We spent thirteen wonderful years at Chapel Hill Church of Christ. Once a year, for many of those years, Debra organized a trip to Opryland or Liberty Land. She charted a bus from Basden in Tuscumbia for the one day adventure. Ray Basden treated her very well. He gave her great rates, a comfortable bus, and a courteous driver. What more was there to planning such a trip? A LOT!
From the time Debra announced the trip date to the time the trip was over, Debra was a nervous wreck! She handled everyone's money with strict care, counting it over and over again. I thought she would wear the ink off of those bills! She made Santa Claus look lazy. He made his list and checked it twice. Debra made multiple lists and checked them dozens of times! Each year there would be the chance that we couldn't fill the bus up. This would cause everyone to have to pay a bit more for a seat. Debra worried a lot about this possibility. However, each year, not only did we fill the bus, we had a waiting list!!! One year the bus broke down on our way back home. Debra took full responsibility for it! It was as if she had personally cut the line to the oil pump! She was sick about it! The rest of us took it in stride. We hopped off the bus, formed a circle on a nice grassy spot, and sang our hearts out! Every year Debra would always say, "I'm not doing this again next year." When the next year rolled around, she would announce the trip date!
Why would someone go through so much to do such things? Because the folks that went on those trips are still talking about them! We had a great time!! Mary Carmack would sing her "Ice Cream" song on the bus every single year! We loved it - every single year! Those trips added something wonderful to people's lives. Debra, we know it was rough on you, but we thank you very much! Jesus is coming back to take us on the greatest trip of all. He needs more folks that will help "plan the trip". Jesus said in Matthew 9:38 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Will you help someone plan their trip today? They will be eternally grateful to you!!!
From the time Debra announced the trip date to the time the trip was over, Debra was a nervous wreck! She handled everyone's money with strict care, counting it over and over again. I thought she would wear the ink off of those bills! She made Santa Claus look lazy. He made his list and checked it twice. Debra made multiple lists and checked them dozens of times! Each year there would be the chance that we couldn't fill the bus up. This would cause everyone to have to pay a bit more for a seat. Debra worried a lot about this possibility. However, each year, not only did we fill the bus, we had a waiting list!!! One year the bus broke down on our way back home. Debra took full responsibility for it! It was as if she had personally cut the line to the oil pump! She was sick about it! The rest of us took it in stride. We hopped off the bus, formed a circle on a nice grassy spot, and sang our hearts out! Every year Debra would always say, "I'm not doing this again next year." When the next year rolled around, she would announce the trip date!
Why would someone go through so much to do such things? Because the folks that went on those trips are still talking about them! We had a great time!! Mary Carmack would sing her "Ice Cream" song on the bus every single year! We loved it - every single year! Those trips added something wonderful to people's lives. Debra, we know it was rough on you, but we thank you very much! Jesus is coming back to take us on the greatest trip of all. He needs more folks that will help "plan the trip". Jesus said in Matthew 9:38 "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Will you help someone plan their trip today? They will be eternally grateful to you!!!