Unexpected Adventure/Vacation

It has been awhile since I have blogged, but I had to share this story from our summer.
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.

After our visit there, we headed out towards Red River, but our first stop was going to be Kansas City.  We had decided we would stay there for the night, then take the kids to Schlitterbaun the next day, before we piled back in the car for another 5-6 hours that evening.  We were trying to break up the driving a little bit, and do some fun things along the way.  We also had a white water rafting trip planned 2 days later, to give us another break from driving, and put a little adventure in the mix.
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.

We decided that we would go ahead and try to make it to Kansas City where our hotel reservations were for that night, and use our tickets we had already purchased to Schlitterbahn the next day while we waited to get word on repairs for the car.
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!

Well, after praying and asking for quick wisdom, as we were standing in the dealership parking lot with luggage everywhere, and kids playing football in between cars, we felt this was the Lord's provision and we unloaded everything from one car to another, signed the papers, and headed home!! Wow, is all we could say.

So we left with one car and thought we knew what we were doing for our vacation, and we came home in a different car doing and experiencing new things that we had not planned at all!!
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

Ski Trip?

Well, we just got back from what was supposed to be a wonderful ski trip with my family, the Janszen's.  This was going to be a special treat for all of us, kids, spouses, and grand kids.  Mom and Dad had invited all of us to come meet them up in Colorado for a week of skiing in the beautiful mountains.
The mountains are MY thing, by the way!!! Love the mountains, topped with snow. Just love them!!
We all also love to ski, well, sort of, Anna, our 6 year old still isn't really sure yet, but all the rest of us LOVE it!!
Well, as you know, if you have kids, a job, a house, a life, it is HARD to get away, out of town.  After Ray,  flipping the call schedule around, making arrangements for all the animals, chickens, goats, dogs, cats, house, mail, etc, we headed out 2 weeks ago on a Monday morning.
As we headed out, Jesse, our 14 year old son, complained of a sore throat, cough, and ended up having some fever.  We treated him for the fever, and felt this would probably pass, so we kept going, definitely not going to turn around for that.  This would pass, he rarely gets sick.
That night, in a tiny town in New Mexico, as we all slept in a hotel room, Jesse was delirious with fever, so much so, that he tried to leave the hotel room mistakenly, then started breathing soooo labored that we had to throw him in the shower, then out in the -12 degree temp outside, to shock the chest into opening back up again.  After we got him calmed down, we treated the fever again, and prayed for the morning to come.
Good thing, the next morning, we were able to drive into Co. Springs to pick up some medicine that would help.  Still thinking that this would pass, we headed on to Beaver Creek.
We arrived that afternoon, so happy to see my family, parents, brother, sister, spouses, fiance', and niece and nephew!!
We told them to all just stay away from Jes, but the rest of us were fine.
Poor Jesse was not doing well at this point, feeling awful, just wanting to rest. No skiing for him.
The next day, we got Jesse situated, then headed out for our first day of skiing.

Ruth and Joshua on our first run!!

I made ONE run with Ruth (my 12 year old daughter) and Joshua (my five year old son). As we came down the mountain, Ruth said she thought she might throw up, then said she was so weak, she might faint.  I told her, "Don't you dare faint, I cannot carry you down this mountain, and get your little brother down also, this is his first run this year! Whatever you don't, don't faint!"
Praise the Lord, she did make it back down to the lodge.  We quickly popped our skis off, and one of the guys from the place we were staying saw I needed some help.  He ran and got Ruth some water, then he helped Joshua while I took Ruth on in.  I really thought she must have altitude sickness, and felt if I got some water in her, she would be fine.
As soon as we got indoors, and sat on the bench, she fainted!! Scary!!! I have never seen anyone faint before, especially my own child. I scooped her back up onto the bench, and she came back to me.  The guy who was helping me with Joshua, came in about that time, and I quickly got Ruth back to our room for her to get re hydrated, and rest. (I did go back and get Joshua right after that!!!)
So, first day of skiing was over.
Next morning, as all the family began to wake up, my kids started filing into mine and Ray's room. Anna first, with fever, then Joshua, then Ruth.  Oh no!!! Now we had four with fever.
We talked with my whole extended family, about us just packing up, and taking our sick crew home, but they all wanted us to stay, knowing we had just driven 2 days to get there to be with them.  We decided we would stay, and hoped this would be a quick sickness, and give it another day or two, and we would all be skiing together soon.
Esther, who was the only one without fever, wanted to go ski with the cousins.  I bundled up, and we headed out.  After about two runs....., you know what is about to happen!!! She starts talking about how weak she feels.  Yep! She had fever too!!! So now we were 5 for 5.

