Saturday night at around 11:30, as we were driving down an interstate in Ohio on our way to Michigan, our bus died on us. After a series of events -including a couple of unsuccessful experiments to try to get our bus working again, and an encounter with a friendly policeman that called a tow truck and shuttled us in the back of his squad car- we ended up at a travel plaza at around 12:30 to 1:00. You can imagine the looks we got as we filed out of the back of a police car and into the travel plaza. Anyway, once at the travel plaza we had to wait another hour and a half to two hours for them to tow the bus and unhook it. So we ended up falling exhaustedly into bed at around 3:00 a.m. The next day…after another series of events -involving quite a few friends of ours and a couple of phone calls- we ended up with a seven passenger rental van and another seven passenger van from a good friend of ours in Michigan. Sunday morning we drove all the way from Toledo, OH to Hopkins, MI where we had a concert that evening. So, all of that worked out pretty well.
We still have no idea what’s wrong with the bus. We had it towed once again yesterday morning to a bus shop and they won’t be able to even take a look at it until later today. Right now it looks like we’re having some engine trouble though, and they think it will be in the shop for at least a week. Hopefully not that long though.
The good news is, we don’t have another concert until Friday night. The bad news is, the reason we don’t have another concert until Friday night is because we are supposed to be at a family reunion in Branson, MO that started yesterday evening and continues on through Thursday. The plan was to finish up our concert in Hopkins and head on down there, but that obviously didn’t happen. Should we actually make it to Branson, this will be the first time in a long time that all of my Dad’s brothers and sisters and their families will be all together. In fact, last time we were all together would’ve been at my grandpa’s funeral; but that hardly counts as a reunion.
We actually have some good friends in Michigan that are graciously letting us borrow their van; and we are renting a second van, putting all our family, luggage and sound equipment in them and trying to make it to the family reunion and then on to Iowa and North Dakota for the weekend. So we packed it all up yesterday afternoon and it’s been a little hectic. Although we are excited to actually get to go to the reunion when it looked like it wouldn’t be possible, there’s just been a lot of frustration and disappointments lately. It’s been a very interesting year for us. However, I heard a song on the radio the other day that I’d heard before, but this time it held more significance for me. The lyrics are simple, but so true.
God’s been good, in my life
I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest dreams, when I go to sleep each night,
And though I’ve had my share of hard times, I wouldn’t change them if I could,
Because through it all, God’s been good
Even though we may have been stranded in the middle of nowhere with our bus out of commission, and even though we may miss some of the family reunion, things could be a lot worse. We could’ve had an accident there on the interstate, but we didn’t. We may have missed our concert Sunday night, but we didn’t. We may not always understand why certain things happen in our lives, but God’s always right there with us. He has a plan, and even when bad things happen, God’s still good.
[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
~Hebrews 13:5
We appreciate your love and prayers for our family.
-Abby
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Hello Abby,
Wow – it sounds like you really have had your full share of problems this year! You guys will stay in my prayers! Our bus (if we can call it that) broke down on the way home from Virginia, and some of us were stranded for several days – that was less than a month ago….Our bus yet again at the mechanic’s shop – it will be at least another week until this new problem is fixed. We dug out our old 15 passenger van and are making do… :)
I’ll be following along to see how things turn out!
Hey Abby!
I am so sorry that happened!! It sounds like y’all had some major trouble! Do y’all have any clue when it will be fixed? Please keep me updated! I liked to know what happens!! You are right, God is good in everything. No matter what it is! I miss you guys and love y’all!! Please tell the family I said hi!
Hey Abby!
I am so sorry that happened!! It sounds like y’all had some major trouble! Do y’all have any clue when it will be fixed? Please keep me updated! I liked to know what happens!! You are right, God is good in everything. No matter what it is! I miss you guys and love y’all!! Please tell the family I said hi!
Hey Abby!
I am so sorry that happened!! It sounds like y’all had some major trouble! Do y’all have any clue when it will be fixed? Please keep me updated! I liked to know what happens!! You are right, God is good in everything. No matter what it is! I miss you guys and love y’all!! Please tell the family I said hi!
Ah the joys of life on the road. :)
Oh, by the way, thanks so much for the CD! I just got it in the mail and will listen to it during one of our long road trips coming up. :)
Hey Hadassah. No, we have no clue when it will be fixed. At this point I don’t think they’ve even looked it over yet. Seems they were as busy as we are. :) But I will be sure to keep y’all updated on the latest.
Sure! I can’t remember how many times I have listened to your CD Songs of Yesterday! I have several favorites. :) Laura has a post about the whole vehicle breakdown "experience" at our blog… :)