My Trusty Steed....

About 11 years ago we bought our Jeep. I always wanted one so, naturally, I was in Heaven.  When we bought it, it had about 30k miles on it. It was primarily my car and therefore I drove it everyday. We definitely got our money out of it. A trusty steed-ette for whom I will forever be indebted.... 

It delivered me faithfully each day to all my terrible jobs. ;)  It has shared many memories with us.... ski, camping, biking & road trips, trips to the dump, shopping trips, living in the Ghetto (getting a tire knifed), 9 moves including moving to Michigan and then to TX, lunch break naps, it survived living outside for 3 years of Michigan winters, numerous speeding tickets, four wheeling attempts and not to mention we brought both our babies home from the hospital in it, etc. etc. It's part of the family. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff.

Here are pics a few days after we bought it:

Well....150,000 miles later.......my trusty steed just keeps ticken!

Then, a couple weeks ago the AC went out and it was going to cost about $1000 to fix it. We had been anticipating replacing it (the Jeep) within 6-9 months so we decided we just didn't want to put the money into it if we were going to replace it so soon. I started looking online a little for new cars, checking into financing, etc. but I won't lie.....I felt sad and so guilty for the thought of getting rid of it!  So,  I drug my feet trying to decide what to do with it. I literally didn't go anywhere for over 10 days (because its way too hot without AC here) while I contemplated the decision. 

"Oh, to be young again!" 

Cosmetically it HAD seen better days but honestly I didn't really seem to notice or care all that much. The paint first started peeling just as we left Michigan (about 4 years ago). The cold weather was really hard on it. Then we moved to the hottest & humid climate we could have picked and wah-lah! RUST! 

Coincidentally, one Saturday (after the AC went out) we had just parked in the Home Depot parking lot in Porter, when a strikingly similar Jeep Grand Cherokee came blazing into the parking lot (we were in Weston's car). First, I had to take a double take to make sure it wasn't ours. The style, color, peeling & rust spots were identical. The guy parks. Out he jumped in  his sweat stained white tank top. VERY "country-ish"....an...Uncle Eddie of sorts! ;) Well, in that moment. I knew it was time. 

Drum Roll Please...........

Bdddddddrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

Let us introduce the new member of the Hall Family.....

Sequioa Netyri Hall. 

Isn't she lovely?! We really lucked out. We got a great deal, it has super low miles and it is in mint condition.  It seats 8.

Now, it doesn't change my feelings for the Jeep....AND.... my heart has grown.... AND therefore I can say I LOVE IT! 

Of course Warren claimed the back row to himself and Ben seems content with a row of his own as well. 

 

Weston even cleaned out the right side of the garage to make a home for our new addition! 

It was time. May we bond to rust. ;)