Appliances & Customer Service

Last week, Josh and I finally decided to buy a new washer and dryer. The set that we had never worked correctly. We just needed something to get by when we purchased the used washer and dryer pair from a used appliance store right before Thomas was born. I had always had trouble with the washing machine not spinning out the clothes, but the past few weeks it stopped spinning completely. Have you ever had to ring out every load of laundry? It was very time consuming and irritating - especially with towels!

I researched the brands, sizes, and cost for the past couple of months. Ideally, I was hoping to wait until the fall because I read that stores deeply discount last year's models to make room for the new models. However, it became very obvious we weren't going to be able to wait that long. After looking around online, I decided to purchase a Maytag Epic Z online from Home Depot. Josh wasn't crazy about purchasing online, but he said okay. Side note: We had looked at washer and dryers in the store about 2 months ago.

Yesterday morning the new washer and dryer arrived around 10:30am and I was thrilled! We had to wait a week to receive them because they only deliver in our area once a week, so you can imagine the piles of laundry that were waiting to be washed. Before washing the first load, I read the quick start guide and learned that I needed to run through a cycle without any clothes to make sure the inside was clean. About 30 mins into the cycle I heard a loud "pop, pop, pop," and the washing machine completely turned off. I tried turning it back on and it wouldn't do anything. I looked at the owner's manual and decided maybe something was wrong with the power source and reset the electric breaker. The washing machine came back on and I thought, "Maybe that was just a fluke."

Well, I put the first large load of white clothes in the washing machine and after running about 3 minutes it did the exact same thing. I called Josh and he called Robert, a man in our church who knows how to fix everything. He came over and discovered that the delivery people had not installed the washer correctly and had left part of the power cord in the back of the washing machine!! The popping I heard? The cord short-circuited in two places.

After many hours on the phone with Home Depot and Maytag (I'll spare you the details) we are getting a new washing machine, but it may not be here until next Wednesday. We tried exchanging it with a local store, but we bought online so the store can't do it. I didn't get anywhere on the phone with customer service, but somehow Josh was able to get 5% off the order and a $100 gift card from Home Depot. Plus, the supervisor he spoke with last night is trying to use his clout to get the washing machine to us by Saturday, which as we kindly explained to them would be the best scenario.

Needless to say, yesterday was a very trying day and I found myself constantly trying to fight my sin. Unfortunately, my anger at the lack of customer service and no one willing to take responsibility got the best of me at times. I had a lot of confessing to do this morning! I also had to admit to Josh that he was right: we should have bought the appliances in a store. Ironically, I admitted that as we were watching the final few minutes of American Idol last night. You know what Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood were singing? A new song titled, "I Told You So!" At least we were able to laugh at the end of an exhausting day.

Update: I am able to use the current washing machine until they bring another one because Robert took out the short circuited part of the cord and rewired it back together. I think the ability to fix everything must be a spiritual gift!

Humor & Quiet Times

Yesterday morning as I groggily walked into the living room with my cup of coffee for my personal devotion time this is what greeted me:

The note reads:

Dear Lord,

Dianna has never appreciated me as she should. She left me in Georgia and now she's given me away. Help me endure her persecution. Matt 10:21-22

Rudy

Now let me explain the reason for "Rudy's" prayer. A couple of years ago for Christmas, my dad gave me this bear. I decided not to take the bear back with me when we left to go home, and my dad seemed very disappointed. Josh, for those of you who know him, continually picked on me for leaving this bear that my dad had given me and made me feel awful for hurting his feelings! When we went back to visit a couple of months later, I made sure to take Rudy home, if for no other reason than to assuage my guilty conscience (or Josh's continual reminders). When Thomas was born, I just stuck Rudy in with all his other stuffed animals, and now as "Rudy" reminded me, he is once again neglected.

Waking up to this sight yesterday morning made me laugh and love my husband even more. Those things do seem to go hand-in-hand in our home - laughter and love - and I was reminded that I am very blessed! Who says 5:30am can't be a fun time in the morning?!

A New "Toy"

I have been very dissatisfied with my vacuum cleaner for a while now. It is about 4 years old, and it just doesn't do the job very well. Even though I faithfully get it out every Tuesday morning to vacuum our rugs, I know it really isn't doing anything. When you have to manually pick the lint off the floor and feed it into the vacuum cleaner, that is your first clue you need a new vacuum! I didn't want to get just any old vacuum cleaner, because I had encountered the best vacuum a few months ago when Josh sold them.

If you didn't already know, my sweet husband sold Rainbow vacuum cleaners between churches last year. He won one while selling them, but at the time we needed the money more than the machine. We could have bought one on credit, but we don't buy something unless we have the money for it. I had tried to think of ways to save for a Rainbow, but there was no way in our budget.

The Lord is good to those who wait, and we were able to purchase one last night with our tax refund. It is the most expensive purchase we have made since we have been married (we haven't bought a car or home yet) and I hope it lasts until at least our 20th anniversary! Thankfully, it does have a 16 year warranty, so I don't think that is just wishful thinking. I vacuumed all morning and was just as impressed (and disgusted) by how great it worked. I'll post some pictures later of my new toy. Happy Mother's Day to me!