We logged many, many miles these past few days over some very snow covered roads. After checking the weather on Wednesday morning we decided we better hit the roads again if we were going to stayed ahead of the weather predicted. It was tough to say goodbye and head to Birmingham but we left around 11 and drove through steady snowing from Traverse City through Grayling and along I-75 South until around exit 204, just north of Alger where we hit a patch of ice and lost control - doing a complete 360 and smashing into the snow bank along the side. It was quite scary watching it happen and being completely helpless. We were all fine, just a little scared. As we started to spin, Mike called out to God and the girls were very worried, but mommy just said "everyone hang on, we are going to go in the ditch, but we are going to be okay" it was like slow motion, but mommy knew right then that God was with us when daddy called and that we would all be okay.
We can't possibly know to what extent that God, the Saints, and our Guardian Angels intervene in our lives to protect us but I think that we will be amazed to find out. Only minor cosmetic damage to the car and no other cars involved. The car was headed the right direction and on the right side of the freeway. I knew that our van had been guided right into that spot. You might ask that if Angels can do that then why not have us avoid the accident completely? I think that this is God's way of letting us know just how much He loves us and protects us so that we can be grateful. Or, who knows? There was another accident just up the road and if we had not flown off the road when we did, maybe our accident could have been much worse and involved another car?
Several cars stopped to help us including Mike and Josh who had a tow strap and attempted to pull us out to no avail. They simply refused to take any money. Later we saw them just ahead at the next accident helping out. Grandpa Bob who was keeping us updated with weather reports called a tow truck for us, which was there along with the Sheriff, and had us back on the road in less than 20 minutes. It turns out that by the time we got to the very next exit it was already raining and the roads were clear. We (and many others, the tow truck guy said we were his 17th client that day) had just happened to pass through this area of transition from snow to rain which was very slippery.
Mommy joked that our new holiday mantra should be "never leave on Christmas Eve" but God has just blessed us with such a beautiful, wonderful family that how could we not hit both grandparents' homes for Christmas? We are blessed indeed.
The kids are spending New Years eve at Grandma' house, making meat pies & cheese pies, playing Pictureka, and watching the I love Lucy marathon on Nick in preparation for those last few seconds of 2008.
A few photos of the kids trying on some of their new clothes. We went to mass at the Shrine followed by food and fun at Grandma Paula's house.
Many Blessings to all from the frigid north. Uncle Aaron, Aunt Maeve and baby girl Kendall made it to her baby shower albeit a few hours late. After the party we all went back to the lodge to hang out for a few hours with the Losinski's. It gave us to chance to see Grandma Roses family that we don't often see. In the morning we left for Traverse City, stopping in Schoolcraft for breakfast. We passed through intervals of sunshine and blizzards but we all made it here safely even after Grandpa Bob went back to Sturgis to get Grandma Alice's purse. Grandma & Grandpa had all sorts of wonderful food and goodies made for us and lots and lots of present for the kids.
Saturday morning we made the trip to Grandma Alice's in Sturgis to meet the Redmonds arriving from Traverse City. Aunt Erin flew into TC a few days ago. Aunt Maeve and Uncle Aaron flew in from South Carolina and landed as of 20 minutes ago but due to the snow they can't even make it to the gate. Poor Grandpa Bob braved the roads to pick them up early this morning for the baby shower which looks like they won't even make. Yesterday we celebrated Grandpa Bob's birthday then spent the night at the Dogwood Lodge. The lodge is complete with a pool table, sauna and outside hot tub which we all went in despite it snowing! Tomorrow morning we head up to Traverse City. 
