We were about 20 minutes from Stew Leonard’s in Paramus, where I need to pick up my uncooked spiral ham for Christmas, when my car’s service engine light came on. Seconds later, the radio shut off, it began to decelerate and electronic throttle malfunction light came on. This was not only inconvenient but dangerous since we were in the Garden State Parkway. Luckily there was an exit ahead of us.

We got off and pulled into a Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot. On one of the coldest days of the year so far, my husband and I got out. We checked everything under the hood before getting back in. When we got back in only the service engine light was on but I had stopped flashing.

“Should we push it and go to Stew Leonard’s or head back home?” I asked him.

“I don’t know,” he responded. “ I think we will be fine.”

I silently prayed for God to get us to the store safely so we wouldn’t have to cancel our Christmas meal. Then, we headed off.

As soon as we arrived in the Stew Leonard’s parking lot I said, “thank you Lord for getting us this far safely. I only pray we make it home the same way. I know all I can do is rely on my faith in you since it’s Christmas Eve and there are no mechanics open. If it’s your will, it will be done.”

We walked around Stew Leonard’s for a short while before returning to our car with our groceries. We turned the key in the ignition and to our surprise no warning lights were on. They didn’t come back on at all during the 25 minutes ride home.

The incident made our first married Christmas Eve memorable. So for day 25 of my Christmas countdown I chose a sweater that’s all about capturing the special times in your life, even those that are unexpected.

Merry Christmas to all!

#MerryChristmas#christmascountdown #christmassweater #holidayseason #spoonie #invisibleillness #chronicillness #christmaseve #stewleonards #happyholidays #tomandjerry