In contrast, on Tuesday we drove down the road to Sunset Park for an outing before lunch. Sunset Park is really a nature preserve that has a walking trail through it (Eagle-Scout-built!). It's a nice quarter-mile tromp through wild woods. It's compact enough that the kids can run free and out of sight safely, and large enough that they feel free and like explorers. It's perfect for us.
We went Tuesday to see what it was like in the snow: we hadn't been since fall. I would like to say that I did hesitate before pulling into the tiny parking area. I want to assert that I didn't blindly pull into an unplowed area. I made a judgment call that the snow wasn't that deep and we would be fine.
I was wrong.
I had not even put the van in park before I figured that out, as the front wheels went downhill into deep, icy slush. The snow had drifted, making it all look level and shallow. It wasn't. Oops.
Trying to draw wisdom from my South-Georgia high school experiences of "mud bogging" I tried to keep the van moving, and to not let the wheels dig to far in at any one spot. Finally, though, I put it in park and texted J, hoping for some trick besides "dig it out." Even though I knew he was at a lecture on civil liberties and would likely have his phone off (he did).
While we waited for a possible return text (and for the van to stop making that funny, overheated smell) we all unloaded and headed into the woods. It was magical! Deer prints galore, tiny and impossibly deep. I held Nutmeg's hand as she slid around, not weighing enough to crunch through most of the icy crust on top of the snow. We clambered under fallen trees and around icy slush.
By the time we caught up with the big kids, they were in a field created by Winter: part of the park we've never been in before. While it's usually neck-high and impassable with grasses and brambles, those were all were weighed down beneath the snow. We trekked so far we came up to the neighborhood that backs up to the back of the woods!
And then they found their own little skating rink. Monday it rained all day, and then froze hard. Eleven degrees hard. It was so fun to slide around (and not have to worry about falling through the ice).
As we continued exploring, we checked out the creek. It was not frozen over, but roaring between its banks. There was an inlet that had frozen over, though. Wombles and Bud tested it out. And then, as the protests were leaving my mouth, Bud tried to cross it.
Crash.
Through the ice he went, but quick on his feet and close to the edge he waded out to the other side. Soaked to the thighs and coated with mud.
That doesn't sound like a big deal, but it was a balmy 22 degrees and with the van stuck I had no idea whether we could get anywhere (and get dry) anytime soon. I had foreseen a possible walk back home--but not with wet pants and feet.
We hustled back to the van, where the boys continued their digging-out efforts until I shooed them into the vehicle (they had started enthusiastically as soon as we had originally unloaded). After we all buckled in I prayed. And found myself tiptoeing around the actual need of the present, i.e. getting the van out. As I was praying aloud I realized that I was trying to protect God from what the kids would think if I asked for us to get out and it didn't happen. I wrapped up, hopefully and more faithful way and then cranked the van. Movement!
Incremental, many-point turning. I stopped once and dug us out again, and then was finally able to maneuver us to a position where we could regain the road. I could not believe it. The kids were all cheering, and trying to work out what percentage was their effort and what percentage was God's working a miracle on their behalf. (Seriously).
We had a nice little chat about 1 Corinthians 4:7 and "What do you have that you have not received?" and I think everyone got it. In age appropriate ways, of course.
We got home and dry and ready for lunch. RIght at an hour, but lots of fun! And much better memories than staying home in the yard. I will, however, be carrying a snow shovel in the back of the van on any future snow excursions...
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