The Best Part of the Day Today was awful .. to say the least. Short story: en route to Grand Rapids today I hit a patch of ice and buried the van (not an exaggeration) in a snowbank. I couldn't open any doors, just windows, and the kids and I were thoroughly stuck. In any emergency, my call chain works like this: Steve, Mom/Dad, Ipemas ... (sometimes Ipemas before Mom and Dad if it's a time sensitive/local thing). Steve was skiing with his family at Caberfae. Mom and Dad were an hour away awaiting us, and Ipemas were at the cabin. I panicked. Mom and Steve told me to call a wrecker, which I did ... but it was going to be an hour at best. I'm trapped in a van with two babies and have to wait an hour to get hauled out. I have no shovels (if I could even get out), much less appropriate winter attire. Person after generous person stopped to offer phones or blankets, as I racked my brain on what to do ...
Finally, a man simply started trying to dig us out. When we ended up pulling his truck closer to the ditch without budging our van, he offered to help me get the kids somewhere safe. We climbed out MOST ungracefully and (not by coincidence, which I don't believe in but BY THE GRACE OF GOD!) loaded them into his 2 car seats (He had a 4 year old and a 2 year old and was thus equipped for driving kids). Vissers (again, BY THE GRACE OF GOD) were able to house us, as they lived just about a mile and a half from our "crash site." Megan came home to watch my kids, and Dave drove me back to get the van just as the tow truck arrived. Just about 15 minutes later, we were unstuck, and I could pick up the kids to go back home. No way was I driving up to GR ... My knees are still knocking ...
SOOOO, enter our 3rd hero(ine) of the day, my Mommy, drives down. She brought Valentine's presents for the kids, my favorite foods (thanks for making the Swiss Chicken early Dad!), and, what I wanted most of all, COMPANY. We had a great afternoon with the kids ... So, in tribute, here's my Day 12 photo of the day:
