A Parents Worst Nightmare (one of them anyway!)

I heard that there was going to be a fast moving cold front accompanied by snowfall moving into the Wasatch Mountain area. So on Wednesday as I sent my boys off to school I made sure to pack along their mittens and hat and insisted that they wear their coats! Just the day before, Tuesday, it was like spring outside... warm and sunny, I could hear water dripping as the snow was melting... It smelled like spring! It was beautiful. Evan was "so HOT" at recess that day so he thought I was crazy to make him pack his winter gear because Wednesday started out the same "spring" way... there was a warm breeze.

I went out shopping in the afternoon and the wind was starting to pick up speed. When it was time for the boys to arrive home from school, it was really windy and snowing a lot- It looked pretty bad out! Glen was working from home, so I asked him to go and pick Evan and Eli up from the bus stop. He went to meet them and waited for about 20 minutes and the bus didn't come!! The weather was really horrible... I couldn't even see out of the windows- they were plastered with snow and ice! I was calling other moms and we were wondering what was going on and where our kids were?? The school started calling...with a recorded message letting parents know that due to the harsh weather conditions- the buses would not be able to bring the students home, that all buses were returning to the school and that the students could be picked up there. So, I was relieved that the kids were off of the roads and fine and figured we'd just wait out the storm. Glen decided that he'd go really slow and just start on his way to get the kids before the traffic got really bad! He called me after he'd been gone just 10 minutes and he wasn't even to the highway yet... he said he had to stop, because it was such a whiteout he was disoriented and couldn't even see the road!!! I asked him to stay put or just come home. He waited awhile and them came home. He changed out of his work clothes and said he was going to go help some of the poeple who were off the road and continue the trek to the school. After he'd been on the road for about 2 hours (just so you know, on a normal day... it takes about 8 minutes to get to the school) He was about half way to the school. There was no turning back... the cars were bumper to bumper, and sliding off the road in all directions

meanwhile the whiteout continued!!

One of our neighbors who had headed out earlier and was ahead of Glen finallly made it to the school! His wife called me to let me know that once he got there he found out that the bus our kids ride left the school on time and had not yet returned to the school !! This was now several hours since school dismissed... and all those little kids were somewhere out there!!my stomach dropped and my heart began to pound!! Where were my kids?? I tried to call Glen but at this point there was no cellular service. I called my mom getting some much needed comfort as I tried to explain the situation to her. I quickly hung up in order to try to get more details. But then my home phone was not allowing calls to come in or out. the power kept flickering on and off... It was a nightmare!!! Here I was trapped in! With snow on every window, not sure, unable to contact my family or Glen, completely worried sick! I wondered if Glen was ok and I had no idea what the circumstances were for my kids! Luckily- the phones worked to call within the neigborhood so my wonderful friends kept calling and we'd try our best to keep each others spirits up and talk about what we'd heard. Some people had spotty cellular coverage and were keeping in contact when possible. Many girls in my neighborhood, had husbands who were stuck on their way home from work, and had no way of getting their kids from the school except to load up their other babies and head out. Which some of them did! This made the traffic even worse... everyone was just worried and wanted to see their kids and I think people didn't realize how bad the storm was until they were out there and it was too late to turn back!

After lots of pacing and praying and at least an hours time gone...My phone rang!!!!! It was Glen. He said he'd seen a bus off to the side of the road and figured it must be from a different school, because last he knew- the buses from our school were suppost to be at the school! He just kept feeling like he should check it out... so he stopped... holding up the slow moving traffic for a bit! He knocked on the bus door and as he entered he heard "Dad?" He'd found them! He was able to take Evan and Elijah with him. But when he asked about taking some of the other kids who we had permission from their parents, the bus driver told him for safety reasons, he could not let him take them. Glen said it was the hardest thing to walk off that bus and leave those kids, especially since many of them were crying and begging him to take them home! This was around 8 o clock pm. They had been on that bus for almost 5 hours!!!!! I was so relieved that Glen found them and that they were with him but my heart went out to all of my friends who's children were still there and especially all of those scared little ones... on the bus! I quickly got a few details from Glen before our phones cut out!!

