but with different rebates and incentives plus a pretty good APR on the loan, I feel we got a good deal.  Yes, there was negative equity from the truck, but we got the new vehicle for $1000 below invoice.  Yeah buddy! 

So I'm excited about the new vehicle, obviously, new cars are always fun.  So why did I cry when we drove out of the dealership in it?  I turned around and looked at the truck as we pulled away and that's what did it.  It's a truck.  Why. Am. I. Crying?  Grr, Kristen.  Well, here's why.  It was the first vehicle Bill and I ever purchased together.  It moved us from Kansas to Washington, and brought home our first child.  I took care to customize it some as a gift for Bill after he returned from his last deployment.  Other than guzzling gas, which is what she was made to do, she never gave us a fit.  I cried because I don't transition well with change, even change I evoked, but also because I felt like we were leaving behind a piece of our family.  Yes, I know it's a truck.  But she's got 64,000 miles of our life on her.  Thanks, girl xo

So now we need to come up with a name for the new truck, which is a Gold Mist Metallic.  Color always inspires a name.  I want Charlotte because it sounds grown up and sophisticated, like the new vehicle.  Bill isn't sure.  He suggested Carrie, after my favorite Sex and the City character.  I giggle at the fact that we're both thinking of SATC in relation to the vehicle.  So I cried driving it the other day.  Well, more like just had tears well up in my eyes.  Because I looked back at Ava and she had room.  She looked so comfortable.  I knew if she were to fall asleep she couldn't have to do so nearly upright, but reclined and more relaxed.  This change was clearly inspired by and happened because of Him.  He new I was trying to make a better life for my family and His grace made it happen.  Thank you, Father.  Now on to the next 64,000 miles and beyond.