Thankful Hearts

Monday's winter snow storm had the potential for great fun and also for great disaster. Let me tell you about our day:

Time for school, time for school. We woke to very few snow flakes, hardly enough to even think about not going to school. My poor boys were so disappointed that they would not be getting a day off. They had been convinced there would be a field of white when they awoke in the morning. But alas, buses arrived and whisked them away for their day of work.

However, the snow did start to fall. It was so beautiful and inspiring. I spent my morning in a nice warm kitchen, preparing a roast for that nights dinner, and working on getting my "Dinners with Trish" recipes organized. As the snow flakes got bigger and stronger, I waited for the phone to ring with news of early release. No such call was made.

Around 3:00, Jonas got home on time as scheduled. Within five minutes he had his ski gear on and was back outside playing in the snow. The trampoline was full of snow, but being the wonderful big brother that he is, Jonas decided to wait for Isaac and Elliot before jumping.

 For the elementary school, the district decided to put all buses on snow route drop off schedule. That meant our guys would be dropped off at the top of our street. Mark decided to drive up in the van since it was so cold and windy. The plan was to get them, play in the snow, and have a little hot chocolate with steamed milk. Or so we thought.

Here's how the timeline really went:

4:15 Mark drives to the top of the hill expecting a 4:25 bus
5:00 still no sign of any kids
5:30 I call the transportation office to see if there's any word (like going into a ditch or something). No answer.
5:45 I got a call from school saying they were still on their way. No one is exactly sure where they are because bus radios are down, but we hadn't missed them yet- sit tight
6:00 the power goes out

Jonas had been dying for his brothers to get home so he could play with them, now though, we both just wanted everyone together. Remember, they had gotten out of school at 3:30. So far, that's 2 1/2 hour on the bus with no one knowing precisely what was happening.

With the power out, Jo and I had a job to do. We focused on lighting candles and pooling flashlights. As we were working, Jonas got a call on his cell phone from a friend saying her parents were at Safeway with the elementary bus kids. Apparently the bus had pulled into their parking lot at 5:00 to put on chains. Finding the chains broken, the bus driver had called another worker to come assist. The kids were in the break room at Safeway drinking hot chocolate and eating pizza. I used Jonas' phone to call Mark and let him know where they were (my cell and the house phone were both down). Mark decided to leave his post and go get them. He also called his parents to meet him there with their suburban. FINALLY, my kids were accounted for. Three and half hours after getting out of school they were coming home!

Feeling quite a bit of relief, Jonas and I kept a post at the kitchen window waiting for headlights. All of a sudden, we heard a terrible ripping sound and saw our massive cedar tree fall across the driveway. I can't explain how shaken we were. It was completely blocking our parking area as well as the neighbors who we share the driveway with. We had been right next to it at the window. I backed us away and into the middle of the house. Still alone and now scared. I sat Jonas down while I went out with a flashlight to see how bad it was. There was still 1/4 left standing, swaying. I quickly made my way back in.

Ten minutes later, Mark, his parents, and my two little boys showed up. What a sight to see! We gathered in our candle lit living room to figure out a plan. Jonas (or I) didn't feel comfortable staying the night here. Mark's parents still had power and my parents had a gas fireplace. It was decided that Mark, Jonas, and I would stay the night at my parents down the road so we could be close to home for tree clean up, and Ice and El would go to the other grandparents house.



From the carport

 Before we left, Mark went outside to see if any power lines had been taken out by the tree. None were, but as he was looking at the remaining tree sway, he decided standing in the driveway might not be the best place for him. As he was turning to head back in, the rest of the tree cracked. That was it- he broke out in a full run until his foot hit the bottom of the porch stair, then slid the way up and ran into the door. BOOM, the rest of the tree fell.

This was a mess, but amazingly no person, animal, or any property was hurt or damaged. Let me tell you what could have happened:

 Mark could have taken the jeep to pick up the boys at school, leaving the van in the parking area and it would have been toast.
If we had gotten word of where the bus was a half hour earlier, the van could have been pulling in when the tree went down.
Mark could have not seen the rest of the tree blowing in time....I really, really don't want to talk about that.

And so, today I am grateful!

I am grateful to a God who knows me, loves me, and doesn't worry, even when I do.
I am grateful for my family. They delight me every day with their wonderful, wacky personalities.
I am grateful that Jonas' cell phone died a couple days earlier therefore forcing him to have it fully charged.
I am grateful that my husband literally slid into home.
I am grateful for the bus driver and Safeway employees who took care of a group of elementary kids.
I am grateful to just be here and able to share a slice of my story.