Out with the old, in with the new VAN!

Over the past year you’ve heard about our endless van troubles.  My old van, bless it’s heart, was just getting old.  Had it not been failing me, I would have kept it, so what that it had a dented bumper-that just gave it character right?

Four months ago after my van overheated during a road trip, and we spent lots of money to repair it, Jason and I finally decided to begin the process of looking for something new.  We looked at used vans–Jason’s idea, and we looked at new vans–my idea! I was really interested in the Ford Transit vans.  I had been hearing about them for a year, and finally we decided to go test drive one.  We spent an entire day trying to locate one in the DFW area to test drive, but there just wasn’t one. 

Finally, we went into the Grapevine Ford dealership, and they didn’t have one for sale either, but they insisted they would help us find one.  We sat in the office and Mark, the salesman, told us to tell him what we wanted in a van and then he would try to locate one even if it was in a different part of the country.  Jason and I went through every feature building our dream Ford Transit 10 passenger van.  After searching online all over the country Mark told us there just wasn’t one!  But he could order it and have it to us in 3 or 4 months he said.  That seemed like way too long for us to wait for a van.  We had just spent the money to repair our van so we just decided to keep driving it for a while. 

Flash forward 4 months.  We made a long trip to Nebraska for a funeral in Jason’s car because my van was in the shop again and although God gave us a great trip, when we got home, we decided to find a new van in earnest for me to drive.  We began looking at used vans.  We found a great 2011 Ford and scheduled a meeting to drive a used 2015 Transit the next Friday.  We planned to buy one of them that weekend.  It was time. 

Thursday morning I received a phone call.  It was Mark from the Grapevine Ford dealership.  “Hey, Esther, do you remember that Ford Transit we built online?” My dream van, how could I forget?  “Well, somehow it stayed in the system.  It got built and is parked out front here at the dealership.  Would you by chance still be interested?”

What are the odds?  First that Ford built our dream van without us ordering it, and second that they would call us Thursday just the day before we were going to go test drive the used vans and make our final decision? 

I called Jason.  We were both in shock.  His first reaction was to say we shouldn’t go look at it because we would want it–he was going for the more economical route.  But it was just too coincidental for us NOT to go look at it.  Could it be from God?

I quick called my sister and asked her to pray. First of all that we would do the Lord’s will, and second that I would be content no matter what Jason decided.  I was all for the new van, but it would be his decision, and I had to be okay with whatever he decided. 

Just in case I cleaned out my van and found the title. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared right?  Ha ha!

I felt a little sick the rest of the day.  I just couldn’t stop thinking about the turn of events. 

That evening we drove to Grapevine Ford to look at the van.  Sure enough.  There it was.  The elusive Ford Transit 10 passenger van, the very one we had built online.  Would you believe it even had our name on it? 

We drove it and thoroughly looked at all the features.  Toward the end Jason began to act doubtful. “I don’t know,” he said, “if I was actually going to order the van, I would have put more thought into what we put on it.” Jason wasn’t too convinced. He thought we should think about it. We could always order a different one or go the more economical route and get the used one. 

Then the manager came to us with the numbers.  He explained everything in detail with discounts, taxes, and fees, and then showed us what it would cost us.  “So here are the numbers.  What do you think?” he asked us. 

Now my husband shocks me often.  I never know what he’ll say or do, but this time…wait for it…he replied, “Looks good to me. I’m ready to buy it!” I about fell off my chair!  Ha ha.  Jason had done the research and when he was presented with what he thought was a good deal and a fair price, he didn’t see any reason to haggle over anything. 

We spent a couple of hours signing papers and then late that evening we drove home in our brand new 2016 Ford Transit 10 passenger van!  I still can’t believe it.  The way it all worked out, I really think it was of the Lord. In fact Jason said, “Well, Esther, it looks like God wanted you to have that van.”  I am so thankful. 

We LOVE our new van! This was the first photo taken of us with our 2016 Transit. It was about 11:00 in the evening.  I can’t wait for our next road trip.  Stay tuned for photos, features, and our review.