Our Loving Savior has given us two different vacations that were very unusual, to say the least. These two vacations could be classed as unforgettable.

In 1994, we planned to go visit my children for the holidays and right before we were to leave town we heard very bad weather was on the way. We hurried up the packing and left town right away, earlier than we had planned, 2 a.m.

We drove a straight 18 hours the first day to keep ahead of all the ice storms. We arrived in Liberal, Ks. at 8 p.m. Needless to say we were both exhausted. We had only stopped a couple times to pick up fast food and take a potty break. We ate and went right to bed.

The next morning we got up very early and checked the weather again and we already had 1/4 inch of ice all over vehicle. What a dilemma! I dug up a gallon milk jug from somewhere and kept filling it with warm water and poured it over all the car windows and lights. That took a while.

After that I remember promising myself we would never take another winter trip. WRONG!

In 1996 we decided once again that we wanted to visit our children over the holidays. We checked out the weather real thoroughly, and according to the weather man we should have had a pretty uneventful trip.
WRONG AGAIN!

Everything went fine till a short ways this side of Tucumcari, N. MX. We arrived there on Christmas eve and went to Denny's Restaurant for a bite to eat and were told all roads out of town were closed due to severe snow & ice storms. What a surprise that was. Christmas day we were supposed to arrive at our daughters home we were yet stranded there. We stayed over for the second night. Thank God Denny's was open on Christmas day or I am not sure where we would eaten all day. That was the only place open in town.

Leaving Tucumcari, the day after Christmas we ran into a complete whiteout, the first I had ever encountered, and I pray the last. You could see for what seemed like miles, and all you could see was white snow. It was blinding on the eyes. There were 6 inch ruts in the road on the highway and that was the only way you could tell where to drive.

Occasionally a semi would come along and snow would go all over the windshield and you could see nothing. Dick held the wheel tight & straight & we both did some mighty hard praying.

I started counting vehicles that had gone off the road just to take my mind off the driving so I wouldn't drive Dick nuts. But believe me I was praying as I was counting vehicles. I counted over 300 by the time we hit El Paso. A few went off the road right in front of us because they were going too fast.

It took us over 8 hours to go 120 miles. We averaged 10 to 15 miles per hour the whole 120 miles. I still kept saying, "Honey, please go slower." while I was asking God to get us there safe. This was the most terrifying experience I have ever been through.

We had a wonderful visit and when it was time to leave fear came back, wondering what we would face on the way home. My daughter knew I was afraid and she hugged me and said, "Mom, don't be afraid." Everything will be alright. She was right, all I had to do was put God in the drivers seat. Thank you Lord for keeping us safe and providing us with such a memorable adventure and such A Beautiful White Christmas.

Author: Delilah M. (Dede) Haas
Copyright: 11-30-04