What it mean when you show up for court other party doesnt and case is dismissed

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OK in 2oo5 i got a loan for $7,000. ( the loan was for $6,000, but we paid an additional $1,000 for insurance incase we became diabled or unemployed). Well since then we have paid $150-$230 a month on this loan. There were 3 times we used the insurance in this amount of time due, to my husband got hurt and had t be out of work for 3 months, another time he had back surgery and was unable to work for 3 months and then another time when he was laid off for 2 months. Other then this we have made all our payments with the acception of 2 months, well in July of 2009 i noticed that our balance was $6,000! STILL after 4 1/2 years. so we stopped paying and decided we wanted them to take us to court.. So they did claiming we now owe them $5,000 and they wanted us to pay interest as well as court fees. OK so we spent the next 45 days gathering up all our proofs of payments, check receipts, bank statements etc. We Go to court and they never showed up. Judge looked at us and said case dismissed... Well he had other hearings one right after the other so i didnt have time to ask him, but what does this mean?? What does it mean when a case is dismissed? What should i expect to happen from here? Any and all responses will be greatly appreciated! thanks in advance