Together again!

You know, it seems you can make plans all you want – yet they’re always subject to change. Take for instance March blizzards that coincide with college spring break.

Here’s the story. Heather planned to drive back to SD with friends from college in Indiana. They planned to leave Friday following classes and drive to SD via the southern route – I 80. Well, a snowstorm that closed interstates and stranded motorists throughout the mid section of America caused them to rethink their plan. However, the storm hit the northern route too – Minnesota and SD. Still, the brave collegians decided to drive to Madison, Wisconsin and spend the night with Heather’s Aunt Reenie and Uncle Dan Bickel. After all, snow and ice presents less of a challenge when driven in the daylight hours

Enter Dad and brother. I planned to drive to Miller, SD on Friday and pick Jason up from school. We planned a dad and son time. Cabellas, here we come! We also had a room reserved for Friday night in Sioux Falls. Plus, friends recommended a great Mongolian grill for our dinner.

The weather changed our plans too. I couldn’t leave Rapid and Jason was stuck in Miller one more night.

On Saturday, I 90 was still closed most of the day. Jason caught a ride back to Rapid with a teacher who bypassed the interstate. We finally got word the roads opened. So, Christy and I left to get Heather around 1:30 PM on Saturday.

We made decent time since the roads were okay from Rapid to Murdo. Then, things got a bit interesting. The road had scattered icy spots and offered some minor challenges to our progress.

We made one final stop in Mitchell before the final stretch to Sioux Falls. When we reentered the highway, it was dark. What a bummer, because all reports said that the stretch from Mitchell to Sioux Falls was the worst. What a great time to pray!

I found it an awesome blessing that we looked up and saw the full moon midway through its scheduled lunar eclipse. Then, something unexpected happened.

Looking ahead, about 200 – 300 yards beyond my headlights, the road looked like fluorescent lights. I slowed down a bit. It seems that the angle of the full moon began to “light up” icy spots several hundred yards ahead of my lights!

The rest of the way to Sioux Falls, the icy spots showed up in plenty of time to slow down. Thanks God for “lighting” my path while heading to get our oldest child home for Spring break!