Interesting days in the life

Laundry--we do lots of it!


This last year I was blessed with a pair of those high-efficiency washer and dryer units. We had been using the basic front-loading Frigidaire, marketed under several other brand names, for more than a decade, but I felt that perhaps we should upgrade to a bigger drum, higher capacity model (but they are so very expensive).


So much for "efficiency"--though the machines work beautifully and wash and dry remarkably well, the new models have so many plastic parts that it has been down numerous times--all within the first year alone! Still I am very thankful and grateful to have them.


Take this last week. We had about five loads waiting when we realized the washer was flashing an error code. I just happened to know what this error code meant--the pump had debris wedged in it. And, the washing machine was locked up tight, so we couldn't retrieve the clothing it contained. Everything had to remain in the tub until the repair man came (fortunately, because it contained whites there was enough bleach in the cycle to keep the bacteria down).


After calling the repairman, (the one we pay for every month with an additional fee added to our utility bill--this is such a nifty program--I wish everyone could enjoy it as we do!), I was cheerfully informed by the lady on the other end of the phone that the repairman wouldn't come until Tuesday, and I was calling on Friday!


This would not be a problem for the "average"-sized family--with maybe four loads to do for the whole week, but there are still 11 of us at home! This means 3-4 loads each and every day!


Well, I was trusting God--He could handle this, and we would be just fine--buy paper towels, wear our clothing longer, reuse the bath towels, etc.


Then Tuesday came. We had stowed the frightening mound of wash in the garage (it was so cold that it crinkled when we moved it), but we were ready to tackle it all and get it done, even if it took us all day.

Find the baby.

However, after cleaning out the pump, the plastic cap would not reseal. Water, water everywhere, and not a washed piece of clothing to be found! We were told that it could take up to ten more days before the special order part would finally arrive...


...we were still not discouraged. My dear husband told us we could load it all up and take it to the laundromat. So we did.


Ten washing machines, eight dryers, four hours, and more than $30 later, we had nine baskets full of clean (sort of) laundry that we brought home to be sorted, folded and put away (we actually only own three laundry baskets, so we gathered up the huge cardboard apple boxes they use to load up our click-and-pull orders at Sam's Club in order to have enough containers--the kids use these in the basement as huge, stacking blocks to play with).


That was two days ago. This morning the door bell rang and my 12yo daughter excitedly brought me the box with the needed part--it had only taken two days! Praise His wonderful name!


Then, when I called for the repairman to come back out and install the pump, I was not only informed that he would be coming the next day, but that we would not have to pay for next month's premium ($33) to make up for the extra cost of using the laundromat--Hallelujah!


This was not a major catastrophe--just a little annoyance. It is important to live a joyful, thankful life so that the "little foxes" don't destroy the vines and interrupt God's loving flow each and everyday. His blessing and provision shows His great interest in the mundane and insignificant issues of our daily lives--I'm sure you can all concur!