Snow, Accidents, & Days Inn

The Plan was to leave our home around 11 am on a Saturday to drive the 5 hours down to the greater Madison, WI area for our final deputation meeting before we move to Texas.

The Reality was the following:

- We moved our departure time up one hour to 10 am to get a jump on the storm that was coming.

- It was snowing lightly when we left...not a problem.

- By the time we reached Eau Claire, WI, it was coming down pretty heavy. The roads were unplowed.

- Five hours after leaving our house, we were driving 45 mph in the slow lane and it seemed like everyone was passing us on the left going 60 mph. Some of those same car/trucks we saw in the ditch down the road.

- Just past Tomah, traffic turned into a parking lot on the freeway. Turned on the radio to try to find out what had happened.

- A semi-truck had jack-knifed and caught fire 12 miles down the road.

- All westbound traffic was halted and rerouted to the eastbound lanes (our lanes) thus causing for a long 13 miles of bumper to bumper vehicles.

- After getting past the accident sight it was getting close to dark and the weather had still not let up. We kept driving until our bladders couldn't hold out any more.

- We pulled off at Wisconsin Dells and barely made it into town due to the unplowed roads.

- After getting some gas, the gas attendant mentioned that the freeway was going to be closed.

- We spun our tires up the road several blocks and pulled into the nearest hotel (Days Inn).

- We decided to spend the night and take our chances in the morning to travel the remaining 60 miles to the church.

- We got up Sunday morning (early!) and got all the kids ready and were checked out by 7:30 AM (a miracle if you ask me). The roads were slick, but plowed.

- We arrived at the church 30 minutes earlier than expected and waited until the pastor arrived.

Praise the Lord for protection and safety on the road. Although spending some money for a hotel is not ideal, it was a great blessing and God's perfect timing.

Thank you to those who do faithfully pray for our family while we are on the road.

Come back again to read about our time in Cottage Grove, WI