Last lap...and challenges faced!

Did a calculation and realised that I'm already less than 100 days from my due date! Seems like just yesterday when I discovered I'm pregnant...now I'm into my final trimester! Went baby-stuff shopping with hubby and mom last saturday and it kicked of the excitement to want to start buying more things! Just an account of what things we have gotten so far:

1. 2nd hand Baby Cot (given by hubby's colleague) - to be used at my mom's place
2. 2nd hand Baby Cot with wheels for our own home, made of teak wood, complete with mattress, bumpers, bedsheets, pillow and bolster cases, new set of pillow and bolster and a mobile @ $80 - Cot is of good quality and ordered from Japan, saw it in SMH forum and arranged to buy it on the same day!
3. New "Classic Pooh" bumper + sheets set @ $109 (Given by mom!)
4. 2nd hand stroller @ $75 (UP $199) - the kind we like, those that can accomodate infant to kids up to 25kg. Reversible handle too!
5. New Baby clothings - all given by mom.

Now I'm starting to put a list of things to buy to prepare for the arrival of the little one.

We also need to prepare for a helper and the stuffs she'll need...wardrobe, bedframe and mattress, new sheets etc.

And...we need a new car...our dear little red suzuki decided to die on us this morning...couldn't get it's engine started....it has shown signs some weeks back, we almost couldn't start it 2 weeks ago as well, but finally it did after a while, and a prayer. But not this morning...was supposed to fetch Hubby to his camp and then take the car for the day, but it didn't start. Tried again at noon when I was coming to work but still couldn't get it started...later today hubby is going to get his dad to help and see if using a new battery works.

We've been praying for a new car and perhaps this is a last straw! A "series of unfortunate events" sparked our intention to start sourcing for a new car.....

First, my bro got into an accident and the bumper was dented, and when someone sits on the right rear passenger seat, the mudguard will contact the wheels....we're thinking to start getting a new car or to repair it...but repairing a 17 year old car doesn't seem very worthwhile...besides, the fuel consumption is pretty high for this car. But after rationalizing, we decided we can still live with this car...save money for now...

Next, hubby got into a minor accident and "kissed" the bumper of a Lexus...thankfully the owner was so nice and at that time was also in the midst of changing to another car that all he asked for was for hubby to treat him to breakfast as compensation (turns out they work in the same company! haha...). Again, after some discussion, we decided that the 2 accidents resulted only in cosmetic damages...car still can use mah....save money...stick to it till we have better means to pay for car loan.

Then, mysteriously our oil tank started leaking, not the drip-drip-drip at the bottom kind....but its like a fountain flowing out from the small opening where you insert the petrol pump! A couple of times we have seen petrol gush out through the little door that hides the oil tank opening..means it actually managed to flow-out through the cap and then out of the door! Again, we countered that by ensuring that we never pump till full tank...so can still use for now...

Now, the engine cannot be started...is this a sign or what?

This is a season where we are really living by faith! Just when we are starting to spend more in buying baby stuffs, we now face the pressing need of getting another car sooner than we had planned...it doesn't help that within the same month, income tax is due and we just spent quite a sum on our school fees for the new school term....

And it's really interesting how it is at this very moment that God has impressed upon hubby's heart to make a donation of a significant amount to a famous christian mission organization. Hubby gave in obediance and faith and we stand together to believe that God has His plans to direct us to give at this point in time, and we will receive even greater blessings because we acted in faith.

Through it all, all I can say is God is good and despite the circumstances and what our eyes can see, we'll continue to put our faith in Him as our Provider and Shepherd. I thank God that He has given me a heart of joy and gave me the ability to see my circumstances as "exciting" rather than "dire"...it's really exciting to live in God's providence.