Violated

Today started off really great. Our church has been without a senior pastor for almost a year now and today a new candidate was speaking! He is someone with a lot of available materials to review so we have been listening and getting excited all week.

Headed out a 8:45 for the usual morning service. Parked in the usual parking spot, a bit out there, 2 spots over from my teaching compadre. Went into the service and the place was packed. This kind of made the wife a bit angry. Fair weather church goers coming out of the woodwork. We couldn't even sit in our usual spot. But that ill feeling didn't last long. The candidate delivered an awesome service that left us feeling very up. He was great and the and we really hope he makes our church his home.

Hung out after service in the cafe, discused what classes we would take this fall. Then headed downstairs to teach the kids during second service (me 5th grade boys, the wife 2nd graders). Finish up and time to go home.

Headed out to the car and the compadre is sitting there in his car waiting for us. I don't see it but the wife spots it right off. We get closer and I see it. The rear passenger window of my car is smashed in. The wife's purse that was tucked under the seat is gone :-( We are very upset.

Walk around in a daze for a bit then call the cops. There is glass all over the interior of the car so we brushed off the seats. Panic for a moment thinking the house key is in the purse along with the address on the drivers license. Did they head to the house? Also the car key to the kids car was in there, did they go to steal the car? The neighbor comes out of church so we tell him to watch the house when he gets back and call us if he sees something.

Finally head home. Called the credit card company. The robbers bought a big screen TV at Walmart and a $100 gift card at Appleby's on the discover card. Shut that off. Put a stop payment on the checks that were left in the checkbook. Cops come by and take pictures then go off to Walmart and Appleby's Realized later that the house key was not in the purse (whew).
We probably won't hear anymore about this from the cops. The wife will have to get a new lisence. We will have to get the glass man to come out and fix the window. The credit card company will take care of the charges. We lost about $60 in cash and another $60 on a gift card for the home school store to by the kids' books. We will spend the week kicking ourselves for being complacent and cursing the robber for having put us through this. Most of all we feel violated. Intruded on in our car while at church.

Coincidence of these two events? I think not. A wake up call, a reminder, that we must depend on Him. And from this he will make our ashes the oil of joy.