Hanging out in the pediatric ward, doing crafts and watching movies.

Ray ran to Walmart and got crafts, Lego's, and anything you can think of to do together in our room.  For the next few days, we didn't sleep much at night, doing med call for fever and cough, for 5 kids.  Ray and I had a few turns skiing some runs, while my Mom and Dad took turns hanging with the kids, but for the most part, it was pediatric ward for us.
We thought a few of them were doing better the last day of our stay up there, but the morning we left, all 5 had fever of 103+ Yikes!! One was even 104.9!! Scary!

The trip home.

We knew we had a miserable trip ahead of us, but we had to do it, so off we went.
The next two days, we had kids throw up 5 times in the car, 2 times had diarrhea in the car (YES that is right!!), one fainting in a Taco Bell parking lot, had to change clothes in a Casino in Oklahoma, and a gas station in Kansas, one go to the bathroom on the side of the road, with 30 mile an hour freezing winds howling, as we held them up between two car doors, constant coughing day and night.  Let's just say, it was a rough trip home!!!

Pure misery!!

As we approached Ft. Worth, Hallelujah!! We realized that something we had been planning to buy for Ray's business was going off of sale at midnight that night, the same day we were driving in.  We thought, "Why not?" We have made it this far, the traffic is bad in Ft. Worth, let's stop, let the traffic clear out, and run in an buy this item at Lowe's.
Boy, did we look like a motley crew.  Had not showered in two days, kids had on half clothes, half pjs,(because of the diarrhea incidents) hair a mess, all of us still wearing snow boots.  We looked rough!! I think the salesman felt sorry for us, he certainly didn't think Ray was a doctor, which was good, we didn't want him to know that anyway.  He gave us a great deal, and he even gave us a better price than what was on sale.  I'm tellin' ya, we looked so bad!!
So, finally home.  Yeah!!! Praise the Lord everyone slept good that night.  That was what we needed, because the sickness was not over, and to make a long story short, the kids stayed sick that whole next week, as well.  Another whole week off from school.
While we were trying to survive the second week of sickness, the challenges continued.  We had pool equipment freeze!!, audit letters come, and a pipe freeze, burst, and flood our storage and part of the apartment in our barn. After that pipe burst, Jesse thought I was losing my mind.  I just started walking around thanking the Lord for sickness, busted pipes, frozen pool equipment, audits.  Just thanking God for what He was doing.
Jesse said, "Mom, what are you doing??!!"
"I am thanking the Lord for these things, scripture tells me too." "I don't have to like them, but I will thank Him, somehow good will come out of this!"
I have to say, not sure what that is yet, but I do know this.
Because we were sick in Colorado, it really made us slow down.  My family is a go getter kind of family, lots of activity, fun, adventure. Because we were forced to be inside more, together, we had some sweet times of prayer with my Mom, Dad, Sister, and her husband.  My kids had some sweet times of dominoes with their "Buddy and Babe." We watched some fun movies together, and played scrabble.
So I can say, though, it was not the ski trip I would have chosen, some sweet times came from the sickness. As far as the frozen pipes, and things once we got home, not sure how the Lord will redeem those yet!! :) But like my father in law always says, "If money can fix it, it is not a real problem."
So I will continue to praise God, in the midst of the stuff.
God is faithful,
JJ