Just A Car

 This car has had its ups and downs just like our lives. It was a lemon when we bought it but through some research and some TLC, we have somehow made it work for the past 7 1/2 years. It's more than just a car. It's conversations to and from school and on long car trips and outdoor adventures. It's weekly shopping trips with my little shopping buddies and keeping my family fed and taken care of. There are so many memories and so much of our lives has happened in this car.

It all started when we were about to move out of our apartment. Baylor had just been born, and we were moving into Dale and Margaret's house for a year while they went on their mission. I needed a car since we would no longer live right by Paige's school and the grocery store. We bought the car, and it was perfect until the next day when it was shifting really hard. Nate contacted the seller but of course he ghosted us and so we were stuck with a lemon of a car. For that first year, it became Nate's work car since it only shifted hard after it had warmed up and Nate's commute to work is only 5 minutes. It was disappointing but it is just something we dealt with. When Dale and Margaret got home from their mission, Dale did a lot of research and figured out a certain part that needed to be replaced besides the entire transmission and by some miracle it worked, and our car was running smoothly. It now became my car to drive around, and it has been that way ever since. For buying a lemon, we sure have gotten a lot of miles and memories out of it.

It was along for the ride in all my goings and comings and our multiple moves. After Dale and Margaret got back from their mission, we moved into another couple's house in our ward while they were on their mission. That ended a little early because of Covid so it was back with Dale and Margaret and then the perfect house became available to rent, which is just four houses away from Nona and Pops! We love where we live now and this car has been along the ride for it all, all the moves and all the transitions.  

This car has been through so much life and most of it is just normal and mundane things. Weekly shopping trips, trips to the library, going on errands, back to school shopping, numerous thrift store runs, and so many selfies in the backseat. Memories of singing and dancing to music at the top of our lungs, happy and tearful conversations, fun and fights in the backseat as sisters navigate their relationships, new arrivals into the family, and everything in between.

The car has sat in the driveway and has been in the background for some many fun memories in our front yard- bubbles, chalk, splashing in puddles, yard work and spring flowers, baseball, playing with friends, bike rides, and lots of evening walks.

This car has been with us as Paige has progressed on her own covenant path. First driving to the temple to take pictures for her before she got baptized and now trips to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. One car has seen so much good and miracles in our lives.

This car has made numerous trips to the store to prepare for birthdays and all the fun that goes into that. I always love to celebrate and throw a party, and Paige especially loves to have themed parties. It means lots of shopping and preparing and lots of time in the car buying presents and making sure everything is perfect for the big day. From unicorns to ladybugs, to Harry Potter to Frozen, to Squishmallows and Paw Patrol each party has been filled with memories and fun and celebrating this milestone with each of our girls.

This car has made hundreds of trips to school. For Paige, this car has been there as she has navigated going to a new school, progressed and graduated elementary school, and moved onto middle school. There has been daily prayer, tearful and anxiety ridden conversations, joyful conversations as she retells me about something amazing that happened in her day, and just everyday conversations to start and end her school day. 

This car has been a spot for have fun while we waited SO long in the school pick up line. A favorite memory for me is the sunroof and how on a sunny day, Baylor loved to stand up through the window and wave to the buses as they drove by and sing at the top of her lungs.

This car was there every day back and forth and back and forth. So much waiting, so many fun conversations and naps with Baylor while we waited for big sister. There was always so much excitement on the last day of school and that this car was up for all of our summer fun and adventures.

Then as Baylor grew it was her turn. First it was back and forth to preschool and preschool field trips. I watched her grow in confidence and her love of friends. Then it was onto elementary school and conquering kindergarten and being at school all day. It was tricky having one kid in elementary school and one in middle school where I felt I was always in the car. But this car made it through it all, from the first day to the last and all the learning and fun in between.

