I have a praise report today, and thought it would be fun to open a thread where people praised the Lord for doing good works in their lives.
Here in Oregon, we have to take our cars to the DEQ every two years -- the Department of Environmental Quality. Basically, they test your car to make sure you're not blowing black smoke or otherwise polluting the air more than you should. If your engine light is on, it's an automatic fail, no matter the cause, until you can fix whatever is going on in your engine.
My husband and I have been fighting with this stupid engine light for just about two years. The last time we had our van DEQ'd, we had to take it in to be serviced because the light was on and we failed. We found out our van needed a new "brain", as the computer was dead. So, we had to shell out to buy that. Shortly after passing DEQ, the light came on again. We took it in again, to find out it was on because something was "leaking". They did a thorough search, but found no leaks. But they turned off the light.
Shortly after THAT, the engine light came back on again. UGH!! SERIOUSLY with the engine light?! We bought this van barely used, like 6 months used, so it's not like it has a jaded history of engine trouble.
Anyway, I'm avoiding taking it in to get it fixed because who just has extra hundreds of dollars laying around? My DEQ paperwork is DUE in February of 2012, and I'm dreading it, thinking I have to take my van into the shop and spend $$ I don't have so I can be street legal. UGH!!
So about a week ago, I go out to my van and it won't start. No one left any lights on, the doors weren't open, nothing. My husband discovers our battery is dead. Well, we need the van, so we have to buy a new battery. And I'm cringing on top of the $$ I'm going to have to spend to figure out whatever the heck is wrong in the engine so my stupid engine light won't come on again so that I can pass DEQ. **sobbing**
The battery was about $110 (with rebate), and I just toss up my hands. Not much I can do at this point, we need the van.
But...what's this?? Hubby changed the battery and (*angels singing*) the engine light is OFF!! We were told by the dealer that they would have to be the ones to turn it off if it went on again, so I don't know if fixing the battery was the reason why it was on or not. It had been on for months (I know, you men are probably gasping, but hey, when they didn't find the problem the second time it came on, I'm not inclined to make it a high priority when it comes on again a few weeks later...)
Anyway, I'm thinking HALLELUJAH, if I jet down to the DEQ before the light comes on again, I might have a chance of passing!! (lol) So I went down to DEQ today and ... I passed! \O/ The van is good for another two years! Let's hope the dying battery was the reason why that light was on and that it won't come on again. It's not like I had problems with the battery. It started every time I needed it to except that one day after a cold, cold night.
So, today's praise report is that I DON'T have to take the van into the shop after a few months of worrying about it because God took a bad thing (dead battery) and made it into a good thing (passing DEQ) because He's SO GOOD TO ME!! I love my Jesus!! :D
~~Becka










