Car Trouble and Miracle

Photo: Missouri State Archives

Yes, I am a soccer mom. And yes, I drive a blue minivan with the family stickers on the back. When you have four children that need car seats, car breakdowns are inconvenient, to put it nicely.

About a month ago, I got into my soccer van to drive home from work. As I was listening to music, I noticed a car nearby was pretty loud, so I looked around to find the culprit. Turns out it was me! I could only drive 25 miles per hour or the engine strained and the RPM's shot up. So I drove it super slowly the whole 30 minutes to a mechanic near my house, thinking that I could walk home if needed. The mechanic tested it and told me to take it to a transmission shop and to not drive it.

Since I was close to home, I parked it in my garage and started calling local transmission shops. Johnson Transmission in Lugoff had been recommended, so I called, but they were full that week and the next week they would be closed for the holiday. Thinking I needed the car fixed immediately, I found a reputable shop in Columbia called Donahue's. So I had the car towed there because I was told not to drive it. They diagnosed it as needing a transmission for the small fee of $4100.

Then I really started making some calls and got quotes from at least five transmission specialists, with quotes ranging from $2000 to $6000. By then, Johnson Transmission was open after the holiday, so I spoke to them a few times, faxed them the diagnostics from Donahue's, and had my car towed there. They said they would start working on it the next week. Mid-morning on Monday, they called me to say the car is running fine and every time they test drive it, there are no transmission problems!

That brings me to 2:00 today. I drove my mom's car to work, and after work, I drove it to Johnson's. I test drove my van with Mr. Johnson, and it ran perfectly, so I drove the van home. There I picked up mom and the kids and headed back to Johnson's to get mom's car. I came back home to realize that my house keys are inside the house, where they have been for the past month. I drove to get a key from my husband and finally made it home around 5 pm.

I don't know anything about cars or transmissions, but the fact that my car is running great and cost nothing to repair is truly a miracle!

Mom's Advice for Moms:
1. Don't rush into an expensive car fix.
2. Get several quotes before deciding on a car mechanic!
3. It's ok to stay home every afternoon for the next month with no transportation. You may enjoy it!
4. God still does miracles!