David has been talking about a truck since… well, always, I suppose. But in the past year it’s been a focus of a lot of conversations and jokes, especially in situations where a truck would be really helpful (often with the rental properties). He has researched them tirelessly (engineers tend to do that) but made no forward movement. Would prices drop? What features are must haves or deal breakers? It became a family joke that he wasn’t allowed to talk about it anymore.

One morning last week I asked him to tell me the narrowed down version of his ideal truck. I loaded it into Facebook marketplace and BOOM. Up popped his ideal truck, recently listed. That kicked off conversations and phone calls with the owner to make sure everything checked out and just like that we were set to buy a truck!

It’s a little funny because it highlights how both David and I are in our marriage. He’s careful, fiscally conservative, and thorough. While I have some of those qualities, I tend to lean team “just go for it and things will work themselves out!” We balance each other out.

Yesterday morning at 5:30 AM we were up and out of the house on our way to Virginia, about a 3.5 hour drive away. Once the sun came up, it was wonderful to see all the beauty of rolling hills and mountains that Virginia has to offer. We met the seller at the bank around 9:30, took a test drive, notarized the sale, transferred the money, and then David got to drive away in his NEW TRUCK!

I wish I had brought a big red bow because it’s most certainly his Christmas gift, but I’m really over the moon happy for him. It’s something he’s wanted and needed for so long. He rarely “treats himself” to things and while this is certainly a big treat, it’s one I’m so happy to see him enjoy.

On the way home I found the perfect place to grab lunch to celebrate a new truck- a BBQ joint in Christiansburg, Virginia called Due South BBQ. It hit the spot!

The girls squealed with joy and excitement when they got to run out to see dad’s new truck. They have a roomier back seat than they have in my mid-sized SUV and room for Finley to curl up between them in the middle. I’m daydreaming about some road trip adventures in our future.

We worked out then I took off for the grocery store. It was condiment stock up day so this small cart worth was about $50. But I love having buffalo sauce and Primal Ranch on hand. I heated up the veggie beef soup I made the night before and threw a salad together to go with it. We ate, then girls headed off the basketball with David in his new truck, and I spent the next hour organizing my jumbled thoughts into lists.

Today should be a cozy one. Once the kids get up we’re baking cookies, hanging wreaths, wrapping presents, and seeing if I can figure out how to hang snowflakes from the ceiling. But first, a few emails to attend to and a Finley sniffari before the morning rain rolls in. Thank you for stopping by today and hoping you have an excellent December Tuesday. See you manana!