I married a man who has self-discipline and enjoys his work. In the early years, I learned many things from him and his parents. Their practical knowledge opened my eyes to a new side of life that I had not known – farming.
Besides farm life, one thing that was new to me was car care. I had never owned a car, so caring for one was brand new to me. My husband changed the oil and the tires. He even washed his car.
By our milk house, we have water source he used to clean off the dirt, dust and grime that collects on a car. He even has a special cloth he uses to clean our vehicle. He calls it a shammy.
Over the years, car washing has been a job he has chosen to do. Occasionally, when the work schedule does not permit and weatherman predicts rain, he backs the car out of the garage and lets the Lord’s blessing of rain do its job.
Last summer, I got an advertisement in the mail about a carwash. My mind jumped into the gift- giving-for-his-birthday mode. A carwash gift card could lighten my husband’s load … it would be a luxury for this hardworking hubby of mine. So, with a bit more consideration, I decided to get a carwash card for him.
That card has been tucked into his wallet until October. So just a couple of days ago we had the time to get his first carwash.
No other customers were in line for the service. “Great!” we thought. In we went. My husband swiped in the payment. Recorded instructions said, “Move ahead, center the car, and stop when the light comes on.”
We moved the car ahead, centered the vehicle and kept watching for a red stop light. We inched forward … still no light. We neared the open door to the outside and still there was no stop light. Well, we could not just leave without getting the car washed. We wanted the service for which we had paid! So, we backed up the car twice and again, no luck.
I was glad that I had remembered to bring my phone so we called for assistance. While I called, my husband noticed another customer arriving for her wash. He left the driver’s seat and went back to talk with her. He hoped to learn from her about why we might not be getting the service we had coming.
Her comment to him was, “That’s automation for you.”
After he firmly shut the door to talk to her, I felt the unnerving sensation that our car was moving backwards! All of a sudden, a deluge of soapy water covered the windshield and, at last, the wash began and my husband was still outside of the car.
A bit later, when the suds and the whirling rags were working on the back of the car, I could see him waiting in front of the car. Seeing a break in the cleaning action, he ran toward the car, opened the door and jumped inside. He was still dry!
The cycle finished, the dryer blew us off and sent us on our way. As we left, an attendant arrived to check things out.
There are still several car washes left on my husband’s birthday present. I hope the next times will not be as uncomfortable as this one was.
A note from God’s Word in II Peter 3:14 says, “Be zealous to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”
I wonder what I should get him for Christmas.
Pistachio Marble Cake
1 package (2 layer size) yellow cake mix*
1 package (4 serving size) pistachio instant pudding & pie filling
4 eggs
1 cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
½ teaspoon almond extract
¼ cup chocolate syrup
Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water, oil and extract in large mixing bowl. Blend, then beat at medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes. Measure 1½ cups of batter, stir in chocolate syrup. Spoon batters alternately into a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt or tube pan. Zigzag spatula through batter to marble.
Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes.
Cool 15 minutes, remove from pan and finish cooling on a rack. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar, if desired.
Variation: Try other flavors of pudding: banana, butterscotch etc.
*Cake mix can be substituted and made at home. I use a little recipe I call the 123 Cake. 1 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, and 3 teaspoons baking powder. Mix ingredients together and use as a substitute for a yellow cake mix. It works for me.
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