Minivan Miracle

Most people have heard our van story by now, but I thought I'd post up an official version anyway. The process involved one miracle after another, and Russ and I are still astounded to consider how perfectly everything has worked out for us.

Mid-February Russ and I discussed our car situation and decided we were ready to begin looking for a minivan. We talked about what we wanted and how we could finance it (with the majority of the money coming from a hefty tax return). We began casually searching online for available vans. All of the vehicles we found were some distance from our home, near either Philadelphia or Baltimore. Three weeks later, on a Thursday evening, our car died. Thankfully, we were home at the time (I had been out and about with the girls most of that day). Friday morning the car was towed to the mechanic, and Friday afternoon we found out the repairs would cost more than the car was worth. Some wonderful ward friends loaned an extra vehicle which we assumed we would need to use for a week or two.
Saturday evening Russ glanced at online listings again and found a 2000 SIENNA (we were looking for a Sienna or an Odyssey made between 2000 and 2003) located in NEWARK, DE. He sent an email to the owner indicating that we would love to see the vehicle and would be available any day but Sunday.
The next day (which was Sunday) Russ received two emails from the van owner. The first informed him that another individual would be looking at the van that day. And the second indicated
that the van was still available. So, we scheduled to meet at 10:00 am Monday morning. The minute we met John and Ellen Vanderburgh we knew they were good and honest people. This sweet retired couple with Southern accents adored our children and answered all of our questions before we could ask them. When we got in the van to go for a test drive we just looked at one another and sort of laughed. Everything was working out too perfectly. The price of the van (thousands below Blue Book when considering all of the luxury features) was $500 less than we currently had in our savings account. We were able to do a wire transfer from bank to bank and drive away with the van the same day. There are more details to this story, but I hope what I've written is sufficient to testify how thankful we are for this miracle in our lives, a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father.