Friday, August 24, 2012

Goodbye, Honda Civic

In college (late 1990's) my husband (then boyfriend) became the owner of a 1995 Honda Civic.  As of just a few weeks ago, my  husband and now 33 year old man was still the owner of a 1995 Honda Civic. 

Oh, this car.....so many years, so many memories.  Troy and I spent lots of our dating/college years in this car.  I loved that my boyfriend had such a nice car.  He picked me up at my dorm countless times in that car.  We filled that car with friends countless times.  The night we got engaged we sat in that car and called our parents to tell them the news.

After we got married, that car came with us to Kansas City for our seminary days and was our "nice car."  I brought an old car into our marriage and it was not as reliable as a Honda and started giving us a lot of problems.  There was a period of time when Troy would drive me to my job in the Civic before he headed over to the seminary for the day and he would come pick me up at the end of the day and we would drive home together to our little apartment.  Such sweet days.  Over time we realized that I needed a new car to get me to and from work and so we made our first big purchase of married life.....a 1999 Honda Accord, which we still own and is sitting in our garage right now.  After we bought the Accord I spent much less time in the Civic and exclusively drove the Accord. 

Since our college and early married days I have rarely been in the Civic.  But, my sweet husband has driven it everyday.  And as the years passed that Honda Civic was reliable as can be.  Outside of routine maintenance it was never in the shop.  It was starting to show its age though....especially in losing its paint.  But, the beautiful part of it was that my husband could not care less.  And as much as I was growing to want to get rid of that car, I knew my husband's heart.  We are a one income family who does not want to be in debt.  Troy works so hard to take care of us and allow me to stay at home with our girls.....my dream come true.  Because of that, it just isn't going to work for us to be driving fancy, new cars unless we want some really high car payments.  So, drive the 1995 Honda Civic he did.....I would drive by our church almost everyday and there it was.  He drove it to work, to the hospital to visit people, to the funeral home to officiate a funeral......where he went, it went.  From the college days to adult life with two kids. 

In recent months, we began to have discussions about getting a new car.  We had two old cars with high miles and we knew we needed something else.  I was hoping for a minivan :)  Troy was not as excited about this but soon agreed that it would be a good thing for our family. Years with no car payments allowed us to save some money.  And since we are Honda people, the search for a used Honda Odyssey began.  It was kind of like finding a diamond in the rough but we finally did and it is now sitting in our garage beside our 1999 Honda Accord. 

Last week Troy put his 1995 Honda Civic on Craig's List.  I thought it was going to be really hard to sell, but because of Troy's love for this car he assured me that someone would want it.  He was right.....it sold in less than 12 hours.  Crazy.  So, before Troy headed over to the Meijer parking lot to meet the guy who was going to buy it, we went to the garage and sat in it one last time. 
'
The '95 Civic and its last minutes in our driveway

  Bless its heart

 Getting ready to say goodbye

Goodbye 1995 Honda Civic, you have been good to us and given us many memories. 

Monday, August 20, 2012

Kindergarten

Last week was a big week in our house....Kyla started kindergarten.  Honestly, it was very emotional for me, even more so than I thought it was going to be.  I think the first reason is that it is all day kindergarten.  I originally had her signed up for half day but it was becoming clear that her school was phasing out of that and moving to full day.  After a lot of prayer, I knew it was what we needed to do.  The thing is that for five years I have had Kyla by my side and we are very close.  I miss her a lot during the day.  The other thing that has been really hard is Kyla and Ashlyn being separated during the day.  They love each other so much and have so much fun.  The first few days with Kyla gone and not seeing them running around and hearing them laugh and play was really hard for me.  It really was a hard week and I cried many tears.  The chapter of having Kyla home all day long has closed and although I know she is still very little and it is only kindergarten, it has been a hard transition.  I am thankful for my family and close friends who have let me be honest and emotional.

The good news is that Kyla loves kindergarten.....she has been so happy and excited about it, which makes it easier.  And, as I write this and she will begin her second week tomorrow, my heart does not feel as heavy as it did last week.  I will be sad to have her go in the morning but I know at 3:30 I will be picking her up and bringing her back home.  It is getting easier and I know God has good things planned.

Here is what the beginning of kindergarten looked like for us.....

Kyla and Daddy having a special moment the night before school when Kyla got to go meet her teacher and drop off her supplies.

Outside of her new school

In her new school

She found her desk

With her teacher, Mrs. Royal

She was all smiles the whole night.  So excited to see everything in her classroom.

The morning of the first day of school started off with a little less excitement.  She is like her mommy and doesn't always love jumping right out of bed.  Here is a sleepy girl on her first day of school....


She moved to Mommy and Daddy's bed where Ashlyn gave her a back rub to try to wake her up

Once she got up and dressed she was ready for the day

Our kindergartener

 Sisters

Daddy with his girls

 With my sweet girl....I was smiling, but my heart was feeling sad to let her go

Saying her morning Bible verse before the day starts

Making her bed

Ready to go

Ashlyn really wanted her backpack on too

On the way to school

Sisters saying goodbye for the day

On the way to her classroom

At her desk

Can't believe how big she is

Made it through the first day....sisters reunited!!

Back home

After school cookies

Telling Daddy all about her first day when he got home

Her favorite dinner in honor of her first day....lasagna

Finished off a great first day with a bike ride

A new chapter has begun and although it got off to an emotional start for me, I am excited for all that God has ahead and the good plans He has for Kyla.  There is no way I can say how much I love this girl and I know I will cherish these days always.  Let the school days begin.