A long time ago, a girl met a boy and they fell in love. They spent hours driving to and from their dates in his very cool Ford Mustang. The boy would sometimes show off for the girl by doing donuts in a parking lot on a snowy day. Although, as an adult, the girl does not condone this, the boy once showed his masculinity by passing three transport trucks in a row! What a cool and fast car he had.
About 2 1/2 years after the boy and girl met, they got married. The boy sold the mustang to buy a more sensible car, hopefully one that would not get him into so much trouble. You see, just before he married the girl, the boy had to go for an interview with the Ministry of Transportation to explain why he should be allowed to keep his Driver’s License when he had received such a plethora of speeding tickets (six) in the past year.
Before too long, the boy and girl had their first little baby — a girl! She was so sweet and so small that they happily fit into their little car. They easily tootled around town, zipping in and out of small parking spots.
Several years later, a new baby arrived — a little brother. The boy’s parents had a lovely minivan which they offered to sell the boy and girl for an unbeatable price. The boy and girl had been hoping for more babies in the future, so they decided that, even though they still fit in their little car, they would buy the minivan.
Shortly thereafter, there was another baby and then another and then the girl delightedly found out she was expecting a fifth baby. Their minivan (which was a newer one — this time a gift from the boy’s parents) was getting very squishy with all the carseats. The boy and girl decided they would by a bigger van that would hold them all easily.
Two years after baby five arrived, there was another sweet baby to love in the boy and girl’s family. This time, the bigger van was feeling tight. The boy and girl’s older children complained that they were squeezed in between the car seats. They were also upset that they could never bring any friends home from church because there were no empty seats.
The boy and girl were very grateful and blessed to have the van. Secretly, though, they were starting to dislike the rust and the ugly white colour! They also wanted to have plenty of room for whatever God would send their way, either in terms of family or friends. So, the boy started looking for a Big Honkin’ Van. A true homeschool-mobile. The boy had a truck license from his college days of driving for Coca-Cola, but the girl felt nervous about her ability to drive such a big vehicle.
The boy managed to find the family a lovely, wonderful van. It was in beautiful condition and was owned by a family with six children who were growing up and whose mama often found herself driving The Big Honkin’ Van by herself. They were sad to see the van go, but had been hoping it would be able to go to a large family.
Here is The Big Honkin’ Van:
The girl is still wondering how she is going to manage to do errands and Christmas shopping and to park downtown…but she feels very blessed and she thinks the boy was very smart to find his family such a great vehicle.
I love it! what a great story, especially about the boy in the beginning 😉 You new van in awesome! your very brave lol
The boy still gets the odd speeding ticket every few years, but I don’t think that will be a problem in the new van!! 🙂
thanks for the blogroll!
You’re welcome!
I have a big honkin’ van, too! It seats 15 and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Love it!
Otherwise, you’d need to take three cars or two minivans everywhere, wouldn’t you?!?!
Cute story, Christine! I miss my van!!! Years ago….we started with a station wagon and then went to a small van, then to a full size 12 passenger. When the Lord blessed us with our 7th child, we went to a 15 passenger van, so it would hold all 9 of us and any friends or extented family. It was great! Now that some of the children have married and we only have 2 here at home, we’ve downsized to a four passenger SUV! If I had my choice, I’d take my 12 passenger van back in a minute. The family all think I’m crazy, but I felt a lot safer in it, than in a car, and I liked being up higher than most other vehicles around me. You’ll get use to driving and parking it, and you’ll handle it just like a car. If parking is tight, I just parked at the end of the shopping center lots and walked! I think you’ll like it!
I have heard similar things from other large families who have come to the point of downsizing, Anne. In fact, the man we bought it from said they will really miss it. He wondered how they would drive all their kids’ friends around places and said aloud, “I think we made a big mistake selling this.”
Thanks for the encouragement on my getting used to driving it. I sure hope so!! 🙂
Hey Girl~
I just read your post over on the QF digest and linked over!
Sweet van!
We have a ASTO van (8 passanger) and just bought a 7 passanger Nissan Quest for really cheap….the man wanted to help a large family out and wanted the van out of his driveway!
My hubby has a 5 passanger truck but he can’t take all the kiddos with him any place. The new van we share.
I too wanted to get the 15 passanger van put the used ones were $19,000.00 EEEEKKKKK!
We did not want a car payment! (need to have money for more blessings)hee hee LOL
Well I’m off to the coffee pot then to read more of your blog!
I’m sorry I do not come by more often…..I love your blog and we have much in common.
“Talk” to you soon!
Blessings,
Georgiann from The Garden Gate
ourfruitfulharvest.blogspot.com
Georgiann,
I was discouraged at first when I saw the price tags of used big vans, but we held our ground and kept looking. Eventually, we came across a couple of great deals, including the one we bought. As long as you aren’t in a rush, there are reasonably priced vans around. It just takes patience. 🙂
Christine
Don’t think of them as speeding tickets – think of them as velocity awards.
Hee hee!! I love it! Wait until I tell Steve — errrrrr…I mean the fictional boy in the story. 🙂
Christine