Best rainy day ever

I left the house yesterday afternoon to run to the grocery store and do a couple of other errands. It was pouring down rain and the girls were in bad moods. I was too. Shouldn't it be warmer that 49 degrees in May? I just can't wait for this day to be over, I actually thought after getting drenched in the grocery store parking lot.

I drove in our driveway to see a John Deere Gator, a motorized kid's tractor/truck parked in front of the garage. It was just sitting there in the rain. Jeff came home soon afterwards and we all stood in the garage looking out at the Gator in the rain. Where did it come from? Who put it there? Regardless of the rain and wet seats, both girls jumped in it, beside themselves with glee. I was really confused and didn't want them to get too excited before we knew why it was in our driveway. 

I called my dad who I knew was in the area that afternoon and asked if he knew anything about the Gator. He said he would love to claim the honor, but it wasn't him. The other grandpa was now in our driveway too looking at the new toy, so the other option was our neighbor up the hill. We knew he bought one last year for his grandkids who were coming for a visit. We even saw the cool Gator go up and down their driveway and Emma drooled with envy last summer. I dearly hoped our nice neighbor wasn't loaning it to us. I couldn't imagine the stress of trying to keep such an expensive toy in perfect condition and then having to give it back. These are things a mommy thinks about.

Jeff and the girls went up the hill to the neighbor's house to see if he knew anything about the Gator in the driveway.

We found out our kind (and rich) neighbors are moving, having sold their house and are moving to town. There wasn't room to take the Gator with them and their grandkids were getting too big for it, so they thought Emma would like it. They wanted us to have it.

Emma burst in the house after the visit with the neighbor and said, "We get to keep the John Deere Motor!" Whatever it is called, this is the excitement of the century! Emma called both grandpas and her grandma Sherri last night. Grandma thought Emma was talking about a little toy tractor and asked Emma if she was going to put it on her toy shelf.  Emma said with an exasperated sigh, "No Grandma, I drive it outside in the rain." The Gator really cruises and the girls already made about 20 laps around our house this morning; Emma driving and Mandy hanging on for dear life.

This is the kind of toy that most parents would love to give their children, but few can afford. I was looking on Craigslist for a motorized kid's car and I also looked at garage sales 1 and 2 summers ago. I even prayed about it a little, imagining how delighted Emma would be to have something she could drive. I found a little yellow jeep at a garage sale, but it was not motorized. I assumed that was God's answer and was happy with the jeep. The gift of the practically brand new John Deere Gator, 2 speeds, reverse, and a dumping bed, oh my, is a reminder to me that God answers our prayers differently than we would expect. And I am once again overwhelmed with His goodness. Our neighbors do not believe the same as we do about God's goodness, yet their kindness blessed us beyond compare. It is interesting to think about as we go on with our days, rainy or not, that we are impacting those around us.

Luke 11:13
If you then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!

James 1:17 
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all light, Who does not change like shifting shadows.