Making Big Blue bigger

So, a number of weeks ago we went to check out a bigger used Sprinter, because there are times when it is fairly limiting to not be able to take all of us and all of the wheelchairs in one vehicle. We liked many things about the vehicle, but it's also REALLY big, and not nearly as cute as our Big Blue. (It was white.)

Once again, God provides what we need in really odd ways. We don't do loans, which means if we don't have the cash on hand to buy something, we don't buy it. Remember that money we lent to a friend over the summer from our savings for bathroom? That money is enough to pay for the new van. BUT, for a variety of reasons, there's been a pause on the repayment of that loan (still going to happen, just not yet), so we don't have that money on hand.

So we didn't get that van, and are back to just Big Blue. But, the thought processes involved in the test driving of the white van led us down another, more cost-effective route.

Behold: Bigger Blue.

We purchased a new salvaged 4-bank of seats to replace our current back row of three seats, giving us one extra seat, and we plan to install a new bracket in the floor so we can take the middle row (a two-seater) out, and put our narrow 3-seater in there at times when we travel, and the old back row of three into the front, and make Big Blue into a 12-passenger van! That's just enough for the eleven of us, since Mira takes up two seats. We're currently looking for a trailer for the wheelchairs (because we can only fit two at a time in the back of Big Blue, and because if we're actually going on a trip, there's going to be *something* that would be nice to pack into a trailer!)

And, BAM! Bigger Blue at a fraction of the cost of another vehicle.