A Sunday Afternoon Adventure!

On Sunday January 22, 2017 the sun started to rise, something that doesn't happen very often these days. The temperature was a little cooler than predicted but it was supposed to get up to 33-35 degrees by the afternoon. There was also a threat of snow in the forecast. 3 - 5 inches.

We went out to feed the cows early. Rob hooked the float up to the water trough, hoping the weatherman was right. He wasn't crazy about coming home to frozen water and a broken float, but this would be the 6th Sunday we missed church. We all needed some church fellowship!! If we left Payette right away, we might even get home before the snow got too bad. It was supposed to start here at noon.

We got the cows fed in record time. The sky still gave the look of a beautiful day. We got ready and left for church. We had to use 4WD till we got to the highway (about 20 miles) but that is normal. You don't realize how much a worship service means to you till you don't have it for awhile. "Leaving right after church" didn't happen. It was about 12:30 till we were heading north again. It had been snowing off and on all through the service but I tried not to worry. When we left the house I noticed Rob had his boots, coat, and gloves in the back seat. I sure hoped we wouldn't need them. 

We left the highway and turned onto the snow covered roads. It was snowing harder, it was also getting harder to follow the tracks of the previous vehicles. We went about 6 miles when we came upon a truck stuck in the snowbank. Another truck was hooking up to him to pull him out.

That didn't work!! Another bigger pickup came along, he put chains on, and pulled him out. It was still a struggle. By the time they got him out there were 5 pick ups setting there. Thankfully, only one was stuck.

We were the only ones heading in the same direction as the man that was stuck. We continued about 200 feet when we came upon the same truck stuck again. We didn't have chains so Rob knew he couldn't pull him out.

When he walked up to us he said, "I don't know what I am doing wrong but I'm not 

doing too good!!" He was an elderly gentleman. You could see he was really frustrated. The guys that had pulled him out the first time were taking the chains off their truck. Rob went back to ask them if they could pull him out again.  They put their chains back on, and pulled him out. After talking with him, they decided to drive his truck home for him. He was having trouble seeing the road. Rob told us he was going to offer to drive the man's truck for him since we were going the same direction but he wasn't sure I could drive his truck in the conditions we were now facing. It was starting to get downright scary!!

We continued on our merry way. 

The sky, the snow and the road were the same color. I thought fences were to keep cattle in but now I know they help to keep you focused on where the road should be in a snowstorm. 😊

When we passed our neighbor Jimmy's ranch, I started to breathe a little easier. We only had two miles to go yet. 

We were within site of our neighbor Travis's driveway, and had 1 mile to go when Rob exclaimed, "Hey, where did the road go!!" I didn't even have time to process his question, when he jerked the wheel to the right. The truck took one diving leap and we were in the biggest snowdrift I have ever seen. There was no doubt about it, we were in and we were tight!! He had already made use of the boots, coat, gloves and shovel, so now he was in business again. 

He had tried to call both Travis and Jimmy but his service wasn't working properly. He connected with Jimmy but before he could finish telling Jimmy his dilemma his phone went dead.

As he was busy shoveling, Travis came out his lane to feed his cows, and saw us. 

He brought his tractor over, the first pull didnt budge the truck. He had to change his postion a little, then the second pull got us out. 

As Travis was pulling us out, Jimmy was coming down the road in his pickup. He wasn't sure where we were but as he came out his driveway he saw our tracks so he told his wife he was going to follow Rob's tracks. She told him that probably wasn't a good idea, especially after they saw where we had been!! 

That last mile home, Rob and I, both had our heads sticking out the window making sure the snow drifts stayed a safe distance from the truck. 

When we walked into the house it was 3:00. A trip that took about 1 1/2 hours longer than normal. Tell me again, what is normal???

Even though the sun didn't shine all day, we had a little bit of a sunset. 

A reminder that God knows just what we need and makes provision for us before we ask or think!
A beautiful ending to another wintery Idaho day!!