Shocking Sunday

I am almost too tired to write. To be honest, if I didn't have children who needed me to sit up and force them into sleep, I'd be showering and headed for bed myself! Nevertheless, since I'm awake and doing practically nothing, so I might as well write a short note about our rather shocking Sunday.

It was a day along the lines of those stressful things I spoke about in this post about fridges. An unexpected event that occurs in the midst of transition tends to be almost too much.

Starting in Toowoomba, we ate early and left while the ground was still white with frost (unlike the photo). Just as we exited the town down the range (Great Dividing Range) we began to hear suspicious noises from the engine. These didn't go away, but rather gradually increased, especially when we accelerated or drove up hills. Because we were on a time schedule (getting to our farewell service at a church in Brisbane) we powered on, but feeling less and less happy about the car.

The service was enjoyable and it is always special to be called out the front and prayed for. Meaningfully, there was a de ja vu  moment when the congregation sang the same song that was sung as a solo at our first "going out" service by the same pianist: "The Potter's Hand". Here is the chorus:

Take me, Mould me
Use me, Fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hands
Hold me, Guide me
Lead me, Walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

 That was the (only) point I needed a tissue.

Afterwards we were invited to a friend's house for lunch and our car limped its way there - barely making its way up the hills. We called road-side assistance who said, "Best to get it towed to a mechanic tomorrow morning to check it out."

Amazingly this happened on the very day that we were able to pick up prior-offered car to use till the van is (hopefully) fixed.

After lunch we shifted our shrinking load of belongings into the place we're house-sitting for the week. Sat down for 20 minutes, then made beds and headed back for 5pm worship at the same church. Another farewell meeting, similar to the morning. More talking, more food. I don't feel under-fed, but I do feel over stimulated.

Hopefully the rest of the week will be less eventful. Tomorrow we've nothing planned, except David has to go with the car to the mechanic. The people we are house-sitting for are leaving very early on a camping trip, so after breakfast I guess we make ourselves at home and catch up on washing and sanity.