I had to go back to Halifax County, VA for a funeral last week. The lady died suddenly and requested in her will that I officiate the funeral service. I took the whole family because we were all very close to her, spending the night in a motel. On the return trip, we passed through South Boston (VA, not MA) and my wife cried out, "Look!" On the used lot of Crowell Motor Company was a 2007 Ford Econoline E-350.
Yep; if you're thinking fifteen passenger, you would be right. We bought a fifteen passenger van. I originally wanted an eleven passenger, just because they are not quite so big and attention-grabbing. The equally funny part about the particular van we bought was that we were told that a church bought it originally, sold it back to the dealership and bought an eighteen passenger bus instead. The salesman could have kept that tidbit to himself, but I guess with a family my size and my being a pastor, he felt it was necessary. The salesman then suggested that we could even use the van for church functions. Sigh...While living in VA, my wife's OB-GYN had seven kids and everyone made fun of them because they actually bought a used airport van. "Hey, look everyone, here come the Rosches!" Well, now I can hear everyone exclaiming, "Hey, look everyone, here come the Sisks!"It isn't that we didn't blend in well everywhere we went anyway, but now, we are plainly obvious to everyone. Oh well. I guess I have sacrificed image for safety and comfort.
(Our digital camera has been left in SC at our in-laws, so the picture is not our van; ours is a tan color, though the same body style.)
17 comments:
I think large families are cool. Even yours. :)
And I know Maddie is probably thrilled to have a little bit of space. :)
Now, we just need to come up with a logo to paint on the side of it.
Reminds me of when I had to sell my pickup and get a mini-van. Of course MY van is too small for fellowship functions. And only seats 6 or 7 comfortably. Oh, and has never been mistaken for a "church bus."
:)
Hey, maybe you could start a bus ministry at your church . . .
Holy Cow.
Oh, wait, that could be the name of the van.
So exactly how large IS your family, Tony?
Great story, by the way!
Cameron,
Yeah, that was suggested. One church member has already suggested getting some magnetic signs.
Kerri,
I have five little blessings! Our van would seat seven, albeit highly uncomfortably, and with much nagging and bickering.
Karma,
Come up with a good logo and we might let you paint it on there. And Maddy gets the WHOLE back seat to herself!
Bernard,
"The Holy Cow"...nahhh, won't work.
Cows are brown. Cows are big.
Holy things are, well, holy. No sacrilege intended, just gentle humor.
Sorry, but from my side of the county, you're pretty well stuck with the Holy Cow.
Or the Magic Holy Schoolbus.
OK--now I get it. Allow me a degree of latitude...living in southside VA where the horns are big and the meat is red, most cows are, in my pitiful defense, black.
I knew you weren't being sacrilegious. As a matter of fact, before we drove it off the lot, we consecrated it for the Lord's use. The kids were excited; immediately we were going on a church trip.
Sigh...
If it makes you feel any better, my family used to drive around in a Volkswagon Beetle when I was a teenager.
It was schoolbus yellow...
If it works for your family then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks! Just think how glorious it will be to be able to fit everyone and all of your 'stuff'!
The Sisk-ene Chapel Mobile
Gordon,
Wow, a Beetle? And schoolbus yellow? That does make me feel a bit better. :)
wwwmommy,
Yeah, I know! Regardless it is kinda funny, though. We have outgrown the standard American minivan. Guess my wife cannot be regarded as the soccer mommy type anymore, huh? Hope your boys are all doing well!
Karma,
You need a hobby.
I got your hobby. . . Watch my blog. I gotta present for ya....
http://karmashuford.blogspot.com/2008/07/so-rambling-prophet-considers-himself.html
Wasn't sure about the color. . . .
When you are ready to incorporate this scheme, I know some artists that could do it, probably cheap.
Karma, that's impressive!!! Amazing.
Tony, I thought homeschoolers only drove white vans?!
A bit of unsubstantiated trivia -- white vans are the most commonly driven vehicles used in crime
Be careful Tony, if your church is like some of the ones I served, they'll be making YOUR van THEIR van!
Just be sure to take a tax write off if they do!
Steve,
Thankfully, the church I serve already has their own van, so hopefully they won't be hitting me up to use mine. Thanks for dropping in and commenting.
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