In July we had another Ford Family Adventure (aka vacation). After going over the schedule of all our kids, and Ray's work, we found we only had 1 week this summer that all of us could pull away for a family vacation. We were pulled in opposite directions on where to go, wanting to head Northeast, towards Ray's sister's house, whom we had never been up to visit since they moved there, and also wanting to go West to my parent's cabin in Red River, New Mexico. Feeling like this would be the LAST time we would have this opportunity with all five kids, we decided to do both!!
Sure, why not?! 3000 miles, 45 hours of driving time (not including bathroom stops), with 7 people in one car....... sounds like a BLAST!! Ha!
Well, we headed out just as soon as Ray got his last baby delivered Monday morning, after being up 4 nights in a row, delivering 7 babies over the weekend!! So he was a little exhausted, but hey, that is our life, we've gotten used to it, so we headed out. Everyone was ready to go, and our first goal for that night was to reach St. Louis, Mo, where we were going to stay with some friends from Baylor.
Usually when we start any trip, I pray for safety on the road, safe travels, and good memories and a safe return home. After reading a book this year called the Papa Prayer, I was encouraged to ask for whatever God wanted to bring into our lives this trip to draw us closer to Him, good or bad, that was not the point, but to just draw us closer to Him, and feel His presence more in our lives.
We had tried to plug in fun activities and stops along the way so to break up the monotony of riding in the car. We stopped at Lamberts in Springfield MO "Home of the Throwed Rolls!" So fun, but we were stuffed by the time we rolled out of their parking lot!
Well, after several stops, and miles under our belt, we made it to the Kerckoff's house, just in time for Ray, Jesse, and Esther to go Frog Gigging!!! Even though I married a Louisiana boy, he had never gotten to experience this first hand, so, they headed out to the pond behind the mulit-million dollar school where Andy taught, and went hunting for frogs. Ray said it was just like when Jace and Willie (Duck Dynasty) did the same thing at the fancy country club in Monroe. They had a blast, but they were filthy when they got home!! What a great experience!!
The next morning we headed out towards Cincinatti, Oh, where Ray's sister lives with her husband and kids. That was a special visit, and the cousins enjoyed getting caught up with one another, as well as the adults.
Well, we sure had everything planned out, but God changed it up!
The kids were getting a little irritable with each other, being our 3rd day in a row driving, but overall they were ok, just a few fights here and there! We stopped to get gas, and headed out again, only about 5 miles out of Columbia, MO, when our Excursion started making a funny sound, Ray looked down and noticed the temp gauge quickly rising, and before we knew it, we were burning up! We immediately pulled off the highway, with cars flying past us at 80+ miles an hour, and were on a shoulder about the size of my foot!
Right behind us, a white 15 passenger van pulled off. Ray ordered us to stay in the car until he could figure out what was going on and see what this van needed as well.
Unbelievably, the man that pulled off behind us saw we were in trouble and pulled off to help us.
Our Excursion had some line cut, and we had sprayed some fluid all over the road (sorry, not a car person) anyway, this man had noticed us because the fluid had sprayed all over his windshield! He pulled off to see if we needed help.
He was alone, in a 15 passenger van. If anyone else had pulled off with any passengers at all, we would not have all been able to fit, really an angel sent by the Lord we believe. After Ray realized what exactly had happened, he ordered us all into the van with the stranger, who did finally give us his name after we were a few miles down the road. He made sure we had a connection to our insurance and tow company, and then took us to a rental place, where he was returning the van from a business trip. We had the car towed to the local Ford Dealership, and then went about trying to rent a car. Since it was 4th of July weekend coming up, of course they were out of any size car that would fit our family, let alone all our luggage. We were thinking we would have to rent 2 cars, and a uhaul just to get around! The same guy that picked us up then suggested that we take his van he was returning!! Amazing, it was the only car left that could fit us AND our luggage and it was available.
So grateful, we all piled in the van, with plenty of room to stretch out. The kids thought it was great. Almost everybody had their own row!!
We were overwhelmed with thankful hearts as we expressed to Him how He had provided in the middle of a crisis and kept us safe, and provided a way on to Kansas City. We felt He painted this beautiful sunset as we drove this last stretch into KC to remind us of His love and tender mercies toward us.
Well, because we had been delayed for awhile, it put us getting into Kansas City very late. It was dark and KC is much bigger than we realized. As I am trying to read off directions from my iphone, the kids start arguing in the back. I kindly remind them to have
grateful hearts, "remember all that God has done for us today, children!!" While I was trying to deal with them, Ray almost missed the exit, I corrected him in the nick of time, then more arguing comes from the back, WAY back in the back of the 15 passenger van. I begin to feel myself changing, from the loving grateful mother/navigator for my husband, to something that would star in a horror film. I quickly handed my iphone to Jesse who was sitting in the first row, and said "tell your dad where to go!", I then became soooo flexible, it reminded me of cheerleading days in high school. Somehow, in a matter of a few seconds, I had hurdled over 3 rows of bench seats in the van to the back row, where Joshua and Anna were going at it!! I began to vomit out all kinds of stuff about how they were going to ruin the trip, etc. and by the time I was done, I felt like a louse, they were both crying, and Ray, Jesse and Ruth were in the front trying to quietly get us to the hotel so I didn't repeat the same tongue lashing on them!!
Low moment of the trip! Needless to say, about 20 minutes later the Holy Spirit had done His work on me, and I asked for forgiveness from the entire family. That was worse than breaking down on the side of the road!!!
Anyway, we made it to the hotel, and by the grace of God, had a blast at Schlitterbahn the next day.
We got word that the car would not be fixed for a few days, so we backed up and punted. We decided that The Lord was redirecting our vacation, and we would calm down and stay in KC for a few days, have fun there, then go pick up our car on Saturday and just drive home. We had to cancel the rest of our planned out vacation, white water rafting and time in Red River with my family, but again, we were believing that God had other plans, better than what we had planned and decided to go with it.
We ended up getting to spend the 4th at Worlds of Fun, and yes it was FUN. Such a neat new experience.......we had no idea there was so much to do in KC.
When we arrived back in Columbia to pick up the car on Saturday, the dealership told us they had repaired the car, and it should get us home, but we were looking at thousands of dollars in repairs once we arrived back in Ponca. Not what we wanted to hear. But then they said that they actually had another Excursion, exactly like ours on the lot, with less miles, and it would be an EVEN trade if we wanted it!
Usually I am such a detailed planner, that when anything goes wrong, out of the scheduled plan, I am not ok with it. This was the Lord chipping away at me once again, and showing me His plan is best. He truly did answer my prayer, asking for His presence to be felt in a deeper way and to draw us closer to Him on this trip. He did keep us safe, and we did feel His loving arms around us, our trip just turned out completely different than what I had planned.
Isn't it crazy how we think we are in such control and can plan everything out, then God reminds us He is really the One in charge. It is His show and I am thankful He loves us enough to not go with our flow, but to flood us with His grace.
God is good,
JJ
