God bless car thieves!

I know, it sounds like an odd thing to be thanking Him for but I'm serious.

Some of you may remember that last summer we bought a Range Rover from a friend of ours. This was to be the car we'd use whenever we were in Lebanon. Baba finally was able to try it out himself a few weeks ago when he and the Boss were there for Jiddo's funeral.

Last week someone stole it. {sigh} This left us in a pickle. What would we do for wheels this summer? Renting a car is expensive. We've done it before and it's outrageous! We thought of different options but none were too appealing.

Last Thursday Baba called me and told me that he heard of a Range Rover for sale and if it checked out OK, would I want him to get it for me to drive here and ship my car to Lebanon. (If it's not a recent enough model, you can't send it, so it would have to be the Galant.) I was certainly fine with that!

He checked it out and called me to go to the ATM and get money out. We met up at home before I left with the Boss for his appointment with my friend's husband (a dermatologist). I told him that he could put off that new mobile I've been after him for until Christmas.

After we were all home that night he said it was probably not going to work out. The seller was Iraqi and so he needed his sponsor's permission to sale his car since neither of them are citizens of a GCC country. Since Iraqis aren't looked upon too highly here we're probably not getting it. We wouldn't know until Sunday at the earliest. {sigh}

Friday night my friend from school and her husband and kids came for dinner. While we were chatting she told me I was getting the car. Baba told her that it was not real likely but we were hoping. (You see, Baba figured that by speaking Arabic in front of me that I would be clueless. He was right but he forgot to figure in my really good friend sitting right there while he's talking to her husband. )

So yesterday I sent him an sms to ask if he'd heard anything about the car and he said 'no'. I get home yesterday after school and there's a beautiful, blue Range Rover in my parking spot! (Remember how I said my friend was sure she heard him telling her DH his plans? Never trust a Lebanese.) I'm dying to get in it for a test drive but decide to be good and wait until I'm taking the Boss to church later instead.

But, as luck would have it, I mean, unfortunately, the Diva woke up with a nosebleed. We got it taken care of quick and then I headed to the pharmacy for some saline spray. Of course, I figure I'll just take the new car. I get in and there's what looks like a box of Kleenex in the floorboard under my feet. I pick it up and it's not a box of tissue. I can read the word Samsung through the plastic bag!

So I now have two birthday presents to revel in. Today Baba took the Rover to have everything checked out and cleaned, etc. so I took my car to school. But tomorrow it's all mine. Today I've enjoyed my new phone and took a picture of my girls and my assistant.

BTW, if anyone wants any cake just let me know. I made a cake for the company Friday night and they brought a much better one. Since Saturday was Mother's Day it was very pink. Then Saturday a friend came over to give his condolences to Baba and he brought a Mother's Day cake as well. Then today my assistant went and got 2 cakes (she felt they were too small to get by just with one) so we could have a party with the girls. So...if any of you want any, just come on over and share with us. My hips would greatly appreciate it.