So much fun in the backseat when McCall joined in the school pick up. One of my favorite parts on this car was how big the trunk was and these two sure had fun playing in it while we waited for Paige. Once Baylor was in school full time, it was just McCall and I and almost every day when we would pick up Paige, McCall would take a nap. This car has always been a safe place for my girls to sleep and get quick cat naps in as we navigated school life.

This car has been there for the big moments with school and buying party supplies and flowers to celebrate our girl's accomplishments. In this car, we celebrated a preschool graduation, an elementary graduation, and a kindergarten graduation. 

Then there are all the afterschool things. This car has taken us to school concerts as we watched both of our shy girls be brave and sing the songs they have learned, orchestra concerts for Paige both in elementary school and middle school, and an art celebration for Paige. Then there has been dances, carnivals, game nights, crocodile man, and other after school events that this car has been to.

Then of course I love to be at the school anytime I can and this car has been there for field day, all school lunch, Apex fun runs and events, bulletin board decorations, and of course being an art docent in both of the girl's classes. 

This car has been to swim lessons, t-ball practice and games, track meets, and gymnastics meets. It has been all over Kent as we support our girl in the fun things she wants to pursue. 

This car has also been through some of lowest of lows and the mortality part of life that we all have to deal with. There has been checkups, urgent care visits, kidney stones, an allergic reaction, and countless doctor appointments as we navigated IVF.

There has also been trips to the dentist, teeth being pulled, and getting braces on.

This car has been through it all and has taken so many trips to Tacoma and it was also the car that I drove for the first time to Seattle by myself as I went through all the treatments for IVF. It was countless trips for blood draws, ultrasound, picking up medications, and then all the embryo transfers that I went through to get my miracle baby. There were tears, worries, anxiety, and fear that went through my mind through each of these car rides. Lot of selfies in the car with the little embryos that we lost and hard conversations as we navigated the next steps. I remember distinctly the embryo transfer that ended up working because Baylor had to join us for the car ride. No one was around to watch her and because of Covid most of these things I did by myself while Nate was in the waiting room. After the transfer, Baylor stared at the little embryos for so long as we made the drive home. This car has been my constant. The place where I would cry after appointments that were hard and even the tears of joy as I left the fertility clinic for the last time once I became pregnant with McCall.

This car was along for all my doctor appointments as I went through my pregnancy with McCall. It was there for the ultrasounds, the blood draws, the monitoring, and each step as this little miracle grew inside of me.

This was the car that drove us to the hospital as our family grew to 5. This car sat there in the parking lot as I went through my hardest C-sections and for the first time we met our little girl. This car kept our little girl safe as we drove back home for her to meet her sisters for the first time.

This car went to all of McCall's numerous doctor appointments, a trip to Seattle Children's hospital for a heart murmur, a trip to check on her bones since she was transverse when she was born, and also for checking on to make sure her clavicle was healing after her break. 

If anyone knows me, they know I love holidays. This car has been through all the fun and magic of holidays with kids. This car has been to the store as I shopped for Easter candy, Halloween candy, and Christmas gifts. 

This car was sitting in the driveway, as the girls search for their Easter baskets, had Easter egg hunts with cousins, and dyed Easter eggs.

This car has taken us to Tahoma National Cemetery every Memorial Day weekend to walk around these sacred grounds.

This car has been through the start of our tradition of going to Bainbridge Island every October for the pumpkin walk. 

It has also taken us to Thomasson Family Farm every year with the fun of corn mazes, hayrides, the corn box, and animals.

It has been to the church all day and to the store as I have helped create magic in the gym for trunk or treats for our ward. The trunk has been filled with candy and with joy as I sat in the trunk and gave candy to the cutest kids in costumes.

It has driven to the country club every year for a night of trick or treating and filling the girl's bags to the brim, overflowing with candy. 

It has driven us so many places to look at Christmas lights and displays with the wonderment of every ooh and aah from the girls as it has kept us warm on the cold December nights. And then it has sat in the driveway as the magic of Christmas morning and the thrill of gift giving fills our home.

