Wicked weather
February 2, 2009 | Ministry Life
When I heard that we had a chance of an ice storm hitting, my first thought was the speaking engagement I had on my calendar. It’s not that I’m important, but that some ladies had worked very hard to put together a Moms Connected conference. The room was prepared. The registrations were in.
The speaker was ice-bound.
Freezing rain poured from the sky. Trees bent over, their branches drooping to the ground. Tiny buds from the previous warm week were encased in shimmery, heavy ice.
I sent an e-mail to two of the coordinators in Illinois. “I’m praying for a break in this weather,” I said. “I’ll try to drive to Tulsa, which is 70 miles away.” I knew that the early morning would only harden the frozen slush on the ground and ice would be my slippery world.
I received two e-mails immediately. “We are praying,” they said.
Richard walked through the door. “We need to leave in 30 minutes. Can you do that?”
The freezing rain had stopped. Another front was on the way. Our normal one-hour trip took three full hours. We never went more than 24 miles an hour. We were among 10 or so individuals on the freeway. Oklahoma is not known for having the resources or ability to tackle ice or deep snow. We simply don’t get enough of it. There wasn’t any salt or sand that we could tell for the entire trip.
But we arrived, and we never slipped or slid on the ice. My parents live only 10 miles from the airport. The next day I met weary travelers whose flight was canceled the day before (the airport was completely shut down). The airlines had started moving those passengers out the night before as soon as the freezing rain ended and the taxiways were cleared. My flight was delayed only an hour.
The women at Geneva were welcoming and warm. I laughed when I realized that the Chicago weather and streets were far better than what I had left behind.
I’m glad to be home. I’m glad that my electricity came back on. Today it’s supposed to be in the 40’s, and maybe even into the 50’s.
And if you are one of the women I met in beautiful Geneva, Illinois, thank you for your prayers and for the time I got to hang out with you and make new friends.
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Wow. I can’t believe you traveled in that. I’m glad to hear you made it there AND back safely. What crazy weather that was.
Have a fantastic day!
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pmWe used to get that kind of icy weather when I lived in Iowa! I am glad you got to go to Geneva; I know they were happy to have you.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:34 pmKeep warm!
Lynn