Worst Weekend of the New Year

Here is what the minivan still looks like after almost five days of work on it...yes, this is the minivan that we were supposed to use for our trip to Hot Springs...we have had to buy so many parts for it already that there is not much money left for the week.

Supposedly...I am going to Hot Springs this next weekend...the only thing is I will not have any extra days off...so it will basically be a trip down on Friday after I get off work, spend that night, and come back late Saturday so that hubby can go to work on Sunday...his vacation ends Saturday.

I am so frustrated because I arranged to have two days off work and I have to request them almost a month in advance and there is no way I can request more for this month.

I got on the computer and found out what my husband needed to do to repair the minivan and printed it off for him...but he had to try all of his fixes before he tried the one that I told him was wrong...each one of his quick fixes cost us money...then just about an hour ago he came and told me that he had broken a tool that he needs to finish the job and he had to go buy it plus two belts that he had messed up.

Hopefully, this minivan will be worth all of this when we are done.

Not Very Happy Today

I DID NOT GET TO MAKE MY TRIP TO HOT SPRINGS THIS WEEKEND.

I had arranged to have Friday and Monday off work with pay so that I could make this trip. This is my birthday trip that we usually make every year...this year we put it off until this weekend because it is the weekend that my son moved to Arkansas and he is supposed to preach.

We have been paying on a used minivan and paid the final payment on Wednesday and brought it home...it overheated on the way but according to my husband no big deal he could have it fixed in time for our trip. He worked on the van Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and even today and still it is not up to making that long trip.

This minivan is supposed to be my combo Christmas and Birthday present...I would not let them spend any money on me and told them that I wanted any money that they would have spent on me to be put toward the van and that is what we did...I had to have a different vehicle since the heat is totally out in mine...we are trying to sell it so that we can pay for the taxes, licensing, and insurance on the minivan.

I am just so frustrated...every time we go to Hot Springs lately it is basically a one day trip by the time we get there we get to spend one night and have to come back immediately...this was supposed to be my trip to have time to visit with family down there.

My birthday was messed up on the actual date because the kids were sick and now I did not even get to have my time with my mom and siblings like I usually do. I have not taken any pictures in the past couple of days...I will make some tomorrow and get them posted.

Another Day in the Life of Karen

My husband, Dale, with Ashlyn, Ryan, Patrick, Sheila, and Van in the back row

taken at my brother, Bill's, house...this is where I am going to this weekend

I am traveling to Hot Springs, AR to see my mom this weekend and to see my son at the church where he has accepted a youth pastor's position.

We finally made the last payment on the used minivan but as we were driving it home it kept overheating and would shut itself off...we are hoping to have it fixed so that we can take it to Hot Springs this weekend as we need the room and the heaters. We are still trying to sell my Taurus to help pay for the taxes and licensing of the minivan.

We got the summons today for Ryan's Termination of Parental Rights hearing against my youngest daughter. So it looks like he will be adopted by us about the same time we are doing Ashlyn's adoption.