Blessed

Today was not a sightseeing day, though we did enjoy a lovely Idaho sunrise and saw many beautiful rolling hills. Today was one of progress. Allow me to explain, though some background is in order.

I have been working with Costco for over a month, this time around, to try to fix Morgan’s computer. This was the fifteenth or sixteenth time it had broken, and the fifth that I had been forced to rely on Costco for a solution. In the process of trying to make this computer work, Dell had replaced the motherboard, video card, hard drive, and dvd player; I, both under Costco direction and on my own, had reimaged the system more than two dozen times; and Costco Concierge had, themselves, replaced the RAM and the cables. All this to say: we had tried everything, and I was pretty tired of it. This time around, I had asked them to consider evoking a lemon policy, as our warranty was running out and we would be left with a broken machine, despite having jumped through every hoop they asked us to.

So, the background is established; now, to the story:

Morgan and I, in preparation for our long trip, have been wanting to get a solar system for our RV, but they are not cheap, and they tend to be a hit or miss operation. That in mind, we went to an RV place, here, in the hopes that they might offer their two cents, on solar, as well as several other things we want to fix/change before it becomes our semi-permanent home.

As we were talking to the guy, he seemed incredibly knowledgeable, and he used very efficient, well built solar panels, with a Nalgene like 25 year warranty, i.e. it stops working for any reason, it’s replaced. No questions asked; no cost to the customer.

These sounded like the panels we would want, and, after a little research on our own, we found that they met our criteria, so, not wanting to commit to anything, we asked our other questions and got great, informative answers. In the end, it seemed like these would be great people to do the work, and the lower sales tax here was high in our minds. So, Morgan and I went off, alone, and discussed what all the work would be worth to us (not our maximum, but what we, ideally, wanted to pay), prayed for God’s guidance, provision, and peace, and went back to ask how much it would be and when it could be done.

The estimate came in just under our given value for the work, and, with sales tax, hit the nail right on the head. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any openings for today. However, they did have an opening tomorrow, and if we could get the rv in by 8 or 9, it would be done by 1 or 2pm. It was a go! Thus, we are getting our solar system, which will run all electricity in the motor home. It will allow us to divorce the alternator from the battery and remove that strain from the engine. The other work is exciting too, but there is only so much room in one blog post.

Now, you may be wondering how the Costco computer ties into all this, so let me tell you. I had, pretty much, given up the whole situation as lost, as the warranty runs out in three days. However, Costco called me today to tell me that, due to the unusual need for repairs and my flexibility in working with them and doing so much that would have taken them shipping the system back and forth  a half dozen times, they would like to offer us a full refund! :-D This refund, by the way, totals, almost exactly, the cost of the repairs and upgrades to the motor home.

Thus, we are, by the grace of God, trading a non-functional PC for a solar system and other needs for our RV.

We do feel an inordinate amount of peace, regarding our upcoming trip, despite the possibility of colossal failure. God is being very good to us, in this phase of our lives, and I have no doubt that, if we succeed in our quest, it will be entirely under His guidance, protection, and providence.

As final notes about today:

We drove a long way to get to a “gateway” visitor center for Idaho, only to have Morgan find their resources lacking. When we returned to Boise, we stopped off at a AAA, and they provided us with three relevant books and a detailed map, which Morgan cannot wait to dissect for information and wonderful destinations.

Morgan finished the scarf she had been knitting for herself, and began one for me.

And, most encouraging to us, financially, at the RV place we swung through before finding our final one, we were offered twice what we have put into the Sunrader in value as a trade in, and, though that isn’t money in the bank, it does reinforce that we found a sweet little RV that won’t end as a money sink if all goes south. :-D

Tomorrow, by the grace of God, will be a straight work day for me, and a planning day for Morgan. I have much to ghost write, and a deadline fast approaching, but I think it is a very doable goal. And, FYI, we will have a wonderfully powerful WiFi hookup, on the morrow, so pictures are imminent. ;-)

Thank you, all, for taking your time to catch up on our lives. We know that each of you has so much on your plate, and the fact that you have taken some of your valuable time for us means the world to us.

From us here, blessed by God and seeking His will, good night, sweet dreams, and may your day, tomorrow, be a sunny one.