Between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning my family and I had a “crash course” on Plumbing 101! Emmanuel was using the bathroom while William took a bath in another. One flush sent a very wet and distraught William running for the hills. Come to think of it I think there was more water on the floor from William galloping from the bathtub that there would have been if the toilet would have overflowed.
As my stress level rose, my amount of talking lessened.
Since Saturday was William’s birthday I decided just to let it be about him and deal with everything else later. And then the next thing happened- the car wouldn’t crank. Immediately Rico knew it was the starter. As much car problems as we have had lately, we should know how to build a whole engine by now. (That would be a good side hustle)
So anyway let’s fast forward to yesterday. I ran to the grocery store to get a missing ingredient to make my “famous” cheese dip. Knowing we are all changing our eating habits for the better to FULLY support Emmanuel on his weight loss journey I decided to spoil him with one of his favorite meals- cheese dip. Besides the sodium he may get from the tortilla chips; it’s not a very fattening dish.
I began washing the dishes as the ground turkey was browning on the stove- or so I thought! I noticed the water was not going down in the kitchen sink. It appeared as if the stopper was in the sink but this wasn’t the case. I thought “Lord please don’t let this be another repeat of Saturday.” I was over it and just decided to cook and let the sink be for now.
So later on yesterday I look a look in the sink and looked and the dishes piling up and told Rico we needed to go ahead and tackle it so we could wash the dishes. I absolutely hate going to bed with dishes in the sink. We weren’t allowed to when I was growing up so it’s a good habit in my opinion to keep although some nights are better than others.
After noticing that same water was in the sink I decided to do a trick I learned that allowed the water to go down without needing to call a plumber. Want to know my little secret? It’s called baking soda, vinegar, and a good ole plunger to help push it through if it is a stubborn clog. Normally it works. This time it worked “too good.” As the water went out the sink we heard a “waterfall” happening in the next room. The water plus must be all the water that had been backing up since Saturday was gushing out from the lines attached to my washer machine.
I don’t know whose head was spinning more- Rico or mine. Well thank God for His wisdom and great reflexes.
Rico ran for the wet vac and I went to get contractor bags to get my items up because it didn’t sound like the water was going to ever stop. After two or three sets of gloves, heavy breathing, and LOTS OF PRAYER all of the water was up. Between Rico and myself and our very involved sidekick all of the water was up.
Not only was William a “trusted sidekick” he caught on very fast and has been getting so many different experiences on how to troubleshoot things at home until the real professionals come. Last week he was outside chopping down small branches and limbs with Rico until the “cable guy” came to restore our internet service.
Although we got the water up we knew it was time to take the gloves off call the landlord and have him get a plumber to check this out. Water backing up in the toilet, the shower, the bath tub, my washer machine, and now the kitchen sink. I mean this is WAY ABOVE MY PAY GRADE!!!!! I mean let’s face it; Rico, William, and I had only become “certified” over night!
I hope you see the humor in today’s message. Although we are “going through it” who isn’t??!!! Although we are having so many trials, who isn’t??!! Although we are tired, again who isn’t??!! God is preparing us for homeownership and what comes along with maintaining your house. When we buy our first home there won’t be a landlord- the hands God gave us will be all there is unless we can afford to “call on Tyrone!” I know Tyrone going to want $45+ an hour for his services so right now I thank God for the experience.
Moral of the story is God will equip you with everything you need. So what you have to receive a “crash course” like Rico and I did. Just be thankful for the knowledge. God will always come to your rescue and bail you out when it gets too much to bear. Like for us, time to call my landlord. I thank God for the resource some folks don’t have that so isn’t it something to be thankful for? I can’t cry over spilled milk, I can’t complain about something that easily could happen to anyone, I can’t always blame the devil for stuff like this CRAP HAPPENS!
So the next time you going through a rough patch take time to thank God for His wisdom, His understanding, His hand it in, and His peace. He will give you the peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s time to praise!
Get up out your bed and 💃🏻🕺🏾💃🏻🕺🏾💃🏻🕺🏾💃🏻🕺🏾🥳😜!!!!!
Amen & Dido.