This car has been with me as I navigated the call to me in young women's. First as an advisor, then a counselor, and then president. It has been with me to countless meetings and has been the quiet place as I think about the girls and their needs, activities that need to be planned, how I should have done something differently, or how beautiful it is to spend an evening with the youth and the joy they bring in my life. It has been to the church multiple times a week with Wednesday night activities, firesides, stake activities, and more. It has been a place where the young women open up to me about their lives as we drive from place to place. It has been with me as I shop and plan for activities to help these girls have fun, learn, and build their testimonies.

It has been there for the big events such as tri-ward activities and sacred temple trips.

With this calling and just being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this car has been with me so many times through service. Whether it is dropping off meals or a treat to a ministering sister, dropping off a birthday gift to an inactive young women, a couple times gathering and taking hygiene items to Vine Maple Place, to service projects done with the youth. Then I've done two pretty big fundraisers with this car, making lasagnas and baked goods. So many trips to the store getting everything needed and delivering to some ward members. The girls have been with me so many times when I have served and I love that they know how important service is to me and that it makes you feel good to serve.

This car has also been along for the ride for some pretty big events with young women. Two campouts to the ape caves and two times to girls' camp. These experiences are something that I will always cherish.

This car has also made the long trek to Idaho quite a few times to be with family. This car has been on so many fun adventures as we have explored so many places in Idaho and spent lots of time with cousins and family. The girls always love our trips to Idaho and this car made it possible.

Going to Idaho meant lots of time in the car. There was always a bag of snacks and a bag of activities for the girls to hopefully help keep them entertained. The car was a safe and comfortable place to sleep as the hours went by. So many fun memories made, and so many relationships nourished.

This car has taken on us on many adventures with Derek and Amy and their family We have done spring breaks together, pre-reunions get together, and just so many amazing times.

Then it has taken us to McCall, ID, Island Park (twice), Lava Hot Springs, Ronan, MT, and many stops along the way for family reunions. This car has allowed us cherished time together as a family.

Then it has also taken us all over Washington and Oregon with our time with the Smith family. Our girls love their cousins so much and I know it is because we have taken the time to be together and this car has taken us there every mile it takes to be with them.

This car has taken on the salty air many times as we have gone to our family's happy place, the beach. From the Puget Sound to the Washington coast, and the Oregon coast, this car has been with us and our love of the beach every step of the way. One of its first trips to the beach was for our 10th anniversary and we went to Long Beach, WA. We believed the car had four-wheel drive since it was supposed to have it but then we got stuck in the sand as soon as we drove onto the beach. It is one of my favorite memories because some really nice men came to help and I completely covered this poor man in sand as the tire spun around and around trying to get traction. This car was also with us when McCall went to the ocean for the first time. We made a quick decision to go to Moclips for the day, and it is a day that I will always remember.

 The girls would sit in the trunk with their feet dangly as we attempted to get as much sand off but of course there was always sand in the car and no matter how many times we vacuumed the car out, I'm sure there is sand still in it to this day.

One of my favorite parts of living in Washington and so close to the Sound is going on the ferry. This car has been on lots of ferries. There is such joy and anticipation as we would drive onto the ferry. Then we would enjoy the wind blowing our hair on deck while our car waited in its spot down below. This car has been across the Sound lots of times and lots of memories every single one of those times.

This car has also taken us what I love to call our "outdoor adventures". We are a family that loves to be outdoors and explore this beautiful world that we live in. This car has taken us all over the PNW, stayed with us in Airbnb's as we explored a little farther from home to things we do every year and then new places every year that become favorites. We've explored rivers and waterfalls, amusement parks, walks through different cities, botanical gardens, aquariums, sport's stadiums, museums, and parks. I always knew it was a good adventure when the girls would be asleep in the backseat on the drive back home.

So, no, it is not just a car. It was a vehicle for so many memories made, relationships nourished, and adventures to be had. And now it is ready to provide all of that for another family!