First it was beautiful, then it got Ugly

I went out to start the van to go to church... there was that familiar cheerio, tweet tweet of a ROBIN! Sitting up high in a tree, welcoming the day and singing over and over. I had to go back and get my camera and get a picture.. this is the first Robin I've seen this year. Beautiful!

Then, I started the van and backed up out of the driveway. No brakes and no steering. I wrestled the van back into the driveway and opened the hood... the serpentine belt had come off. UGLY!
Thankfully I called and was able to get a ride to church and to the new-member class.


If you look at the belt diagram, you can see what a complicated mess I had. A cup of good strong coffee for motivation, and out I went. I had to take off the air cleaner housings to get at the pulleys. I was able to slide under the van on a piece of cardboard and start the re-installing of the belt. I then, from the top, wormed the belt, according to the handy picture, back in place with barely a scraped knuckle and some oil on my hands. There was a loose flap on the belt where it is worn, and I cut that off. I test drove it, and I'm pretty sure it will get me to the shop for repairs and replacement and to work. Glad I did not give up.

It seems sometimes that things go too well, and it is hard to accept. Waiting for something bad to happen so we can say to ourselves "see? nothing goes right, I knew it was too good to be true", and think of giving up. That is not the case at all, we just have to keep trying to do the right thing, trust that we will be given the help and guidance to have a happy life.

It is 43 out now and sunny, a beautiful day to enjoy, relax now, and realize that God does not give us more than we can handle... we just have to go slow enough to listen for the voice of reason and goodness, listen to others, and just do what we think God wants us to do.

I'll post later with more of what happens here in Brainerd today.

Peace, finally Peace!