Last evening I was reminded that life is totally unpredictable.

Best laid plans rarely go without some sort of hiccup.

My daughter owns an older model Jeep Cherokee which we use any time we need to haul larger items, and particularly when I have an art fair. It has been giving her a little trouble starting over the past couple of weeks, and we have both been praying that it would just get us through this weekend without a problem. 

She used it repeatedly yesterday with no problems, until she tried to come back home after a training class with the puppy. It wouldn’t start. It was making unusual sounds, and at one point wouldn’t turn off.

Long story short, she called a friend who dropped everything, worked on the car, and ended up towing the car with his own vehicle to our home, promising to work on it today after work.

As my daughter and I were waiting together we compared notes.

She shared her prayers, and I shared mine.

Obviously, there has been an issue with the car that needed attention.

And when it broke down, she was in a secure location, with a large dog beside her.

We weren’t on our way to the fair with no way to contact anyone to help us at the drop of a hat. 

I had some panic moments.

I searched my brain for someone I knew enough with a large vehicle that might be willing to let me borrow it for the day or weekend. 

My son was planning to go camping over the weekend with his family, and I asked what time they were leaving.

As it turns out, because of the multiple forest fires, their camping trip was cancelled.

He readily agreed to switch cars with me so that I could use his larger car for the set up tonight.

I contacted the fair organizers, and let them know I will be using a different vehicle.

I will confirm with them when I check in this evening.

We didn’t get home until after 9:30 last night.

We hadn’t eaten dinner.

Neither of us slept very well.

We remain very thankful that there are loving, caring, and generous people in our lives.

We are safe and healthy.

We will be able to get everything transported to the venue as planned, get the puppy to the boarding facility in the morning and then conquer the fair.

Life is totally unpredictable.

Did God ignore our prayers?

I think he provided for our safety, the car's repair, and made it possible for me to participate in the art fair as planned.

Cars are machines and break down.

It was due.

And it broke down at the safest time possible under the circumstances.

My prayer was answered.

Not the way I expected or wanted, but then, I’m not God.