In the two weeks before Thanksgiving, our dishwasher quit emptying out the dirty water; our washing machine wouldn’t spin at the end of the rinse cycle; and our old faithful van started herking and jerking in a way that frightened me but delighted my children, who declared it as good as sitting in a massage chair.

My husband is an awesome DIYer. We only hand-washed dishes for three days while he determined the problem and then ordered and replaced the dishwasher pump. Eight people generate an awful lot of dirty dishes. We only flooded the kitchen twice in the repair process.

The washing machine quit spinning out the water at the end of the rinse cycle on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Eight people produce as many dirty clothes and towels as dishes. I stayed calm through the analysis and repair process on the dishwasher, but the washing machine was a different story.

My husband stayed up until 1:30 a.m. Tuesday night going back and forth between the computer (repairclinic.com and YouTube washing machine repair videos) and taking the machine apart, but still no definite solution.

Wednesday morning I kicked into what-if-I-need-a-new-washing-machine? mode, so I left home and spent the day researching the latest models. I found washers larger than mine, with more settings than mine, and lovelier than mine (red!) and I was smitten. Smitten. {Yes, I’m the kind of girl who can be smitten by a washing machine.}

I hardly noticed the transition from fact finding to checking delivery dates. My husband later told me I wasn’t supposed to shop, just research. When I looked puzzled, he said, “Fact finding with the intent to purchase is shopping.” Live and learn.

He stayed up until 2 a.m. working on it that night. The result? You guessed it. He figured out how to fix the washing machine, too. Admittedly, there were moments when I wasn’t sure I wanted it to work again . . .

I’d seen the greener grass on the other side of the fence.

When we thought the transmission might be going out on the van I’ve driven for 11 years and 206K+ miles, I imagined power door locks that work (mine quit); no more dings and cracks in the window (a 15-passenger van attracts rocks to the glass and other people’s car doors to the sides—it’s a big target). In my wilder thoughts I envisioned heated seats, dual sunroofs, and easily parking in any space.

But our mechanic replaced two coils (whatever they are) and that van was back in business.

We’re familiar with the phrase What Would Jesus Do?, but lately I’ve been thinking what would Jesus own? If He walked among us now, in 2013, I’m willing to bet my washing machine, dishwasher, car, phone, and computer would be nicer than His.

Would He even have those things?

It’s easy to become discontent. To want more. To forget to be grateful for what He’s given me. My blessings come from God. Being dissatisfied with what I have is like saying, “I’m not happy with what you’ve given me,” and that’s not where I want my heart to be.

I did get something new in the process: a rearranged and more functional laundry room. The washing machine fact finding/shopping trip gave us the idea to stack our washer and dryer, and then we brought a large set of metal shelves in from the garage and put them on the side of the wall where the dryer used to be. I have loads of extra storage space and even a bright and cozy rug on the floor. Cost: nothing.

At Christmas, more than ever, I want to model for my children a grateful heart and a deeper appreciation for what I’ve been given. Don’t you?

What simple blessings are you thankful for today?

by Dawn Camp at My Home Sweet Home, newly grateful for her old ride and appliances

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