Because of where he told me he was when he got the boys I figured that even with the bad conditions he would be home in about an hour... Boy, was I wrong!!!I didn't hear from him again until THREE hours later at 11:00 pm.... In the meantime, we kept hearing that the highway patrol and a snow plow were escorting the bus back to the school, but Glen said that the bus driver told him that he was heading the other direction if he could. Because the traffic was so bad... because it was such a white out and because the bus driver was a substitute and didn't know the area, and couldn't see to tell them where he was... (SEE like I said NIGHTMARE!!) anyway because of all these things combined emergency vehicles could not quickly get to the bus. Once they did they realized that the bus was not going anywhere... it was stuck in the snow bank on the side of the road. So... finally the students were transported by the highway patrol off of the bus and to a near by LDS church house at about 11:oo pm- They had been on the bus for nearly 8 hours... One mom who found the bus earlier in the evening had dropped of some groceries for snacks that she had in her car, the kids were able to exit the bus if they needed to use the bathroom, but had to brave the 70 mph wind and pelting snow! needless to say there were potty accidents, it was dark outside, they didn't know the driver, they were scared, thirsty, hungry little children!! It was just awful! But finally they were getting off of the bus and everyone was hoping to be reunited... many parents were at the school waiting or on the roads still driving to or from the school... and it would take them several hours to finally be together!!! Our stake president, who had to pick up his children from the church, was aware of several people's circumstances and wanted to help however he could! He talked to the chief of police who let him take his truck, along with a few other troopers, they came into our neighborhood and picked up parents who were unable to leave and they took them back to the church to be able to get their kids. And then returned them to their homes. The last children were picked up from the church around 2:00 AM. Several children were never able to get home from the school and had to stay overnight, with parents and teachers who were there.

So... back to the story... I finally was able to get phone coverage with Glen around 11:00pm He had been through whiteouts, bumper to bumper traffic, un-plowed roads, closed roads, no phone service etc... He was able to stop and get the boys something to eat, and they were safe, thank goodness!! He had just entered the exit that leads to our home, he knew it was closed but hoped that maybe they'd let him through. The officer there told him he could wait for about 25 minutes and they might be opening it then. So Glen parked and waited and after about 40 minutes. Fianlly they let him through, but only because we have 4 wheel drive!!! WOO HOO!! They were coming home!!!!! (several people who did not have 4 wheel drive were not able to get home) I finally was able to contact my mom who had last heard me frantically explaining that my kids were not home or at the school but stranded somewhere out in the storm... and then we had no way of talking... She and the rest of my family were SO worried!! Just as I got off of the phone sharing the wonderful news- My long lost little strangers... pulled into the driveway!!!! It was one of the best moments... to see them and to smoother them with hugs and kisses. I laid by them for a long time as I tucked them into bed! It was perfect to have them home!! I am so garteful to my brave (and maybe a little carzy!) husband for his patience, his driving skills and his perservance through the conditions! He brought them all safely home!

The local news and radio channels covered this story... but I feel that they left out lots of important details and didn't show the real chaos it created... Maybe thats because it's hard to match the chaos and worry in a mothers heart!! ...Since we experienced this day first hand along with our friends and neighbors we know of mix-up's, several miracles and lots of heartbreaking stories too, that never made it to the news... We are just so glad that the day is over and hope that those who are still struggling will find peace!!! I promised that if I could just get my kids back safely that I would be the most patient mom and that they would never "get on my nerves" again! Well, I'm not sure how long that will last.... but I hope I can remember the feelings and deep love for my boys that was renewed in my heart because of this experience!!!



P.S. School was cancelled the next day, Valentine's day, and that morning the highway was still closed and officers were checking I.D. and only letting people in who lived up here. They discouraged people from leaving, and sent many people back
to their homes until later in the morning.