FROM GRIEF TO GLORY

The next morning, February 24, Judy got up first. I was awake and lying there thinking about what all I had to do that day.  The most important thing was to shovel the driveway and get my car started.  I needed it to get to work on Monday morning.  While lying there caught up in plans for the day, I was jolted back to reality by the most blood-curdling scream I ever heard.  Knowing that something was terribly wrong, I jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs into the kids’ room where Judy was crying and screaming.  I asked, “What’s wrong?  What’s wrong?”  She finally said, “Debbie’s gone!  Debbie’s gone!”  I looked over at the crib and could see Debbie lying there, not moving.  I thought she was asleep.  I reached down to pick her up and I could feel how cold her body was.  With Judy still screaming and Richie now crying, too, Judy went to pick him up and comfort him.  All of this happened in just a few seconds.  We did not have a phone, so I could not call emergency or anybody.  I had to physically go to the neighbor’s a mile away to make the call.  I ran back up the stairs to put my pants on, and then it was back down the stairs and out the door.  I was so focused on getting help that I did not even put on a coat.  I did put on my old work shoes which were next to the outside door.  Without even tying them, I ran out the door with just a T-shirt on.  I knew that my car would not start and, even if it did, I could not get it out of the driveway with all the snow piled behind it from the snowplow.  I ran through the yard to the road.  The snow in the yard had been piling up all that severe winter and was two or three feet deep, but that did not stop me from wading through it.  I made it to the road and saw a car coming.  I thought at least I could get a ride to the neighbors.  Even a small thing like that would help a little at a critical time like this.  I raised my hands and waved franticly, but the car just kept on going.  I am sure I must have looked like a crazy person out there in the snow in zero degree weather with only a -shirt on.  It was only a few seconds before another car came by, and this time I became desperate and ran out into the middle of the road to stop the car.  I was determined that this car was not going to pass me by.  The only way it would get pass me was to run me over.  I said a little prayer and the car slowed down and..........