Folks, I'm getting a little tired of it. If you've kept up with my posts, for the past 2 weeks, Sundays specifically, there has been a steady stream of forgettable to noteworthy events in the Ketteman - St. Charles household. Literally, I took to praying simply for an UNeventful Sunday. Alas, it wasn't yesterday.
We woke up as we do every Sunday, prepared ourselves to attend church, and loaded up our 2003 Dodge Caravan to leave. With the boys strapped in, Laura needing to hurry into her class, I started the van and dropped it into gear. I released the brake...and nothing. We didn't move. I checked the emergency brake...nothing. I reset the emergency brake and released it...still nothing. I got out and looked around our van to search for any obstruction...nothing. I got back in, put it into reverse and gave it slightly more gas...there was a slightly annoying creaking moan, but we didn't move. In short, NOTHING. Uugh.
At a loss, we got Laura and Travis loaded into my pickup and got them off to Sunday School. Brandon and I left the van running and went inside to thaw. It was CRAZY-cold that morning. In fact, that turned out to be a key factor.
I went inside, got Brandon settled in, and proceeded to scour the Internet (via Google, of course) to see what I could see. As it turns out, most of the results described freezing issues. One said they left their vehicle running for "a VERY long time". Another talked about using a heating device (hair dryer, wall paper remover, etc) to thaw the wheel. I let the van warm up for 20 minutes. Nothing. I gathered my wife's hair dryer and an orange extension cord... D'oh! The cord was too short. Typical.
So, what now? Is it frozen? Is there something wrong, perhaps seriously and costly, with the van? My gut told me that it was just a frozen wheel. The signs were there...REALLY stinkin' cold, emergency brake set the night before, strong rains the day/night before, etc... However, with my history over the last few weeks, I didn't feel terribly lucky. I jumped in the van, prayed and punched the gas. There was a violent POP, but the van moved. Cool. Now...can she stop? :) Still in reverse, I applied the brakes. Firm, but holding. I went forward and stopped. Check. I think we're good to go.
So, having other appointments for the remainder of the day, we load up and start on our way. The wheel made a grinding sound for the first 15 seconds, which I choose to believe was just the ice grinding away. Time will tell, of course.
Now, I realize that what happened yesterday turned out to be absolutely NO big deal. However, we didn't know that at the time. While most of the events of the last few weeks have been on the minor side, they've certainly come in force. On top of that, Sunday mornings must be the least convenient time for my family for something to go wrong.
While I don't have any hard knowledge on the whys or wherewithals of the recent happenings, I know that they come at a time when I believe that there's something large looming on the horizon for me and/or my family. I don't know what God has planned, but I feel that something is close. Perhaps it's in parallel with the new movement in our church that the pastor is revealing. Perhaps it's with the Realm. Perhaps it's with my job. Perhaps it's a combo. I have no clue. I consider it a good sign though, when Satan moves us up on his priority list. He's working very hard to keep us distracted.
Note, I'm not upset or questioning or angry. I'm frustrated and a little tired of it, but if God's got something planned (and He always does), then I want to be a part of it...come broken glass or otherwise...:)