snowmagedden 2014

When I found out that Brian would be out of town this week for work, I jokingly told him that it would definitely snow while he was gone. We've got a history of "things" happening while he's away. The last time Birmingham was "snowed in" was January of 2011 while he was in Arizona for the National Championship game.

The week got here and the weather forecast called for a "light dusting" on Tuesday, the day that Brian was leaving. I honestly thought nothing of it, so we went about our day as normal. 

Brian's flight departed at 10:30am and I got a call from him right about then saying that he was on the plane about to take off. I told him that it had started snowing and that I was preparing to leave because I knew daycare would close at some point. The snow was sticking and creating a winter wonderland. I had visions of playing with Owen and the girls in the backyard all day!

here's the view out my office window as the snow started coming down

 I left the office before 11am and was shocked to see that the roads were jam-packed with cars already. All of the schools had announced early departures at the same time, so parents were getting on the roads at the same time. It took me about two hours to get a mile or so down the road.

When I got to the highway 280 on ramp there was a semi and multiple cars that were all on the side of the ramp, and handfuls of people who had already abandoned their cars and started walking. I asked a few of the people what was going on further up the ramp and they told me that the roads were already so slick that cars were sliding down the ramp and into each other.

not positive this is 280, but this is what it looked like

At that moment, I made the decision to go straight and into Mountain Brook. My gas was starting to run low and I was hoping to get gas and get onto 280 at another entrance where the ramp wasn't so "steep."

I never imagined in my wildest dreams what the day would hold for me and for my sweet Owen. The rest of the afternoon for me included trying every avenue possible to get to Owen's school. The mix of traffic, ice and closing roads combined into a recipe for disaster for me. I met many nice people who helped me get gas, pushed me out of being stuck, and just kept in touch with me to tell me which ways they tried to get through that did not work. I prayed and prayed.

Most of my day centered around Mountain Brook Village. The friend I kept thinking of, that I could walk to if needed, is our friend Bowen. With Brian being out of town, he was a great person to talk to about what to do next. And his wife, Carolyn, helped me to weigh my options as a mother. They offered their house as a place for me to stay for the night if I needed to.

Around 5pm I had a decision to make. It would be dark soon, which meant that if I got stuck it would be in the dark. I was in touch with Owen's school all day and knew that there were many parents in my same boat, and that they were prepared to keep the kids overnight. I wished so badly that I could get to him, even if just to spend the night at the school with him.

In the end, I made the toughest but best decision—which was to abandon my car and walk to Bowen & Carolyn's in the dark and stay the night, and to let Owen stay in a place that was familiar, safe and warm. I was absolutely heartbroken, but I was so thankful for our safety that all I could do was thank Jesus for that.

this is the Cahaba River (less than a 1/2 mile from the school)

Wednesday morning I woke anxious to figure out a way to my baby. I had a little breakdown in the shower, and just kept begging God to get me to Owen and get us safely home. God is and was so sovereign!

Bowen's friend, Banks, had about seven extra kids at this house for the night that he was going to try to get home. They happened to live in Cahaba Heights, so it was easy for me to tag along on the right. Bowen rode with us, too, to make sure I got to Owen. His car had four-wheel-drive, which was a must for the condition of the roads.

part of 280 on wednesday morning—sheets of ice and abandoned cars

 turning onto green valley road

Banks got the kids home and got me to Green Valley Road, but the roads to the school were un-drivable beyond that. Bowen walked with me to the Publix on Overton Road and then back to where Banks would be meeting him with the second group of kids to return home. Once we got to Publix, there was still a ways to go and I wasn't sure how I would get home with Owen once I got to the school—but I did not care. 

Owen's teacher, Miss Tanesha, called me during our walk to say that Owen wanted to talk to his momma. His voice was so sweet. I told him that mommy was on her way and that it wouldn't be long. 

Another divine appointment occurred when a stranger named Mario pulled up in a four-wheel-drive truck and asked if he could take me where I needed to go. I asked where he was headed and he said Liberty Park. Thank you Jesus!! He drove me to the school and waited on me to get Owen. 

When I walked in the door, all of the teachers were in the halls and just said "she made it!" I burst into tears and thanked them profusely for keeping my baby safe! The kids that were left were all in the "playroom" so they called Owen out and told him that his mommy was there. "Mommy!!" I showed him that I had his blanket and he was so excited. I tried to make spending the night seem like a treat, not a bad thing, and asked him if he had fun spending the night and playing at school with everyone. He seemed really happy and not at all traumatized. He was definitely ready to get home though. Praise Jesus for Brookwood Baptist and for the teachers who are angels to me. 

 picture i sent to daddy to let him know i had O

We met Mario back at his truck. Truly, he was an angel in our journey home. He drove us, mostly off-roading, all the way through Liberty Park and to the entrance of our neighborhood. From there, I walked the rest of the way home with Owen in my arms. 

selfie sent to our families on the trek

the girls were glad to see us (one of our neighbors had been checking on them)

grey didn't let O out of her sight :)

 O slept on daddy's side because I couldn't stand for him to be in another room

I have run Tuesdays events through my head over and over again, trying to come up with a way that I could have gotten to Owen sooner, but deep down I know that I know that I made the absolute hardest but best decision for us. 

My friend Joy said it best, "I realized I had the choice to rest in God's sovereignty and plan or stress out and I am grateful I chose to rest. He takes care of His children!" It is absolutely true for me, too. Although it was very stressful for me, I did realize I had a choice to make and that I needed to rest in the fact that God had it covered. I prayed the entire time and am in absolute awe of how His perfect plan to get us home unfolded. 

I want this story blogged so that I remember God's faithfulness—in every detail.